Find a mentor by browsing our mentor list—no registration required. Use the link below to access the spreadsheet and connect with a mentor who fits your goals. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our Career Guidance Committee Chair, Henry Hammel.
The Western District has a long history of supporting our student and young professional members through annual initiatives and programming during our Annual Meetings. Two of the core tenets of our strategic plan are Student Initiatives and Career Development.
The MiteY Mentorship Program was created to strengthen connection, support, and professional growth within the WesternITE community. To better serve the diverse needs of our members, the program has now shifted to a mentee‑driven model. Instead of a formal registration process or assigned pairings, mentees can browse our mentor list at their own pace and choose who they feel most aligned with. This approach gives mentees full control over who they reach out to and when they initiate the connection, allowing mentorship to unfold naturally and in a way that fits their goals, comfort level, and timing. We feel that this approach can be applied to our support of students and young professionals in the Western District.
Our MiteY Mentorship program will support our core values through a mentee-driven approach rather than the traditional one-on-one based approach. The District has tried a one-on-one and community-based version of a mentorship program in the past but with varying success. What we found was that the level of success of these traditional programs was often dependent on the willingness, availability, and needs of the individuals involved. We believe that a new mentee-driven model approach is a more sustainable path that will ensure that our program is successful in providing consistent support and guidance for our young members.
This program is targeted for young members within the Western District from ages 35 years and under which includes students (primarily those preparing to enter the workforce) and young professionals. The early phases of one’s career can be a challenging time for young members, but it is also a time of significant personal and professional growth. A mentorship program can be an invaluable resource to help young members navigate the ever-changing demands of the workplace, improve their chances at success in their careers, and strengthen their engagement with ITE.
The program now operates through a flexible, open-access model designed to empower mentees. Instead of being matched or assigned to a mentor, mentees can browse our curated mentor list at any time and choose the individuals who best align with their interests, goals, and career stage.
Each mentor profile includes areas of expertise, professional background, and contact information. Mentees decide who they want to connect with and when they want to reach out, allowing mentorship to unfold at a pace that feels comfortable and meaningful to them. This structure supports organic, self‑directed relationship building while still maintaining the core values of guidance, support, and shared learning that define mentorship.
Whether you’re seeking career advice, technical insight, or professional encouragement, the program gives you the freedom to initiate the mentorship experience that fits your needs.
You may be wondering what is expected of you now that you’ve reached out or have been reached out to as a mentee or mentor. Here’s quick summary:
Mentors
- Respond to mentee(s) who reach out, as your availability allows.
- Offer guidance, insight, and support based on your experience.
- Support the mentee’s growth by empowering them to make their own decisions and take initiative.
Mentees
Take the lead in initiating the first conversation, proposing meeting times, and maintaining the connection.- Come prepared with questions, goals, or topics you’d like guidance on.
- Communicate clearly about what you’re seeking (guidance, career insight, technical advice, etc.)
- Follow up consistently and maintain momentum at a pace that works for you.
- Be respectful to mentors’ time and professional commitments.
Take the lead in initiating the first conversation, proposing meeting times, and maintaining the connection.Here are a few ITE leaders sharing what mentorship has meant to them and their careers:
“I’ve been very lucky to have several fantastic mentors that have played an integral role in shaping my path forward. Their faith in me has truly helped me develop the confidence to be where I am now. It has contributed immensely both to my professional development and to my feeling connected to the transportation profession–I can’t speak highly enough about how important mentoring has been to me.”
-Amy Wyman, 2021 Outstanding Student Awardee
“I met some of my most important mentors through ITE. Mentors have helped guide me through my career so far – from getting my first internship to knowing when the time was right to change jobs. I’ve been very fortunate to have such dedicated mentors through ITE, and that’s why I’m so thrilled and humbled to support this program as a mentor myself. “
-Henry Hammel, former mentee and current mentor
“There are often times we get stuck at crossroads and aren’t able to make decisions, more than likely it is because of overthinking. At those junctions, I have been fortunate enough to have mentors who not only provide clarity by sharing other perspectives/their experiences but also build my confidence such that I can make decisions with more assurance. I consider mentor-mentee relationship as also a partnership as taking on a mentor role would also have me learn a lot and keep me more relevant.”
