From Product Specialist to Project Management, Larry has seen the in’s and out’s of all things GMV. Now he’s here to share more about what gives him drive when it comes to the world of transit.

1. What gets you most excited about the world of transit?
Functional public transit provides mobility for all members of a community, allowing them to access jobs, education, and other services without needing to rely on a car. In addition to removing traffic from the roads (something I particularly appreciate as a metro-Atlanta resident), this helps to somewhat level the playing field for those who could not otherwise afford personal transportation. Onboard technology and robust rider communication closes this gap even further, providing information to the public to help them plan their trip more efficiently, as well as be prepared for service changes and disruptions that may impact their journey.

2. Tell us about your role on the GMV team?
For most of my time with GMV, I was a Product Specialist on the Customer Success team, where I provided support and training on our software and hardware to new as well as existing customers. More recently, I’ve been transitioning into Project Management, where I have managed our Maintenance Service Plans in addition to many other projects for existing customers. In this role, I am responsible for the end-to-end execution of these projects, ensuring they are completed efficiently while meeting needs and expectations of the customer.

3. What’s one of your favorite things about the GMV culture?
I’ve always appreciated the customer-first attitude at GMV from all corners of the company, even those not in a direct customer-facing role. Coming from the world of transit operations, it was satisfying to see that everyone genuinely cares about public transit. My colleagues are always willing to jump in to chase down a question or issue brought up by a customer and come up with unique solutions to their problems.

4. Can you tell us about one of your proudest, funniest, or more interesting GMV moments?
I love being able to get in front of a customer’s staff—drivers, dispatchers, etc.—that we do not usually interact with during our normal process. Listening to their needs and providing direct training and feedback on their use of our product is invaluable to the success of a customer. It is an incredible reward when you see genuine excitement from a staff member after they’re introduced to a feature or functionality they have not experienced before but will now make their job easier.

5. Last but not least: what’s a fun fact about you that few others might know?
I have a degree in Music Education and originally wanted to be a high school band director before I got into the transit world. My primary instrument is trombone, but I can play a bit of saxophone. Thanks to classes taken while obtaining my degree, I can also squeeze out a decent “Hot Cross Buns” on basically any common instrument.