Moorpark business earns award
Company provides transportation for the disabled
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

When Charles Devlin drove a school bus carrying children with special needs for the Los Angeles County Office of Education in the early 1980s, his mind wasn't idle behind the wheel.

He continually sought ways to improve the transportation system. His ingenuity didn't go unnoticed. In 1982, Devlin was hired by Los Angeles County officials to serve as director of transportation.

Devlin enjoyed his 12year career as an administrator, but the local entrepreneur eventually decided to fuse his professional knowledge with his dream to own a business.

Devlin started R&D Transportation in 1991 to coordinate transportation services for disabled individuals in the tri-county region, which included Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties.

"Children with disabilities touched my heart and I wanted to do something to help them," he said.

Devlin's assistance came in the form of consulting with transportation providers to help them maximize the effectiveness of services provided to riders.

R & D now brokers transportation services for school districts and regional centers throughout California which provide services for individuals with development disabilities.

The community took note again.

The entrepreneur recently received a Small Business Administration's Spirit of Small Business award.

"The award is appreciated because it's recognition that we're doing something right," said Devlin, crediting his employees for a job well done.

Businesses like R&D are deserving of praise because they provide valuable services and employment opportunities in the community, said Becki Walker, director of the Small Business Development Center Program for Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

The award is given as recognition of what the company has done in the community and because it's a good small business, she said.

The spirit awards are coproduced by Pacific Business Times and the SBA to honor small businesses that contribute to the community's quality of life and to the local job growth and creation, among other things.

Entrepreneurs are important for the economy, said Walker. About 51 percent of the people employed in the US are employed by small businesses, according to the 2004 U.S. census.