At a time when companies are becoming increasingly impersonal in order to cut cost, and employees interact with each other less than ever before, Tucson-based Horizon Moving Systems is breaking the mold and working to improve positive interaction among employees. However, they are doing so in a rather untraditional way – by building bikes.

On Friday, May 12, 75 employees from Horizon gathered at 7 a.m. to kick off their busiest time of the year with a bang. With peak moving season beginning in May, transportation companies like Horizon will be busy helping families all across the nation pack up and move over the next several months.

A relatively new trend, bike-building workshops are becoming a popular way for employers to get employees excited about teamwork, while giving something back to the community at the same time.

Using instructions to assemble the parts of the bicycle, 17 teams of Horizon employees collaborated to build fully functional bikes. The process helped employees interact with each other and work together to accomplish a difficult task. While building the bikes, the employees were simultaneously building positive relationships within the teams, which carries over into the workplace.

“Working as a team is vital to making a move go smoothly for our customers,” said Harry Lakin, sales manager of Horizon Moving Systems.

One of the brilliant aspects of the exercise is that in the end, the bikes are given to local underprivileged children. The employees built 17 bikes to be donated to two local charities: the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Casa de los Niños, organizations that promote children’s well-being through a variety of programs.

The idea behind Horizon’s bike-building activity was to get employees excited about the upcoming moving season and working cooperatively together, so they in turn can provide the best possible service to their customers.

“When employees are proud of what they do, it shows in their service,” said Lakin, “and customers are the ones who ultimately reap the benefit of our passion for our jobs.”

	Horizon Moving Systems’ employees Martha Lopez, Luis Huez, Steven Van Horn and Diana Romero (from left to right) work together to assemble a children’s bike as part of a team building activity to kick off peak moving season. This bike and 16 others were donated to the Boys and Girls Club and Casa de Los Ninos in Tucson.

Teams of employees line up on the dock of Horizon Moving Systems in Tucson as part of a team building exercise to kick of peak moving season. The teams collaborated to assemble 17 children’s bikes, which were donated to Boys and Girls Club and Casa de Los Ninos.   Joining the team that placed second in the bike-buliding “competition” are Roy Johnson and Beverly Bryant of the Boys and Girls Clib and Casa de Los Ninos, respectively. Horizon donated 17 children’s bikes to the two local charities. Pictured from left to right, Roy Johnson of the Boys and Girls Club, Ed Torres, Kirstin Noha, Shelly Kearns, Miguel Cruz, all from Horizon, and Beverly Bryant of Casa de Los Ninos. This team came in second place in our “competition” if that matters.

About Horizon Moving Systems

Horizon, a United Van Lines agent, has five locations throughout the state of Arizona, with its headquarters located in Tucson. Horizon is always looking for ways to improve its ability to meet the needs of its residential and corporate customers. The company has a large fleet of specialized trucks and equipment, an advanced computer network to track shipments and
manage information and a team of dedicated professionals who are committed to excellence in customer service. The company’s mission revolves around excellent customer service, employee improvement and growth, ethical business practices and support for the community. For more information visit www.horizonmoves.com.

About United Van Lines

United Van Lines, with headquarters in suburban St. Louis, maintains a network of 1,000 affiliated agencies throughout the world. As the nation’s largest mover, United holds more than 30 percent of the market, which is nearly double the market share of the second largest carrier. More information about United and its services is available at www.unitedvanlines.com.