Jesus Valenzuela’s career at MV Transportation is a powerful example of growth, adaptability, and long-term commitment.
Since joining MV in 2004 as a driver, Jesus has built a career across multiple roles, divisions, and regions, eventually stepping into his current role as Director of Operations for the Northeast Region. In this Career Development Spotlight, Jesus shares how MV’s training, mentorship, and people-first mission have shaped his journey and how he supports others looking to grow within the company.
Can you describe your career before coming to MV?
Before coming to MV, my career path was not very stable. I was working in construction with my father when I started thinking about going back to school. He encouraged me to take that next step, and I eventually attended Phoenix College, where I played football. I was named starting left tackle my freshman year, but during my sophomore year, I suffered a career-ending injury. Around that same time, I had recently gotten married, so I needed to find stable employment for my new family. That opportunity ended up being with MV.
Can you share your journey at MV?
My career at MV started in 2004 as a driver at our Phoenix division under Nate Peterson. In 2005, I became a road supervisor, and in 2008, I was asked to assist with a startup in Chicago. From there, I was promoted to operations manager in Raleigh, North Carolina, before returning to the Chicago area. In 2009, I had the opportunity to serve as general manager for several contracts. Over the years, I continued taking on additional responsibilities, including overseeing Schaumburg, North Cook, Pace Chicago, VA contracts, Loyola University, and other operations.
In 2022, I became district manager overseeing Illinois operations, specifically Pace operations. A few months later, in January 2023, I was asked to step into my current role as Director of Operations, overseeing Illinois, Michigan, and Kentucky operations.
What originally drew you to MV?
What originally drew me to MV was the community service aspect. I was introduced to the company by high school and college friends, and they described it as a meaningful place to work. We provide an important service to passengers who sometimes do not have anyone else to rely on. That has always been meaningful to me, and it is what drew me to MV.
What training, mentorship, or development opportunities at MV have been valuable to your growth?
The training and development I have received at MV has been extensive. I have gone through many different trainings, from driver training with the Smith System when I first started in 2004, to training as a dispatcher, scheduler, operations manager, general manager, and now director.
MV has also offered leadership development opportunities for directors and above. We meet quarterly in Dallas for leadership training focused on enhancing our skill sets and helping us become better leaders for the company and the teams we support. The leadership training has included different leadership styles, assignments, development projects, and peer check-ins. It helps us stay accountable and continue growing in how we support our direct reports and teams.
How does MV’s training differ from other companies you’ve worked with or heard of?
The training I have received at MV has been much more extensive than what I have experienced at other companies. In other places, onboarding may only last one day, a few days, or maybe a week.
At MV, training has continued to grow and develop. Today, programs like the General Manager Development Academy provide several weeks of training, both off-site and at the division. Even when I first started, MV provided much more training than I had seen elsewhere.
What is one skill or lesson you’ve learned at MV that has been key to your success?
One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that business is always changing and evolving. You have to be willing to adapt, adopt new ways of doing things, and continue moving forward. Whether it is AI, new software platforms, or changes in how we operate, staying open to progress is important. In my opinion, adapting and evolving is key to continued success.
Who has inspired or supported you most in your career journey at MV?
I have had a lot of great leaders throughout my career, but Leland Peterson stands out the most. His resilience and commitment to MV have been especially impactful to me. His return after facing medical challenges was inspiring. It showed me the importance of finding balance between work and personal life, taking care of yourself when needed, and coming back strong.
How do you support and mentor others who are looking to grow within the company?
I try to support and mentor others by making myself available, listening to what they need, and sharing lessons I have learned along the way — both the successes and the failures. Everyone learns differently, so as leaders, we have to make the effort to support people in the way that helps them grow. That can be challenging, but it is important if we want to help others progress within the company.
What is your favorite thing about working at MV?
My favorite thing about working at MV is the community we serve. We support many different communities, including students, corporate shuttle riders, transit riders, and paratransit passengers. In paratransit especially, we are sometimes the only mode of transportation people can rely on. Being able to provide that service brings me joy.
What advice would you give someone just starting their career at MV?
My advice to someone just starting at MV is to learn the business. Take time to understand our policies, procedures, best practices, and the MV way of doing things. For leaders, it is especially important to learn your contract inside and out. Understand the proposal, what we promised the client, and how that aligns with the contract and bid model. Knowing those details helps ensure we can deliver on what we said we would do.
When you’re not at work, how do you like to spend your free time?
When I am not at work, I like spending time with my kids and my friends. Whether it is making s’mores around the fire pit with my kids or relaxing with a friend, the small things matter most to me. It does not have to be extravagant or fancy. Spending time with the people you love is what matters.