"Helping Those Who Need Our Help"

Shuttle Ruidoso, Ruidoso, New Mexico

David Cason, President and CEO of Shuttle Ruidoso, is blunt about his company’s mission. Based in Ruidoso, New Mexico, the non-emergency medical transportation company sits in the southern part of the state which, as David notes, “is the forty-ninth poorest state and the fifth largest in landmass, spanning 151,000 square miles. That in and of itself is a challenge.”

His point? Like anywhere else, there are a lot of people in this area who need to get to their medical appointments. The difference here is that many of them lack the necessary resources to access transportation; compounding the problem is the vastness of the area. Coverage, it seems, is a problem. “Many of our clients fall on the lower end of the socio-economic ladder,” he says, “and it’s unfortunate that they are not typically treated well.”

That’s where Shuttle Ruidoso, founded by David’s mother, Marilyn, in 1999, works hard to make a difference. “The way we treat our clients is the cornerstone of our continued success,” he says.

Kindness, Caring, Respect
If anyone wonders how firmly that cornerstone is planted in Shuttle Ruidoso’s approach to its clients and everybody it deals with, all they need to do is visit the company’s website. The first phrase that hits you is the headline “Kindness, Caring & Respect,” Shuttle Ruidoso’s slogan, written in large letters, and followed by a list of the company’s core values, which include “show compassion,” “help others understand differences,” “treat them like family,” and “listen first, then listen more.”

“Kindness, Caring & Respect” is also the background of every website page, plus it’s “plastered on all of our shuttles, and it is truly how we treat our clients, escorts, families, facility staff, gas station attendants, and everyone we encounter each day.” “Everyone” is a big number. Operating 60 vehicles in 15 counties, Shuttle Ruidoso completed 46,631 trips and over 3.2 million miles in 2021. “That’s a lot of oil changes,” muses David.

An Extra Level of Commitment
So what drives him? Having taken full ownership of the company in 2018, David is clear on this. “Simply, it’s helping those who need our help,” he says. “The majority of our clients are a joy and express extreme gratitude for the level of service that we provide.”

David is so committed to his clients and his region that he also sits on the Modivcare Transportation Provider Advisory Council. “I am honored and take with great responsibility being asked to participate on this council,” he says. “I was recently elected to lead a coalition of approximately 35 other transportation providers here in New Mexico. I hope to bring not only the single voice of Shuttle Ruidoso but a shared voice of all the providers in our state's network,” he says.

A Hero
For making sure you’re there for a population that needs your help but that’s spread far and wide, making it extra challenging to get them to the medical help they need, thank you, David Cason. You are a Hero. 

Sincerely,
Modivcare's Go Digital! Team