SamTrans has named Jesus Madrid, a 21-year bus operator, and Joswell Santos, a 16-year maintenance mechanic, as the agency’s 2020 employees of the year.
Each year, SamTrans recognizes the achievements of its bus operators and bus maintenance workers with Employee of the Year honors, and Madrid and Santos were formally recognized at the agency’s March Board of Directors meeting. To be considered for the Employee of the Year award, SamTrans employees must not have had any preventable accidents, unexcused absences or disciplinary actions on their 2020 record.
Madrid began his career with SamTrans in 2000 as a full-time bus operator. Before joining SamTrans he worked as a driver for VTA Access, a paratransit provider in Santa Clara County, while also working as a driver and security personnel at Colma’s Lucky Chances Casino. He is currently assigned to routes 120, 121 and 294.
Madrid has twice been named Employee of the Month, and has regularly participated in community events, such as Redwood City’s Hometown Holidays Parade. He also serves as the face of the agency in ads for the Bay Area Healthy Transit Plan. Madrid has a wife and three children.
Santos joined SamTrans Bus Maintenance in 2005, following in the footsteps of his father, Josepito Santos Sr., who is now retired. He was promoted straight from Mechanic C to Mechanic A due to his diligence, dedication and work ethic, making him one of the few SamTrans staff to skip the Mechanic B role. Prior to coming to SamTrans, Santos served in the Navy for 11 years, where he served as a mechanic and military police officer. Santos is married with three children.
