Meet Jeff
Jeff Fortune has been with Long Beach Transit (LBT) for 19 years and currently serves as the Capital and Grants Planner in the Finance and Budget Department. In this role, he works closely with funding agencies and project managers to ensure that LBT uses funds appropriately and plans future projects to secure the funding needed to keep them moving forward.
Jeff’s favorite part about working at LBT is being part of a supportive and fun team while knowing that his work directly benefits the community. “Working in Finance, it’s really more like FUNance,” he shared. “Everyone on the team has a good time, and the camaraderie is great. I also take pride in knowing that what we do in capital and grants helps ensure our customers have access to the best buses, bus stops, and technology.”
Jeff first learned about LBT from his father-in-law, who spent 32 years as a bus operator before retiring. After his father-in-law’s retirement, Jeff saw an opening in the payroll department and decided to apply, starting his journey with LBT. “I worked in payroll for 11 years before joining the Capital and Grants team, where I’ve now been for 9 years,” he shared. “Between my father-in-law and me, we can proudly say we’ve been part of LBT for 51 years.”
Jeff grew up in Garden Grove and often took public transit as a teenager to go to the beach with friends. Reflecting on his lifelong experience with public transit, he offers this advice to first-time riders: “Never feel shy to ask for help. Our bus operators and customer care team, whether over the phone or down at the Transit Visitor & Information Center, are really helpful and can make your experience a lot easier.”
When he isn’t working at LBT, Jeff enjoys spending time with his family riding electric bikes all over Long Beach and Orange County.
If you are interested in being a part of your community like Jeff, LBT is currently looking for a Senior Grants Accountant to join the Capital and Grants team. Learn more about this and other positions at ridelbt.com/careers.
Thank you for all you do for the community Jeff!
