Name: Russell Brenner
Courier Position: Driver / Client Relationship Manager.
Number:

Russell, how long have you been a courier?
The better part of 9 years.

Where are you from?
I was born in Houston, but grew up in Katy, Texas.

How did you first get into the courier/messenger industry?
I responded to an ad in the newspaper and I started as a driver. I was desperate at that point and the choice I made opened a world of freedom, which I ultimately embraced. After less than a year of driving, I befriended many of the downtown bike messengers, which gave me the idea to become a bike courier. Being a bicycle fanatic, I joined the downtown crew and enjoyed every minute of it! That choice allowed me to meet people of all walks of life and also realize the happiness I yearned for….

What was your profession before becoming a courier?
I was a student attending Texas Tech University.

What would the perfect job for you be?
I believe the perfect job for me would be working ski patrol in the winter and being a white water river guide in the summer! Yet, I'm happy with my current work.

What do you do in your leisure time/what are your hobbies?
In my leisure time I enjoy many activities; spending time with my wife and my family, camping, bicycling, listening to music, watching sporting events (I'm a huge fan of baseball & football!) & enjoying a good movie.

What is your greatest passion?
My greatest passions are sports and music. I must also add that being an inspiration to my two younger sisters (one 17 & the other 18) and my brother (16) is also a great passion of mine; being a "Big Brother" is something that I cherish!

What makes you mad?
Incompetent and ignorant behavior.

What makes you happy?
Accomplishing my goals and helping others…. especially my friends and loved ones.

What one word do you think describes yourself?
I believe that "compassionate" describes me best.

What one word do you think others describe you as?
I believe that others would describe me as "empathetic".

What is one of the funniest/weirdest things that has happened to you while messing [being a bike courier]?
Many things come to mind… One day I was delivering a package to 700 Louisiana on my bike, when I saw a guy shaking a pole violently. I stopped and watched this idiot actually break the pole and pick up the bike that was locked to it. This brilliant thief nearly knocked himself out when the pole broke and bashed him on his head. He hopped on the bike and started riding in my direction, when I immediately pulled my U-Lock out from my courier bag and shouted at the guy, "Hey pal, that's not your bike!" Stunned by my yelling, he frantically rode around me and turned into oncoming traffic. Cars swerved nearly hitting him -- I radioed my dispatcher of the situation and started following him. Finally, he stopped riding, dropped the bike and took off running! I grabbed the bike and radioed the "APB" description to my co-workers, but by the time they arrived at my location, the "thief guy" had made his escape in a nearby building. He left a trail of blood drops that led into the tunnel system, but he was nowhere to be found!

I returned to the location where the bike was stolen and explained to the courier that owned the stolen bike about the thief and the broken pole - he seemed quite confused by the whole matter! I tried to explain the fiasco while giving her bike back to her -- ironically, it was her first day of work as a bike courier! She was grateful and I was very happy to be of help.

What do you consider as your greatest accomplishment?

Where do you think the courier/messenger industry as a whole will be in 5 years?
I believe that a greater demand for the 'highest' quality of service will insure growth for companies like MACH 5 who meet and exceed those needs. The fax machine and the internet cannot replace the transportation of original signature documents and parcels.