The BlueCross Corporate Mentoring Program provides our employees with opportunities to develop as promising professionals and learn from BlueCross leaders. The added plus within this initiative is the volunteerism that is integrated within.
This past year, Corporate Mentoring participants distributed thousands meals to the Chattanooga community.
Two of our employees, Lindsey Middleton and Amanda Clinton, share their experiences with the program and the impact of serving together.
Feeding our community through volunteering
In February, mentors and mentees alike volunteered within the Chattanooga area to serve those struggling with food security. Lindsey and Amanda took part in assisting community members with personalized shopping and packaging of meals. They worked with different local organizations, such as the Foxwood Food Center, Chattanooga Food Bank warehouse and the J. A. Henry Community YMCA.
Together, the Corporate Mentoring team was able to distribute 8,000 meals to the local community and send 470 bags of food to the Chambliss Center.
Leading in more ways than one
Lindsey Middleton, project manager for Enterprise Information Technology at BlueCross, joined the program because she knew she wanted to improve her leadership and communication skills. John Hawbaker, managing director of corporate communications and community relations, was chosen as her mentor.
“I’ve received so much input into what it means to be a successful leader,” Lindsey says. “I’ve learned from the successes and failures of seasoned professionals and apply that to my own responsibilities.”
Lindsey not only received leadership development but was able to take part in something bigger than herself.
“Seeing that we took part in distributing 8,000 meals, I was amazed — we made a bigger impact than any of us really anticipated,” Lindsey says. “For a lot of community members, that’s a huge source of relief. It was a sweet experience to get to hear their stories and learn why our service is important to them.”
Meeting the growing need
Amanda Clinton, a principal ethics and compliance consultant at BlueCross, also participates in the Corporate Mentoring Program. In the program, she learned that instead of focusing inward, she needed to rework her thinking to focus on the impact that her thoughts, ideas and questions could have on others.
Her mentor, Jason Daniels, director of service operations at BlueCross, shared some advice that has stuck with her: “As a leader, there will be times when your team is counting on you to ask those questions and speak up in a meeting.”
Amanda served alongside her mentor and fellow coworkers, packing corn flakes into individual bags to give to families. This was one of the many serving opportunities they were able to take part in, shifting her perspective on the need.
“Food insecurity is a growing need, and we need more hands,” Amanda adds. “We’re all one tragedy away from being on the other side.”
Lindsey and Amanda remind us that impact grows when we choose to come together. The Corporate Mentoring Program develops leaders who serve the workplace and our local community.
Marie is a senior Public Relations and Advertising major at Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. She joined the BlueCross corporate communications team as an intern in July 2024.