Talk Around Town Tuesday – My Transportation Company, LLC by Lisa J. with photos by Marcy Jamrok Photography
Welcome to Talk Around Town Tuesday, where Hometown Happenings spotlights local businesses and those who make what we do possible, our sponsors. This week we had the opportunity to find out a little more about someone with great passion for what he does and an incredible story behind how he started MTC-My Transportation Company. A Crown Point native, accountant by trade, and all-around good guy, Mark T. Camarena will inspire you with his energy and, as a plus, pick you up for your important events. As a sponsor of Hometown’s Run Like a Mother 5K, we are happy to have him on our team and excited to promote MTC!
Mark, can you tell us a little about MTC and how you got started?
My sister at a young age was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and needed chemotherapy and transportation provided by the same person in a comfortable setting on a regular basis. Unfortunately, there are not many such transportation options currently available in the Northwest Indiana area. Before I knew it, I had purchased a van for her to be more comfortable in and was transporting her. It felt good to be helpful in this battle.
I had the thought that this may be an opportunity to start a business doing exactly what I was doing for my sister. So, on October 31, 2017 I visited a business adviser with the NWI Small Business Development Center, and a free consulting service for people in business, and she said to just go for it and helped me file all the paperwork. Therefore, my official start as MTC-My Transportation Company was on Halloween, which is a great Holiday because you can be anything you want. It is also my younger nephew’s birthday.
Do you have a Mission Statement and if so, can you share it with us? 
The MTC-My Transportation Company LLC Mission Statement is to provide reasonably priced, safe & enjoyable travel within a 75-mile radius of our Dyer Indiana Home base.
What types of services to you provide at MTC-My Transportation Company?
Our services are mostly pre planned travel with at least 24-hour notice. However, if we are available, we will take spur of the moment rides. We currently operate 2 vans & have 2 drivers, myself and my mother, Pam Camarena. My mom was a school bus driver for the Crown Point school system for over 20 years. Our 3 most popular destinations are Midway, O’Hare, and Northwestern Hospital in Chicago. We offer flat rate transportation. You give us the pickup address and where you are going, and we give you a price with no hidden costs. In addition to the most popular locations, we do local transport as well. Our hub spans within 10 minutes of Community Hospital, Northwest Oncology, Franciscan Health in Dyer, Franciscan Health Munster and many more medical offices. We have transported to the United Center, Valparaiso University, The Chicago Theater, the Horseshoe casino, several Chicago hotels, and many more. In summary, we provide door to door transportation service within a 75-mile radius of Dyer, Indiana for a flat rate fee with vehicles that hold up to 6 passengers. It’s a flat rate per trip. There are additional charges for additional stops. Cash and all major credit cards are accepted (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and Amex).
Do you have any interesting stories from your trips as MTC?
I collect lots of fascinating stories in my travels and to hear them you can travel with me. Our service is not just for senior citizens, but we do have a good deal of clientele that due to health issues aren’t able to drive so it is always great to see the joy on their faces when we help them get where they need to go. Just this weekend I drove some folks up to the KISS concert at the United Center and late last year drove them to see Carol Burnett at the Chicago Theater. So, from Carol Burnett to KISS, we go where the people want to be.
Well Mark, next time I’m looking for a ride, you are definitely first on my list, especially if you have some fascinating stories to tell! While MTC’s story about how it began is inspiring itself, Mark’s personal story behind it all, will give you hope. To read more about that, check out the MTC website at https://www.mtc.me/ . And of course, if you are needing a ride to an appointment, a concert, the airport or the city, give MTC a call at 219-487-8344.
Also, as a side note, MTC is donating to 2 VIP tickets to see Darci Lynne Farmer, winner of America’s Got Talent at the Porter County Fair on Thursday July 18, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. CST for the Hometown Happenings Run Like a Mother 5K. To find out how, register today!