Made with FlowPaper - Flipbook Maker
< Previous10 PORTAL November / December 2024 IAM 62ND ANNUAL MEETING + EXPO IN REVIEW OPENING DAY Day 1 in Las Vegas began with the second annual Volunteer Leadership Appreciation Breakfast, held to honor and recognize our more than 100 volunteer board and committee members. Year- round, these individuals lend their time, talent and expertise to governing and advancing the mission of the association. During this breakfast meeting, IAM President Brian Limperopulos shared how the work of each committee advances presented achievements from 2024 and announced initiatives for 2025. IAM appreciates all of its volunteer leaders, and we look forward to their con- tinued guidance in the year to come. Our learning labs and speaker panels kicked off in the late morning of day one. Three learning labs were held throughout the day, the first of which was the Play Your Cards Right— What Customers Want at 10:30 am. This session featured key insights into customer expectations in the moving and relocation industry, with a focus on the IAMTrusted Moving Company designation. Panelists emphasized the growing importance of trust and transparency in vendor relation- ships, which the IAMTrusted designation directly addresses. The program ensures that companies commit to resolving disputes, adhere to a strict code of ethics, and maintain compli- ance with industry standards, providing customers with confidence in their choice of service providers. Panelists agreed with the live audience poll that listed com- munication, reliability, timeli- PORTAL November / December 2024 11 LAS VEGAS OCTOBER 14–17 Australia We’re all over it Australia’s largest branch network, offering complete moving and mobility coverage from coast to coast since 1911. Australia. Think Grace. The Portal Ad.indd 1The Portal Ad.indd 104/04/2024 2:24:50 PM04/04/2024 2:24:50 PM Grace 12 PORTAL November / December 2024 IAM 62ND ANNUAL MEETING + EXPO IN REVIEW ness and pricing as the top factors influencing customer satisfaction. Prioritizing these items helps moving companies stand out by demonstrat- ing their commitment to professionalism and ethical business practices, which are increasingly important to both corporate and private custom- ers. By keeping them top-of-mind during every client and customer touchpoint, companies not only build trust but also enhance their reputation, which reassures clients that issues will be resolved transparently and efficiently. The panel further discussed how technology and sustainability are reshaping customer expecta- tions, but emphasized that having a strong, trusted network of moving partners remains critical. Technology can help with simplifying complex tasks and calculations, and demonstrable sustain- ability efforts can differentiate your offering in the eyes of clients and customers. At the end of the day, though, it is the human interactions that build those relationships. This is the area where your transparency and frequency of communications, along with the other factors, will truly shine, reinforcing to the customer that they can be assured they will get what they want. Panelists included Moderator Morgana Somers, Director of Global Operations, IAM; Joana Carvalho, Logistics Administrator, IMF; Jose Pose, Head of Partner Relationships, K2 Corporate Mobility; Peter Bowsher, Project Manager – Household Goods, World Bank; and John Roller, Executive Consultant, Atlantic Relocation Systems. The IAM Young Professional (IAM- YP) membership was out in full force at the IAM 62nd Annual Meeting, with an impressive turnout of YPs from around the world. The YP events kicked off on Monday with the IAM-YP Connect activity at a local escape room, where YPs split into groups and picked their own adventures, choos- ing rooms by theme and difficulty level. Some teams successfully escaped, while others are… still finding their way out! (Just kidding—we ensured everyone was released after the one-hour session.) After the escape room fun, YPs gathered for the Membership Meeting, where the Management Board shared updates on various initiatives from 2024, intro- duced our new YP Chair Lennert de Jong and Vice Chair Anu Dattani, and discussed upcoming projects like the IAM Country Guide PORTAL November / December 2024 13 LAS VEGAS OCTOBER 14–17 Full Container Export & Import Domestic Logistics Door-to-Door and Foreign-to-Foreign Service Air Freight THE POWER TO MOVE YOU GLOBALLY Local. Around the world. OL USA 14 PORTAL November / December 2024 IAM 62ND ANNUAL MEETING + EXPO IN REVIEW Updates Project—a valuable resource the IAM-YP will help lead to benefit our entire community. Interested in joining IAM-YP? The next session, Grow Up Fast—AI and the Future of Moving, presented by Zach Rattner of Yembo, the first session pro- posal winner, began at 1:30. This interac- tive workshop explored how AI is positively transforming the moving industry, providing strategies to enhance cus- tomer experiences and future-proof moving busi- nesses. It started with a live audience poll and a brief synopsis of the current state of AI technology and progressed to a hands-on collaborative session workshopping applications of AI in attendees’ businesses. Topics of the discussion included how to select an AI tool and identify the value proposition, how to manage constraints, embrace the learning curve, and how to assess the tool’s maturity. Attendees were introduced to the MIT AI risk repository, which is basically a database of what could possi- bly go wrong with AI, and how to deal with false or misleading information. Conclusions included encouragement to view every big AI problem as an opportunity for problem solving, and the fact that AI magnifies you—it does not replace you. IAM’s hosted a session named U.S. DAB: Exploring Critical Issues in Asset-Based Moving at 3:00 pm. The Domestic Asset-Based Mover (U.S. DAB) leadership explored hot topics in the asset-based moving arena. Peers engaged in small group discussions and provided feedback on each topic with other session attendees. The energy in the room was intense and members were deeply engaged in the discussions. The topics included: Training and onboarding: takeaways included the need for quality training videos, an acronym cheat sheet for new hires, and to consider the personality of your trainers—the person who’s been there the longest is not always the best person to train others. Also, performing background checks for all staff is essential, though some states only allow them after an offer is made, and the importance of random drug testing for all employees. Claims prevention: These discussions focused heavily on mold & mildew, including the impor-PORTAL November / December 2024 15 LAS VEGAS OCTOBER 14–17 and how to assess the tool’s maturity. Attendees were introduced to the MIT AI risk repository, which is basically a database of what could possi- bly go wrong with AI, and how to deal with false or misleading information. Conclusions included encouragement to view every big AI problem as an opportunity for problem solving, and the fact that AI magnifies you—it does not replace you. IAM’s hosted a session named U.S. DAB: Exploring Critical Issues in Asset-Based Moving at 3:00 pm. The Domestic Asset-Based Mover (U.S. DAB) leadership explored hot topics in the asset-based moving arena. Peers engaged in small group discussions and provided feedback on each topic with other session attendees. The energy in the room was intense and members were deeply engaged in the discussions. The topics included: Training and onboarding: takeaways included the need for quality training videos, an acronym cheat sheet for new hires, and to consider the personality of your trainers—the person who’s been there the longest is not always the best person to train others. Also, performing background checks for all staff is essential, though some states only allow them after an offer is made, and the importance of random drug testing for all employees. Claims prevention: These discussions focused heavily on mold & mildew, including the impor- tance of proper mold identification during the initial survey, having professional mitigators train drivers on mold vs. dirt, notifying the account right away, and liftvan conditions. Advise clients beforehand that you won’t take wet things, and that they should not have things steam cleaned before the move. When receiving, open the liftvan as soon as you receive. Another important factor in claims prevention is to use ziploc bags and high-visibility boxes for parts. Diversified revenue streams: Topics ranged from considering different types of moving including senior moves, move management (connecting utilities, etc. as a white glove service), and model homes. Consider opening your warehouse to non-moving-related storage, and using your assets for other lines of business, to keep your company making money from them. Cost accounting: Members talked about the criti- cal importance of the relationship between sales and operations, inflation of equipment costs (for instance, when the cost goes up during the approval process), accounting for assets (like counting crates in and out), preventative in-house maintenance, productivity-based compensation, and people maintenance (for instance, retention— including bonuses—can save costs of all kinds on employee turnover). Waste management: Attendees noted that money can be made—or at least, costs reduced—by using balers and specialized dumpsters for corrugated cardboard, as well as reusing anything that doesn’t touch the body: used cartons can save 35% on costs. They also discussed how certifications like Ecovadis and alternative fuel vehicles like elec- tric forklifts can reduce waste and costs, as well as promote client satisfaction. The Newcomers, First Time Attendees & IAMTrusted Moving Company Reception began promptly at 6:00 pm. New attendees were afforded the opportunity to meet and greet IAM staff, IAMTrusted members, volunteer leaders and dis- tinguished guests. Immediately afterward, the Opening Reception sponsored by was held at the Cosmopolitan’s Boulevard pool, offering scenic views of the Bellagio and Paris hotels. Members enjoyed music, drinks, and food while relaxing and socializing together in an infor- mal atmosphere.16 PORTAL November / December 2024 IAM 62ND ANNUAL MEETING + EXPO IN REVIEW Following the Opening Reception, we kicked off the Afterparty hosted by the for a night of fun, camaraderie, drinks, games, entertainment, and light food. Members relaxed and enjoyed the company— including an Elvis imperson- ator and a magician—listened to the DJ, and played games including craps, foosball and beer pong. The proceeds benefitted IAM’s charity in their mission to end hunger and food waste. The Afterparty was also the site of the third annual IAM Rock, Paper, Scissors (RPS) tournament. Congratulations to tour- nament champion Marc-Antoine Beltramo of Transcausse-Demimpex, who won a free four- night hotel stay for the 2025 Annual Meeting in New York City, and bragging rights to the title of Best RPS Mover In the World. Our raffle winner of the evening was Alise Elliott of Elliott International (Pty), Ltd., who won a compli- mentary 2025 Annual Meeting Registration.PORTAL November / December 2024 17 LAS VEGAS OCTOBER 14–17 DAY TWO Day two of the Annual Meeting began at 8:30 am with a buffet breakfast and the IAM General Session and State of the IAM Address in the con- vention center. IAM Chair John Burrows (DeWitt Move Worldwide) kicked off the session and gave special recognition to all of our valued sponsors and exhibitors, welcomed participants and noted our record-breaking attendance. John introduced Angela DeConti, Director of the Alan F. Wohlstetter Scholarship Fund, who talked about the history of the organization, the impact that the scholarship fund is making in the indus- try to advance the professionalism and viability of our workforce, and foster a culture of accessi- bility, excellence and continuous improvement, then introduced Terry Head as Chair of the board of directors. Angela introduced the 10 awardees for 2024, a new application deadline of March 31, and a new award coming in 2025 for trade school and industry certification. She also thanked donors from the past year and major donors from 2024 were recognized with big checks: The Cartwright Companies, Container Freight Station, Delight Foundation (in honor of Sahara), DeWitt Companies (in memory of Richard DeWitt), Intermove Limited (in memory of Kenneth Mercado), Island Movers, National Van Lines Inc. – International, Tri Star Freight System, Inc (in memory of Kenneth Garrison), True North Relocation, LLC (in memory of Jackie Agner), Wohlstetter Giving Fund (in memory of Alan F. Wohlstetter), M. Dyer Global (in memory of Medford Dyer), The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, and Gridiron Forwarding Co. Inc. Memorial Day Match (in memory of Jay L. Goldberg, Hall of Honor 2009).18 PORTAL November / December 2024 IAM 62ND ANNUAL MEETING + EXPO IN REVIEW Next, Terry Head made a major announcement regarding the rebranding of the Alan F. Wohlstetter Scholarship Fund to the Global Moving Foundation. Along with a new name comes a broadened mission to support education, foster innovation, and promote charitable work and global knowledge-sharing within the moving industry, and collaborate with stakeholders. Key awards celebrated exceptional individuals, with the Rising Star Award going to Luis Hulst, Gridiron Forwarding Co., Inc. Luis was recog- nized for exceptional commitment to mentoring the young professional community, his dedication to volunteer community service in the industry, and engagement with peers through leadership and team-building initiatives. The IAM Excellence in Leadership Award went to Charnel Francis of Africa Mobility Services, the first woman recipi- ent, for her dedication to the professional growth of her staff and impactful initiatives—such as the “Right to Write” campaign supporting literacy in underserved communities and her commitment to mentoring a high-performing team—embody her exceptional leadership and dedication to cre- ating positive change both within Africa Mobility Service and beyond. The Move for Hunger–Mover of the Year Award was presented for their contributions to the Move for Hunger initiative. Move for Hunger was also recognized for its impactful work in reducing food waste and aiding food-insecure communities. IAM President Brian Limperopulos introduced Adam Lowy, CEO and founder of Move For Hunger, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Adam announced that with 267 participating members, IAM members have provided over 9,500,000 meals over the years. In 2024 alone, 56 participating IAM members have helped to feed 1,212,776 people. The winner of this year’s Move for Hunger IAM Mover of the Year is Beltmann Relocation Group, who Beltmann Relocation Group receives Mover of the Year award from Move For Hunger Luis Holst receives the Rising Star AwardPORTAL November / December 2024 19 LAS VEGAS OCTOBER 14–17 High Relocation Worldwide Korea joined in 2012 and has since delivered 440,000 meals in U.S. market areas. Next, Brian welcomed Sheena Kiser (SEACORP), Chair of the IAM-YP group, to present the Rising Star Award. This award is reserved for an exceptional Young Professional (YP) member who embodies the group’s mission and vision and has made a remark- able contribution to the YP community and the wider industry. The recipient’s achievements span mentorship, exemplary conduct, committee contributions, and engagement with IAM’s philan- thropic efforts. The honor includes the privilege of complimentary IAM-YP membership for the following year. This year's distinguished recipient, Luis Holst of Gridiron Forwarding. Brian then introduced Georgia Angell, Chair of the the Leadership Alliance council members and sub- committee members, and presented the Excellence in Leadership Award to Charnel Francis of Africa Mobility Services. Brian began his State of the IAM address by talking about the IAM Mission statement and strategic plan. The first initiative of the plan was to modern- ize our membership structure, which has resulted Charnel Francis receives the Excellence in Leadership AwardNext >