Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Ellis

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

My name is Renee Ellis, founder and CEO of Ellis Transit, based in Fargo, North Dakota. My story is interwoven with my family and Indigenous roots. While I live in Fargo now, I grew up in the Navajo Nation. The remote and under-resourced environment was hard, but my family and tribe instilled a strong sense of community and culture that shaped me and my worldview.
One of my most profound experiences came during my youth while living in San Diego. I was caught up in an unhealthy lifestyle filled with drug abuse and bad relationships. Knowing I needed to change, I called my family for help and waited 32 hours at a payphone for my father to find me and take me home. With the unconditional love and support of my family, I endured the agony of withdrawals for four months, emerging sober. I remain in recovery today and advocate for behavioral health programs and support systems.
This memory fuels my resiliency in all the chapters of my story. I would not be where I am today without support from family, friends, and mentors. I value others’ perspectives and use empathy and kindness to create inclusive environments. For me, a part of self-care is being connected to my communities of fellow BIPOC women, LGBTQ+ spaces, and professional development peer networks. I find that practicing gratitude for my support system and paying it forward in this way helps manage sometimes daily challenges in caring for my mental health and emotional well-being. I draw inspiration to prioritize self-care from my son Sam, who recently graduated from high school. As he begins his adult journey, I strive to show him what it looks like to balance personal needs, good work ethic, and resilience.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

I have weathered many obstacles in my journey. As an Indigenous woman, I’ve had to navigate spaces far removed from my cultural roots. I’ve faced challenges like limited access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. The transportation industry is male-dominated, which poses challenges in my professional journey. Establishing my expertise and influence can be difficult due to stereotypes and preconceived notions. I want to eliminate my imposter syndrome and feel confident in my skills, knowledge, and abilities.
I was recently diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and am learning about the disability and its symptoms’ effects on my daily life and well-being. I continuously add to my toolbox to work with my diagnosis. These hurdles have only strengthened my resolve to succeed and advocate for others facing similar barriers. My scrappiness—a resourceful, determined, and adaptable attitude—drives me to overcome challenges.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

As the founder and CEO of Ellis Transit LLC, I am committed to providing culturally sensitive and community-focused transportation services in Cass (ND) and Clay (MN) counties, including Tribal Communities. We focus on engaging urban Indigenous populations in our service areas and Tribal Communities in adjacent and operational regions like White Earth Nation, Red Lake, and the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Reservation. By integrating communities into our planning and service delivery, we ensure that our impact is broad and connected.
Operating a smaller, Indigenous queer female-owned transportation company, I actively disrupt long-established transit spaces traditionally dominated by large, male-led, non-Indigenous corporations. This effort is not merely competitive; it is a form of decolonization, reclaiming autonomy over how we navigate our lands and interact with our spaces and reducing dependency on systems that do not reflect our values.
My work is connected to organizations and initiatives promoting BIPOC and 2SLGBTIA+ empowerment. My involvement in the Fargo Leaders of Color Giving Circle and Indigenous Business Association is meant to help marginalized identities create opportunities to thrive. By integrating DEI into my business and advocacy work, I aim to model how enterprises can operate successfully while uplifting the cultural dynamics of the communities they serve.
I continue expanding my transportation expertise to foster Indigenous knowledge creation and dissemination. My business is focused on the following goals: promoting social regeneration, bettering the economic conditions of others, and enhancing safety for women, particularly in response to the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) through transportation.
I am deeply committed to enhancing and supporting underserved and under-resourced peoples and communities. I constantly reflect on my personal and professional journey to foster a more just and equitable world. Whatever I’m working on, I want to support people’s overall well-being. This is Ellis Transit’s Mission and my life’s ethos.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?

My journey has taught me the power of faith, resilience, community support, and self-love. I’m blessed to have learned so much from my own journey and the journeys of others. Sharing our stories helps inspire creativity in solving challenges. I’ve learned that drawing from my personal and professional networks helps with continual growth.
I’ve recently begun to renew my spiritual practices to cultivate mindfulness and build on my well-being. By focusing on wellness, I am learning to manage my internal dialogue and negative self-talk. It helps me stay grounded and present, reducing stress and improving mental clarity. Exploring my spirituality is helping me to connect with my inner self, embracing my power, worth, and value as a woman.

Pricing:

• Pricing can be found on the website

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ridewithellis.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Ellis_Transit/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllisTransitLLC/about
• Other: https://api.whatsapp.com/send/?phone=12184434171&text&type=phone_number&app_absent=0