News & Events at AIT

Herb Cohan, Senior Vice President, expresses personal insight on the importance of being a mentor in the July issue of Logistics Management Magazine. View from the Top provides insights and perspectives from top-level executives at leading logistics companies on the current state of the industry and how their companies can help meet logistics objectives. Understanding the views of these top-level executives, readers can make informed decisions as to which companies are best suited to meet the demands of unique transportation needs. Herb’s message is published to more than 77,000 magazine subscribers.

What Goes Around...

Through many years in the transportation business, I have found that some of my greatest satisfactions have resulted from motivating and mentoring young people who enter our industry full of enthusiasm and anticipation for success.

On a bleak cold day many years ago, I arrived in Chicago starting my career in transportation. I found comfort in two long time friends that were seeking fortune in the Midwest. Unfortunately, receptive to the pleadings of love-sick girlfriends back home, I was left solely responsible for the lease of a spacious apartment rent that consumed 80% of my new salary. If not for the guidance and wise counsel received from warm and generous superiors, I wouldn’t be in the position I enjoy today.

With memories of early days still vivid, I realize the importance for veterans in the business to reach out and offer encouragement to those first starting or suggestions to an older employee who is experiencing disappointment beyond his or her control to alleviate. It’s a thrill to help young people discover and use their talents and creative gifts to become a star salesperson, a mature executive, or a successful manager of a profit making station.

What an opportunity we mentors have! We are repaying our debt to those who advised us along the way, while we have the satisfaction of participating in the growth and development of future successors. The pleasure of contributing to vibrant and forward-looking people and success of a global company is what ultimately...