MEET YOUR SAM-EL TRANSIT SOLUTIONS DUO!

Our Story

Sam-El Transit Solutions was born at the bedside.

Elvia has spent over 15 years caring for patients at Good Shepherd Health Care System, building her career step-by-step from Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and now Registered Nurse (RN). Ever since she was growing up in Mexico, my mom always dreamed of becoming a nurse—and when she got the opportunity to pursue that dream, she poured her whole heart into making it a reality. Growing up completely bilingual, I (Samantha) spent my childhood traveling back and forth to stay with family in Mexico—a cultural connection and shared language that deeply shaped how we both communicate and care for others.

Through her recent years on the floor, my mom noticed an emerging gap in patient care: over the last year or so, patients medically cleared for weekend discharge were increasingly stuck in hospital beds simply because no non-emergency medical transportation was available on Saturdays or Sundays. Furthermore, local NEMT options were mostly limited to Hermiston, leaving families scrambling whenever patients needed transport to specialists in Pendleton or the Tri-Cities.

Having worked in healthcare since graduating high school—split between hands-on CNA care and healthcare administration—I recognized how critical administrative precision, scheduling, and regional coordination were to solving those exact barriers.

Combining Mom’s 15 years of bedside clinical growth with my administrative and hands-on care experience, our bilingual perspective, and our deep commitment to community, we launched Sam-El Transit Solutions to bridge the gap—providing reliable, weekend-ready, door-through-door transit across the broader region.

Powered by Family

While Mom and I are the faces on the front line, Sam-El is truly supported by our entire family.

My brother, Robert, is a core part of our family foundation—keeping us grounded and reminding us of the importance of community and staying connected. Meanwhile, my partner, Travis, serves as our trusted sounding board, mediator, and voice of reason whenever we're navigating big business decisions. Growing up around his dad’s local business, Travis knows firsthand what it takes to support a family-owned operation. Plus, as a racecar driver, he understands the mechanics of precision, vehicle safety, and responsible driving better than anyone—a perspective that constantly reinforces our commitment to keeping our transport vehicles held to the highest standards.

What’s in a Name? (And a Color Palette!)

People often ask us where the name Sam-El came from. Naturally, it’s a fusion of our names—Samantha and Elvia. But as the resident nerd of the duo, I couldn't resist leaning into the Kryptonian ring of it (a subtle tip of the hat to Kal-El himself, because providing hero-level care is always the goal!).

As for our brand colors? That’s a loving nod to my lifelong Harry Potter obsession—a passion Mom has always indulged me in growing up (lovingly, and within reason, of course!). We wanted our brand to reflect not just our clinical professionalism, but the personality, warmth, and genuine bond that brought this company to life.

Making Memories Along the Way

Outside of our healthcare work, we’re firm believers in making the most of every opportunity and creating memories together as a family. Whether it’s traveling abroad, spending a day at an amusement park with the family, or heading out to a live concert, we love taking advantage of life's moments. That same appreciation for living life to the fullest is what we bring to Sam-El—helping our clients stay connected, mobile, and supported so they can keep enjoying their own journeys too.

Going Beyond "Door-to-Door"

While standard services often stop at "door-to-door" curb drops, we go the extra mile. For us, true care means door-through-door service: making sure our clients are safely accompanied inside, assisted through the lobby, and checked in for their appointment before we step away.

As a family team, full-spectrum care is at the heart of everything we do. Whether it’s a weekend hospital discharge, a specialist appointment in a neighboring city, or routine care, we treat every passenger with the same patience, dignity, and warmth we would expect for our own loved ones.