Reggie Garrett has never been one to shy away from a challenge, whether it be running a marathon or running a new First Student location. “Success motivates me,” says Reggie. “One of the best ways to be successful is to share what you know with others and watch them grow.” As a senior location manager, Reggie has the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others each school day.
Greater Responsibility
Reggie has spent more than 30 years in the transportation industry. He worked for decades as a manager for FedEx. Reggie relied on his extensive experience when he joined First Student in 2010 as a location manager in Little Rock, Arkansas. “Logistics, creating efficient routes and customer service are all very similar,” says Reggie. “However, transporting students is definitely a greater responsibility.” During his time in Little Rock, Reggie focused on building a team that delivered results through our values of being supportive of each other and accountable for performance. He was successful in turning the location around both financially and culturally.
Embracing Change
When a new opportunity within First Student presented itself in 2015, Reggie embraced it. He and his family moved to Texas so he could manage our new contract for the Lewisville Independent School District (LISD). “It just felt right,” shared Reggie, but that does not mean it has been easy. Lewisville is not a small operation. Reggie leads a team of nearly 450 employees who are responsible for safely transporting 13,500 LISD students each school day. Reggie rallied his team to help ensure a successful start-up, which also included the delivery of a fleet of nearly 300 new buses. “I work with some incredible people,” says Reggie. “I am amazed by what we are able to accomplish each day because we pull together and never lose sight of the customer.”
Passion for People
Reggie has a passion for leading, motivating and mentoring his team. “I love coaching others so they can be successful,” shares Reggie. “Seeing people develop and promoting them into positions of increased responsibility is one of the greatest rewards of my job.” Reggie can cite many examples of employees who have been promoted to new roles after serving as drivers or dispatchers, including the current First Student location manager in Little Rock. She assumed Reggie’s position after he took over our Lewisville operation.
Receiving Recognition
As a location manager, Reggie is charged with bringing our vision to life. The significant contributions he has made to First Student recently earned him a Be First Award. “It was something I never expected,” says Reggie. “I am proud to work for a company that puts people first.” It is an approach that Reggie uses day in and day out with his team to drive impressive results.