People First, Pt. 4: Meet the People First Core Values Award Winner, Courtney Underwood

Welcome back to our People First series recognizing TA Services’ award-winning employees. Last time, we featured Clay Vines, a winner of our Extra Mile Award. Today, we spotlight Courtney Underwood, the winner of our People First Core Values Award.

Our Core Values Awards are new, annual awards recognizing TA’s exemplary team members who embody our core values: people first, service, safety, results, and innovation. The winners are chosen from our employee of the month honorees for each of the twelve months in the award year.

As TA’s Manager of Learning and Development, Courtney puts people first in every aspect of her role within the organization. She consistently goes above and beyond to assist her colleagues with anything they send her way. As the person leading onboarding and training initiatives, she is one of the first people to interact with new brokerage employees at TA. She ensures that each new team member feels welcome and provides them with the resources needed for long-term success.

Courtney is a go-getter who always looks for new ways to improve processes and identify learning and development opportunities for TA employees. But what also makes Courtney worthy of the People First Core Values Award are her efforts that go above and beyond her role. She prioritizes bringing people together and making people feel special — including organizing activities after working hours, decorating and leading celebrations for birthdays, baby showers, and so much more! Courtney goes a step above to let her co-workers at TA Services know they are recognized, appreciated, and celebrated!

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Courtney to learn more about her role at TA and her emphasis on our People First value. 

Q: How did you get into your role as TA’s first-ever Manager of Learning and Development?
A: I started at TA working on the floor as a Logistics Coordinator, but I have a background in training and development. In that role, I saw an opportunity to standardize some of TA’s internal training. So, during my first week, I knocked on the door of our Director of Operations and shared my ideas to improve the onboarding process. I wanted to make sure he knew it was something in my wheelhouse and that I was interested in tackling it. Less than a year later, I moved into my current position as Manager of Learning and Development.

Q: Tell us about your current role. What does your day-to-day look like? 
A: I created a new onboarding and training program from scratch. When people join our organization — both as new employees or through an acquisition — I make sure they get a full introduction to the industry and to our business, including learning the ins and outs of our software and how our internal processes work. Training, especially software training, is not always the most exciting process, but I try to find moments to bring some fun into it. I also prioritize establishing relationships with every individual; I want them to know they can come to me with any questions or issues, even after training is over.

Q: What do you think makes TA’s culture unique?
A: I think a lot of it comes down to the people and the intention behind how people do their work. Everybody looks out for each other and tries to help their teammates be the best that they can be. That also extends to our customers and carriers. When I was on the floor, I saw how the relationships we build with carriers and customers are different than what you see at other places. Our people really prioritize those relationships.

Q: What advice do you give new employees just starting out at TA?
A: Keep a consultative mindset. Our new employees bring a new perspective and there is always opportunity for growth and improvement. It’s really important to be able to look at the way things are done and have the confidence to voice your ideas if you see areas for improvement. That’s how we can grow as a company. 

Q: TA is incredibly proud to be a people-first organization. What does that mean to you?
A: It’s about recognizing and embracing the talent and the individuality that we have at TA Services. Every person has something to contribute — a talent, a personality, something they’re good at. And I think what TA does so well is recognizing and embracing what people have to contribute. I tell new employees to have that consultative mindset, but what’s great is the fact that TA listens.

Please join us in congratulating Courtney on her People First Core Values Award. We’re so lucky to have outstanding employees like her on the TA Services team. Come back next time to meet our Service Core Values Award winner, David Crosby.

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