RideFinders Receives Two Awards at the Virginia Transit Association’s Awards Luncheon

May 29, 2024

Recently, YOUR Team RideFinders was honored to receive two awards during the Virginia Transit Association’s Awards Luncheon at the 2024 Annual Conference & Bus Expo. Congratulations to John O’Keeffe for being recognized with the Unsung Hero Award for Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and to the team for winning the Outstanding Transit Marketing Award (TDM) for the Be the CEO of Your Commute and Vanpool campaign.

The Be the CEO of Your Commute and Vanpool campaign regarded commuters as the chief executive officers in charge of when and how they decided to vanpool. We served as the COO – chief operating officer - providing them with the tools and tips needed to vanpool. Through a multifaceted approach of a paid media campaign and organic vanpool education and awareness that resonated with a diverse audience, the campaign theme used insightful, effective and creative marketing and social media content to build awareness, encourage engagement and motivate program participation. The result - a 655% increase in organic website traffic to our vanpooling page, four new vanpools being formed and a 45% increase in the number of vanpool trips being recorded by vanpoolers.

Unsung Hero Award: John O’Keeffe has been an Account Executive with RideFinders for eight years and is an unsung hero to the organization. One of the most endearing qualities of John’s character and work ethic is his mantra that flows readily from him, “What can I do to help?” He not only poses this to his fellow co-workers, but also to his peers and community at-large. John’s innate curiosity, desire to help and ability to take on new challenges help strengthen the RideFinders program and the corporate transit company, GRTC. Throughout the years, John has worked tirelessly to promote vanpooling. John is truly a team player. If he’s asked to participate in an event, change his schedule to accommodate staffing needs or assist a staff member, his quick response is “no problem.” The team appreciates his adaptability and the support he provides as we work together towards shared goals.

Congratulations to the award winners and finalists!