TEQUITA DUDLEY: FIRST LADY OF LONGVIEW TRANSIT

"I discovered a closed fist can't receive God's blessings. I lea rned to be a giver because my mother gave especially to strangers. That qual ity alone has given me an advantage in the business

Tequita Yvonne

Director of Operations\Greyhound Manager

By JOYCELYNE FADOJUTIMI, IP MAGAZINE www.infinitieplusmag.com

Tequita Yvonne Dudley learned significantly from parents: father Charles Dudley and her mother Gloria Jackson. As a single mother, Tequita, did a great job of raising her son Trymaine Dudley. He has 2 children, Chance, and T-Liyah Dudley. There is no gainsaying, Tequita adores her two beloved grandchildren.

The lessons she learned growing up makes Tequita one of Longview's chief success stories.

"My mother instilled the values of hard work and giving," she says. "Growing up I watched her work hard to provide for our family. If that meant working two or three jobs she sacrificed and stepped up to the plate without hesitation."

As the oldest child, Tequita learned quickly the demands her station in life required. She cared selflessly for little brother Marlon and baby sister Shalanda. Babysitting and performing household duties were tasks she gravitated to uncomplainingly. Her mother, who "never met a stranger," showed her the value of treating others the way she would have them treat her.

"I discovered a closed fist can't receive God's blessings," she says. "I learned to be a giver because my mother gave especially to strangers. That quality alone has given me an advantage in the business world."

Her father Charles taught her to not settle for well enough because, "anyone can be average." Moreover, she honors her parents because of their faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Sundays were days for celebration. She attended church with her grandmother and returned home for a sumptuous dinner with family and friends. It is important to note, her grandmother emphasized the importance of family unity and Christian values. Tequita compared it to most 21st century families.

"Families often live under the same roof and never see each other, let alone communicate," she says. Still, hers has remained close and mutually supportive. They love each other’s company and teach same family values to their children.

Furthermore, education is important in her family. Tequita nabbed her associate degree from Kilgore College. Later, she pulled down a bachelor's degree in business administration from Texas College, (TC).

Tequita can be described as a life-long learner with various continuing education courses. For example, she attends the annual Federal Transit Association Drug and Alcohol Conference. Moreover, she serves as the Drug and Alcohol Program Manager for Longview Transit. Hence, she keeps abreast with policies and procedures, thereby insuring the organization stays compliant for a yearly audit.

Currently, she is working on her ADA Paratransit Manager Certification.

Tequita has been with Longview Transit for twenty years. She started as driver with the new Longview Transit then. Her excellent work ethic earned her a supervisory position. But wait, that is not all. She got another promotion and became the director of operation. Again, in 2016, she was promoted to the assistant general manager position.

She mused on her younger days. "In 1988, while in high school, I worked for the city of Longview in the traffic department as a clerk," she says. "As a child growing up, I had dreams of working in an office in a high rise with a beautiful view, helping people." Tequita’s aspiration of assisting people in need incrementally came to fruition.