Two San Mateo County Transit District employees have received the District’s highest honor. Operator Danilo Gemanil of Fairfield has been chosen Bus Operator of the Year and Utility Worker Edward Suliguin of Daly City is the Maintenance Employee of the Year 2009.

“The bar is set very high at SamTrans and when one of our employees receives the Employee of the Year Award, you know they have done an outstanding job,” said General Manager/CEO Mike Scanlon.

Gemanil and Suliguin were honored at the March SamTrans board meeting. Both met rigorous criteria that included no preventable accidents, no disciplinary actions and no unexcused absences. They also were honored on an ad card displayed inside SamTrans buses.

In almost 19 years, Gemanil has driven all of the District’s routes. These days, he can be seen cruising down El Camino Real on Route 391 or driving Route 122 on the streets of South San Francisco. In his spare time, Gemanil enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, and tending to his two big aquariums that hold more than 100 fish.

“I’m committed to being a bus operator and no matter what you do in life, you have to be proud of it,” said Gemanil.

As a utility worker, Suliguin is one of the employees responsible for cleaning and maintaining the District’s fleet of buses and paratransit vehicles at North Base. He and his fellow utility workers also fuel the buses and make sure all the engine fluids are at proper levels.

“I love what I do, so it makes my job easy,” said Suliguin who started his career at SamTrans in 1985. “If the bus is clean, then the customers like to ride.”

On his days off, Suliguin likes to spend time with his family, relax with friends and watch television.

The Transit District operates 48 bus routes throughout San Mateo County and into parts of San Francisco and Palo Alto. The District also offers Redi-Wheels and RediCoast paratransit service for persons with disabilities who are unable to ride SamTrans.

03/11/10
Media Contact: Tasha Bartholomew, 650-508-7927