Great People

In college and looking for extra income, Christine Kuennen applied for a job in the Transit Information Center. With experience in telemarketing, she got the job, quickly moved into a trainer role, then became a supervisor in the Transit Control Center where she took on special projects that opened new doors.  

Those first few years were a sign of what was to come.  

Over the next three decades, Christine continually looked for opportunities to excel and take on additional responsibilities, relishing chances to be on the front end of new initiatives even when it meant going outside her comfort zone. 

After 33 years of service, she retired in April 2025 as the director of Bus Transportation. During her tenure, she also led the Metro Mobility program, initiated programs that directly engage operators in outreach and workforce development, championed wellness-focused training, and played a leading role in the opening of the METRO Green Line.  

A mother of five, Christine retired from service not only proud of her accomplishments but for the way she used her lived experience to help make transit a more welcoming place for working mothers like her. “I was very much a forerunner,” she said. 

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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.  

After Dale Patrin switched from hotel housekeeping for a better-paying job driving a Metro Transit bus, he still thought about applying for a job elsewhere because he had a couple of college degrees. That was until Metro Transit showed him how much he was appreciated. 

"There was one event that helped me fall in love with Metro Transit," Patrin said. "I was out driving on a route and a street supervisor showed up with another driver. He told me my son had fallen out of a tree and broke his wrist and said Metro Transit wanted me to be with my family. I've never forgotten that."

Dale went on to have a 39-year career with Metro Transit, retiring in March 2025. 

Dale started as a part-time operator before going full time, became a relief instructor in early 2000 and applied in 2017 for garage coordinator, a position he held until retirement. 

His retirement plans included driving for a coach bus for a private company so he could travel around the country. He also planned to spend more time with his seven grandchildren.

After 35 years behind the wheel, Tyler Stoutenburg is parking his bus for the last time. 

"I only planned to stay a short time," Tyler said. "But after marriage and kids, I decided to stick with it—and the years just went by." 

That decision led to a career spanning three and a half decades, full of many different experiences, like the infamous Halloween blizzard. "It was a tough time, but we managed," he said. 

His career wasn’t without challenges. "Not every day was great," he admitted. But anytime he thought about pursuing another job, he remembered a past job hauling garbage. "That job was brutal," he said. 

Tyler started part-time at Ruter, then moved to full-time at the Old Snelling Garage, then East Metro, and finally Heywood. In 2019, he pursued leadership training and briefly became an assistant manager. The position was temporary, so after completing the leadership academy, he returned to his previous role. 

His favorite routes included routes 61 and 71, and he truly enjoyed having a varied schedule instead of the daily surprises of working extra board. "I liked switching things up, so I didn’t get bored," he said. "I didn’t want the same monotonous routine." 

As he leaves Metro Transit, Tyler expresses his gratitude for the friendships he made over the years. "It’s been an incredible journey," he said. "I’ll miss the people, but I’m ready for the next chapter." 

In retirement, Tyler plans to finish building his lake home, fish, ride ATVs, and travel to parks across the country. "The world is full of opportunities when every day is like a Saturday," he said.

Scott Jester always wanted to work at Metro Transit—but first, he had to work up to it.

"When I started driving a school bus right after I graduated, I knew I wanted to move to Metro Transit eventually," Scott said. "I’d always been a bus rider growing up, and transit just felt like the right path."

In 1990, he started as a part-time operator at the Old Snelling Garage then went full-time, working at Nicollet, Heywood, and North Loop garages. He stayed for 34 years for one simple reason: "I love meeting new people, whether it’s passengers or new operators,” he said. “That’s what has kept me going all these years."

The people made his job so interesting that he once suggested a psychology student write a paper about her experience on his bus. “The professor said it was one of the best papers he had ever read,” Scott said.

Scott also saw technology evolve from old steel buses with no power steering to electric buses. He even helped train the first operators to use them. "The evolution of the buses has been incredible," he reflected. “I’m proud to have helped launch the electric buses on the C Line.”

Despite these advances, Scott says the core of the job remains the same: getting people safely from point A to point B. "Your job as a driver is to make sure your passengers have a safe and comfortable ride," he said. "If I can get you from the start to the end of your ride without any issues, I’ve done my job."

He particularly enjoyed showcasing this to a reporter covering distracted driving. At one point, he predicted a reckless driver’s move before it happened. Later, the reporter dozed off during the smooth ride and apologized, but he reassured her, “That’s the best compliment a bus driver can get. If I put you to sleep, that means I gave you a safe, comfortable ride.”

In 2014, he became an instructor, training new drivers. "This has been the most rewarding part of my career," Scott said. "It’s great to see someone learn and succeed. I want my students to have the same career I’ve had here."

Scott also reflected on challenges, including shifts in public perception of bus drivers. "It’s tougher out there today," he acknowledged. "But I always tell new drivers not to take anything personally. Just smile and keep going."

As he leaves, it’s what kept him here 34 years that he’ll miss most. "I’ll miss working with all the great people at Metro Transit,” he said.

In retirement, Scott plans to travel, beginning with an RV tour of the Southwest and a trip to Portugal with his wife.

John Cook is proof that switching careers after 40 is not only possible but can lead to a rewarding new journey.

“After styling hair for 25 years, I retired. But then I got bored,” John said. “I thought driving for Metro Transit would be a good transition until I figured out what I really wanted to do.”

What began as a temporary role quickly became a lifelong career.

After five years as a bus operator, he became the co-chair of the Driver Safety and Security Committee. There, he helped introduce bus cameras, shields, and part-time officers. His efforts resulted in a $5 million investment to improve safety for both operators and passengers.

From there, he moved into the Transit Control Center, where he helped establish emergency response for transit. These drills would become important, including responding to the confusion on the street during 9/11.

“It was a lot of work, but we earned a lot of praise,” John recalled. “But what I truly cared about was helping people.”

This drive led him to his new role as an Assistant Transportation Manager, specifically overseeing disability management for operators. For over 20 years, he worked closely with employees facing health challenges, ensuring they received the support they needed.

“I just enjoy helping people, especially during hard times,” he said. “I always told people, ‘If you're upset, come in, shut the door, and just talk to me.’”

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he found more ways to help others. Like making sure operators had the necessary protective equipment and moral support to weather the pandemic and keep transit operational to provide essential rides.

“It was intense,” he said. “We were working ten- to twelve-hour days, every day.”

Now preparing for retirement, he’s looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren and taking life at his own pace. However, he remains committed to helping others.

“The biggest takeaway from my career is the importance of kindness and helping others,” he reflected. “I’ll always be here to help when needed.”

David Dehmer always knew he wanted a career behind the wheel.

“After high school, I tried a few different things, like being an auto body mechanic,” David said. “But driving just felt right.”

Initially, David wanted to be an over-the-road driver, but he found his way onto school buses. However, a chance encounter with a Metro Transit bus driver sparked his interest in a career here. “I remember standing by the driver. He was so friendly and drove so smoothly. That stuck with me,” he said.

David’s journey wasn’t without its bumps. He didn’t pass his driving test on the first try, surprising even his instructor. “He was shocked when I didn’t pass. But I didn’t give up and I passed,” David said.

David started his 41-year career at Old Snelling Garage before moving to the new East Metro Garage, where he spent the rest of his career. He followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, who had worked at the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC). Over the years, David drove many routes, with routes 61, 65, 68, and 71 among his favorites.

What kept David coming back each day was the connection he made with regular passengers and the responsibility of safely transporting people. “I learned that if you’re nice to people, they’re nice to you,” he said. “I’ve earned 39 years of no accidents. That’s something I’m really proud of.”

The benefits of working at Metro Transit were another reason David stayed behind the wheel. “I’ve been able to be home for all the big moments, like births and other milestones. That’s something I’m grateful for,” he said.

As David enters retirement, his son hopes to follow his example and become a Metro Transit operator. David’s advice to him is the same he gives to all operators: “Keep up the good work and stay safe. It’s not an easy job, but someone has to do it—and you’re making a difference.”

In retirement, David plans to spend more time with his three children, three grandchildren, and the family dog. Once his wife retires, they look forward to traveling together.

When Peter Moore started out as a bus operator, he knew any kind of accident meant he’d likely be looking for a new line of work. So, starting out, he figured he’d just do his best to make the job last as long as he could.  

“I always looked at it as a day-to-day job,” Moore recalled. “It just so happened to work out to 40 years. I kind of surprised myself.” 

One reason for his longevity: An impeccable record that allowed him to retire as one of just two Metro Transit operators to achieve 40 consecutive years of safe driving. Moore retired with that unique distinction in January 2025.  

That stellar record, he said, came in part from years of working quiet overnight roads. But whether it was day or night, he always put safety first and schedule second, “taking whatever the traffic gave me,” as he said.  

“I also had a really unique trainer who impressed a few important things on me early on, including to hog the road and always stay under the speed limit,” Moore said. “That was an early lesson in this job you’re here to pick people up, not just drive down the road.” 

Before coming to what was then known as the Metropolitan Transit Commission, Moore spent several years as a school bus driver. In that role, he met people working part-time driving city buses and saw a chance to improve his lot in life, an important thing for a new father.  

After “bullying” his way in, Moore spent time at the Heywood and Shingle Creek garages before landing in 1995 at Nicollet, where he’d remain for the rest of his career. He liked the garage primarily because of the diverse people he got to work with and learn from. “We have people here from all over the world, and it’s always been interesting and fun to hear their stories and get to know about all these different cultures,” Moore said.  

In retirement, Moore planned to retire to Little Falls, Minn., and spend more time with his children, grandchildren, and wife. As for those following in his footsteps here?  “If you have the right mental attitude and are a good map reader it can be a pretty easy and steady job,” he said. 

At Metro Transit, William Blair found not only a fulfilling, stable career, but also the love of his life. 

In the early '90s, William considered working at an auto manufacturer. “But then I remembered all the plant closures in the '80s,” he said. “So, I decided to go work at Metro Transit instead.” 

Little did he know, this decision would lead to meeting his future wife onboard. “She was a passenger, and after a brief exchange, she handed me her number,” William recalled. “After a week, I called her. Two and a half years later, we got married.” 

They spent 25 wonderful years together before her passing, and William is grateful for the time he could take off to care for her. 

During his tenure, William spent twelve years driving buses, but it trains became his 20-year passion. “I’ll always have a fondness for the bus, but I love the trains,” he said. His interest was so strong, he often engaged with mechanics to understand the trains' inner workings to improve his own understanding and skills. He fondly remembers working on game days, when the trains were packed with excited fans. 

“Everyone is in a good mood,” he said. But it was the people—supportive coworkers and talkative passengers—that kept him in the job for so long. “I’ve had so many passengers open up to me. It’s those connections that I’ll always remember,” he reflected. 

And he’s gracious for the time he spent coworkers and supervisors like the late John Humphrey whose leadership and listening he appreciated.

As he signs off, William shared a favorite Bible passage to commemorate his career: “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” In retirement, he plans to visit the Kennedy Space Center to see a space launch and reconnect with family.

Richard Pratschner didn’t want to go to college, but didn’t know exactly what to do. His uncle, a longtime operator, pointed him on a career path that would span four decades.

"I didn’t plan on becoming a bus driver," Richard admitted. "But it turned out to be a good fit for me."

He began part time in 1984, but he wasn’t convinced this was his career until he went full-time the next year. He worked at various garages and routes and spent his final years at the North Loop Garage, driving Route 645 near his old neighborhood where he first decided to become a bus operator.

"When I finished on the 645, it felt like coming full circle," he said.

Over the years, Richard witnessed major shifts in the industry, especially in the buses themselves.

"When I started, the buses were big, heavy, and manual—no power steering, no wheelchair lifts," he recalls. "Now, everything is more modern, and the technology makes the job easier."

But despite the changes, the core skills of driving remained constant—chiefly, patience.

"You have to accept that things will happen. It’s all about being patient with yourself and others," Richard said.

The people he met on the job, both passengers and fellow drivers, made the experience rewarding.

"The best part of this career is definitely the people. I’ve helped so many get where they need to go," he says. "And the friendships with fellow drivers are something I’ll always cherish."

In retirement, he plans to return to hobbies like ice fishing and gardening, and once his wife retires, a cruise in Alaska.