In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Transdev is proud to spotlight our leaders making a difference in transportation. Meet Lorenzo Varela, General Manager for Transdev’s Lodi contract in California. He helps run multiple services, including dial-a-ride, paratransit, and fixed route. For the past two years, he has been the General Manager and has worked for Transdev since 2019. But his journey in transportation started much earlier in his life. When he was 18 years old, he got his CDL license so he could drive buses for his church.
Lorenzo was born in the United States, but his family came from Mexico. He was raised by his mother and grandfather, who taught him to be honest, work hard, and always do the right thing. His grandfather showed him how important it is to be dependable and to never give up. Spanish is Lorenzo’s first language, and even though he faced challenges because of that, he did not let it stop him from reaching his goals.
Lorenzo believes that if you work hard, it will pay off.
He says, “Never let anyone decide where you can go in life. If you stay focused and keep trying, good things will happen.”
He also believes in listening to others and learning from different points of view. That’s one reason why he’s such a strong leader.
One of Lorenzo’s favorite parts of his job is helping his employees grow. He gives them chances to learn new skills, try new roles, and become better at what they do. He mentors and coaches his team, and he feels proud when they succeed.
“When I see the impact and the openness of my employees, that’s the satisfaction I get,” he says.
Lorenzo recently graduated from the LIT Leadership Academy. He says the best part of the program was meeting other leaders and learning how different companies solve problems. He believes that building strong relationships, both at work and with family, is the key to his success.
His advice to young professionals is to keep learning, go to industry events, and meet new people.
“Don’t be afraid to make mistakes,” he says. “If you stop worrying about what others think and stay determined, someone will give you a chance, and it will be worth it.”
This Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate Lorenzo Varela for his leadership, his kindness, and his dedication to helping others grow.
