Written by Amanda B. Vann, CPTA Finance Officer
April 4, 2007

As a graduate of Halifax Community College with an Associate in Applied Science Degree in 1983, Pamela Perry knew she was ready to start her career. She saw an advertisement for an Administrative Secretary for a new local non-profit business in Northampton County that would serve the people of not only Northampton, but also Bertie, Halifax and Hertford Counties. It was an opportunity she could not pass up.

Pam was hired in August, 1983 as the first "official" employee of Choanoke Public Transportation Authority. In the early days of CPTA, Pam assisted in all elements of the agency, which included dispatch, finance and other office duties. In 1987, Pam was promoted to Administrative Assistant. With this title came new responsibilities, such as supervising dispatchers, Purchasing Officer, acting as Secretary to the Board of Directors and attending meetings throughout North Carolina as a representative of CPTA. In 1997, Pam was promoted, once again, to Assistant Director of CPTA. Added to her current responsibilities, Pam began working closely with the Executive Director in report preparation for NCDOT, vehicle purchasing, and contracting with other agencies.

Wendell Edwards was the Executive Director throughout Pam's career with CPTA. Mr. Edwards taught Pam all he could about public transportation in hopes that one day he would retire and leave the agency in capable hands. Wendell retired on March 30, 2007 and Pam was appointed Executive Director as of April 2, 2007. In her first staff meeting, Pam conveyed to her staff that "CPTA will still operate with the same standards it always has."