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The Trailer Bridge Dominican Republic Team Accepts the 2024 Excellent Supplier award from the Hayco Group.
Loads of Gratitude!
It’s easy to get busy in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, but taking a moment to reflect on the things we are grateful for is time well spent. In fact, recent research shows gratitude – or being grateful –not only positively impacts our psychological health but also our physical health.
We asked you to build ‘Loads of Gratitude’ with us and you did not disappoint! Here are a few of the submissions we received.
The HayCo Group Honors TB with Award
Trailer Bridge was recently awarded the 2024 Excellent Supplier award from the Hayco Group. The manufacturer partners with TB to ship its goods from the Dominican Republic to the states using our fleet of 53-foot containers.
Anibal Mendieta, Dominican Republic Country Manager, was at the company’s annual event to accept the award along with his team Caroline Abreu, Senior Sales Executive (far left), and Nicole Tolentino, Operations & Logistics Assistant (second from right). The award recognizes the team’s commitment to partnership, innovation and excellence.
The DR team has worked hard to develop a strong relationship with Hayco resulting in steady Northbound freight, 100+ containers per week, as well as key Southbound moves. Anibal shared this reflection about the award:
“I would like to thank everyone who has been involved with the growing, evolving and expansion of TB DR. Everyone has done a great job with Hayco, but I want to raise the awesome flag to the people who have gone the extra mile to make this happen: Rossanna Amarante with dedicated customer service and the entire DR operations team for handling the high demand of Hayco’s forecast. To all, with love, and appreciation, GREAT JOB.”
Trailer Bridge Named #6 Best Place to Work by Jacksonville Business Journal!
We’re excited to share that Trailer Bridge has been ranked #6 in the Jacksonville Business Journal’s Best Places to Work for the Large Company category! What makes this honor even more special is that it marks the 8th consecutive year we’ve earned a spot on the list.
This award is especially unique because it’s based entirely on feedback from the people who matter most—our team members. We’re incredibly proud of our team for making Trailer Bridge a place where people truly enjoy coming to work and contributing to something bigger.
Here is what a few of had to say in the survey:
“This is an amazing place to work. We value each other and what we bring to the table to accomplish the goal of this company being successful. The leadership understands that without valued people you cannot succeed.”
“The company fosters a supportive and inclusive environment where every team member feels valued and empowered. Employees are encouraged to continuously learn and develop their skills.”
“This is a company that sees a future full of possibilities and is connected to the people inside, as well as outside, the organization. They strive to invoke team spirit, success in what we do, and stay engaged.”
Women in Supply Chain Forum
A Time for Connection & Inspiration
lineup included speakers from Ulta Beauty, Coca-Cola, Fanatics, Uber Freight and more. Attendees were invited to network through various activities including a Coffee & Conversations roundtable activity where TB hosted a table on self-advocacy.
Trailer Bridge’s Vice President of Marketing & Communications Whitney Ennis and Vice President of Employee Services, Kacy Swanson, were named 2024 Women in Supply Chain Awardees and attended the event in Atlanta.
We sat down with the two leaders to get their insights on key topics discussed at this year’s event. Read the full interview with Kacy & Whitney here
Sidney Klimko who also attended and shared her reflections from the experience
“At the conference, Jennifer Kobus urged us to “Be Authentic. Be Outspoken. Be Collaborative,” emphasizing the importance of genuine leadership and teamwork. Sandhya Pillay said, “I can show you the door, but I cannot walk you through it,” reminding us that while guidance is valuable, personal growth and success ultimately depend on our own actions. These two perspectives, for me, highlight the balance between guidance and initiative, and the value of both authenticity and independence in achieving meaningful progress.”
Mitch Celebrates 20 Years of Radical Leap with Author Steve Farber
Last month Mitch joined Steve Farber, author of The Radical Leap’ on the ‘The Leap Hour’ to talk about the power of people-centric leadership and how the principles of LEAP can be applied to build a strong workplace culture.
The conversation celebrated the book’s 20-year anniversary and explored how Mitch used LEAP to transform TB’s culture when he stepped into the CEO role in 2014.
Did you miss the webinar? Watch the recording here
Listening & Diffusing Conflict
Our Skill Enhancement & Employee Development (S.E.E.D.) program delivers microlearning content straight from your Paycor Learning Management System each month to support a culture of learning.
This month’s S.E.E.D. focus is all about Listening and Diffusing Conflict. This is a great time to sharpen your skill set and reset to achieve the goals you laid out for the year.
December Courses:
• Lead by Listening
• Five Steps to Problem-Solving & Diffusing Upset Customers
• Stress Management – Taking Care of Yourself
Find these classes and more in your PayCor portal under the People tab on your left-hand search bar. In this section, you’ll see ‘Learning Management System’ which unlocks these benefits for you.
If you have trouble accessing your learning, reach out to Catherine Boyer Porter at ckporter@trailerbridge.com.
Building Bridges 2024 Reflecting on the Impact of Mentorship
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 our employees signed up for the program throughout the course of the year – taking advantage of an opportunity to connect, learn and grow.
A study by Women Ahead reported, “87% of mentors and mentees feel empowered by their mentoring relationships and have developed greater confidence.”
In the post-program survey of Building Bridges, participants showed similar satisfaction levels regarding the mentor/mentee experience.
Building Bridges 2025 kicks off in January with a new set of topics to support your professional
development in the new year. Here’s a sneak peek at a few of the topics:
• Self-Advocacy & Personal Branding
• Executive Presence & Leadership
• Effective Communication
• Strategic Selling & Customer Success
• Soft Skills for Success Today
The 2025 Building Bridges registration link is COMING SOON – be on the lookout and don’t miss this opportunity to learn, grow and connect with colleagues across TB Nation.
Read our latest TB blog highlighting the impact of the 2024 program, here
Honoring our Veterans!
Each November we pause to celebrate and honor our U.S. Military Veterans they are the true definition of ‘Making it Happen’! We are grateful for your service to our country and we are proud you are a member of TB Nation.
Congratulations to Creative Services Specialist Alejandro Rodriguez and his wife Tary on the addition of Baby Girl Milena to the family! Milena was born on Saturday, November 16 weighing 8lbs and measuring 21” long. We hear big brother Diogo is a big fan!
Congratulations to Senior Account Manager and Cargo Management Denigh Elizabeth on her recent engagement to Brian! He popped the question while on a walk around Amelia Island and she quickly said YES.
Another baby girl is added to the Trailer Bridge family! Join us in congratulating Kalifa Davis on the Logistics Accounting Team on the birth of her new baby girl Kadaina Princess Hazel on November 23, weighing 5lbs and 15oz.
Congratulations to Jennifer Gutierrez, Sr. HR & Payroll Specialist, and her husband Ronnie on the birth of their first baby, Ryan Leigh. Their sweet baby boy was born on November 29 weighing 7lbs, 3 oz and measuring 18.5 inches long.
Our friends in Jacksonville recently sprinkled Senior HR & Payroll Specialist Jennifer Gutierrez with love before her and her husband Ronnie welcomed their baby boy Ryan Leigh.
The Logistics Support team embraced out core value, ‘Create + Be Fun’ helping Tom the Turkey disguise himself ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Check out the team’s creativity!
TB Bucks Pass Along the Gratitude
Has a coworker made a difference in your day? Take a moment to recognize their commitment to service with a TB Buck! Each month, you can send one TB Buck to someone whose efforts have made your day brighter, your job easier, or the workplace better.
Click here to submit a TB Buck today.
Here are a few of the shoutouts from this past month
“ Peyton [Carnley] has been crushing production numbers, never hesitates to assist where needed, and is a valuable member of the team.”
TB12: Deliver Exceptional Service to Everyone
“ Morgan [Cox] is always available to help and goes the extra mile to assist in other positions when their collages are out of the office. She is extremely efficient and reliable.”
TB12: Deliver Exceptional Service to Everyone
“ Morgan [Cox] is what I call a busy bee, she is always on top of things and does her job delivering exceptional service to our external and internal customers. I’m so grateful for all the help she provides me personally with all my accounts. :)”
TB12: Deliver Exceptional Service to Everyone
“Love Morgan [Cox] so much, she’s always on point when it comes to scheduling deliveries or pickups. She also is the one person that can cover most areas in her department. SHE IS A BAD ASS.”
TB12: Be Fast and Accurate
This month we are taking a different approach to the Chicken Lights – rather than focusing on one individual, we want to highlight the team focused on Carrier Management and coverage. These are our go-to people for getting freight moved and we want to encourage all our account managers to build solid relationships with these individuals throughout the TB network.
Be on the lookout for a simplified version of our carrier and open booking rules coming soon! And don’t forget to leverage our new piece of technology, GenLogs, to support your freight. COMING SOON!
— Thank You! —
Bryan Lakatos
Zach Alexander
Stephanie Frazee
Brandon Riggan
Brandon Hooks
Brian Herrick
Daniel McMillan
Jake Langlois
John Burnash
Logan Stoldt
Luke Ochsner
Madi Coulter
Matthew Lowery
Phillip Cros
Logan Lewis
Tyler Foster
Godrick Grand
Raquel Illingworth
Jake Hoffman
Marcellis Jewett
Brock Weinfurter
Aren Felix
Kyle Edwards
Danny Torres
Avery Blintiff
Heather Hensley
Noah Wilson
Chris Cole
Tyler Harris
Tyler Lippy
Andrew Fonseca
Jake Mills
Noah Beegle
Kiet Chau
Brendan Fuller
Sean Sziklas
Hannah Willingham
Tim Stegink
Vincent Manzi
Jake Moredcai
ClassPass For The Win
Holidays can be stressful – use your ClassPass membership, a perk paid for by Trailer Bridge, to schedule a little self-care to relax and unwind. The app offers a variety of choices from hard-hitting workouts to relaxing wellness treatments and beauty services.
Don’t miss out – take advantage of your 12 credits in December!
Get Moving with the
TB Running Club
TB Well will sponsor one 5k entry a quarter for employees in locations outside of Jacksonville. Just send the info for the 5k of your choice to wellnesscommittee@trailerbridge.com and the committee will get you signed up.
Next up! Light Up the House 5k and Block Party, supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville, is the Q4 Jacksonville Run Club event.
Friday, December 6
Registration: 5pm Light Up the House 5K: 6pm Block Party: 5:00pm to 8:00pm
TB team members from our Jacksonville locations recently joined Greenscape of Jacksonville to plant trees and support a healthy environment in Northeast Florida.
The trees planted at McGirts Creek Regional Park will help absorb stormwater runoff protecting the nearby tributary that runs into the St. Johns River and ultimately our river. The St. Johns River is an important partner in our business.
BONUS: All the volunteers left with a greener thumb!
Planting Roots for a Greener Jacksonville Mark Your Calendar! Wreaths Across America at Jacksonville National Cemetery
Saturday, December 14 | 8:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Join us as we remember the fallen and honor those who have served with our friends at Wreaths Across America. Each year, Trailer Bridge partners with owner-operator Kenneth Foshee to serve as a transportation provider for the charity delivering a truckload of wreaths from the Northeast to Jacksonville.
The convoy of delivery trucks, including Ken, will arrive at the park at 9:30 a.m. Volunteers will then help unload the wreaths and stage them in rows along the edge of the cemetery.
Driver of the Month Eduardo Kreysa
For the month of December, the Truck Operations Department has selected Eduardo Kreysa as Driver of the Month. He was chosen because of his hard work and dedication to serving our clients at the highest level. The team says they are especially impressed by how he keeps the team motivated and on track, which was instrumental in helping us deliver a product that surpassed the clients’ expectations.
“Kreysa is always willing to help our team and change loads if needed or change his backhaul to pick up a hot load without question and with pride. He is very personable and a joy to speak with. He is a driver we can count on to MAKE IT HAPPEN!
We appreciate his enthusiasm and friendly attitude, which helps everyone feel welcome and appreciated within our company.”
TB12 of the Month: Create + Be Fun
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
– Maya Angelou
Glossary Term of the Month:
Definition: A tax imposed by the government of a country or by a supranational union on imports or exports of goods.
Learn more about how the recent increase in tariffs and proposed tariffs by President-Elect Donald Trump will impact the industry in a recent webinar with TB’s Director of Intermodal Brent Neary and Director of NVOCC Zach Monger. Watch the video here.
We Make It Happen
Sales Spotlight
The following individuals have done a great job building relationships and securing large customers –setting the stage for a strong finish to 2024!
Kyle Olsen
Congratulations to Kyle Olsen, Director of Logistics, from our Kansas Branch for being spotlighted this month for his work to land Raytheon Technologies, an aviation and aerospace component manufacturer. In their first month, the shipper has moved 45 loads with TB resulting in $20,000 in margin!
Kyle also celebrates a promotion this month from Branch Manager to Director of Logistics! Way to ‘Make it Happen’ Kyle!
— NEW HIRES —
Christopher Paul Trailer Mechanic, I Jacksonville
Christian Cambrelen Welder Jacksonville
Eduardo Martin Logistics Sales & Ops Jacksonville
Jackson Pritchard Logistics Sales & Ops
Kansas City
— PROMOTIONS —
Dahlia Sarmiento Coordinator, ACM AR Jacksonville
Artemio Agosto Perez Director, Puerto Rico Port Puerto Rico
Casey Potter Manager, Jacksonville Port Jacksonville
Ed Bevilacqua Director, Logistics Raleigh
Inga Hysaj Manager, Cash Management Jacksonville
Pablo Salazar Supervisor, NITs & Vehicle Ops Jacksonville
Kyle Olsen Director, Logistics
Kansas City
December 2024
December 4TH
BOOK CLUB SESSION 3
UNREASONABLE HOSPITALITY
December 14TH
JACKSONVILLE CHRISTMAS PARTY
December 19TH
DECEMBER TOWN HALL
December 25TH
CHRISTMAS DAY ALL OFFICES CLOSED
January 1ST
NEW YEARS DAY ALL OFFICES CLOSED
Upcoming Birthdays
DEC 1
Jason Dowell
DEC 3
David Vasquez
DEC 4
Travis Chaires
DEC 7
Melanee Hill
DEC 8
Josh Aviles
Tyler Harris
DEC 9
Adam Baltzell
DEC 10
Russell Guy
Brian Herrick
DEC 12
Chad Potts
DEC 21
Zach Monger
DEC 27
Meliza Dross
Erica Simmons
DEC 28
Destiny Ford
Cheryl Kalin