insideGE : Business News - Business : Transportation ITLP team wins global competition

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CITIZENSHIP / GE WORKS / OUR PEOPLE

Transportation ITLP team wins global competition

Jul 24, 2013

Source: Monocello, Jenna Teamwork allows common people to attain uncommon results. Anonymous

Whoever said competition brings out the worst in people hasnt met the ITLPs at GE. During a ten-day period in June, hundreds of volunteers around the world showed that sometimes a little competition can have some awesome results. GEs Information Technology Leadership Program (ITLP) initiated a friendly competition between businesses during the period from June 14th to June 23rd. During these ten days, ITLP program members, interns, and non-GE friends and family participated in the first ever Global Community Service Week challenge. The focus of the competition was centered on participating in service events in each teams respective community. Teams earned points by advertising service events on Colab and posting pictures and outcomes. The winning team was the one with the most hours contributed per ITLP member. The competition generated an impressive turnout. Over the entirety of the competition volunteers contributed more than 1,000 community service hours globally and publicized more than 40 different events on Colab. With 5.37 hours per ITLP, GE Transportation took first place in overall participation competition! This team, with most members in Erie and one in Texas, volunteered at over ten community service events. Involved were 22 ITLP interns, eight ITLPs, nine full time IT employees, and two non-GE volunteers. Second rotation ITLP, Caitlin Higbee, successfully coordinated all the volunteering events in Erie with the help of Ashley Phelps in Chicago. Several locations received help from volunteers, including the Erie City Mission, the Second Harvest Food Bank, the Tom Ridge Environmental center (TREC), and the Humane Society. Together, they dedicated 170 hours of service around the community. At the Erie City Mission, ITLPs volunteered with the summer camp setting up and cleaning up, as well as serving lunches to the campers. While helping the Second Harvest Food Bank, they repackaged food to be distributed to food pantries around Erie. Volunteers also gardened at TREC and played with animals at the Humane Society. Caitlin said that the opportunity to work with 55 or 60 children from the inner city at the summer camp was her favorite part of the competition. She loved saying hi to every child and spending time with them during their lunch time. As someone who just moved to Erie in 2012 when she became an ITLP, Caitlin is making a large impact on the community. I have enjoyed giving back to the community through events we planned as interns, as well as with my current work teams, Caitlin said. When asked if the ITLP team was excited to have won a global competition, Caitlin replied enthusiastically, Yes, most definitely! We are one of the smallest businesses and therefore have a small ITLP class and ITLP intern pool, but we didn't let that stop us! We hosted a kick-off event and everyone was motivated to give back to the community. We thoroughly enjoyed the friendly competition as well.

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insideGE : Business News - Business : Transportation ITLP team wins global competition

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From left to right: Nancy Anderson, Melissa Frohman, Olivia Brown, and Caitlin Higbee serving lunch at the Erie City Mission summer camp.

In addition to receiving first place in participation, GE Transportation took third place in Colab Activity Points with 265 points. The results of the competition are listed below: Participation Competition: 1st place: GE Transportation with 5.37 hrs/ITLP 2nd place: GE Corporate with 3.67 hrs/ITLP 3rd place: GE Healthcare with 2.95 hrs/ITLP

Colab Activity Points: 1st place: GE Corporate with 395 total points 2nd place: GE Healthcare with 300 points 3rd place: GE Transportation with 265 points Volunteerism plays a significant role in GEs culture of corporate citizenship. Our employees demonstrate their dedication to the community in the time they commit individually and as an organization. Each year GE employees volunteer over one million hours of service around the globe. Congratulations to GE Transportation and all ITLPs who participated! Everyones involvement is hugely appreciated in Erie and across the world.

Comments

Congratulations!!! Posted by Christine Mitchell at 04:50 pm ET, 01 Aug 2013

Great job, team. Excellent example of healthy competition bringing out the best in people! Thanks to Caitlin and Ashley for their leadership. Posted by Paul Thompson at 12:07 pm ET, 26 Jul 2013

Great job eveyone! GE Leadership Programs Works! Posted by Marcell Jackson at 02:18 pm ET, 25 Jul 2013

Great job ITLPs!! Posted by Kirsten Davis at 11:45 am ET, 25 Jul 2013

Congratulations!!! Posted by Christine Mitchell at 04:50 pm ET, 01 Aug 2013

http://insidege.ge.com/portal/site/insidege/fullstory?content_id=6079907&root_portlet_id=1... 8/7/2013

insideGE : Business News - Business : Transportation ITLP team wins global competition

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Great job, team. Excellent example of healthy competition bringing out the best in people! Thanks to Caitlin and Ashley for their leadership. Posted by Paul Thompson at 12:07 pm ET, 26 Jul 2013

Great job eveyone! GE Leadership Programs Works! Posted by Marcell Jackson at 02:18 pm ET, 25 Jul 2013

Great job ITLPs!! Posted by Kirsten Davis at 11:45 am ET, 25 Jul 2013

http://insidege.ge.com/portal/site/insidege/fullstory?content_id=6079907&root_portlet_id=1... 8/7/2013