As the transportation director for Kentucky River Foothills, Tyler Burris ’13 does a lot of different things in a day. He supervises 40 employees, including 35 drivers and a mechanic. He oversees the department’s $2 million annual budget and keeps finances in check. He fills out federal grant applications and submits monthly reports. He orders new vehicles for their public routes and shuttle services. He even drives when needed and, in a pinch, acts as dispatcher.
“We are a small operation, and everyone has their hands in the cookie jar,” Burris said. “I help out wherever I’m needed.”
The services Burris oversees constitute the only public transportation in Foothills’ four-county service area of Clark, Estill, Madison and Powell. Along with three scheduled bus routes, Foothills provides the Big E Transit Service on the Eastern Kentucky University campus, a Madison County Connector Service, Intercity Service runs to airports, train stations and national bus stations, non-emergency medical transportation and, occasionally, local festivals.
Foothills is the largest human services agency in its service area, with a mission to remove barriers to essential services. Transportation can be a huge barrier, especially in small towns and rural areas, and the nonprofit provides services at a low cost to ensure they are accessible to everyone in the community.
“Foothills Express bridges a gap for people, whether it’s a Medicaid client in need of life-saving dialysis or someone whose personal vehicle breaks down and is in the shop for a couple of days,” Burris said.
Burris was born and raised in Rockcastle County, just south of Berea. His grandparents owned a video store and tanning salon in Brodhead. It was a happening place, back in the day, and Burris would head over after school to join his mom, who worked there. He might not have attended Berea College without the influence of his high school AP chemistry teacher, Ms. Barker, who was an alumna. She was pivotal in his decision to
apply and helped guide him through the process.
As a business major with a marketing concentration, one of Burris’ favorite memories was being a “mystery shopper” in the college bookstore for a marketing class. While the shop was doing well overall, the students’ marketing analysis generated a few ideas for improvement that they presented to management. He felt they made a tangible difference.
Along the way, Burris had many challenging classes and professors, but he realized and understood the value of a Berea College education through those classes and professors. He even made a point of thanking one teacher for what he learned before he graduated.
It’s been an amazing journey with Foothills, and I am using my expertise to help people. They truly care about the community, and I feel like I am at home.
Tyler Burris ’13
Serving in work positions in both the facilities management office and the office of internships gave Burris valuable business and marketing experience. After graduation, he grew discouraged about finding a job but kept pushing himself to apply. That persistence, plus the power of his Berea College degree and work experience, helped him land a marketing position at Rural Transit Enterprises Coordinated, Inc. (RTEC), a transportation company that serves 15 counties in Southeastern Kentucky, reaching to the Tennessee border. Six years later, he worked his way up to his current position at Foothills. He says he wouldn’t be there without his Berea College degree.
Family and community are important to Burris. He has been married to his wife, Candice, for nine years, and together they have a 5-year-old son, Canyon. He returned home for many weekends in college to attend church and spend time with his parents and brother. When his dad had a stroke during his Berea years, he made every effort to help as needed. As he was seeking work after graduation, they provided a soft spot to land. Traveling with the Berea College golf team exposed him to other areas and opened his eyes to a wider world, but Kentucky is home.
One of the things Burris loves about Foothills is that it is about more than transportation. As the oldest community action agency in Kentucky, founded in 1962, it reaches much of the community through its 40 programs. Foothills removes barriers to housing, education, healthcare, employment and social connection, helping individuals and families achieve long-term stability and independence.
The work at Foothills aligns with Burris’ desire to be of service and his passion for making life better for his Appalachian neighbors. He watched his mom work in the medical field and saw how much serving there meant to her, but he didn’t feel compelled to enter that field. In college, he had an insurance company internship that proved to him it wasn’t his cup of tea. He knew he could find his forte in business in another way.
“It made me want to help out more in some form or fashion, so I made the decision to go that route,” Burris said. “It’s been an amazing journey with Foothills, and I am using my expertise to help people. They truly care about the community, and I feel like I am at home.”
