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Since launching a mentoring program earlier this year, Norfolk Southern Railway has lined up 23 employees with mentors to help develop mentees' careers, according to NS' monthly online newsletter released June 24.


Open to all newly promoted and non-agreement employees hired after October 2001 (who've been in their positions at least three months), the program offers employees a way to foster professional growth and fine-tune skills.


"There was such a huge response after we announced the program — we now have about 300 experienced NS managers who have volunteered to be mentors," said Linda Duncan, NS manager of training.


The initial 23 pairs recently met at a training session in Norfolk, Va., where they participated in group training sessions to define mentees' goals; NS expects the pairs to meet at least three times during the 12-month program.


"If an employee has the drive and the will to learn, we want to do all we can to help them succeed," said Juan Cunningham, NS director of development and training.


NS plans this year to form three more mentor groups, the next one in July.