Working Hard to Make Your Commute Easier: a spotlight on TMA members recieving top marks in the ETC Challenge
January 9, 2015
Each year ABC TMA challenges its members to encourage the promotion of more sustainable transportation choices at their work sites and recognizes the achievements of these individuals in the ETC Challenge.
In addition to recognizing these members at the TMA December Board meeting, for the first time this year, the TMA will be working with members who reached Gold level in the ETC Challenge to help them apply for Best Workplaces for Commuters designation for their work sites.
Our Gold winners include: Audrey Centauro (Boston Properties, Atlantic Wharf), Essek Petrie (HNTB), Judi Doucette (US EPA), and Esther Maycock-Thorne (Massachusetts General Hospital). All of our members help to promote TMA commuter benefit programs, which support commuters who chose more sustainable transportation options over driving alone. Below are a few highlights of how our Gold winners went above and beyond in their 2014 accomplishments:
Creative outreach & Program growth: Audrey Centauro worked hard to creatively engage the tenant companies of Atlantic Wharf in building-wide promotions, to hold numerous interactive on-site events and to support planning of the 2nd annual water transportation week, which increased new registrants in the Express Yourself program by 50% from 2013 numbers.
Community engagement & Advocacy: Essek Petrie helped to get more than 20% of HNTB employees to participate in a TMA commuter benefit program. In addition, Essek plays an active role in representing the business community in transportation discussions. He spoke on behalf of the TMA membership and Board at the City's Annual Boston Bike Update, he attended the Moving Together conference, and he continues to be an active leader as a member of the TMA's 2015 Executive Committee.
Dedication and Accessibility: With the thousands of employees that work at MGH, working on a database clean-up can be a daunting task. Esther Maycock-Thorne diligently worked to not only verify all of MGH's participants in TMA programs, but also assisted in a survey of employees who take transit to better understand their commuter needs. In addition to committing time to these large tasks, Esther also makes a point to be accessible to employees throughout the year. She hosts numerous on-site events, at which she not only attends, but makes a point to develop personal connections with employees, while encouraging them to try more sustainable transportation options.
Exceptional Participation: Beyond supporting the Mass Commute Bicycle Challenge, hosting an annual bike breakfast & tune-up, having the US EPA represented at all TMA meetings, Judi oversees an annual promotion of transportation options and commuter benefit programs to employees. As a result, more than 50% of employees who are registered in the pre-tax transit program also participate in the Guaranteed Ride Home benefit. Looking at US EPA participation overall, approximately 45% of employees participate in at least one TMA commuter benefit program.
We are excited to continue working with all of our members towards achieving their transportation goals in 2015. New this year, ABC TMA will be getting feedback and support from Board Members through the advisory of an Executive Committee, which will include participation by:
Julia Arsenault (Boston Properties) - Rosemary Austin (Related Management) - Guido Costa (Putnam Investments) - John Durnan (John Hancock) - Mike Neville (MA General Hospital) - Essek Petrie (HNTB) - Steven Rosenthal (Wilmer Hale)
We would like to thank these individuals for their time and assistance in shaping the new vision for the TMA.
Another of our exciting new changes is that the TMA will be holding sector specific meetings throughout the year. These meetings will be aimed at the six main sectors that make up our membership: large employers, small employers, residential properties, hospitals, developers & property managers, and hotels. Sector specific meetings will help facilitate peer-to-peer networking, sharing of best practices, and the development of solutions to specific transportation needs.
Stay tuned to learn more about the exciting things the TMA and its members have planned for 2015!
