www.iamovers.org VOLUME XLVI The Journal of the International Association of Movers May/June 2013 A Labor of Love: Couples in Charge Letty & Rafael Moreno Moreno International SA de CV 2012–2013 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TABLE OF CONTENTS PRESIDENT Terry R. Head THE PORTAL • May/June 2013 • Volume XLV CHAIR Jeffrey Coleman 3 HEADLINES / Terry R. Head Coleman World Group Romance and Riches (and Richness) VICE CHAIR Margaret (Peg) Wilken FEATURES Stevens Forwarders Inc. 4 PORTAL FOCUS GOVERNING MEMBERS AT LARGE 4 A Labor of Love: Couples in Charge Richard W. Curry Featured Companies: Westmount Moving & Warehousing (5) • Worldwide Gateways International Inc. Movers Uganda (6) • PM Relocations Pvt. Ltd. (7) • Worldwide Relocation Brandon Day Specialists (8) • Reindeer Auto Relocations (9) • Alvarez-Briano (10) • Daycos Moreno International SA de CV (11) • Mudanzas de la Fuente (12) • Tim Helenthal Diamond Worldwide Relocation (13) • NFB International Relocations (14) • National Van Lines, Inc. Executive Moving Systems (15) • Michael Greaves Associates (Barbados) Inc. (16) Michael Richardson • NY International Shipping (17) Senate Forwarding Inc. CORE MEMBERS REPRESENTATIVE 20 IAM Young Professionals (IAM-YP) 20 Generation Stress: Millennials, Gen-Xers More Stressed and Cope Poorly / Rob Stott Jackie Agner Covenant Transport Solutions, Inc. 21 Alan F. Wohlstetter Scholarship Fund Update CORE MEMBERS REPRESENTATIVE AT LARGE 23 The Trend Continues, Bringing Value to ISA Commercial Brokers Douglas Finke Sterling International 24 Maritime/Ocean Shipping IAM-YP REPRESENTATIVE 26 Business & the Economy Brian Goldstein Phoenix Transport (Japan) 29 Military/Government Update GENERAL COUNSEL EMERITUS Industry Meets with SDDC to Discuss Critical Issues / Charles L. White Alan F. Wohlstetter 31 Executive Suite CORE MEMBERS MANAGEMENT BOARD 32 Air Cargo/Air Travel AFRICA Laura Wegener Stuttaford Van Lines 34 TechNotes Patrick Le Merrer The Benefits of Cost-Benefit Analysis for M&S Software / Ramiro Quiros Deminter International 57 Washington Update / Jim Wise, PACE, LLP Government Relations CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA & CARIBBEAN Cliff Williamson Transpack Argentina, S.R.L. Thomas Schmidt Mexpack International Removals EASTERN & SOUTHEASTERN ASIA Yogesh Thakker 21st Century Relocations Green Inks Patrick White DEPARTMENTS Santa Fe Group 36 Industry News 59 Portal Advertising EUROPE 50 Welcome New Members 60 Advertisers Index Marc Smet Gosselin Group NV 52 RPP Members Barbara Savelli Italian Moving Network The Portal is published bimonthly by the portal MIDDLE EAST & NEAR ASIA the International Association of President & Publisher Ajay Bhalla Movers (IAM), 5904 Richmond Hwy., Terry R. Head Leader Freight Forwarders Suite 404, Alexandria, VA 22303. General Manager/Portal Advertising Eran Drenger Belvian W. Carrington Sr. Phone: (703) 317-9950. Fax: (703) Ocean Company Limited Director, Government & Military Relations 317-9960. E-mail: [email protected]. Charles L. White NORTH AMERICA Website: www.IAMovers.org. Send Director, Communications & Member Engagement Edward T. Wickman Janet Cave Seely subscriptions, advertising and editorial Wickman Worldwide Services, Inc. Programs Manager Arthur Drewry material, and changes of address to: Brian Limperopulos Taylor International International Association of Movers Manager, Operations Jamila Kenney (IAM), 5904 Richmond Hwy., Suite 404, OCEANIA Manager, Member Services Marilyn Sargent Alexandria, VA 22303. Julia O’Connor Aloha International Moving Services, Inc. Member Services Associate George Cooper Lanee Johnson Australian Vanlines Layout/Design/Editor: Joyce Dexter HEADLINES Romance and Riches (and Richness) et me start off by saying I had never seen or heard the word “copreneurship” until Lreading the focus article in this issue of The Portal. I actually had to spell it out in my head before I grasped the connection. In the past we’ve profiled family-run companies and also written about generations of sons, daughters, siblings, and grandchildren working in the business. All those past articles highlight what I believe is one of the key attributes of our global community, namely that we’re dominated by family-owned movers. It’s perhaps one of the best reasons we all share empathy for our customers and what they may be going through during the upheaval and challenges of a relocation. However, this time we decided to turn the spotlight on couples who own and/or manage some of the IAM member companies. We received a good response, and I think you will thoroughly enjoy reading the couples’ profiles and finding out how they—as individuals and partners—manage to make it work, and how it has led to enriching their lives … indeed, even fostering the romantic side of their relationships. There’s no doubt in my mind that it takes a special person to work successfully and coexist with a spouse or domestic partner in day-to-day operations, throughout the TERRY R. HEAD ins and outs, ups and downs of running any business; but that holds especially true of IAM President managing a moving and storage company. Then again, since we are moving families, maybe it is the ideal business scenario in which couples can succeed in running a business together. In this environment there are numerous ways for couples to complement and leverage each other’s strengths. Alternately, it may be the perfect place for couples to recognize and compensate for a partner’s less-strong points. Who better than your spouse to watch your back? Who better to trust, share a commitment, and be able to communicate with, as well as have at your side while you jointly pursue professional objectives and personal dreams? At the same time, there are inevitably issues and pitfalls couples face when lead- ing a business together. Work-life balance has to be at the forefront and it’s something couples—with or without children—must deal with constantly. If you work with your wife, husband, or domestic partner, when you do get away from it? How do you avoid talking about work when you are at home? How do you not talk about home (and the children) when you’re at work? When you have a disagree- ment at work, how does that not follow you home—or vice-versa? How do you keep your personal relationship from affecting the way you interact with other employees or customers? Are you viewed as coworkers, bosses of equal power, or lovers in the workplace? It may seem perfectly natural to you, but it could get strange for those with whom you work, both inside and outside the company. I think after reviewing the articles you will quickly agree that, for virtually all the couples who submitted profiles, the fact that they work together has only enhanced and enriched the personal (or romantic) side of their relationships. Respect and admiration are key ingredients to any successful relationship, so what better place than work for those to be developed, seen, and shared? I love our industry; and I love learning more about the people who make up IAM’s ever-growing membership. This issue provides you with yet another opportunity to become better acquainted with some of the couples whose romance has contributed to achieving riches or, at minimum, richness in their lives by working together. PORTAL FOCUS A Labor of Love: Couples in Charge amily-owned businesses have long home relationship are very likely to carry Fbeen the bedrock of the IAM mem- over to the office. Member Companies Run by bership. Moving companies offer an Di Meglio says it’s important for Couples Featured in This Issue environment hospitable to generations of copreneurs to ensure that each person is entrepreneurs: brothers, parent-and-child clear about roles and responsibilities at Alvarez Briano Moving & teams, and of course couples who share a work as well as at home—you will have Relocation, Montevideo, Uruguay passion not only for the business but for titles on the job, but who does the cooking Julian Alvarez and Alejandra Briano each other. and laundry? Who picks up the kids from The National Federation of Indepen- daycare? Diamond Worldwide Relocation, dent Business (NFIB) reports that a spouse Your employees prefer to see you Inc., USA is the family member most likely to be as coworkers rather than lovers in the Phil and Jo Potzka a joint owner, a co-manager, and confi- workplace, she adds—always professional dant consulted prior to a critical business and respectful with colleagues and with Executive Moving Systems, USA decision. In fact, according to a survey of each other. It’s sometimes hard for couples Chuck and Brenda Bailey 1,147 small business owners by the online to leave disagreements at home and not community Manta, one in four small let them bleed over into the family life, Michael Greaves Associates employers share day-to-day management but it’s important to establish boundaries (Barbados) Inc., Barbados responsibilities with their significant other. between the two. One big reason for this Michael and Daphne Greaves In some relationships, coexisting on is that when the business isn’t doing well, a 24/7 basis can be a catalyst for marital there is tremendous stress on the marriage. Moreno International SA de CV, collapse, but 32 percent of respondents in Meg Cadoux Hirshberg, author of For Mexico the Manta survey said their family life and Better or For Work: A Survival Guide for Rafael S. Moreno and Letty Moreno relationships improved after embarking Entrepreneurs and their Families, lays out on a life of entrepreneurship. In theory, at a typical scenario for the way husband- Mudanzas de la Fuente, Spain least, operating a business requires the sort and-wife partnerships typically arise: Juan Carlos de la Fuente and of cooperation that brings spouses closer “One person is the primary motivator for Cristina Mesonero as they address difficult decisions; their the business, and the spouse joins in. The trust for one another grows deeper. spouse is available, capable and cheap. NFB International Relocation, The Wall Street Journal estimates that They get into it [thinking,] ‘It’s a family Norway even more family businesses—about a business.