On family road trips, Dorothy Maki paid close attention to her father’s driving and was fascinated by the tractor trailers that passed by their station wagon. It was little surprise, then, that when it came time to choose a career, she gravitated to one that involved being behind a steering wheel.  

When her career as a bus operator later merged with a longtime interest in teaching, she had what she considered her "dream job." "I love to drive, I love people, and I love customer service, and this is a place where all that comes together," she said.  

After 35 years of service, Dorothy retired in March 2025. Her career began at the Nicollet Garage where she served as an extraboard operator and spent a lot of time on routes 2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 17, and 21.  

She served briefly as a relief dispatcher before joining Metro Transit’s inaugural group of full-time instructors, teaching newly hired operators in the classroom and on the road.  

As an Instructor, Dorothy didn’t just focus on the rules of the road but on the problem-solving and communication skills needed to thrive in what can be a stressful environment. She also took a keen interest in the wellbeing of her students, using kindness and stern affirmation to build people’s confidence in themselves. 

Seeing her students overcome challenges and go on to build lasting careers, she said, was among the most fulfilling parts of her career. "I just get so thrilled when I could take someone on the cusp and help them make it," she said. "Their whole life changes."

Before ending her career at the Instruction Center, Dorothy spent 12 years as the vice president for the ATU Local 1005. In that leadership role, she prided herself on fighting for fairness and justice, growing the ATU Hardship Fund, and making it standard practice for the ATU to be involved early in meetings regarding medical disqualifications.  

In retirement, she planned to continue advocating for workers rights in retirement. Based on her own experience, she was especially interested in strengthening support for working parents. She also planned to spend more time with family and traveling.