Champion Commuter

Calie Maki - Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency

Calie is an Administrative Assistant for the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency. Calie began working for Clean Air in 2019, during the COVID pandemic. In the early stages of the pandemic, the Governor ordered staff to telework if possible, so Calie began full-time teleworking. In summer 2020 staff began to slowly come back into the office. Calie was able to telework 3 days a week and work in the office 2 days a week. With a 31-mile one-way commute, it was important for Calie to find a way to reduce the cost of her commute, so she began to carpool with a co-worker a few times a month, as their schedules would allow.

In September 2022, Calie’s husband started a new job that was located near her office just outside of Airway Heights and they began to carpool. She now teleworks 1 day per week and carpools with her husband the other 4. They even bought a hybrid-electric vehicle to further reduce their commuting costs and tailpipe emissions.

Calie says there aren’t many other commute options to get from Deer Park to Airway Heights, so her and her husband make carpooling work for them, scheduling around overtime, kids activity schedules and dr. appointments. Calie enjoys the quality time with her husband, the $200 they save each month by carpooling and the positive impact they’re having on the environment.

ETC, Margee Chambers, states “Calie is an exemplary commute smart user and advocate!

Congratulations Calie!”