PSTA bids farewell to Eddie Kester in this month’s Employee Spotlight

Today's employee spotlight is Eddie Kester. Over the past 18 years, Eddie has garnered the utmost respect and recognition throughout PSTA.

Each department in the agency has looked to him for his leadership, passion, creativity, and unmatched sense of humor. His unwavering commitment to his fellow coworkers, riders, and the community at large has made him a trusted figure at PSTA.

During Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Eddie played a crucial role in leading the agency through crisis with safety at the forefront. He rode out the storms from his desk alongside his “ragtag team of transit pirates,” monitoring storm surge footage and working around the clock to get operations restored before recovery efforts even began.

Among Eddie's many accomplishments, he is most proud of the mental health and wellness initiatives he helped implement throughout PSTA and Pinellas County. He led the charge on providing employees with Mental Health First Aid certification courses, Employee Assistance Program outreach efforts, and the expansion of Narcan availability at transit stations and on buses. “These programs have literally saved lives,” and they exist in large part thanks to Eddie's leadership and endless empathy.

We are immensely grateful for the legacy and impact Eddie has left on PSTA, and we are excited to cheer him on in his next adventure!