The best passenger experience starts with the best team providing that service. That’s why we’ve built the industry’s top-performing workforce by attracting exceptional talent and investing in the training, leadership development, and career growth that drive long-term performance.
Our Career Development Spotlight series highlights team members who began in hourly roles and, through MV’s robust development resources, including MV University and the General Manager Development Academy, have advanced into leadership positions. These stories reflect the strength of our culture and our investment in people.
Today, we’re proud to spotlight General Manager, Calvin Lun, whose journey at MV exemplifies the impact of strong leadership development. Click here to watch his video interview or read Calvin’s full profile below.
Congratulations on your move to GM at Redi-Wheels! How does it feel to step into this new role?
I am ecstatic and look forward to being back in the General Manager role. I am thankful that MV has given me the opportunity to utilize the skills and training I have learned along the way to deliver the best customer service possible to passengers of San Mateo County and our client Rediwheels through empathy and patience but to do it safely.
Describe your career in transit prior to coming to MV.
Prior to coming to MV, I was an operations manager at a company where we delivered shuttle services to high end clients and politicians. It was here where I learned to manage operators to pick up and deliver passengers safety while delivering the best customer service possible. It was at this company where I learned how to interact with the client, plan, coordinate and deliver the service efficiently to perfection.
Can you share a little about your journey at MV? What positions have you held on your way to this role?
I have learned a lot since coming to MV. When I started as an operations manager with the Uber WAV contract years ago, I was thrown into the mix early on. Through the many different trials of running that contract, I was able to grow and learn different ways of turning around operators and improve. It was there, I learned the many facets of a division including operators, safety, payroll, maintenance and even HR. With the help of the local team and support from senior leadership, I was able to develop. During this time, I became an Interim GM at the location until the contract ended. At this point, MV gave me an opportunity to move not too far away to another location as an AGM. There in the last 5 years, I have really honed my skills and the skills taught through the GM Academy to build a successful operation. Despite us losing the contract to a competitor during a RFP, the environment, the engagement and the successes we built were highly desired by the client and the competition which they have not been able to replicate since MV’s departure. Upon loss of the contract, I was fortunate enough for MV to take me on as a Special Projects Manager. In my current role, I was afforded the opportunity to see and help other locations. It was here I was able to observe and see the differences in how the division is run and support as needed. The locations are always the responsibility of their respective GMs and it was my duty to assist them as needed in areas where they needed help. During this time, I also participated in a few RFP proposals and was happy to learn recently that we are to be awarded Redi-Wheels. I look forward to developing successes which I had at VTA for Redi-Wheels.
What originally drew you to join MV?
MV was a company that supported communities by delivering freedoms of mobility that many of us take for granted. Although I didn’t know it at the time, MV brought back a part of me that I was instilled in me at an early age by my parents and growing up. Empathy and sympathy for helping those in need. Through the avenues MV provided me, I was able to help my community.
Along the way, what training, mentorship, or development opportunities has MV offered that have been most valuable to your growth?
The GM Development Academy played a huge role in the development of my skills as a leader and to be a mentor to others. Through the Academy, I was able to understand how to be successful and develop best practices that I can take with me to my location. It was also here that relationships with other managers are nurtured. As a result, a foundation is built so we have great teamwork. Even though other managers who attended the academy may be miles away, they are simply a phone call away or an email away and we often still share incites and bounce ideas off each other. The GMDA helped me develop into the leader I am today.
What’s one skill or lesson you’ve learned here that has been key to your success?
The most important thing I have learned and the key to my successes so far is to listen. Listening to our clients, our customers, our staff and our leaders. Listening isn’t just hearing but also understanding. Once we understand, we can figure out where we may have room for improvement and to grow. This is also the mentality I use for running a successful operation. If we can successfully fix one problem at a time, we can do better overall.
Who has inspired or supported you most in your career journey at MV?
Throughout my career at MV, I have had many different mentors and leaders who encouraged me and inspired me to be a better leader. They have taught me or lead me down paths I did not think possible and expanded my horizons as a manager. The RVPs, the Special Projects Managers, the leaders on the senior leadership team and many more have all played a role in my development and pushed me to succeed.
What excites you most about your new role as General Manager for Redi-Wheels?
I look forward to building relationships with the client, passenger/advocacy groups and staff. I look forward to developing a successful paratransit service and delivering the best possible service to the community. Above all, I’m looking forward to having a division to calling my home again.
How do you hope to support and mentor others who are looking to grow within the company?
I would help develop or hone their skills in their respective departments through providing support and advice as needed. I would encourage them after learning what their career goals are and helping them achieve those goals. We have a lot of tools as a company that we utilize to help our staff and family group. From MVU to some of the learning tools we utilize in maintenance such as Cengage to help our mechanics gain their ASE certifications, we certainly have many different avenues to use.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career at MV?
The hardest thing and one that is often repeated by many of our leaders is to ask for help when needed. There are many times we often feel like we need to solve problems on our own. There are many times we feel as if we are drowning in daily tasks of our divisions, and unable to finish anything. While we need to complete tasks, we also need to ask for help if and where needed. We have a great support system in place in all of our regions and our regional and corporate teams are always standing by and ready to help.
When you’re not at work, how do you like to spend your time?
When not at work, I often find myself going on longer drives to ease my mind as well as enjoy the scenery. I enjoy working on my cars as I am an avid car enthusiast and I also spend a lot of time playing basketball as well.