Building Bridges: A Look into the Impact of an Internal Mentoring Program

Blogs Culture Talent Acquisition

22 Nov 2024

At the start of 2024, Trailer Bridge launched an internal mentoring program, Building Bridges, to help break down traditional barriers to mentorship and empower its employees to invest in their professional growth. More than a quarter of the company’s employees signed up for the program throughout the course of the year – taking advantage of an opportunity to connect, learn and grow.

Leadership set four main pillars to guide the development and execution of the Building Bridges program: Service to Others, Provide Professional Development, Foster Connection and Encourage Cross-Organization Collaboration.

Today’s statistics on the importance of mentorship more than support the investment of time and funds into a program such as this and the pay off in tenfold – for mentees and mentors. A study by Women Ahead reported, “87% of mentors and mentees feel empowered by their mentoring relationships and have developed greater confidence.”

The stats from the post-program survey of Building Bridges participants showed similar numbers related to satisfaction in the mentor/mentee experience. Here are a few key data points about the impact of the program.

85% of Building Bridges participants reported they would participate in the program again

Respondents rated their experiences 4.4 out of 5 based on the expertise of their mentors

77% of participants said they found the program extremely helpful or helpful

“My belief has always been, you take care of your employees first,” said Trailer Bridge CEO Mitch Luciano. “This program is one small way we can do that. Serving as a mentor left me feeling energized and excited about our future – because I was able to develop stronger relationships with individuals throughout our organization and really get to know them – who they are, their wants, goals, ambitions. That connection matters.”

With TB’s network of locations, the Building Bridges program helped facilitate connection among colleagues based on their personal interests. Not only were they matched with a mentor on a specific topic, but three to four other TB employees who also wanted to learn about the topic. For some, the connection was more personal.

“In my second cohort, I learned that three of us in the group shared a family history in the trucking industry,” said Whitney Ennis, Vice President Marketing and Communications at Trailer Bridge. “That tie to something so personal is so valuable in building relationships, and its something that is only done when we take time to prioritize human connection through programs like this.”

Here’s what a few participants had to say about the program.

“It was good to see alternate perspectives from people in different positions.” – Adam Baltz, Capacity Manager, Jacksonville
“It’s been great getting to know people from different areas in the company and what their day-to-day looks like at TB.” – Andre Santos, National Sales Account Executive, West Coast
“Many of the leaders have valuable insights on not only the business but also how to advance professionally within whatever career you are in.” – Nathaniel Little, Accountant I, Jacksonville
“I appreciate the leaders of the groups allowing for open and honest conversation with all the participants.” – Jake Willis, Operations Manager, Kansas

The participant feedback is guiding TB’s leadership team as they prepare for launch year two of Building Bridges at the start of 2025. The continuous improvement of the program is key to the company’s learning and development offerings.

“Research from SHRM (Society of Human Resources Management) shows about 76 percent of employees are more likely to stay with an employer who offers development opportunities,” said Trailer Bridge Vice President Employee Services Kacy Swanson. “Programs like Building Bridges are key parts to the comprehensive benefits package we offer to our people and its our responsibility as leaders to keep investing in them.