- One word to describe yourself: Ambitious
- Favorite TV show: "Power"
- Favorite movie: "Scarface"
- Favorite hobby(ies): Working out and kayaking
- Fun fact about yourself: I'm terrified of opossums.
- Favorite route you have ever ridden or frequent (and why): KAT’s Route 11 Kingston Pike. This route carries the most people and is a straight line west. The wide-ranging coverage from Downtown to West Knoxville is something nearly everyone needs at some point.
From bus operator to safety supervisor then to director of Operations and Safety at KAT, O'Dell Draper is a driving force at the organization. Over the past two years, Draper’s primary focus has been making KAT the safest transit system in the nation. He realized that accomplishment this year as KAT was awarded the APTA Gold Safety Award for transit systems under 4 million rides.
The success was driven by initiatives put in place by Draper and his team, including new driver training procedures, reminders to operators through internal radio announcements and decals at driving stations, intensive refresher focus training for all operators, new policies for passenger safety, and an emphasis on defensive driving during weather events. He also mentors his team and motivates them to achieve all that they can.
Some of the success they’ve seen includes a reduction in preventable accidents by 92 percent; a decrease in preventable accidents from 74 to 6 in two years, resulting in more than $60,000 savings in vehicle repairs; a reduction in passenger falls on buses; and zero preventable accidents during snow events for the past four years.
Draper took over the investigation of liability claims and developed policies to improve passenger safety. He changed policy on when operators are to pull out after a passenger boards and signage was displayed prominently on KAT buses with safety reminders for passengers. The result of his actions was a 100 percent reduction in passenger falls since September of 2016.
Draper has arranged numerous National Transit Institute training classes in Knoxville in an effort to develop the operators’ skill set in a cost-effective way. He has also improved the training department by standardizing training curriculum and restructuring the training process.
“I’m fortunate to have had a wide range of experiences. I’m a Veteran and I was deployed to Iraq in 2003 with the 1/16 Infantry Division. I’ve always been a motivated and diligent person, but like anyone I have experienced failure professionally and personally. However, I believe I have found my niche in the transit industry, and my continued growth and the success of my practices and ideas only prove that. I think that genuinely loving what I do has led me here and will be the drive behind my ongoing professional development and accomplishment.”
“What I enjoy most about my job is that no day is ever the same. Each day I am presented with new challenges and situations, which helps me to remain focused and observant. I enjoy people and the diversity of it all. I feel I am appreciated and allowed to take the initiative to get things accomplished.”
“Accomplishment I’m most proud of is] getting accepted and completing the ENO Transit Mid –Manager Course which increased my knowledge. And, we also received the 2018 APTA Gold Safety Award. It boosts employee morale and makes them feel part of something very successful.”
“Three things: Lead with passion. Communicate clearly. Be positive and constructive.”
“I love being a part of something that makes a difference, and I work with a dynamic team of talented people.”
