OATS, Inc. Driver Celebrated for 15 Years of Service
February 18, 2009
Elaine Engelhardt began driving for OATS on February 1, 1994. As a mother with three boys in school, she was searching for a position that would mesh with her schedule of motherhood. She saw the OATS ad in the paper, and thought this might be the perfect fit.
OATS was a good fit, allowing Elaine to get her boys off to school, go to work, and be 
home before they returned. It suited her family’s schedule well. By the time her boys were grown, Elaine was attached to the people and to the position. She felt that driving for OATS was something she wanted to continue.
As a driver for Bates County, Elaine says her passengers are a lot of fun. She serves a wide area of the county and takes great pride in knowing she’s helping people get to the store and to their appointments the only way they can. She still enjoys the flexible hours, and says the job is just really fun. “OATS is a good company to work for and has been very good to us.”
Elaine says working for OATS takes a certain type of personality – someone who really cares for the passengers. “Many have said to me that I must have to have a lot of patience to drive this bus, but to me, it doesn’t seem all that trying.”
In her spare time, Elaine likes to dabble with scrapbooking and quilting, and enjoys Sudoku. She lives on a farm and greatly enjoys farm life, which she says has been very good for raising a family. Elaine has three grown sons and recently welcomed her first grandson.
Tracy Walkup, Midwest Regional Director, says “Elaine always has such a positive attitude – you can really tell that she enjoys what she does, and cares about the people she serves.”
Back
Elaine Engelhardt began driving for OATS on February 1, 1994. As a mother with three boys in school, she was searching for a position that would mesh with her schedule of motherhood. She saw the OATS ad in the paper, and thought this might be the perfect fit.
OATS was a good fit, allowing Elaine to get her boys off to school, go to work, and be home before they returned. It suited her family’s schedule well. By the time her boys were grown, Elaine was attached to the people and to the position. She felt that driving for OATS was something she wanted to continue.
As a driver for Bates County, Elaine says her passengers are a lot of fun. She serves a wide area of the county and takes great pride in knowing she’s helping people get to the store and to their appointments the only way they can. She still enjoys the flexible hours, and says the job is just really fun. “OATS is a good company to work for and has been very good to us.”
Elaine says working for OATS takes a certain type of personality – someone who really cares for the passengers. “Many have said to me that I must have to have a lot of patience to drive this bus, but to me, it doesn’t seem all that trying.”
In her spare time, Elaine likes to dabble with scrapbooking and quilting, and enjoys Sudoku. She lives on a farm and greatly enjoys farm life, which she says has been very good for raising a family. Elaine has three grown sons and recently welcomed her first grandson.
Tracy Walkup, Midwest Regional Director, says “Elaine always has such a positive attitude – you can really tell that she enjoys what she does, and cares about the people she serves.”