Ventura, CA – On May 24, Alan Holmes, Commuter Services Program Manager for the Ventura County Transportation Commission, proudly presented this year’s Diamond Awards to four innovative Ventura County employers. Each year, Diamond Awards are awarded to those employers which exhibit the most effective strategies for increasing ridesharing and decreasing air pollution. This year, the featured winners went above and beyond, providing alternatives and incentives that were beneficial to their employees as well as our environment. This year’s Diamond Award winners included SolarWorld, WellPoint, City of Ventura Police/Fire Department, and Employee Transportation Coordinator of the Year, Nancy McClure at Community Memorial Hospital.

Each Diamond Award winner kept its staff motivated throughout the year, increasing participation in their respective rideshare program. SolarWorld attributed its rideshare success to the energy behind their no-cost strategies and internal promotions of commuter services. WellPoint and Nancy McClure at Community Memorial Hospital took similar approaches to encouraging positive, earth-friendly company morale with giveaways and contests that went beyond prizes, emphasizing lifestyle changes to realize environmental wellness. The City of Ventura Police/Fire Department welcomed the challenge of increasing its average vehicle ridership, responding with a compressed work week schedule which translated into lowered operating costs and reduced vehicle pollution on alternating Fridays.

Holmes noted, “It is with great pride that VCTC presents this year’s Diamond Awards to those Ventura County employers which continue to raise the bar for corporate rideshare programs, successfully encouraging their employees to taking positive steps toward bettering our environment while helping their employees save thousands of dollars annually in transportation costs.”

VCTC’s Commuter Services program promotes carpooling, vanpooling, bus, train, bicycling, walking, and telecommuting options. Registered participants become eligible for VCTC’s free Guaranteed Ride Home program. For more information, contact Alan Holmes at (805) 642-1591 (extension 119) or visit www.goventura.org/?q=rideshare.