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

You may hear a new voice when you call the CPTA Dispatch Department.  Lisa Shoulars, who has been a CPTA Driver for Halifax County since 1997, has been promoted to Dispatcher as of November, 2007.  Some of her new duties include scheduling rides, recording general public fares and compiling monthly reports.  “I really miss talking to the clients in person, but I also have the opportunity to talk with more people from all over our service area, not just Halifax County”, stated Lisa.  Lisa is also excited about seeing how things work behind the scenes versus behind the wheel.

When asked about her 10 years of driving for CPTA, Lisa said, “I enjoy working for CPTA.  I really enjoy working with the public and I know that CPTA is asset an to the area.  I have dealt with many patient riders, but also many impatient ones.  Once I explain that CPTA is a bus service and not a taxi service, they usually understand the long wait times and why CPTA is cheaper transportation than most other services.”  Being in an office all day has also been a huge change for Lisa.  “I have been so used to the rushed pace of the road and taking breaks when I found time, but being in the office, my time is more flexible.”

The CPTA Dispatch Department has been a person down since Keshia Greene was promoted to Transportation Management Assistant in July, 2007.  “I am so excited to have a full staff in the Dispatch Department again.  We have been able to take more calls and get back to a normal routine.  I know we made the right decision with Lisa, because she is a hard worker and has always been so easy to work with in the past,” stated Keshia.

After graduating high school, Lisa took a 6 month training course in Office Technology at ECPI in Virginia Beach, VA.  “I knew I eventually wanted to work in an office setting,” stated Lisa.  After the training course was completed, she decided to move to Philadelphia, PA to be near family.  Soon after the move, she realized how much she missed North Carolina, so she decided to move back for good.  Lisa is married to Jerome Shoulars who works for NCDOT out of the Jackson office.  She has one step-son, Kashawn Shoulars who is a Junior at Northampton County High School-East.  Lisa and her family enjoy a lot of family time, which includes family dinners and bowling.  “Working in the office will be a huge change for me, but I am excited about the challenge.”