Roger Lambert's sick mother, La Verne, was the inspiration he needed to make a career change after years as a steam-fitter with Local 400.
Two years ago, when his mother was in ill health after a stroke, heart bypass surgery and kidney failure, they both were distraught at the medical transportation service available to her.

"She was forced into paratransit three days a week for dialysis," he said. "We found it terribly hard to find somebody who cared. Everybody was interested in getting from point A to Point B and out."

His mother died, but not before asking him to try to change the para- transit industry.
Lambert spent six months researching the business, meeting with people at the Small Business Development Center, SCORE (retired business volunteers) and bankers, developing a business plan and securing a loan for his first transport vehicle.
He opened last January and has already added three more vans to his fleet and hired extra help. "It' doubled. I planned on two trucks in the first three years of business, " Lambert said.

The Job: Lambert's business transports are a mix of 30 percent Medical Assistance patients, 25 percent hospital patients and the rest nursing home residents.

The business is founded on giving more than just a " ride. "It's a dignity thing," he said. "You don't need to advertise it's a medical person or a wheelchair person inside."

His vans are well-appointed, right down to the DVD player he runs that shows 350 photos of the Green Bay landscape. "From the nursing home to the doctor's office, they can see what's happening around Green Bay. "He has five drivers, besides himself, and they make runs around the city and Northeast Wisconsin, as well as to Milwaukee, Marshfield, Chicago and into Michigan. Most of his drivers have worked in other paratransit operations.

He chooses them "on their attitudes and how they feel about being around the elderly and the handicapped, " he I said. "We. do more than curbside service. It's door- to-door service. A lot of times we take them to their apartment or room."

His father, Darrel Lambert, is his right-hand man, accompanying him on the transports he makes.
Lambert's service usually transports 35 to 40 passengers daily It also offers weekend and holiday transportation.

Lambert does all the scheduling for the drivers and most of the paper work for the company. He also did the 34-page business plan, a 40-page employee handbook and a safety manual. Safety is a big issue, and insurance costs are a major expense.

Workday inspiration: The two men who are his 6:30 a.m. transports Monday through Saturday make Lambert's day. "They're really good guys that early in the morning. That gets me going."
Training: As part of his preparation, Lambert had to get medical assistance certification in order to get reimbursement from that agency for passengers on Medical Assistance, He has part-time help just to keep up with the Medical Assistance paperwork, he noted. He didn't need a special driver's license, but he did order specialized vehicles with rear lifts.

The bottom line: Keeping overhead costs down. "That way; I can pay my drivers well," he said.

Name: Roger Lambert
Business: Comfort Travel ADA Mobile Service LLC.
Phone: (920) 434-9457
Age: 45
Family: Lambert is married to Cheryl Lambert; they have sons Ryan, 22, and Travis, 20
Role Model: His wife, Cheryl. “She talked me into this, but it’s knowing I have her support to do it.”
Favorite book: The Great Lakes Diving Book
What I do when I’m not working: A member of the Nimrod’s Diving Club, he enjoys diving, boating and snowmobiling.

The above article was printed in the Green Bay Press Gazette and written by Sean Schults sschultz@greenbaypressgazette.com.