A Special Invitation
Back in February, Lola Thomas-Albright took U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on a ride in her truck. They talked about the pros and cons of being a woman in the trucking industry, ways the USDOT can support drivers, and recruiting more women and veterans to the industry.
A few weeks later, Lola got a voicemail from the Secretary. He wanted to know: would Lola and her granddaughter be interested in coming out to Washington D.C. for a press conference at the White House? Not your normal, everyday voicemail message!
The call came on a Thursday. By Sunday, Lola and granddaughter Lola-Ann were on a plane heading for D.C. Lola-Ann was a bit nervous to fly for the first time, so the White House got in touch with the airline to arrange a few surprises. When they got on board, the captains invited Lola-Ann up to the cockpit for a special tour! She also got a certificate that said “Let the Adventure Begin,” signed by everyone on the plane.
“The White House knew that [she was nervous], so they were trying to make sure she was at ease,” said Lola.
Sights & Sounds
In addition to attending a press conference hosted by President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg, Lola and Lola-Ann enjoyed a full White House tour, including the Vice-President’s office and the War Room (where the famous photo of the team watching the Bin Laden raid was taken).
Interested in hearing Lola tell the story? Check out our latest episode on the Terminal Exchange!
Below is a photo gallery, as well as a clip from the press conference and Lola’s interview with WGN Chicago. Enjoy!
