Emerge: A transportation and logistics company that prides itself on teamwork, inclusivity and innovation

‘Always exceeding expectations’ Scottsdale startup joins AZ Top Workplaces for second year

B Y Savannah Howe

One of the nation’s fastest-growing startups, headquartered in Scottsdale, is notching five years in business this year. Freight logistics procurement company Emerge — named #531 on the Inc. 5000 and #2 on the Inc. 5000 Regionals — was founded in 2017 and employs over 230 people in Arizona.

Emerge is in the top 15 Arizona places to work for its investment in employee success.

“Emerge wants our employees to truly look at this opportunity as a career, not just a job,” says Teresa Turner, Emerge Director of Employee Experience. “We have put together career pathing, leadership training and an opendoor policy to ensure that we are helping everyone get to that next level.”

Management has stakes in the company’s success — literally. Emerge’s leadership team is offered stock packages “so they are truly an owner of Emerge and know the impact their voice has,” Turner says.

How does Emerge create an industry-leading work culture and secure their place as one of the best places to work in the Grand Canyon State? Through living by one simple motto that represents their core values: OWN IT.

“Owning the outcome, working collaboratively, never settling, innovating continuously and transforming the customer’s experience,” Turner explains. “These aren’t just phrases painted around our building but phrases that are used every day in conversations around the office.”

Twice a week, Emerge employees gather to award each letter of the moniker to their colleagues that have gone above and beyond. This motto, Turner continues, is how Emerge not only treats customers but treats each other. “We know the importance of being authentic regardless of who we are talking to,” she says. “Emerge prides itself in always exceeding expectations, whether that is being awarded a Top Workplace or a partner of choice for shippers and carri- ers across the country.” Emerge has been awarded Forbes Magazine’s Best Startup Employers for two consecutive years, Phoenix Business Journal’s Best Places to Work

for three years and AZ Central’s Top Workplaces for three years. The startup “prides itself on a culture that focuses on teamwork, inclusiveness, innovation and fun,” with multiple community-building internal organizations such as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council, Women of Emerge, Emerge Entourage and the philanthropic group Emerge Together.

Emerge works in the transportation and logistics industry, where it has innovated the field with its Digital Freight Marketplace platform. This award-winning platform connects shippers and carriers with live market conditions and direct capacity information.

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