TAKE FIVE with Isabel Mercedes Cumming, MBA '89, J.D. '93, Asst. Inspector General of Investigations for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
4:40 AM
Wake up and get ready. Around 5:20 AM, make sure there is water for the three indoor dogs and feed the cat. Then I run into this barn and feed the horse, Tucker. Next 5:27 AM, jump back in my car and drive halfway up the driveway where I stop and run out and feed the alpacas at a different barn. Also feed Achilles, our Italian Maremma dog who guards the alpacas. Then jump in the car at 5:35 AM and start my commute!
7:00 AM
Living next to Solomon’s Island in Calvert County results in about an hour and 15 minute drive. It passes quickly as I listen to books on tape or call and wake up sleeping friends. All roads lead to the Suitland Metro where I jump on the Green Line train. I actually love the Metro and have taken it to work every single day of my five year career at WMATA.
7:30 AM
Arriving at the Gallery Place/Chinatown metro stop and walking to my office. It is only one block away and next to the Verizon Center. I will spend the next 8 to 9 hours here with my team of Special Agents trying to ferret out waste, fraud and abuse in the system. We get 400 hotline complaints a year and we issue 25 reports of investigation that go the Board of Directors for management action. We also handle the whistleblower program – never a dull minute. My investigation team is the best.
6:20 PM
Back in the quiet of the farm, I stop in my driveway before I get to the house and feed the alpacas their evening meal. They eat hay and grain. Achilles also gets his evening meal and then I have to clean up what animals do. My alpacas make me smile everyday and each one has their own personality – that is Kiki standing in front of me with my shovel, Angel and the Diva are behind. We have seven alpacas and we sell their fleece once it has been spun into to yarn.
7:30 PM
We take the three indoor dogs; Little Girl, Chase and Boomer for their evening walk. It is always fun – we go about a mile. Then it is time to wind down, watch a little TV and head off to sleep around 10PM to do it all over again.