University of Iowa’s CAMBUS recognizes Tristian Freese as Cambus Support Person of the Year, 2020. Each year, the Iowa Public Transit Association (IPTA) recognizes a driver from each Iowa transit agency for their service to local communities. Support employees - which include dispatchers, trainers, student mechanics, and supervisors - are not eligible for the IPTA award.
Freese is the second recipient of this annual award that is part of a larger effort to recognize and reward the efforts of CAMBUS employees. To be eligible for this award, an employee must have served in a support role for the past year and have excellent attendance and work records.
“The best part about working for CAMBUS is the camaraderie between all the employees,” replied Freese. “We call ourselves the CAMFAM because we are all so close, we trust and believe in each other, and work hard to make each other happy while in the workplace.”
The selection team noted that Tristan is a well-respected leader at CAMBUS and that he leads by example with his work ethic, attitude, and aptitude to act in difficult times. Whenever CAMBUS needs support leadership, Tristan is often the one to answer the call.
Freese earned a BS in chemistry in 2020 and has worked with CAMBUS since July of 2016. All CAMBUS employees begin as drivers and become eligible for promotion to a support role after 6 months of experience. Freese was promoted to dispatcher in April of 2017.
Throughout this time, Freese has built an extraordinary reputation with many drivers, support employees, and supervisors. In addition to providing a necessary service, support positions allow student employees more opportunities to develop and practice professional skills.
“Having the ability to critically think your way through a difficult situation, while staying calm, is the biggest skill I’ve developed. Learning how to properly and effectively communicate between multiple people in an office setting is the second biggest skill learned,” says Freese.
CAMBUS takes pride in empowering its student workforce to develop competencies that will carry forward into future employment opportunities. “My confidence in knowing what type of employee I am has really improved in my time here.”
Congratulations to Tristian and thank you for your service!
About CAMBUS
CAMBUS is the University of Iowa’s student operated, no fare public transit system that provides fixed-route service throughout campus and demand-response paratransit services for qualifying persons. CAMBUS works in collaboration with other Parking and Transportation Department units to provide and support access and mobility for students, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors. For more information about our services visit https://transportation.uiowa.edu/cambus or call (319) 335-8633.