Movers Search Group's National EMail Newsletter

February 2015

Dear HHG/Relocation Industry Professional:

An exciting new year awaits the nation's Moving and Storage Industry. After a 2014 that produced "mixed reviews", the majority of those we talk to on a daily basis are expressing optimism that 2015 will be a better, if not outstanding year for the HHG Industry.

In 2014, most of you reported that business volume was up, but that profits did not follow suit. Many of you considered 2014 as basically a "wash".

This year started out strong.....orders came early and are generally trending up over last year. This pattern is expected to continue into the 2015 Busy Season and far beyond. As such, the overall expectations are high.

Obviously, the industry faces most of the same issues as before: Driver Shortages, Capacity Issues, Quality Labor Recruitment and Retention, etc......However, contrast these problems with positives such as a continually improving economy, a reduction in fuel costs, and early indications that corporate relocations, new housing development and discretionary spending are all going UP, results in an overall optimistic scenario indicating that we are all set to experience one of the best years in recent history for the nation's Household Goods agents, van lines and owner-operators.

One final (and important) note: As a professional recruiting and staffing firm that serves the HHG/Relocation Industry exclusively, we are once again happy to report that Moving Industry hiring has never been busier......As we've said before, if the country's movers are hiring, that bodes well for the economy as a whole. Here's to your BEST YEAR ever!

Sincerely,

Mark Gray

Movers Search Group, LLC

"Moving Companies and Careers Forward"

www.MoverRecruiter.com

HEARD ON THE STREET

Let's catch you up on what we've been hearing out their since our last Newsletter..........

Significant changes occurring at BUDD VAN LINES....watch this space next issue for some exciting announcements from DAVID BUDD SR. and his organization......

MOVELINE, the internet-based virtual estimator experiment, has closed it's doors.......

Sadly, our good friend and Industry Expert ERIC ANDERS also announced the discontinuation of his much-respected and insightful RELO ROUNDTABLE (now where am I going to get information for this Newsletter?)........

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE "HOTTEST JOBS" currently being recruited for in the Moving Industry? Believe it or not, LONG HAUL DISPATCHERS/PLANNERS are in high demand.....closely followed by the position of NATIONAL ACCOUNT MOVE COORDINATORS....further evidence that business is picking up for the industry as a whole......

JACK MCGRATH has been with the PMSA 9 years this past January...It is the 10th Year Anniversary celebrating the reorganization of the PMSA.......Speaking of Anniversaries, CROWN RELOCATIONS is 50 years old this year!.....

ROB CLARK, after 10 years with WALD RELOCATION SERVICES, is now engaged in corporate sales for KCS OFFICE MOVING in the Houston area....KC SALLEY RELOCATION, agents for UNITED VAN LINES, appointed SEAN O'TOOLE as their Local Operations Manager....O'Toole had been with GRAEBEL's Houston operation for 11 years......

After 30+ years in the Moving and Storage Industry, JIM WEISS now invites a working relationship with movers in his capacity as Relocation Director at KELLER WILLIAMS/NYC.......

DAVID KORDONOWY, formerly with GRAEBEL for 25+ years, is the new VP and General Manager at JK MOVING SERVICES in Sterling VA........

Industry veteran MARIO AMATO has taken a new position as Group European Business Development Manager for WHITE & COMPANY in London....Mario has had a distinguished career with Graebel, Sirva, Four Winds and UniGroup........

COLEMAN AMERICAN MOVING SERVICES has appointed CHRIS CALDWELL as their Regional VP, based out of Nashville, TN......

COLEMAN also announced the hire of BRETT HARDTLE as their new General Manager in Jacksonville, FL......

With SUDDATH for over 23 years, MARK BRANDENBURGER is now the General Manager at JACK TREIER INC. MOVING AND STORAGE in Pennsylvania.......

RANDY BROWNING, owner of BROWNING MOVING AND STORAGE in Lakeland FL, an agent for UNITED, is celebrating his 17th year in business.....

Leaving GRAEBEL after 23 years, GARY PAUL has been named the new GM for SUDDATH in Clearwater, FL.....

Congratulations to JACK TROW on his retirement after a distinguished career with ARNOFF MOVING & STORAGE in Poughkeepsie, NY.....

TOM KELNER is the new Director of Account Development at GRAEBEL AUSTIN MOVERS......

GENTLE GIANT MOVING COMPANY has posted a very clever and entertaining video on YOU TUBE......click here and enjoy!..........

Is there a better Moving Industry TREASURE than GEORGE RIBAR in Houston?.....I had a chance to speak with George a few weeks ago.....what a wonderful gentleman and a true HHG Professional......

KATHLEEN HOUSTON is the new International Military/GSA Coordinator at STEVENS WORLDWIDE.....

CONGRATULATIONS to FRANCO LOCONTE for successfully answering the question: Who is the ONLY recruiter for the Moving and Storage Industry that is actually a member of the AMERICAN MOVING & STORAGE ASSOCIATION? As Franco correctly answered: "That woud be you (Mark Gray of Movers Search Group) sir!" THANKS to Franco and the hundreds upon hundreds of correct responses to our little contest....A $50 AMEX Gift Card is in the mail to Franco.....

CLANCY-CULLEN MOVING & STORAGE COMPANY, INC. has closed its NYC office....

Effective last month, the new GRAEBEL VANLINES LLC has named GREG CUTLIP as their Senior VP of Operations......

SPEAKING OF the new GRAEBEL VAN LINES LLC, in what appears to be their first hire of a new General Manager under the new ownership of the company, has appointed DAVID MARSDEN as GM of their Chicago branch.....interestingly, Marsden comes from outside of the HHG industry, having spent 12+ years with the HERTZ CORPORATION......

TIM ZACHARY, formerly with A-1 FREEMAN, has been named the new General Manger for JOHNSON STORAGE & MOVING's Houston office....

Leaving NELSON WESTERBERG after 10+ years, TIM PIONKE is now with CRST as their Director of Company Operations-Eastern Region.....

PRESTIGE COMMERCIAL RELOCATIONS of Denver has announced the hire of MICHAEL RHUE, formerly of GRAEBEL, as their VP of Commercial Business Development.....

BILL THARP is COLEMAN WORLD GROUP's new Driver Liaison/Recruiter at the corporate offices in Dothan, AL.....

AFFORDABLE MOVING SOLUTIONS, Charlotte NC agents for ARPIN, have hired KATHIE MORTON as their new GM....Kathie was formerly with SUDDATH.....

JOHNSON STORAGE AND MOVING CO.'s new General Manager in Salt Lake City is KEVIN ROBERTS.......

Sad to hear that NATIONWIDE MOVING & STORAGE, agents for NORTHAMERICAN VAN LINES in CT, have closed their doors........

PETER QUARTARARO is now COLEMAN AMERICAN's General Manager in Nashville TN.....

MINIMOVES has appointed CHRISTIAN MORGAN to their business develpment team, headquartered in Chicago.......

BEKINS A-1 has appointed JAMES O'NEAL as their new Director of Operations at company HQ in the greater Chicago area.....O'Neal was formerly the Ops Manager at GLEN ELLYN STORAGE, agents for MAYFLOWER.......

The INTERNATIONAL ASSOC. OF MOVERS (IAM) has named CHARLES L. WHITE as its Senior Vice President.....

DAVID SILLIMAN, formerly with MOVELINE, has been appointed General Manager for LIPPINCOTT VAN LINES' Las Vegas operation.....

AMERICAN RED BALL has added NEXT STEP RELOCATION of Dallas TX and ARMOR M&S of Culver City CA as its newest agents......

As many of you already know by now, SCOTT MICHAEL has been named the permanent President and CEO of the AMSA, succeeding LINDA BAUER DARR.........

GLENN DUNKERSON, Chairman and CEO of ATLAS WORLD GROUP, INC., has been elected the new AMSA Chairman, taking over for STEPHEN BURNS....
NEW AMSA BOARD MEMBERS: JOHN ALIANELLO, MINIMOVES; JOE BISKNER, STEVENS WORLDWIDE; DAVID MORSE, MORSE MOVING & STORAGE and BRIAN SCHAEFFER, MSS......

We are pleased to pass on this information about KELLY FISHER, formerly with BUDD VAN LINES....Kelly has established an In-Home Survey Service for the Tampa Bay area...In addition Kelly will perfom site visits for quality control and truck access advice/information. Kelly comes highly-recommend with over 25 years experience in many facets of the HHG industry...you can reach Kelly Fisher at Kfisher819@gmail.com or call her at (603)759-4393.......

Sad to see that well known Canadian mover WILLIAMS MOVING & STORAGE has recently closed its doors and filed for Canadian Bankruptcy protection......

ROBIN SAMUEL is now HAMPTON ROADS MOVING AND STORAGE's new business developent rep......

CONGRATS to HILLDRUP ORLANDO's sales rep TRISH ETHRIDGE for receiving MASTERS CLUB HONORS.....not too shabby for a HHG estimator in her second full year......

FIRST CLASS MOVING SYSTEMS, agents for NAVL, has acquired the assets of MCCOLLISTERS UNITED's Sunrise FL operation and has established a new agency there in south FL.......

With GRABEL for 25 years, RAY HARGETT is now the Director of Business Development for UNIVERSITY MOVING & STORAGE, agents for NAVL, in Cincinnati........

MICHAEL KILLORAN has been promoted to the position of CFO of the ARPIN GROUP.....

BIG FOOT MOVING AND STORAGE won the AMSA Enterprise Award....

CARTUS is celebrating its' 60th ANNIVERSARY this year....

A. ARNOLD WORLD CLASS RELOCATION was awarded the 2014 Independent Mover of the Year Award......

DEDRICK HILL is now the CEO at TEXAS BROTHERS MOVING AND STORAGE.....

RON MCKEE has retired as NATIONAL VAN LINES Senior VP after 36 years of service to the company......

IN MEMORIAM: GARY DEFOREST....Gary started with BELTMANN in June of 2003 and helped build the company's international division. Gary passed on December 20th after a 16 month battle with cancer. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the Beltmann organization over this loss.......

IF YOU HAVE NEWS, INFORMATION OR ANNOUNCEMENTS OF INTEREST TO THE MOVING AND STORAGE INDUSTRY, WHY NOT SHARE IT WITH A READERSHIP OF OVER 10,000 FELLOW INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS? Send your infomration to us at markgray@MoverRecruiter.com

CURRENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES Here's what we're presently recruiting for. We TOLD you that industry hiring in on the rise! If you, or someone you know would be interested in any of the numerous openings listed below, please contact us in confidence at markgray@MoverRecruiter.com or call us at (678)373-3634. Our current list of recruiting assignments: *Remember: This list changes DAILY....Call or email for the very latest opportunity listings (or for confidential searches we can't list here) ACCOUNTING Chicago (Acctg. Mgr.) Dallas Area (Interstate Settlement Specialist) Phoenix (AR/AP...Van Line Rating, etc.) CLAIMS Atlanta Dallas COD SALES Atlanta Austin, TX Birmingham, AL Chicago Dallas, TX Denver Detroit East Bay Area, CA Jacksonville, FL Kansas City Las Vegas Long Beach, CA Los Angeles Nashville Oakland, CA Omaha Phoenix Raleigh Sacramento Saint Louis San Diego San Jose, CA/East Bay Area CONTROLLER No current openings COORDINATORS/CSR'S Atlanta (National Account) Atlanta (o/a-d/a) Augusta, GA Austin, TX (CSR Director-National Position) Cleveland, OH (National Account) Connecticut (2 locations) Dallas Indianapolis (International) Nashville Phoenix DISPATCHERS LONG HAUL PLANNERS (ANYWHERE) Cedar Rapids IA (Planner) CHICAGO Dallas (Long Distance Fleet Planner) Greenville SC Orlando, FL (Local) Raleigh, NC (Director of Dispatch & Planning) GENERAL MANAGERS Birmingham, AL Cedar Rapids Colorado (Combo-GM/Sales Mgr) Columbia SC Des Moines, IA (GM/Sales Manager position) Florida-Panhandle Los Angeles area Memphis TN Central TX (Combo-GM/Sales Mgr) Phoenix Southeastern U.S. (Confidential Search) GSA/GOVERNMENT SALES Virtually ANYWHERE....work from home INTERNATIONAL Sales (Virtually anywhere) NATIONAL ACCOUNT HHG SALES Most U.S. Locations (many work from home), but particularly: Atlanta, Atlanta, Atlanta, Atlanta!!!!!! Boston Charlotte Chicago CT Dallas DC HOUSTON NYC Kansas City Los Angeles Baltimore Houston Nashville Oakland, CA Phoenix Raleigh, NC St. Louis San Diego Tallahassee Tampa MI, IL, IN, OH, NY O&I SALES WE ALWAYS ARE LOOKING FOR O&I REPS, BUT PARTICULARLY IN: Atlanta Bay Area CA Boston Charleston, SC Charlotte Chicago Dallas DC Gaithersburg,MD Hartford, CT Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville, FL Kansas City NYC-All Boroughs Long Beach, CA Nashville Northern NJ Orlando Phoenix Pittsburgh Raleigh, NC Sacramento SF Bay Area Seattle South Florida OPERATIONS MANAGERS Anaheim Atlanta Atlanta (Includes dispatch and every other Sat.) Brooklyn, NY CHICAGO Greenville, SC Nashville, TN (Ops Clerk/Assistant) North Carolina Northern NJ Orlando St. Louis (Director of Ops) Salt Lake City Sarasota, FL SALES MANAGER Chicago Chicago (Third Proviso) Houston NYC Phoenix Seattle (Third Proviso) SURVEYOR Nashville (Military) THIRD PROVISO/SPECIAL COMMODITY/TRADE SHOW SALES Boston Chicago Seattle Southern CA Massachussetts Seattle OR HOME BASED LOCATION VIRTUALLY ANYWHERE WAREHOUSE MANAGER Anaheim CA