This Father’s Day, the Uber Houston team wants to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the wonderful fathers out there who always make time for family.

We’d like to introduce you to John and Steve – two dedicated dads who proudly serve their loved ones and the people of Houston every day.

John

Father of: Amarachi (6), Jarrid (19), Jessica (27), and Capri (32)

John has a warm personality and lights up when he talks about his family. With four healthy children, including a successful actress and a college football star, John has a lot to smile about.

A man of the people, John consistently finds himself taking care of others; for example, he served as a bodyguard for clients around the world earlier in his career. He and his fiancé, Ukeme, now find themselves busy taking care of their recently adopted daughter, Amarachi. John enjoys family time and being the main cook in the household when he’s not driving. When asked what he cooks best, he isn’t shy about letting us know: “I make a mean spaghetti sauce.”

John moved to the Bayou City from Ohio just over a year ago to be closer to his youngest son and cheer him on at UH Cougar football games. He worked as a car salesman when he first arrived in town, but unexpected health issues left John with costly medical expenses. Driving with Uber helped him cover his hospital bills, and now he uses his earnings to supplement his family’s income while he learns the ins and outs of the real estate world.

“I love my riders,” John says. “We’re all one people at the end of the day, and I always try to leave them with a positive, encouraging word. With all the strife in the world, it’s always nice to just be able to make someone smile.”

Besides great conversations with riders, John’s favorite part of partnering with Uber is the flexibility it provides. “The greatest thing about Uber is getting to spend time with my daughter,” he says. “I’ve been blessed.”

Steve

Steve met his wife Shelly while studying at Harvard in 1988, and they have been happily married for 27 years now. The two spent years wandering across the United States, but after nine years in Houston, they’re happy to have settled down here. While two of their kids are out of the nest (Alexis studies Entertainment Management at Belmont and Samantha just graduated from the New York School of Interior Design), Steve and Shelly still have their three youngest at home to keep them busy.

After Steve lost his job in sales last year, he started driving with Uber while he figured out where to go with his career. Steve enjoyed Uber so much that he’s still driving now in addition to maintaining several e-commerce storefronts and preparing to launch his own startup.

When describing his relationship with riders, Steve replies that he considers himself a “professional dad.” His riders often seek life advice, and he loves the opportunity to share insights from his 55 years of life.

“It’s an amazing opportunity,” Steve says. “You never know what you’ll run into, but I’m honored to have the unique chance to share some open encouragement with people.”

Steve also feels that an attitude of encouragement is the key to being a good father. He says that the most important part of fatherhood is “to instill in my children a sense of self-worth, and to make sure they know that they are loved and valuable just the way they are.”

Thanks again to John and Steve for providing Houstonians with safe rides and friendly service throughout the year. And to all of the fathers who keep our city moving, thank you for everything you do, both on the road and off. Happy Father’s Day!