Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a member to be a part of the Mentorship Program?

Mentees are required to be members of WTS. Mentors are not required to be members; however, they are encouraged to sign up as members.

What is the time commitment and schedule of the Mentorship Program throughout the year?

Estimated  <20 hours total for the program. Divided between:

• 4 in-person program-wide meetings: (approx. 8 hours total)

  • January 22, 2026 - Information Session/Speed-Matching Event

    • 5:30-7:30 PM 

    • Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center

8788 Metcalf Avenue

Overland Park, KS 66212

• February 24, 2026 - Program Kickoff/program on Conflict

  • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

  • Shockey Consulting

7944 Santa Fe Dr.

Overland Park, KS 66204

• May 27, 2026 - Future-Proofing Your Career

  • Event timing: morning

  • Venue: TBD

• September 2026 - Graduation Event

  • Event timing: evening

  • Venue: TBD

• Mentor/mentee pairs are required to meet monthly (recommended 1 hour each meeting) during the program (March-September). Time/setting to be determined by the individual pairs. (approx. 7 hours total)

How much does the program cost? What does that cost go towards?

The program costs $100, paid by the mentee. There is no cost to be a mentor. Mentee dues go to covering the costs of the in-person events. Mentors and Mentees will be automatically signed up for these events at no additional cost when they start the program.

Do I get to pick my mentor/mentee?

No, you do not get to hand-pick your mentor/mentee. The Mentorship Committee will set the pairs based on the applications each group fills out, and take into consideration the survey attendees will fill out about who would not be a good fit for their pairing.

What do I get out of the program?

Networking, growth, investment in yourself and others. Long story short - you will get out what you put in. You can gain lifelong friends, mentors, potential job opportunities, a greater understanding of yourself, skills to be more effective at your job, etc. 

Is the program about technical skills or soft skills?

The program is focused on soft skills mentorship. These are some of the things we don’t get hands-on training for at our jobs.

Is there a minimum/maximum for years of experience?

Mentors are recommended to be >5 years into their career. All are welcome to be either a mentor or mentee, regardless of where they are in their career, outside of this caveat. 

Are men welcome to be mentors/mentees?

Yes, men are welcome. It takes both men and women to create gender equity in the transportation industry. 

Is this an annual program?

The program is anticipated to be held every other year. This will be the first year of the program, and the off years will help the committee to account for participant feedback and plan for the following year’s program.

Is the program virtual or in-person?

The program is a combination of required in-person events and meetings that each mentor/mentee pair can schedule for either in-person or virtual, as is preferred.