2005 Winter Amplifier

Transcription

Hurricane Relief 2
Robert R.C.Miller 6
Volume 53 Winter 2005
The Magazine of Atlas World Group
A Recognized Force
for instance: More than
1in 4 domestic
corporate relocations involve Atlas
Swim Across America 34
www.atlasworldgroup.com
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The Magazine of Atlas World Group www.atlasworldgroup.com
the
the
Volume 50 Winter 2002The Magazine of Atlas World Group www.atlasworldgroup.com
Chairman’s Message
the
Amplifier
the
Cover Story
2
8
I am pleased to introduce this issue of the Atlas Amplifier,
which follows the theme we introduced at this year’s
convention, “a recognized force.” This phrase aptly describes
how Atlas is viewed today in the transportation industry;
the feature on page 8 looks at the facts of our success
and some of the factors that have enabled it.
At the heart of our organization is a commitment
to service. This commitment recently took the
form of reaching out in a time of national
tragedy to serve those who suffered personal
loss. Read about how members of our Atlas
family stepped up to help victims of Hurricane
Katrina on page 2.
With a tinge of sadness I call your
attention to the story on page 6.
Bob Miller was a much-beloved force
here at Atlas, within our industry,
and in his community. He is fondly
remembered and greatly missed
by all who knew him.
You will notice this issue of the Amplifier contains more
photos than we typically publish. We think the pictures are
important because they help convey how Atlas touches
so many lives. In essence, “a recognized force” refers to the
power of Atlas people, hard-working men and women
who bring their passion, dreams and commitment to our
organization every day. It is their strength that defines
Atlas and moves it confidently into tomorrow.
Hurricane Relief
Amplifier
Living the
Commitment
Atlas responds
to people.
MILT HILL WINNERS
A Recognized Force
Excellence is recognized
How strong is Atlas?
You may be surprised.
Five-Star Solution
BDS Worldwide
Atlas Specialized Transportation Group
Store Fixtures
12
14
16
Red Ball International
6
Mike Shaffer
Chairman & CEO
Atlas World Group, Inc.
Robert
R.C.Miller
1925 - 2005
Atlas remembers
a beloved leader
and friend.
18
Stockholder Update
20
22
SHRM,ERC – Flair for fun.
President’s Club Winners 24
Atlas Webinars
26
ROAD DAY 18
28
Van Operator Survey
Adopting New Technology
Atlas World
30
News and Information
Including the Armed Services Honor Roll
Tracks
Atlas Service is Appreciated
Editor Kristen Burnett kriburn@atlasworldgroup.com
For more information on Atlas and our services, visit atlasworldgroup.com on the Internet.
The Atlas Amplifier is published by Atlas World Group, Inc., 1212 St.George Rd., Evansville, IN 47711. All material for publication must be submitted to the
Marketing Communications Department. Atlas is an equal opportunity company.© Copyright 2005, Atlas World Group, Inc.
38
Hurricane Relief
The Atlas commitment– integrity, quality, solutions–is fundamentally a promise of service.
Sometimes that commitment calls for action beyond the regular scope of business. We share here a
sampling of the scenarios that have unfolded recently throughout the Atlas organization, just a part
of the many efforts undertaken by compassionate people in the service of others.
Living the Commitment
Atlas Responds to People
uring the final days of August the U.S. suffered a
horrific natural disaster. Hurricane Katrina laid waste
to the coastal areas of Louisiana and Mississippi, resulting
in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the
displacement of 200,000 people from their homes. The
incident provoked a massive outpouring of aid across the
country and record-breaking donations of money, goods,
and services for storm victims. It was inevitable that Atlas,
a recognized force for transportation, would help those in
need cope with nature’s force.
D
Nelson Westerberg
of Illinois (1505)
The opportunity to help came in an unusual way to
Mike Boone, Vice President, Bean Moving & Storage in
Hattiesburg, Mississippi (385). The day after Katrina
made landfall, Mike received a call from Harry Kurtz with
Mobility Resource Associates (MRA) in St. Clair Shores,
Michigan. Harry offered the use of a fully equipped,
commercial kitchen built into a 48-foot trailer. Mike,
who works in Tipton, Pennsylvania called John Clayton,
operations manager in Hattiesburg. John got in touch
with the Red Cross and, yes, the kitchen was needed.
Walker Transfer in Huntington,
West Virginia (2114)
Atlas World Group Headquarters
2
Atlas Amplifier
The people at MRA stocked the truck and sent it south.
At the same time, White’s Moving Service in Florence,
Alabama (1592) delivered a truckload of food and
supplies to Bean, which helped meet immediate needs
of employees, their families and friends. John and his
employees were without power and many were involved
in emergency relief operations. They met the mobile
kitchen in Collins, Louisiana and went to work preparing
and serving meals. “I guess we served between 12,000
and 15,000 people in Collins,” says John.
Meanwhile, friends of Harry organized a food drive at
the Gross Point Yacht Club in Ann Arbor, Michigan and
Mike got in touch with Atlas Van Operator Gerardo Hinton
who was on his way from Ann Arbor to Texas. Gerardo
had room for the donated food, enough for 4000 more
meals, and he picked it up and delivered it to Hattiesburg.
For John and his employees, living through the
experience has been an emotional time. “I have to give
credit to my fellow employees,” says John, “and to Mike
and Harry, and all who continue to help us. I lived through
Hurricane Camille, but there is no comparison to Katrina.
Some of my employees have lost everything.”
John says he believes things like Katrina happen for a
reason, and he looks toward the future with hope. “This
has brought all of us together,” says John. “What I want
most now is for all of us to stay together.”
“Our CEO, Doug McGrath, phoned
a vendor partner, Victory Packaging,
and they agreed to donate
shipping boxes.”
Security sent a truck for loading
and the cartons completely filled a
53-foot trailer. Security employee
Art Royster drove, making three
drops in Louisiana before completing delivery in Houston.
“We wanted to do this for the
right reasons,” says Dick. “Not for
any notoriety, but because people
needed help.”
“What you see on TV can’t begin to describe the
reality,” says John Scott, Director of Region I, Atlas
Relocation Services Group. “It’s unbelievable.”
In the first few days after Katrina made landfall in
Louisiana, John and his fellow Atlas employees collected
goods for storm victims. Likewise, John and his wife,
Debbie, solicited donations from friends in their soccer
leagues. On Saturday, September 3, John and Debbie
loaded about 5000 pounds of goods in two vehicles
and drove to St. Tamany Parish in Covington. But John
was unprepared for the magnitude of the devastation
they saw.
Walker Transfer in
Huntington, West
Virginia (2114)
Atlas World Group
Headquarters in
Evansville, IN
You may have read about Maryland residents Jackie,
Melissa and Jenna Kantor in People Magazine. The three
sisters — ages 14, 11 and 8 — garnered national attention
for their work to help kids taking refuge in the Houston
Astrodome. They started Project Backpack with a goal
to collect one thousand new or gently used backpacks
filled with goodies. Their father created a web site
(www.projectbackpack.org) to assist and the response
mushroomed. In about a week the drive had amassed
over 5,000 backpacks. But the effort needed
transportation help.
“A national account client apprised us of the need,” says
Dick Thornton, Director of Operations with Security
Storage in Raleigh, North Carolina (1852).
Atlas Amplifier • Winter 2005
3
Hurricane Relief
Bean Moving & Storage in Hattiesburg, Mississippi (385)
An Atlas trailer
carrying 15,000
pounds of donated
supplies for the
Red Cross heads
south to the gulf
coast along
side emergency
vehicles.
“After that first trip down, it was needed and very
worthwhile to go back in,” says John.
Throughout that week, Atlas employees and local
soccer families conducted full-scale drives to collect items
requested by the Red Cross, from nonperishable food,
bottled water and diapers to insect repellent, toothpaste
and first aid supplies.
Meanwhile, the folks at Walker Transfer in Huntington,
West Virginia (2114) were joining the effort.
“After John and Debbie made the trip over Labor Day,
they called to tell us how badly the people down
there needed help,” says Gerri Walker, Principal and
Operations Manager.
The Walker team relayed the request to their network
of friends. Soon area schools, churches and businesses
were chipping in.
“It was amazing how fast everything came together,” says
Marcia Wilson, Account Manager. “At one school, four girls
organized a bake sale and raised $147 in one day.”
Coincidentally, the wife of a recently relocated executive,
whose family hailed from Louisiana, contacted Gerri and
said she wanted to send supplies to a clinic in Baton Rouge.
The lady brought in goods that filled five wardrobe cartons.
On September 10, Gerri and her husband, Ron, drove to
Evansville to deliver the 8,000 pounds of donated supplies
which included chain saws and 1,000 bottles of water.
At Atlas Headquarters they offloaded onto a trailer
destined for Louisiana. On September 12, with the help
of Larry Terrell and his team at Northlake Moving &
Storage in Covington, Louisiana (1535), the 15,000
pounds of goods were distributed to people in need by
the Red Cross.
In Kansas City, Missouri, McCormack-Payton Storage
& Moving (1380) and the Wayside Waifs animal shelter
partnered for the sake of man’s four-legged friends.
“The people at McCormack-Payton were very nice and
very generous,” says Jenny Brown, Public Relations Manager
with the shelter. “We called and asked for a truck, and
within a matter of hours they delivered a trailer to us.”
The shelter’s five-day appeal netted 26,000 pounds in
donated food and supplies. McCormack-Payton’s Steve
Green transported the trailer of goods to a distribution
point in Vancleave, Mississippi.
McCormack-Payton also said ‘yes’ to Van Operator
Chris Bugler when he requested underwriting for the
transport of supplies for Catholic Charities. The Atlas
agent donated fuel and cartons, while Chris and helper
Mark Lutgen supplied the manpower and delivered the
goods to the Houston area.
In Newburgh, Indiana, parishioners at St. John Catholic
Church collected enough supplies to fill a 50-foot trailer.
Tom Shetler, President, Shetler Moving & Storage (1830)
in Evansville, Indiana, helped arrange the use of Atlas
equipment to transport the goods. It was delivered to
Houston on September 9. Catholic Charities worked in
cooperation with the Red Cross to distribute the items.
4
Gerardo Hinton picks up
donated supplies to deliver
to Bean Moving & Storage
in Hattiesburg, Mississippi (385)
Bean Moving & Storage in Hattiesburg, Mississippi (385)
Ace Relocation Systems of Florida (8) assisted
Orlando Priority Healthcare to deliver donations of
bottled water and supplies into the New Orleans area
with the help of Northlake Moving & Storage in
Covington, Louisiana (1535).
The people at Action Moving & Storage in West
Monroe, Louisiana (138) stepped into an emergency
role to take diverted shipments and assist fellow Atlas
agents in Baton Rouge and Covington. Action donated
boxes to the American Red Cross and helped the relief
organization relocate the contents of shelters to longerterm facilities for evacuees.
Nelson Westerberg of Illinois (1505) facilitated a
drive to collect school supplies for displaced storm families.
The company coordinated collections among five schools
in Libertyville and routed a truck to pick up the donations,
enough to fill half a trailer. These were added to the
pallets of food items collected by Nelson Westerberg
employees. Van Operator Joe Nosek took the school
supplies to Baton Rouge; food items were delivered to a
United Way warehouse.
Red Cross volunteer Sandy
Borske observed a need she was
especially qualified to help meet at
the evacuee camp in Marietta,
Georgia. She talked to her husband,
Mitch, General Manager with
Nelson Westerberg of Georgia
(1517). The Atlas agency deployed
a 45-foot trailer and cartons to
the camp to serve as temporary
storage and suitcases for the
people taking refuge. In addition,
Nelson Westerberg assisted Must
Ministries, a church-affiliated
outreach, with donations of food
and a shuttle service to keep
supplies moving to those in need.
This story continues on Page 32
Atlas People Respond
When concerned citizens in Van Nuys, California organized a collection of
relief supplies, transportation failed to materialize and donations languished
on sidewalks. Media coverage caught the attention of Jon Levine, President,
JBL Moving & Storage (1230). Jon partnered with Bean Moving &
Storage (385) to underwrite a truck. Bean Van Operator Dave Tosche
volunteered to haul. Along with five trucks donated by Wal-Mart
Corporation, the effort delivered 250 pallets of supplies to storm victims
in care of a United Way warehouse in Lafayette, Louisiana.
McCormack-Payton Storage & Moving (1380)
5
Robert R.C.Miller
Robert
R.C.Miller
1925 - 2005
obert R.C. Miller joined Atlas in 1971 as Executive
Vice President and General Manager. In 1974, he was
named President and Chief Operating Officer, and
in 1980 he was appointed Vice Chairman of the Board.
Before he retired from Atlas in 1987, Bob had uniquely
earned the respect and admiration of the Atlas family for
the warm, humorous, and gifted man he was.
“Mr. Miller was a wonderful person to work for,” says
Ruth Lankford, Atlas Training, who served as his secretary
for ten years. “He was ‘Mister Atlas’. ..demanding, hardworking, and totally devoted to the company. And he
had a great sense of humor...he made work a lot of fun.”
Bob was instrumental in bringing hydroplane racing to
Atlas and to Evansville, where it is still a centerpiece of the
city’s annual Freedom Festival. Ruth remembers a funny
incident that happened early in her boss’ hydroplane
involvement, a story that he enjoyed telling especially
because the laugh was at his own expense.
“Before Evansville had ‘Thunder on the Ohio’ there were
hydroplane races in Owensboro, and Mr. Miller had a VIP
parking pass for the pit area,” says Ruth. “One day he was
R
Ruth Lankford
of Atlas
Training,
pictured here
with Bob,
served with
him at Atlas
for ten years as
his secretary.
6
late to the event and a gate worker told him he’d have to
park elsewhere. Mr. Miller protested, ‘But I’m the President
of Atlas Van Lines!’ The worker replied, ‘I’ve already had
three of those today,’ and they didn’t let him park there!”
“Thinking back, I may have been one of those
impostors,” says Atlas Chairman and CEO Mike Shaffer.
“Dennie Lynn, Senior Vice President, Transportation,
Relocation Service Group, may have been another.”
Mike recalls meeting Bob in California, shortly before he
(Bob) would assume his leadership role with Atlas. “He was
a great guy, a true gentleman,” says Mike. “He was nice to
everyone, regardless of their position or title. And he had a
gift for remembering people. He could go into a room of
20 strangers and years later still recall their names.”
Bob’s passion for hydroplane racing led to a friendship
with Chip Hanauer, who drove the Atlas Van Lines
Unlimited Hydroplane from 1982 to 1984. Chip says he
first met Bob at a social gathering in Evansville.
“I thought the guy must be phony...no one is so
outgoing and friendly,” says Chip. “But he proved me
wrong. Bob was one of the most genuine, kind and
warmhearted people I have ever known. He was also
“And he was extremely bright–he graduated from the
one of the funniest.”
University of Nebraska at age 18.”
Chip recalls the time he and Bob visited San Francisco’s
Tom remembers that, among Bob’s many talents, he was
Nob Hill on a publicity outing. They encountered a fellow
the perfect host, taking pains to ensure every person was
who, they surmised, was hallucinating on LSD.
made to feel welcome and appreciated. “I always thought
“The man was marveling at the wonderful things he was that Bob could have been Chief of Protocol for the U.S.
seeing in a license plate, and he wanted to show us,” says
Government,” says Tom.
Chip. “So Bob politely stooped to look at the plate and
In 1987, Bob resigned his management position as Vice
engaged him in conversation for several minutes. That was
Chairman of the Atlas Van Lines Board of Directors. After
Bob. He was open to anyone. He just
his retirement, he served as a consultant
“...
HE
HAD
A
GIFT
FOR
seemed to truly love human beings.”
and assisted with the organization of
.
REMEMBERING
PEOPLE
“I first met Bob in Spring 1979, when I
the annual conventions and the Forum
E
COULD
GO
INTO
A
H
interviewed with him and O.H. Frisbie at
on Moving. He also served as Chairman,
ROOM OF 20 STRANGERS Director, and Executive Committee
the Forum on Moving in Detroit,” recalls
Norm Gee, retired Atlas chairman and
Member of the Household Goods
AND YEARS LATER STILL
CEO. “Bob was instrumental in me being
Carrier Bureau.
RECALL THEIR NAMES.”
hired as Vice President of Finance and
Bob shared his gifts with many in his
MIKE SHAFFER
CHAIRMAN & CEO
CFO. It proved to be the best career
community, including Boy Scouts of
ATLAS WORLD GROUP
decision I ever made.”
America, Metropolitan Evansville
“After Bob retired, it was my pleasure to hire him for
Chamber of Commerce, Evansville Industrial Foundation,
consulting work,” says Norm. “In recent years, Bob and I
and the Rotary Club of Evansville, which recognized him
and (Atlas agent) Tom Shetler would have lunch together
with the Paul Harris Award and the Rotary Civic Award.
regularly. Bob never knew a stranger, and most times he
Bob passed away on June 12, 2005. He was
didn’t get to eat even an eighth of his meal because he
preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Kappy Kellogg
was up shaking people’s hands.”
Miller, in 2001. He is survived by his wife, Lois Ligon Miller;
Tom Shetler became acquainted with Bob thirty-some
sons David and Robert and their families; four
years ago at the Atlas Convention in Acapulco. “Bob Miller
grandchildren; two stepchildren; two step-grandchildren;
was one of the nicest people I have ever known,” says Tom. nieces and nephews.
7
Cover Story
Below: Richard Arneson, Chief Technology Officer, Atlas World Group, pitches in during
“Dress-down Day,” an Atlas fundraiser to benefit the United Way.Through a dedication
to service, Atlas and its employees actively support their communities and those in need.
Below, Left: Marian Weilert Sauvey, Sr.Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, is seen here on
the putting green. Marian and Bill Travelstead,Vice President, Operations (STG), served
as co-chairs of the United Way charitable event at Atlas.
n the not too distant past, people who
study the dynamics of the transportation and
logistics industries saw Atlas as one among
several names jockeying in a domestic market
dominated by a few larger players.
As recently as 1995, Atlas Van Lines was
the fifth-largest domestic transporter of
household goods.
I
met in the market, it validates our commitment
to service excellence and testifies to our shared
vision for worldwide leadership...a leadership we
have aptly demonstrated in the domestic niche
for corporate relocation.”
In 2003, Atlas Van Lines provided transportation for 27.1 percent of all domestic corporate
moves, an impressive share of this important mar-
Atlas...
a recognized force
$1000
Revenue (Millions of Dollars)
$900
$800
$700
00
Revenue
01
02
03
04
05
851.0 827.0 757.9 765.9 860.5 911.0
In 2005 Atlas will generate
more than $900 million in revenue.
These numbers include an estimated 27
percent share of the domestic corporate
relocation market.Atlas serves more
than 80 percent of Fortune 500
firms and more than 2,900 national
accounts in the U.S.and Canada.
8
Today, the Picture
is Quite Different.
Atlas now stands as a recognized force in the
relocation arena, a provider of considerable
presence known for diverse capabilities.
“According to industry statistics, Atlas Van Lines
ranks as the third largest van line overall and the
second largest carrier of household goods,” says
Jim Stamm, Atlas President and COO.
With more than 800 agents and affiliates
worldwide, Atlas World Group companies
realized $869 million in revenue in 2004,
including more than 139,000 U.S. shipment
transactions. And this year the company is on
track to exceed $900 million in revenue. This
represents a doubling of the Atlas World Group
annual revenue from operations of just ten years
ago. “We can be proud of our growth,” says Jim.
“Not only does it speak to the success we have
ket segment. Atlas serves more than 80 percent of
Fortune 500 firms and more than 2,700 national
accounts in the United States. Atlas Canada
extends services to another 200-plus national
accounts and boasts market share numbers
approaching fifty percent in several categories.
Communicating
a Strategic Vision
The recent banner years for Atlas are no
surprise to those who have helped craft the
company’s growth strategies. In 2002, the
company reintroduced itself to the market with
a more broadly positioned brand representing
services for global relocation, logistics
and travel.
“All along we have been responding to
the needs of our clients with the addition of
products and services that answer their requests,”
9
Cover Story
“IT’S NO ACCIDENT
THAT ‘QUALITY’
HOLDS THE CENTER
PLACE AMONG OUR
CORE VALUES...”
MIKE SHAFFER
CHAIRMAN AND CEO
ATLAS WORLD GROUP
says Sr. Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer
Greg Hoover. “Our expansion of the Atlas brand
was a logical step to bring the perception of
Atlas World Group into alignment with the
reality of who we had become.”
What Atlas had become was a highly
diverse family of companies dedicated to
the transportation of people, products and
lifestyles—and sharing core values of integrity,
quality and solutions.
“Sometimes, the best thing you can do for
your customers is to remind them of all you
can do,” says Greg. “For us, that simply became
a matter of effectively communicating that
Atlas comprises a complete range of relocation,
transportation and management services.
We represent a true, single-source solution.”
Quality: Linchpin of Success
“It’s no accident that ‘quality’ holds the center
place among our core values,” says Chairman
and CEO Mike Shaffer. “It is the engine that
drives continuous improvements in service
and, we believe, our most essential tool for
competitive advantage.”
The Atlas quality ethic is unlike any other
in the transportation industry. The Atlas Board
of Directors, which sets policies and procedures
at the highest level of the organization, is
composed of Atlas agents to ensure that the
company answers the “real world” needs of
those it serves.
“Agent ownership is fundamental to our
business,” says Mike. “Atlas agents themselves
set the priorities. They are the people who are
responsible to the customer—and responsive
to the customer.”
The fruits of quality are evident in solid
growth. But several other measures substantiate
just how deeply quality runs throughout the
Atlas organization.
Again this year, Atlas has earned the Quest
for Quality Award sponsored by Logistics
Management magazine. And, according to its
own stringent internal criteria, Atlas this year
recognizes 46 agents with the annual Milt Hill
Quality Award—the most to earn this ultimate
distinction, tying with 2003.
Atlas continuously assesses ways to improve
quality. “This year we became the first domestic
van line to implement labor screening for all
permanent new-hire laborers and rider-helpers,”
says Mike. “This policy gives our customers one
more assurance of quality.”
The Atlas Mission
“To become the leading worldwide marketer and provider of quality
specialized transportation, distribution and relocation services to
corporate clients, the general public, and government agencies through
a network of superior agents, while providing excellent shareholder value.
We consider added value to the customer as our primary advantage
and reject economies achieved by diminished service or integrity.”
What’s more, the company has added
a technology standard to its quarterly
measurements of agent quality.
“This new standard helps ensure our agents
are taking advantage of the very best tools for
enabling superior customer service,” says Mike.
Exercising Citizenship
With so much evidence of success, one might
be tempted to think that Atlas entrepreneurs
and employees have little time for anything but
generating income. But numbers do not tell the
whole story of what Atlas really is.
“At its core, Atlas is a company dedicated
to serving others with integrity, quality and
solutions,” says Jim Stamm. “This dedication
also takes the form of being responsive not only
to our customers, but to the special needs of
others in our communities.” For examples, Jim
points to the recent outpouring across the Atlas
family to aid storm victims on the Gulf Coast
(see page 2); the Swim Across America event in
New York that raised over a million dollars this
summer for cancer research and treatment
(see page 34); the Habitat House that Atlas
employees built last year; Atlas Headquarters
successful United Way campaigns; and to the
ongoing support of the military being carried
out in a number of ways by employees
(see page 30).
“I’ve heard it said that you make a living by
what you get, but you make a life by what you
give,” says Jim. “I am proud to say Atlas—as a
company and as individuals—practices good
citizenship. I believe that makes us successful in
the best sense of the word.”
“THIS DEDICATION [INTEGRITY, QUALITY, SOLUTIONS]
ALSO TAKES THE FORM OF BEING RESPONSIVE NOT ONLY
TO OUR CUSTOMERS, BUT TO THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF
OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.”
JIM STAMM
PRESIDENT AND COO
ATLAS WORLD GROUP
Make that “Eight Straight”
For the eighth consecutive year—and for the ninth time
in ten years—Atlas is proud to have again earned the
Quest for Quality Award sponsored by Logistics
Management magazine.
This award is the industry’s most esteemed
mark of excellence. More than 2,000 buyers
of transportation services ranked providers
on five performance criteria. Those
responding in the Household and High
Value Goods category selected Atlas for
excellence based upon:
• on-time performance
• value
• information technology
• customer service
• equipment & operations.
“Atlas is pleased to accept this prestigious honor on
behalf of its agents, employees and customers who help make Atlas the
widely recognized transportation choice for integrity, quality and solutions.”
- Jim Stamm, Atlas President and Chief Operating Officer
10
11
Milt Hill Winners
MILTON M. HILL QUALITY AWARD
FORTY-SIX
EARN THE EMBLEM
OF EXCELLENCE
he entire Atlas family is proud to honor this year’s Milton M. Hill
Quality Award winners. Their uncompromising commitment to
the highest quality standards further the reputation of Atlas as a
service provider of integrity, quality and solutions.
Since this award was founded in 1996 it has been awarded a total
of 10 times to 71 Atlas agents. This year, 46 agents have earned this
distinction, tying with 2003 as the highest total.
T
MILTON M. HILL QUALITY AWARD
WINNERS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING:
1. Superior Warehouse Rating.
Recipients earn a score of 90% or higher in random inspections that
measure impression, organization, security, and risk management.
2. Hauling Excellence Award.
The criteria for this award include, among other things, customer
satisfaction with the driver and a minimum of $750,000 in revenue.
3. World Class Commitment.
Agents must meet or exceed tough standards in twelve areas
that cover customer satisfaction, business process efficiencies, claims,
and safety.
4. Shipment Involvement.
Agents must participate in a minimum of 175 shipments to be
eligible for the award.
12
2004 -2005 MILTON M. HILL
QUALITY AWARD WINNERS
A.Walecka & Son, Inc.(155)
West Wareham, MA
A-1 Metro Movers – Omaha (251)
Omaha, NE
Ace Relocation Systems, Inc.of Florida (8)
Orlando, FL
Ace Relocation Systems, Inc.(15)
Jessup, MD
Long Beach, CA
San Diego, CA
Elgin, IL
Kyle, TX
San Jose, CA
Advance Relocation Systems (59)
Baltimore, MD
Alexander’s Mobility Services (207)
Tustin, CA
Hayward, CA
Portland, OR
Bloomington, MN
San Diego, CA
Nashville, TN
Atlantic Relocation Systems (1021)
Houston, TX
Anaheim, CA
California Moving Systems, Inc.(533)
Sacramento, CA
Celina Moving and Storage, Inc.(592)
Celina, OH
City Transfer & Storage Company (630)
High Point, NC
Collins Brothers Moving Corporation (547)
Larchmont, NY
Crofutt & Smith Moving & Storage (646)
Landing, NJ
DMS Moving Systems, Inc.(800)
Canton, MI
DMS Moving Systems of
Alabama, Inc.(801)
Birmingham, AL
Daniel’s Moving & Storage, Inc.(875)
Phoenix, AZ
Guardian Relocation Inc.(1032)
Indianapolis, IN
Home Moving & Storage Co., Inc.(1111)
Columbus, OH
Imlach Movers, Inc.(1130)
Trenton, MI
Imlach & Collins Brothers, LLC (1132)
Irving, TX
Mabey’s Moving & Storage, Inc.(1415)
Rensselaer, NY
McCormack-Payton Storage & Moving
Company, Inc.(1380)
Grandview, MO
Merchants Moving & Storage, Inc.( 1401)
Boise, ID
Nelson Westerberg of Illinois, Inc.(1505)
Elk Grove Village, IL
Nelson Westerberg of Texas, Inc.(1511)
Carrollton, TX
Nelson Westerberg of
New Jersey, Inc.(1523)
Somerville, NJ
Paxton Van Lines, Inc.(1610)
Springfield, VA
Powell Relocation Group (1657)
Grand Rapids, MI
Reads Moving Systems, Inc.(1711)
Hatboro, PA
Roadrunner Moving & Storage (1740)
Houston, TX
Spirit Movers, Inc.(1818)
Sarasota, FL
Stonehocker Moving & Storage, Inc.(1876)
Davenport, IA
Wagoner Moving Systems, Inc.(2138)
North Canton, OH
Walker Transfer, Inc.(2114)
Kenova, WV
Weleski Transfer, Inc.(2151)
Tarentum, PA
Winter Moving and Storage, Inc.(1077)
Bentonville, AR
13
BDS Worldwide
BDS Worldwide
“Seclusion is a big part of what makes the resort so
attractive,” says Bill. “But it is also a big part of what makes
logistics so demanding.”
Bill says that everything is first shipped to a warehouse in
Los Angeles. From there it is parceled into rooms and
loaded into 20-foot sea containers. The total job comprises
70 such containers.
“At Honolulu the containers are transferred from
steamship to a barge that makes a weekly trip to the port
at Lana’i,” says Bill. “There is no warehouse on the island,
and we can only stage three containers at a time. So we
must take extra care to cue them in the right order.”
At destination, BDS crews are assisted by a select team of
local workers. Deliveries require extensive dollying and hand
maneuvering across the terraced, cliffside grounds. In the
final stage, BDS crews perform complete installation of TVs,
artwork, mirrors, case goods, furniture and bedding to
make rooms ready for occupancy.
The five-star Four
Seasons Resort
at Manele Bay
on the southern
shore of Lana’i,
Hawaii comprises
nine buildings on
a terraced, cliffside terrain. From
August through
October BDS
Worldwide
orchestrated
an efficient
solution for a
complex logistical
challenge.
Five-Star Solution:
BDS helps ready luxury resort
inding your way to paradise is one thing. But finding
a way to furnish paradise is another thing entirely.
Over a ninety-day span beginning in August, BDS
Worldwide orchestrated a logistics solution for one of the
world’s most enticing destinations, the five-star Four
Seasons Resort at Manele Bay on the remote southern
shore of Lana’i, Hawaii.
“This is one of the most complex challenges we have ever
mounted,” says Bill Dickerson, Director of Installations. “It’s
like putting together a thousand-piece puzzle while some
of the pieces keep moving.”
The project scope under normal circumstances would
be daunting, with 200 luxury rooms plus common areas
requiring ready-for-occupancy furnishing within a narrow
time frame. Add to that the complications that accompany
pulling together an inventory from multiple international
F
14
points of origin, plus the constant attention required to
cue a thousand-plus pieces so delivery and installation are
as efficient as possible. But perhaps the biggest hurdle is
the location itself.
BDS crews unload containers from the barge that travels
weekly from Honolulu.
BDS Project Supervisor Steven Dickerson receives inventory,
a daily task that involves an accounting for the contents of
5 to 7 containers.
Synchronized Information Systems
To perform the physical aspect of the project, BDS
maintains tight control over the information that affects
times and events.
“The complexities of this project required that we
upgrade our information systems,” says Stephanie Brown,
Vice President, BDS Operations. “As a result, our system
interfaces with the client’s system through a daily file
transfer that informs both of us. An efficient system for
sharing and using information is vital.”
Stephanie says that BDS and Four Seasons began
working together about three years ago. “Our relationship
has become a partnership, with BDS providing a resource
for complete logistics solutions including freight
management, warehousing and installation.”
Currently BDS is serving Four Seasons on a variety of
hospitality projects involving both new construction and
renovation—and is bidding on several more. Four Seasons
Design and Procurement has listed BDS as a preferred
vendor on its web site, a recommendation producing
leads to other quality-conscious hospitality clients.
“We work well with Four Seasons in that our
commitment to service excellence fits their need,”
BDS Project Supervisor Jeff Brittingham reviews handling and
placement details with crew members.
says Stephanie. “When we take a project on, we do so with
the full commitment to work through all the little wrinkles
and deliver according to our client’s trust. In the process we
have earned the respect and trust of their other vendors.
All of this contributes to our mutual success.”
15
Specialized Transportation
Watch it like a Hawk.
Treat it with Kid Gloves.
Atlas STG Shows Resourcefulness and Responsiveness
in Store Fixtures Logistics
hile people are giving thanks on the fourth
Thursday in November, retailers are apt to offer an
extra prayer for the following day. That Friday is traditionally
the busiest shopping day of the year and a bellwether for
the Christmas season.
“We’re delivering approximately 55 truckloads to
540 locations in just a little over a month, in time for
customers serve their customers.”
But speed is only one aspect of service; added value
represents another dimension of importance to retailers.
“Customers appreciate a one-stop shopping experience,”
says Gary. “When they call, they trust we can handle
whatever they need.”
On a recent nationwide rollout for Fleetwood Fixtures
and Kate Spade, Ace World-Wide van operators set beds
according to a floor plan, put bed covers and pillows in
place, and completed the job by placing peonies in a vase.
Adding value is a strategic point of differentiation
for Frank Dethlefsen, President of Suncoast Moving &
Storage (1271).
“As a customized, specialized hauling entity, we do
not compete against freight companies,” says Frank.
“We provide what most freight companies can’t, or won’t,
such as air ride suspension, inside delivery, and delivery on
specified times and days.”
Frank joined the Atlas family in May of this year to grow
his SP business, which caters to fast-growing retailers.
Among his clients are Chico’s FAS and its brands: Chico’s,
White House|Black Market, and Soma by Chico’s. Frank
says he and his clients work as partners. He makes it a point
to visit the job site to gain insight for the proper evaluation
of a project and to educate his team members.
“We serve the best interest of the retailer,” says Frank.
“When they build a new store, they want more control
over the process. We work with them to set timetables
and we give them the confidence that delivery will take
place as scheduled.”
If there is one overriding work ethic throughout the
Atlas STG network, it is perhaps best described by Mark:
“There’s no secret to making deadlines...you just watch it
like a hawk, treat it with kid gloves, and stay on top of it
beyond belief.”
W
“Atlas STG was
a big part of
our success in
introducing our
new brand,
Fourth & Towne,
in New York and
Chicago,” says
Beth Smith,
Planner, GAP
Specialized
Transportation
Group.
16
New Orleans
Museum
Thanksgiving,” says Mark Smith, Specialized Transportation
Consultant with A. Walecka & Son (155).
Mark and his team are working with Atlas STG to
roll out 3,000 high-end display tables for Talbots, a national
specialty retailer, cataloger and e-tailer of apparel, shoes and
accessories. He says a lot of thought goes into planning.
How much time is required to load? How much space is
needed? What is the most efficient routing? And what
issues, as yet unknown, will surface after the job starts?
“We have to keep a solutions mindset and be ready for
challenges as they occur,” says Mark. “For instance, it is likely
that our trucks will not fit in about ten percent of the
stores, and we will have to create a shuttle or improvise
some other means to deliver inside.”
Creativity is a fundamental requirement of Atlas
STG agents and staff, who have learned to expect
the unexpected.
“Customers look to us as a partner, as one who will bring
them better ideas,” says Director of Fleet Operations Phil
Wahl, Atlas STG. “We never know what the next challenge
will be, so we have to be ready to think creatively and come
up with options.”
For example, the launch of a cosmetics line at
Old Navy required delivery to 840 locations within fifteen
calendar days.
“The solution came together with a combination of
corporate fleet operators and Atlas agents working
together to serve regions from strategic distribution
points,” says Phil.
As in the scenario Phil describes, creativity is often the
response to a ticking clock. The store fixture business is,
by its nature, deadline driven.
“I realize sometimes we press our vendors so hard that it
is challenging for them to react,” says Beth Smith, Planner,
GAP Specialized Transportation Group. “Atlas STG does a
good job of giving us options on how we can achieve
what we want.”
Gary Louderback, Vice President of Special Products for
Ace World-Wide (39), is not a stranger to deadlines. Last
year he and his team coordinated approximately 5,000
shipments to stores across the country, including locations
for Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Lane Bryant and Catherine’s.
Gary says the van operator meets the installers at
destination in nine of ten deliveries.
“Sometimes it’s ‘hurry up and wait, then hurry up
and get it there’,” says Gary. “We realize the client has little
control over the situation, so we do our best to relieve the
stress for them. We just try to be user-friendly, to help our
Store fixtures play an
important marketing role
by presenting merchandise
in an attractive and
appealing manner.Today’s
fixtures incorporate materials
and design sensibilities that
make them akin to fine
furnishings. Atlas STG
pad-wraps every piece
for protection.
Atlas STG and A-1 Moving Rescue
Museum Contents in New Orleans
Hurricane Katrina’s wind and water
was a battering ram of destruction. In the
days that followed, flooded areas faced
another danger. Without power and air
conditioning, indoor humidity levels
were unchecked. Mold was a creeping
insult to injury and a particular threat to
the historic antebellum homes and
mansions that grace New Orleans.
Many of these homes are like museums,
elegantly appointed with precious furnishings and artwork. Professionals are working
to save the contents of these homes.
A-1 Moving & Storage (87) in Jupiter,
Florida and Atlas STG have joined the
effort to provide solutions for transporting
water- and mold-damaged items from
several homes and at least one museum
to a restoration facility in Chicago.
Mold presents a packing challenge.
Workers who handle mold-damaged
items must wear masks and suits.
Wrapping items to be airtight can prevent
the spread of spores, but because the
mold fungus thrives in warm and damp
conditions, the wrapping must be
perforated to allow items to “breathe”
during transit.
“We are using climate controlled trucks
to prevent problems that can be aggravated by humidity,” says David Hillemann,
Director of Business Development with
A-1. “Keeping cooler air circulating helps
to inhibit the growth. And, of course, an
overriding concern is to get damaged
items to the destination for restoration
as quickly as possible.”
17
Atlas Subsidiary Adopts
Powerful New Technology
Red Ball International Brings RFID to Military Shipments
“Using RFID
technology, we
can enable our
customers to
track not only
their complete
shipments, but
items within
shipments, with
total reliability,
throughout the
entire chain of
custody,” says
Red Ball
International
President
Dave Hope.
18
ou’re probably familiar with
the benefits of bar coding
and scanning. Now there is a new
technology called Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) that offers
exciting advantages for inventory
tracking and control. Atlas subsidiary
Red Ball International has become
the first in the moving industry to
adopt RFID technology with the
introduction of a proprietary system
called “Global Move Security” (GMS).
Y
In its first application, GMS is bringing
greater security to the international
transportation of household goods
for military customers.
The GMS system employs RFID
tags, electronic chips about the size of
a pin head, embedded in labels and
attached to shipment items, cartons
and containers. When the shipment
passes through dock doors equipped
to read the tags, the data—including
precise arrival and departure times—
RFID technology represents an
important investment designed to
provide significant dividends in quality
and reliability. One big advantage of
RFID is the ease with which tags can
be read. Radio scanners do not have
protected. This improves service
performance and in turn adds to
value for the customer.”
Red Ball International helped
pioneer the GMS system in cooperation with the Defense Department’s
to be as close to an item as optical
scanners do, so the reading of data
is more efficient. Another plus is
the amount of data that a chip can
contain, providing important detail
about an item.
“The customer benefits from
tightened security and more accurate
shipment tracking,” says Dave.
“Ultimately the customer gains more
control and the reassurance that the
integrity of his or her shipment is
Surface Deployment and Distribution
Command (SDDC), RFID Decisions,
LLC and RFID Global Solution, Inc.
The SDDC evaluated the system in
tests of shipments originating or
terminating in Germany and the
United States.
As an early adapter of RFID, Red Ball
is in good company. Wal-Mart, Best
Buy and Gillette are among the
companies taking an active interest in
RFID technology. The GMS system
represents a new application, however,
one with possibilities for much
wider use.
“We are excited about the eventual
application of RFID for our private and
corporate clients as well,” Dave says.
Photo courtesy of RFID Global Solution
are reported to the GMS server. The
data is compared to the information
originally captured at the time of
packing to verify that all items in
the shipment have made it to the
next location.
The information is then made
available via the Internet to authorized
parties for tracking, a process similar to
that employed by FedEx and UPS.
The process is designed to eliminate
the potential for errors that can occur
with manual data entry.
“Using RFID technology, we can
enable our customers to track not
only their complete shipments, but
items within shipments, with total
reliability, throughout the entire chain
of custody,” says Red Ball International
President Dave Hope.
By identifying where in the chain
of custody an item disappears, the
system prevents arbitrary charges to
those who are not responsible. And, it
may be that the mere presence of the
system, which is plainly indicated on
shipments marked “electronically
monitored by RFID,” will add a level
of deterrence in the same way
home security signs provide a level
of deterrence.
“We believe RFID carries the potential
to revolutionize the household
goods industry.”
For more information about the
GMS system and its benefits, visit:
www.americanredball.com/globalmovesecurity.htm
19
Stockholder Update
Atlas World Group Projects
Second Year of Record Revenue
Stockholders re-elect board as corporate
relocation business continues to rise
mid an upward trend in corporate and
household goods relocation, Atlas World
Group is projecting yet another year of record
revenues. Atlas is projecting a 6 percent increase
in revenue over 2004 to $911 million. The
projection was announced during the annual
stockholder meeting of the 61 stockholder
agents of Evansville-based Atlas World Group–
the parent company of Atlas Van
Operating Ratio Statistics (Millions of Dollars)
Lines. The increase is lower than
97% 97.2%
97.0%
the 12 percent revenue jump the
96.8%
96.7%
96.7%
96.5%
company experienced between
96%
2003 and 2004.
“We’re very pleased with the
95%
direction the company is taking,”
said Mike Shaffer, Atlas
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Chairman and CEO. “The house$851.0
$827.0
$757.9
$765.9
$860.5
$911.0
Revenue
Cost of
$826.9
$802.3
$733.
1
$739.4
$831.9
$881.7
Operations*
hold goods and corporate reloca* Goodwill amortization and one-time only retention rebate in 2003 excluded.
tion sides of the business are
doing extremely well. But the
Debt/Equity (Millions of Dollars)
numbers also reflect
$80
the successes of our
$70
subsidiary businesses
$60
like BDS Worldwide
$50
and Atlas Canada. Our
$40
relocation company,
$30
Cornerstone
$20
Relocation Group,
$10
has exceeded our
$0
expectations for 2005
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Debt
57.3
66.8
73.6
63.8
70.5
76.1
54.9
49.5
46.7
47.1
65.5
while our international
Equity 18.4
24.0
29.9
37.0
44.3
54.9
54.5
57.2
64.7
77.6
73.7
companies have
positioned themselves for growth by becoming
industry leaders in groundbreaking tracking and
logistics technologies.”
A
20
The news bodes well for stockholders who in
April received their first dividend since the
company returned to agent ownership in 1988.
Atlas Chief Financial Officer Richard J. Olson said
Atlas plans to pay another dividend before the
end of the year.
In April, Atlas Van Lines released its 38th
Annual Corporate Relocation Survey showing
that relocations will continue at a swift pace;
33 percent of respondents said their total 2005
relocation volume and budget would increase.
Nearly 50 percent of large companies responding
said they’re expecting an increase in both volume
and budget.
In addition to receiving the financial report,
stockholders re-elected the class two directors
to the Atlas World Group Board of Directors:
Pictured above is the Atlas Board of Directors.
Ted Alger, Chairman, Atlantic Moving
& Storage, Inc., Atlanta, GA
Center Row: John R. Westerberg,
James A. Stamm, Michael L. Shaffer,
Gary L. Weleski, Joseph McNamara,
Todd V. Winter, Frank E. Webers.
David W. Bueker, President and CEO,
McCormack-Payton Storage &
Moving Co., Inc., Kansas City, MO
Top Row: Ted Alger, John W. Steiner,
Frederick D. Paxton II
David M. Davenport, Attorney,
Washington, D.C.
Continuing on the Board until their term
expires in 2006 are:
Donald C. Hill, President, Alexander’s
Mobility Services, Tustin, CA
Richard Bert, President, Kilpatrick Moving
and Storage, Northvale, NJ
Joseph McNamara, President,
Certified Van Service, Inc., Islandia, NY
Thomas L. Hoover, Chairman and CEO,
ABC Moving & Storage, Inc., Chesterfield, MO
Frederick D. Paxton II, Chairman and CEO,
Paxton Van Lines, Inc., Springfield, VA
Reginald T. Lammers, President and CEO,
Ace Relocation Systems, San Diego, CA
John W. Steiner, Chairman, Ace World Wide
Moving & Storage, Inc., Cudahy, WI
Howard E. Parker, Retired CFO,
Atlas World Group, Inc., Laramie, WY
John R. Westerberg, Chairman and CEO,
Nelson Westerberg, Inc., Elk Grove Village, IL
Michael L. Shaffer, Chairman and CEO,
Atlas World Group, Inc., Evansville, IN
Front Row: David M. Davenport,
Richard Bert, Thomas L. Hoover,
Reginald T. Lammers, David W. Bueker,
Donald C. Hill, Thomas J. Shetler, Sr.,
Howard E. Parker.
Thomas J. Shetler, Sr., President, Chairman
and CEO, Shetler Moving & Storage, Inc.,
Evansville, IN
James A. Stamm (ex officio), President and
COO, Atlas World Group, Inc., Evansville, IN
Frank E. Webers, President, Collins Brothers
Moving Corp., Larchmont, NY
Gary L. Weleski, President, Weleski
Transfer, Inc., Tarentum, PA
Todd V. Winter, President and CEO,
Golden Van Lines, Inc., Longmont, CO
21
Atlas Trade Shows
September 28 to 30... We’re on a mission. Visitors to the
ERC Global Workforce Symposium in downtown Chicago
found representatives of four Atlas companies working
together and creating fun. Atlas brought its brand
message to life in a coordinated fashion with promotions
that dovetailed around the warm and fuzzy Atlas icon,
the puppy.
Atlas Exhibits Flair for
Fun at SHRM,ERC
Mission “Accomplished”
Pete Helgeson,
Atlas International
General Manager,
interacts with
an attendee of
the ERC Global
Workforce
Symposium
in one of the four
booth spaces of
Atlas World Group.
22
isitors who stopped in an Atlas
booth at this year’s SHRM
Conference or ERC
Symposium could not mistake one
obvious fact: Atlas folks know how to
have a good time, and it’s contagious.
“Everyone knows Atlas can get
the job done,” says Jeff German,
Vice President, Sales & Marketing,
The Imlach Group (1130). “Those
who visited us in the booth also
know we can make it fun.”
The lovable Atlas puppy took
center stage at both shows, promoting
the recently redesigned Atlas public
web site in San Diego and the Atlas
V
commitment to quality in Chicago.
Booths enjoyed high traffic, as Atlas
corporate and agency personnel
greeted and spoke with an estimated
2,000-plus people.
“The promotions were a big hit,”
says Jeff. “Visitors would make it a
point to go and find their associates
and bring them in to participate. The
interest level was great.”
At the ERC Symposium, Atlas Van
Lines joined Atlas Canada, Atlas
International, and Cornerstone
Relocation Group to create an all-Atlas
bloc of excitement in 500 square feet
of adjacent exhibit space. It was the
first time four Atlas companies had
combined forces in that way.
“Clients commented they didn’t
know Atlas included all of these
services,” says Beverly Bell, Executive
Vice President, Sales & Marketing,
Atlantic Relocation Systems
Group (1037).
Beverly noticed a tremendous
synergy in the blending of Atlas
companies. “When a visitor had a
relocation question related to Canada,
I would walk with them to the Atlas
Canada booth and introduce them to
Bob Clark (Atlas Canada Vice
President). Or, when someone needed
information related to Russia, I was
able to introduce (Atlas International
General Manager) Pete Helgeson.”
Warm and Fuzzy
Times Four
The overarching theme of the Atlas
World Group booth, “We’re on a
mission,” focused on quality using a
phrase made famous in the 1980
movie musical, “The Blues Brothers.”
Graphics featured the puppy striking
a pose reminiscent of the title characters. Visitors received foil-encased
chocolate medallions to let them
know that Atlas has earned the
Quest for Quality Award for the
eighth consecutive year. As at SHRM,
visitors received game pieces for a
chance to win a higher-value prize, and
nearly 200 lucky people nabbed a CD
of—what else—blues music!
In related promotions, Atlas
International gave visitors a chance
to win a CD player case and Atlas
Canada offered hand-sock puppy
puppets. Cornerstone Relocation
Group not only gave away cuddly
“Corn Dog” soft puppy toys, they also
featured three live and affectionate
puppies right in their booth.
“We wanted to bring a consistent,
fun approach to our sales efforts at
these shows,” says Barbara Cox, Atlas
Director, Marketing Communications.
“I think we succeeded, based on the
overwhelmingly positive response.”
June 19 to 22...
Surf’s Up! More
than a thousand
corporate relocation
professionals visited
the Atlas booth at
the SHRM 57th
Annual Conference
& Exposition in San
Diego. Visitors had a
chance to “be cool
like the puppy”
and win a pair of
Ray-Ban sunglasses.
23
President’s Club Winners
Philadelphia, PA
Evansville, IN
Atlas Recognizes Million Dollar Producers
roucho Marx once cracked that he wouldn’t belong
to any club that would have him as a member. But
you can bet your life Groucho wasn’t a two million dollar
producer for Atlas.
Again this year Atlas is pleased to
recognize the sales pros who put an
extra measure of finesse into their efforts
and deliver an impressive surge to the
overall production of the company.
“The President’s Club represents our
top producers, those who chalk up outstanding numbers and raise the bar for
professionalism,” says Greg Hoover, Sr.
Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Atlas World
Group. “Beyond setting the kind of example that inspires
others, membership carries tangible benefits.”
G
Membership is bestowed on those who achieve at least
one million dollars in bookings during the 12 months
beginning July 1 and ending June 30.
In the past year, 69 people qualified;
46 with sales less than two million dollars.
They will each receive a gift certificate
valued at $200. First-time achievers at this
level also receive a lapel pin with a ruby
and a plaque.
Members who booked more than two
million dollars in business are invited to
bring a guest to the club’s signature event,
the annual President’s Club Meeting. It
will take place at Marriott Casamagna Cancun Resort in
Cancun, Mexico, March 6 through March 10, 2006. Among
the 23 members who qualify at this level, three are new
entrants and they will also receive a lapel
pin with a sapphire.
“Over the last few years we have seen
the ranks of membership swell as more
Atlas sales people are rising to the
challenge of extraordinary performance,”
says Greg. In the four years since 2002,
total membership has grown from
57 to 69, a 21 percent increase. I think this
speaks to the fact that Atlas sales professionals are, without question, a recognized
force for exceptional sales production.”
The 2005 President’s Club Meeting took place
in Los Cabos, Mexico. (shown at left)
The 2006 meeting is planned for the Marriott
Casamagna Cancun Resort in Cancun, Mexico
24
Sales $1,000,000 to $1,999,999
President’s Club Grows
in Ninth Annual Convocation
Sales $2,000,000 or more
2004 President’s Club Winners
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
Salesperson
James W. Cole, Jr.
Ken Imlach
Don Hill
Dennis Sorhagen
Thomas Philbin
Gary Louderback
Denise Della-Dora
Wayne Curtis
John Dulin
Steve Delane
James Zachary
Michael J. Boone
Tim White
Gene Devaney
Julie Cibelli
Chris Lechner
Wes Wodka
Steve Westerberg
Eric Manfredi
Bob Wald
Gail Ann Lynch
Jimmy Gemeinhardt
Jim Chretien
Bob Cox
Richard Clarke
Bob Akers
Frank Lucchesi
Ronald Grove, Jr.
Tim McCormack
Gregg Imlach
Karl James
Fred Paxton, III
Don Samler
Jim West
Dave Doebler
Dorrain Pierce
Jeff Longo
Carrie Corless
David Frank
Dan Rosauer
Donna F. Gann
Dick Nemetz
Daniel Seiler
Jon Page
Mark Smith
Jeanne Carey
Jonathan Cotten
Larry Lammers
Patricia Tuck
Gary L. Weleski
Chris Wing
Tina D. Rose
David Hillemann
Kathy Barclay
Roger Sorhagen
Kurt O. Nelson
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
Ann Burkart
Ross Buckley
Richard May
James W. Cole III
Robert O. Shetler, Jr.
Gail Holmer
John Colvin
William Schwartz
Wendy Stepetin
Billie Jo Mccullen
Teresa Alles
Frank Copeland
Janet Hathcock
Agent
J.W. Cole & Sons, Inc.
Imlach Movers, Inc.
Alexander’s Mobility Services
Crofutt & Smith Moving & Storage
Nelson Westerberg of Illinois, Inc.
Ace World-Wide Moving & Storage Co.
Comtrans Ltd.
Lytle’s Transfer & Storage, Inc.
Imlach Movers, Inc.
Collins Brothers Moving Corporation
Nelson Westerberg of New Jersey, Inc.
Specialty Moving Systems, Inc.
American Transportation Companies, Inc.
Bean Moving and Storage, Inc.
Reads Moving Systems, Inc.
Ace Relocation Systems, Inc.
Nelson Westerberg of Texas, Inc.
County Vanlines Inc.
Merchants Moving & Storage, Inc.
Ace World Wide Moving & Storage Co.
Imlach Movers, Inc.
Paxton Van Lines, Inc.
A-1 Metro Movers - Omaha
Ace World-Wide Moving & Storage Co., Inc.
Action Moving Services, Inc.
Ace World-Wide Moving & Storage Co., Inc.
Weleski Transfer of Cleveland, Inc.
Nelson Westerberg of New Jersey, Inc.
Paxton Van Lines, Inc.
A. Walecka & Son, Inc.
Gentle Giant Moving Company, Inc.
Weleski Transfer, Inc.
Powell Relocation Group
Walker Transfer, Inc.
A-1 Moving & Storage
McCormack-Payton Storage
& Moving Company, Inc.
J.W. Cole & Sons, Inc.
Shetler Moving & Storage, Inc.
Celina Moving & Storage, Inc.
Security Storage Co., Inc.
Guardian Relocation Inc.
Watson Van & Storage Co., Inc.
Two Great Cities,
Two Great Events…
You won’t want
to miss either.
Mark Your Calendar Now to Attend
39th Atlas
Forum on Moving
April 27 & 28
Philadelphia Marriott Downtown,
Philadelphia,PA
Atlas National
Symposium
February 23 & 24
Casino Aztar,Evansville,IN
For more information regarding reservations
and the complete agenda,contact Sue Chandler
at Atlas headquarters – 800.638.9797.
25
Webinars
Atlas Agent Webinars:
Flexible new
way to learn
Debbie Ulrich,
Atlas Corporate Trainer,
interacts with webinar
attendees from
agencies in
Houston, TX,
North Canton, OH,
Signal Hill, CA,
Bozeman, MT,
Oxnard, CA,
Canton, MI,
Birmingham, AL,
Elgin, IL,
Pasco, WA,
from her desk
in Evansville.
26
ou’re in New York. You’re in a training session, and
you’re studying with people who happen to be in
Missouri, Nebraska, California, Ontario, Texas and Nevada.
Oh, and the trainer is in Indiana.
Atlas webinars, a training hybrid that combines the
Internet and telephone for facilitated group study, is giving
Atlas agents a new option for acquiring the knowledge to
enable success.
According to Tiffany Browning, Atlas Corporate Training
Manager, “the webinar is like a telephone conference of
people stationed at their computers. A trainer presents
material and facilitates the discussion, just as in a
bricks-and-mortar classroom.”
Tiffany says the format offers the convenience of
Internet-based training, in that it eliminates the need for
Y
travel. But it has an important difference
from passive Internet techniques.
“In any training environment,
individuals often have questions not
covered in the content,” says Tiffany.
“Having a trainer on hand makes it more
likely that the question can be answered
or put to wider discussion. The flexibility
of the webinar format allows some
attention to the individual needs of
each participant.”
The first webinar engaged 32 people
from 18 different agencies and was
facilitated by Debbie Ulrich, Atlas
Corporate Trainer. Although it fulfilled
the training objectives, Debbie says the
most efficient number of participants is
around 20.
“We’re hearing favorable comments,
but we’re also looking for ways to
improve,” says Debbie. “So we are
surveying our agents for feedback on
how we might refine this product to
better serve them.”
“The webinars are designed to
complement, not replace, other
training programs,” says Tiffany. “We intend to add content
based on the needs of agents and the opportunities we
see to strengthen our overall curriculum.”
To date, content has focused on AtlasNet Dispatch.
Future webinars may address new agent orientation and
sales training. Tiffany urges agents to stay tuned to the
Atlas Bulletins for upcoming webinar events.
In addition, Tiffany wants to remind Atlas agents they
should plan to complete four Atlas Academy courses by
June 30 to be eligible for the Milt Hill and World Class
Commitment awards.
“Webinars will count towards the Atlas Academy
technology standard,” says Tiffany. “We believe this is
the beginning of a new era in training.”
“The webinar is like a
telephone conference
of people stationed
at their computers.
A trainer presents
material and facilitates
the discussion, just as
in a bricks-and-mortar
classroom,” says
Tiffany Browning,
Atlas Corporate
Training Manager
New Atlas Video:
“This is the reality
of loading.”
his new Atlas video training
program takes a contemporary
“reality TV” approach as it
documents an actual move from
Evansville to Kansas City. Vignettes
detail the finer points of planning
and loading 25,000 lbs. of household
goods, including stretch-wrapping a
sofa and preparing a big-screen TV
for safe transport. After a preview at
the Atlas convention, this new video
will be available on DVD or VHS
from the Atlas Supply website.
T
27
Road Day 18 and Van Operator Survey
Atlas van operators enjoy Road Day 18
and share secrets in annual survey
tlas celebrated its 18th Annual ROAD Day on
September 13 at nearly 200 participating Atlas
agencies throughout the United States and Canada.
Guardian Relocation in Indianapolis, Indiana (1032)
welcomed van operators with a breakfast and offered a full
service truck wash. Office managers of Bekins Northwest
(2504) in Pasco, Washington went the extra mile and
delivered lunches to van operators at their job site. And
van operators who visited Powell Relocation Group (1657)
in Grand Rapids, Michigan enjoyed lunch off the grill and
beautiful weather. All qualified Atlas van operators also
received a gift from Atlas.
A
28
Powell Relocation Group (1657)
Personal Movers (780)
Ace Transfer & Storage Co. (1406)
eals on the go are a fact of life for busy truck drivers.
But more Atlas van operators are trading in burgers
and fries for healthier fare, according to the 2005 “King of
the Road” Atlas van operator survey where 26 percent
of respondents said they preferred SUBWAY® Restaurants,
edging out Wendy’s® and Kentucky Fried Chicken®—
perennial favorites—by 7 and 9 percent respectively.
SUBWAY® Restaurants rocketed to the top of Atlas’ fast
food chart this year after earning only 5 percent of the
vote in 2003 and 2 percent in 2004.
“Our annual survey is designed to be a fun way to show
emerging trends and preferences on the driving side of the
relocation industry. These are the opinions of an extremely
hard working group of men and women,” says Greg
M
Hoover, Atlas Sr. Vice President & Chief Marketing
Officer. “I think when you look at trends toward healthy
eating, Subway makes a lot of sense.”
The results of the annual “King of the Road” survey
is announced each September during ROAD Day, an
Atlas celebration to thank its 3,300 van operators for the
countless hours they spend on the road transporting the
possessions of Atlas’ corporate and residential customers.
This year, the survey showed some possessions included
two bronze Ming Dynasty lions, a 6,000-pound rock
collection, a moon rover and giant computerized insects.
The “King of the Road” survey asks van operators to
weigh in on everything from antacids and motor oil to
favorite radio stations, tractors and truck stops.
Ace Transfer & Storage Co. (1406)
Here are some survey highlights:
• Interstate 10 in Texas was voted the
safest highway in the U.S.
• Interstate 70 in Colorado was voted the most scenic
stretch of U.S. highway
• Country music, followed closely by classic ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s
music are the favorite entertainment while on the road
• Tractors made by Kenworth were voted the best by
37 percent of van operators for the third consecutive year
For complete survey results, visit the Web site at
www.atlasworldgroup.com/survey.
Bekins Northwest (2504)
Northlake Moving & Storage, Inc. (1535)
Deerfield Moving & Storage of
Arizona, Inc. (770)
29
Atlas World
Atlas sends off and welcomes
back members of “the family.”
send-off for 25-year-old Atlas mechanic, Mike Townsend,
was held on July 28th at Atlas’ headquarters.
Mike, who has worked for Atlas since
August 2004, reported for active duty in
the Army National Guard where he is to
train for five-to-six months before spending 12 months on the ground in Iraq.
Family and co-workers dressed in red,
white and blue and gathered together for
a special send-off ceremony on his behalf
Mike Townsend
with Chairman & CEO offering their thanks and wishing him
Mike Shaffer and
well. Mike’s last day with Atlas was July 29.
President & COO
Mike keeps in touch with those at
Jim Stamm
headquarters via email and a special
web site was developed for headquarters’ employees to read
his messages and view pictures.
Atlas has had several family members called-up for military
service in recent months, and had several return home from
Afghanistan and Iraq.
Elizabeth Anderson, who works in Atlas’ Specialized
Transportation Group Accounting department welcomed
home her husband, Tom, in August who served overseas
for one year. Tom has served in the National Guard
for 10 years.
Alex Neidlinger, son of Larry Neidlinger, Director of
Planning & Projects for Atlas’ Relocation Services Group,
was welcomed home with open arms and happy tears
Tom Anderson
after being away for one year. Alex has been in the National
Guard for four years and his future duties are unknown.
Fraser Auld, the son of Doug Auld, President and C.O.O. of
Atlas Van Lines (Canada) Ltd., is currently serving in Kabul with
the Canadian military. A career soldier in the Armor Division of
the Canadian forces, Fraser graduated from the Royal Military
College in Kingston, Ontario in 1996 with an electrical engineering degree. In 2001, he completed
one tour of duty in Bosnia. Captain Auld is
expected to return to Canada in February 2006.
“We make a point of recognizing all of our Atlas
employees serving in the military in Evansville
and across the country,” said Jim Stamm, Atlas
Fraser Auld
President and Chief Operating Officer. “We have
employees who serve, or have served, in the military at all levels
of the company, including our executive management team.
It’s an important part of our corporate culture.”
A
30
Keep our service
men and women in your heart.
The entire Atlas family wishes to express gratitude and
appreciation to the courageous men and women who
serve our country in the armed forces. In particular, we ask you to keep the following
employees and members of our agent families in your thoughts and prayers.
Atlas Associate
Service Member
Relationship
Atlas Associate Position
Elizabeth Anderson
Doug Auld
Roger Babbitt
Steve Bailey
Ross Buisch
Thomas Anderson
Fraser Auld
Kevin Lacy
William B. Bailey
Andrew Buisch
Brenda Buisch
Andrew Buisch
Brenda Buisch
Actively serving
Ronny Bowman
Rich Bowman
Thomas Duncan
Larry Houston
Tim Chrockrem
Aaron Pierce
Steven James
Joseph Curl
Adam Dinet, Jr.
Charles Farthing
Bryce Gurganus
J. Keith Powell
Keith W. Hoffa
Kirk Linder
James Hobby III
Bradford Keller
David Michael Kelley
James Langelotti
Bob Lillico
Matthew L. Hertweck
Michael Martens
Tom E. Evans
Jack A. Mier
Keith Moffett
Kevin Moffett
Robert Moffett
Rodney Moffett
Alex Neidlinger
Robert Lee Warren
Justin Mayer
Steven Washechek
Michael Hannah
Jay Hill
Rick Hill
Don Gallo
Richard Synovec
Vigil Leonard
Scott Wathen
Joseph E. Willet
Husband
Son
Brother-in-law
Son
Brother
Sister-in-law
Son
Daughter-in-law
Specialized Transportation Group Accounting, Headquarters
President and C.O.O., Atlas Van Lines (Canada) Ltd.
President, NMS Moving Systems, Inc. (1533)
National Account Sales Manager, Nelson Westerberg of Georgia, Inc. (1517)
Atlas Van Operator, Crofutt & Smith Moving & Storage (646)
Wesley L. Buisch
Willie Borden Jr.
Ron Bowman
Tiffany Browning
Mary Chapman
Vada Chrockrem
Joel Cohen
JoAnn Curl
Adam Dinet
Frances Farthing
Susan Gurganus
Hazel Powell Hill
Thomas W. Hoffa
Mary Johannes
Brad Keller
Cecil “Buzz” Kelley
Linda J. Kissel
Theresa Lillico
Cynthia Maggard
Greg Martens
Christa McCraw
Jack Mier
Robert (Bob) Moffett
Larry Neidlinger
Mike Quigley
Theresa Russell
Bonnie Sabo
Joe Singleton
Ronnette Synovec
Cassandra Twist
Mike Wathen
Christie A. Willet
Nephew
Nephew
Brother-in-law
Brother
Son
Nephew
Nephew
Nephew
Son
Husband
Son
Grandson
Son
Nephew
Step-son
Son
Son
Son-in-law
Husband
Son
Son
Fiancé
Son
Son
Son
Son
Son
Son
Cousin
Step-brother
Brother
Nephew
Nephew
Nephew
Brother-in-law
Husband
Cousin
Son
Son
Atlas Van Operator, Crofutt & Smith Moving & Storage (646)
Atlas Van Operator, Ace Relocation Systems, Inc. (15)
General Manager, Lee Moving & Storage (1317)
Manager, Corporate Training, Headquarters
Team 2 Billing/Entry Clerk, Headquarters
Admin Asst. to Sr. V.P./General Mgr., Specialized Transportation Group, Headquarters
Atlas Van Operator, Thomas Transfer & Storage Co.,Inc. (2006)
Van Operator Qualification Coordinator, Headquarters
Atlas Van Operator, Lee Moving & Storage, Inc. (1317)
O/A & Dispatch, Reads Moving Systems of Norfold (1725)
On Site Coordinator at Americorp Relocation, Ace Relocation Systems, Inc. (66)
Sales Representative, Ace Transfer & Storage Co. (1406)
Warehouseman, Collins Brothers Moving Corp. (547)
Sales, Reads Moving Systems of Florida, Inc. (1724)
Residential Sales, Ace Relocation Systems, Inc. (75)
Atlas Van Operator, Poplar Bluff Transfer Co., Inc. (1624)
Credit Analyst, Headquarters
Sales Coordinator, Ace Relocation Systems, Inc. (43)
Customer Service Representative (Winter), Headquarters
Relocation Coordinator, Ace Relocation Systems, Inc. (64)
Credit and Collections, Headquarters
Van Operator, Imlach Movers, Inc. (1130)
Dispatcher, Commercial Storage & Distribution Company, Inc. (572)
Director, Planning & Projects, Relocation Services Group, Headquarters
Ace Relocation Systems, Inc. (75)
Bookkeeper, Roush Moving & Storage, Inc. (1773)
Web Programmer, Headquarters
President, Able Moving & Storage, Inc. (285)
Supervisor of Accounts Receivable, Ace Relocation Systems, Inc. (99)
Revenue Accounting, Ace Relocation Systems, Inc. (75)
IT, Mainframe Development, Headquarters
Maintenance, Headquarters
The above names are
the individuals that have
been brought to our
attention. Please e-mail
any additions to
Linda Ellington at
linelli@atlasworldgroup.com.
The Amplifier will repeat
this show of appreciation in the next issue.
31
Hurricane Relief
Atlas World
Hurricane Relief, continued from Page 5
In response to operator Rick Burgess’s offer to donate
his time and truck, employees at Weleski Transfer in
Tarentum, Pennsylvania (2151) collected money to
purchase multiple truckloads of bottled water and sent
them to people in Biloxi, Mississippi and Houston, Texas.
The Atlas agency donated packing supplies and training
to volunteers at nine area churches where donations were
collected and prepared for shipment. Over five days the
effort amassed 36,000 pounds. Weleski associate Ray Wilki
connected the effort to a zone where evacuees were in
great need. Van Operator Alan Fisher delivered the supplies
to a church in Fair Hope, Alabama, where volunteers had
transformed the basement into a distribution center.
Weleski Transfer
in Tarentum,
Pennsylvania
(2151)
At Atlas subsidiary BDS Worldwide, employees
collected clothing and household items and used the
proceeds from an employee cash fund in the office to
purchase items for in-kind donations. Several employees
made individual contributions and participated in
matching gifts via a spouse’s employer. In the BDS Orlando
office, an employee’s son donated his birthday money
and his parents matched the gift to the Red Cross.
Macy Movers in Oakland, California (1364) and
Gentle Giant Moving Company in Hawthorne,
California (961) answered the call to help storm victims
by underwriting transportation costs for “Operation
Katrina.” The clothing drive was organized by students in
Ms. Mary Maultsby’s class at Leadership Preparatory
High School in Oakland. On September 16, agency
32
principals Mr. and Mrs. Jack Macy addressed organizers
and contributors who gathered at the school’s stadium to
celebrate the culmination of their efforts. Students cheered
as the loaded truck pulled away. Van Operator Willie
Livingston delivered the clothing to Mississippi where it
was distributed to people in need by the Jackson Urban
League and Salvation Army.
“Thanks for the prayers.”
The response to Hurricane Katrina from all over the U.S.
and beyond has been remarkable. The Red Cross estimates that its relief efforts alone will exceed $2 billion.
But Atlas people share their time, talent and treasure in
a wide variety of causes, big and small, every day.
While waiting for a flight in the Phoenix
airport, Kathy Thompson, Director of Contract
Administration, and Greg Hoover, Sr. Vice President &
Chief Marketing Officer, struck up a conversation with
three U.S. soldiers. The service men were eating breakfast
before departing for active duty in Iraq. In an expression
of appreciation, Greg picked up their meal tab. The two
groups exchanged names and mailing addresses. Later,
the Sales Development Department outfitted care
packages, sending the men food and sundry items—
the things we take for granted in the States but which
are small luxuries in the Middle East. In a recent e-mail
to the department, one soldier wrote, “Thanks for
everything...especially the prayers.”
In the summer of 2004, Atlas again joined hands in
support of Habitat for Humanity. Atlas employees
volunteered their time and labor over ten weeks to
erect a single-family home for a beneficiary family in
Evansville. Atlas World Group provided funding
for the effort with a donation of $50,000 pledged
over five years.
It was the second time Atlas had mounted such an
effort; in 1999 the company and employees made a
similar contribution when they helped a fellow Atlas
employee build her Habitat home. Atlas CFO Rick
Olson was one of 35 Atlas employees who gave up their
Saturdays to get the job done. “Helping someone build
a home, especially someone who might not
otherwise be able to own one, is worthwhile and
very rewarding,” says Rick.
Atlas gives $12,000
in scholarships to
college kids
Company begins first-ever scholarship
program for college juniors and seniors
aying for school just got easier for a few Atlas
employees and a van operator after their children
received college scholarships from Atlas.
Jessica Fathman, Jessica Lené and James Shields each
received $4,000 scholarships. This was the first year of
what is planned to be a long-term scholarship program.
Juniors or seniors attending a four-year college with a
grade-point-average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale were
eligible for the scholarships, which provide financial
assistance to students who have stayed in college for the
long haul. The recipients were then selected at random
from all eligible applicants.
“Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients. I can’t
think of a more important area in which we can give back
to our employees and van operators,” said Mike Shaffer,
Atlas Chairman and CEO. “I hope that by helping our
employees and van operators pay for their children’s
education we’re giving them some financial peace of mind
and emphasizing the importance of education in preparing
for the working world.”
The Atlas World Group Chairman’s Scholarship, available
to a child of any full-time employee working at an Atlas
World Group location in the U.S. or Canada, was awarded
to James Shields. He is the son of Theresa King of BDS
P
Worldwide, Inc. in St. Atlas President and COO Jim Stamm
and Jessica Lené
Louis, Missouri, and
is studying finance
and banking at the
University of Missouri.
Jessica Lené received
the Atlas Van Lines
President’s Scholarship,
awarded to a child of
any full-time employee
working at Atlas
James Sheilds
headquarters. Lené is
the daughter of Al Lené, who works in Atlas’ information
technology department. She is studying education at
Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.
Jessica Fathman is the daughter of Larry Fathman, formerly a van operator for Louis & Michael/Security Storage,
Inc. (1353), in Cincinnati, Ohio. She received the Atlas Van
Lines Professional Van Operator Scholarship, which is available to any Atlas-qualified professional van operator’s child
at the time the award is made. She attends Thomas More
College in Crestview Hills, Kentucky and is studying nursing.
Planning Calendar Coming Soon
W
hat are the dates for the next Forum on Moving?
What day of the week is the observance for
Independence Day? For Canada Day? The 2006 Atlas
Calendar and Resource Guide lists major Atlas events
and U.S. and Canadian holidays. The booklet is a
convenient and useful guide to the Atlas year.
Watch for your copy in November.
Questions? Call Barbara Cox, extension 2275.
33
Atlas World
Swim
Across
America
Collins Brothers’ efforts become national event
New York area through donations to:
the Cancer Support Team; the Tommy
Palazzo Fellowship for Pediatric
Oncology at New York-Presbyterian
Children’s Hospital; and the Memorial
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s Swim
Across America Research Laboratory.
People Making the
Difference
More than
1,400 people
gather for the
barbecue picnic
at this year’s
Swim Across
America of Long
Island Sound.
The event helped
raise over one
million dollars for
cancer care and
research in the
New York area.
34
n 1992, after losing his wife, Kathy,
to cancer, Frank Webers of Collins
Brothers Moving Corp. was
approached by some friends who
wanted to honor her memory.
“A group of people who knew
Kathy, who knew how special a
person she was, told me they would
like to swim across Long Island Sound
to raise money for cancer research,”
says Frank. “I agreed and said I would
throw a barbecue for them on
the beach.”
I
That year about 35 swimmers
took part and raised $15,000. The
following year, organizers joined forces
with Swim Across America (SAA),
a nationally organized fund-raising
effort. This year, the thirteenth
SAA of Long Island Sound drew 530
swimmers in a two-part event. A pool
swim took place on Saturday, July 23
at the Orienta Beach Club. One week
later, swimmers swam across the
sound starting at the Larchmont
Yacht Club and more than 1,400
people gathered for the picnic.
The $1,075,000 raised from this
year’s Long Island Sound event brings
its total to more than $5 million since
it began. Because of the volunteer
organization’s efficiency, well over
ninety percent of the money raised
goes to charity. Proceeds support
cancer research and care in the
“This is not about big corporate
money,” says Frank. “This is about
people who have been personally
affected. Most participate in memory
of a loved one.” Many members of the
Collins Brothers staff participate in the
event either as swimmers, volunteers
or contributors.
What is perhaps most striking is the
diversity of people who participate.
Men and women, young and old,
from all walks of life, take part. One
group of seven- and eight-year-olds
ran a lemonade stand and bake sale
and showed up at the swim with a gift
of $900. Another group of youngsters
raised $1,000 selling bracelets.
“I feel honored to meet so many
wonderful people,” says Frank. “Cancer
has a way of making a person feel
helpless, but this gives people a way
to do something, to make a positive
difference that will help others.”
Mission Statement
Collins Brothers in Larchmont, New York,
is a sponsor of the annual Swim Across
America event at Long Island Sound.
Swim Across America, Inc. (SAA)
is dedicated to raising money and
awareness for cancer research,
prevention and treatment through
swimming related events. With
the help of hundreds of volunteers
nationwide and past and current
Olympians, SAA is helping to
find a cure for cancer through
athleticism, community outreach
and direct service.
35
Atlas World
Personnel Changes in Atlas Companies
Mike Neeley named Vice President
of Information Systems
Mike Neeley has joined Atlas as Vice President of
Information Systems Development. He brings 25 years of
experience in information technology to Atlas, including
his recent tenure as Chief Information Officer with
Deaconess Health System. Mike earned a bachelor’s
degree in health care administration from Southern Illinois
University in 1979 and a master’s degree in 1987 from the
Naval postgraduate school in Monterey, California. He
retired as a Lieutenant Commander of the Navy in 1993
after serving nearly 26 years.
“As our corporate relocation and logistics customers
become increasingly reliant on technology, we’ll rely on
Mike’s skills to keep us on the cutting edge,” said Richard L.
Arneson, Chief Technology Officer for Atlas World Group.
“Mike’s corporate and military experience makes him a
valuable addition to our team.”
Mike Neeley
Mark D. Haller takes role
in Atlas STG Sales Support
Mark D. Haller has been named Director of Sales
Support, Specialized Transportation Group. He has been
with Atlas three years and formerly served as a Manager
of Specialized Transportation Services for the U.S. and
Canada. Mark brings 14 years of industry experience to
his new role. That depth makes him a valuable asset to
the STG sales team.
“As Director of Sales Support, Mark will help our
sales team deliver consistent messages about Atlas
and our product lines,” says Glen Dunkerson, Senior
Vice President and General Manager, Specialized
Transportation Group. “Mark’s work behind the scenes
will be crucial for cultivating and securing new business.”
Andy Newitt elected Chairman of the
Board of the Florida Movers
and Warehousemen’s Association
organization,” said Tim Brown, Past Chairman of the
FMWA. “His dedication to consumer protection and
fair regulation of our industry made him the right
selection for the job.”
Andy was first elected to the FMWA Board of
Directors in 2002 and most recently served as Secretary
(2003-2005) before ascending to his current position.
To learn more about the FMWA and how to protect your
move, please visit our website at www.FMWA.org.
Mark D. Haller
The Florida Movers and Warehousemen’s Association
has elected Andy Newitt, General Manager of A-1
Moving & Storage (87) in Jupiter, Florida as Chairman
of the Board.
“This is a well-deserved recognition of the many
valuable contributions Andy has made to our
Ace World Wide has announced that David Earle,
a veteran of the moving industry, has been named
General Manager of Ace World Wide of South Florida
(38) in Pompano Beach, Florida.
John Cox, another well-known industry executive, was
named Director of Business Development at Ace World
36
Recruits nationally
recognized relocation
executive, Chalona Corley
With the addition of Chalona Corley and
the anticipated opening of offices in Irvine,
California, Cornerstone Relocation Group
has signaled big plans for sales support in
the western U.S. and the expansion of their
international operations.
“Chalona has an incredible track record in
the industry,” says President and CEO Janelle
Piatkowski. “Her global expertise and her
California history are a double bonus for Atlas
agents and our west coast clients.”
Chalona has worked in relocation for over
20 years. She was among the first to achieve
the prestigious Certified Relocation Professional
designation from the Employee Relocation
Council. Chalona’s firsthand experience includes
18 personal relocations, both domestic and
international. She holds a BA degree from the
University of Georgia.
Chalona Corley, CRP,
GMS,Vice President,
Global Accounts,
Cornerstone
Relocation Group
Janelle Piatkowski,
GMS, President and
CEO, Cornerstone
Relocation Group
Kevin J.Dircks
Joins Cornerstone
Andy Newitt
Ace World Wide Fills Key Positions
Cornerstone to
establish operations
in Irvine, California
Wide (142) in Orlando, Florida. His responsibilities
include developing sales for the central Florida company.
And, Mike Landis, also known as one of the largest
producers of office moving in the Philadelphia market,
joined Ace World-Wide Moving & Storage Co. (39)
in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania as Vice President,
Commercial Sales.
Cornerstone Relocation Group is pleased to
announce Kevin J. Dircks, CRP, has joined the
company as Director, Client Services. Kevin brings
15 years of wide-ranging experience in relocation
management. He will manage service delivery
from Cornerstone’s offices in Basking Ridge,
New Jersey.
Kevin J. Dircks
Atlas Agency Employee
Recognized with
“Mark of Excellence”
for Service to Industry
Charlene Reynolds of Reads Moving Systems of
Norfolk (1725), in Norfolk, Virginia, has been
honored by the American Moving and Storage
Association with a “Mark of Excellence” for 30
years of service to the Certified Moving Consultant
(CMC) Program.
The CMC program began in 1975 as a means for the
industry to enable professionalism and adherence to
ethical standards.Today the program includes core
training in estimating and ethics, as well as training in
costing, claims, understanding tariffs, and international
and special moves.
Charlene also holds the unique distinction of being
the first woman admitted to, and the first woman
president of, Delta Nu Alpha Transportation Society
(Chapter 51).
“Being a Certified Moving Consultant inspires you to
always take the high road, putting the customer first
and giving them the benefit of the knowledge you
have gained,” says Charlene.
For more information on the CMC program,
visit www.promover.org.
Cardinal Van & Storage Business of the Year
Cardinal Van & Storage (571) in Twentynine Palms,
California was awarded the 2005 Twentynine Palms
Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award.
Pat Welch, President of Cardinal and a California
Moving & Storage Association board member
accepted the award at the Chamber’s Annual
Awards Dinner and Installation of Officers and
Directors in July. Daniel Mintz, Chamber President,
stated “Thank you Pat and Cardinal Van & Storage
for helping make Twentynine Palms a great place to
live, work and visit.”
37
Tracks
expectations, as well as ours, and also
RE: Joseph Durrett
Alexander’s Mobility
wanted input about how things
Services (207)
should be packed, etc. He and his crew
Tustin, California
treated our home and belongings like
I am writing in regards to our recent
they were their own and it was a
move with your company. It was a
much needed break from the stress of
corporate move within my husband’s
moving for myself. Upon completing
company, New Century Financial
the packing, loading, etc. he made sure
Corporation. In eleven years of
that we were able to reach him if we
marriage this was our 7th move,
had any questions, as well as making
although we have never used
sure that he could reach us until the
Atlas Van Lines.
time of delivery.
This was our 3rd move with New
Upon arrival at our home in
Century and previous movers have
Phoenix, Joe went above and beyond
been chosen by my preference after
what I had expected. Our entire
receiving three moving
truckload of belongings
estimates. After attaining
I feel that these
arrived in Phoenix
three estimates for this
employees are
without any damage.
move, New Century told worth recognition.
He and his crew worked
They are the
us that they now had a
type of people that non-stop through a
corporate mover and
great companies grueling 112 degree
that we would be using
day to unpack the
are made of...
Alexander’s for our
load and then went to
move back to Arizona.
work unpacking boxes, taking the
Van Operator, Joe Durrett, called
majority with him when he left. After
before the actual start date, just to
cutting the crew loose after almost 12
touch base and introduce himself. He
hours, he stayed longer to help put
explained that he was very involved
things together and make sure that I
with the whole process and if we had
was happy with arrangement of large
any questions, complaints, concerns
furniture, etc. At every moment, Joe
about anything that he would take
was courteous and thoughtful about
care of them. From the moment Joe
everything regarding our move.
and his crew arrived at our home in
I feel that these employees are
New Jersey, I could tell it would be
worth recognition. They are the
a great move. Having dealt with
type of people that great companies
numerous van operators and crews
are made of and their kindness,
with all of our moves, it was a comknowledge, and incredible customer
plete joy to have Joe and his crew in
service are exemplary of what
our home. Not only was he very
employees in this industry should
friendly, but he was honest about his
be. After experiencing that a move
38
can almost be stress free, even
half-way across the country, I would
definitely not settle for anything less
than what your employees/company
provided for us.
Thank you again for everything
and I will definitely recommend
Alexander’s to friends or neighbors in
need of a moving company.
Sincerely,
Amy (and Clinton) Alcorn
City Transfer & Storage
Company (630)
Bend, Oregon and
Kings Transfer Van Lines, Inc.
(8243)
Montreal, Quebec
We wanted to thank you for
how smoothly our move went to
Waterloo, Ontario.
Our highest
Our highest
compliments go
to your staff who compliments go
to your staff
did an efficient
who did an
job of packing
efficient job...
and moving
things for us and our
family. Your staff gets along well
which speaks of good management.
We unpacked everything and all
was in excellent shape. Thanks again
for a wonderful moving experience.
Sincerely,
Gord and Jean Riedlinger
and San Antonio areas. These
RE: Shaina Perreira
RE: Linda Knutson
Ace Worldwide Moving &
Action Moving
ventilators are being placed
Storage (1547)
Services, Inc. (238)
for immediate use. The best
Huntington Beach, California
Burnsville, Minnesota
way to state it is simply that
I write to tell you that Shaina
I would like to take a moment to
Action and Atlas are helping
Perreira was truly heroic!
give you and Action a great big UHS
save lives.
I had a confirmed load date in New (Universal Hospital Services) thank
Thanks again to everyone at
York state with a vendor who called
you for coming through and getting
Action and Atlas who are getting
to say they had over-booked and
the job done. Linda recently worked
the job done.
had no truck, could not find a truck,
her magic in arranging a UHS
Best regards,
and could not do it. The apartment
shipment of 10 critical care ventilators
Bob Knowles
Respiratory Therapy
manager had someone moving in
to get from California to our district
Portfolio Mgr.
immediately and
office in Arkansas. It does
UHS
I
was
very
impressed
was extremely upset
Action Moving and Atlas
and
very
relieved.
that more time was
proud stepping
RE: Chuck Coulter
It means a lot that
needed. The faculty
up
in
this
time
of
disaster
DMS Moving Systems of
she “just handled it”
member was frantic
to get the job done.
Alabama, Inc. (801)
–no sweat.
to get her items out
Birmingham, Alabama
The domino effect of
of the building before her new job
Too often we make our voices
these efforts is gigantic. Arkansas is
began. Lots of dominoes began to
heard when
one of the closest destinations to the
fall and the vendor was not helpful.
things do not
disaster area where we can deliver
...professional, courteous,
I left an urgent message over the
polite and personable.
go according to
equipment. UHS has lost our district
With
employees of this
weekend at Ace. Shaina called me
office in New Orleans and our Mobile our plans and
caliber,
your “Customer
early, got creative, stayed in touch
expectations
office is crippled. We are in the
Satisfaction Index” must
and got it all done for a pick-up the
while remaining
process of establishing a temporary
be extremely high!
next day and an acceptable delivery
silent when
operation in Baton Rouge. Many
window. I was very impressed and
those same expectations are
patients and storm casualties have
very relieved. It means a lot that she
exceeded. The purpose of this
been transported to Arkansas.
“just handled it”– no sweat.
communication is to express
We are also seeing
The
best
way
to
You have a good team. Take care
my sincere appreciation for the
an increase of
state
it
is
simply
of them and please thank her again
outstanding service my wife
patients into the
that Action and
for me.
Memphis, Atlanta, Atlas are helping and I received when DMS
Sincerely,
Moving assisted with our
Birmingham,
save lives.
Meredith Duke
recent relocation from
Dallas, Houston,
Facility Affairs Budget Analyst
Georgia to Illinois.
San Francisco State University
Chuck and his team were responsible for loading and unloading our
household goods. In my numerous
moves with General Motors over
39
Tracks
the past 27 years, I had not enjoyed
a more pleasant experience. These
gentlemen represent your company
in the most favorable way. They were
professional, courteous, polite and
personable. With employees of this
caliber, your “Customer Satisfaction
Index” must be extremely high!
On behalf of my wife and I, thank
you for the best move we have
ever experienced.
Sincerely,
O.J. Adkins
Human Resources Manager
General Motors
RE: Richard Bland
Specialized
Transportation Group
Evansville, Indiana
I just wanted to take a few minutes
and give credit where credit is due.
Tech Trans called and needed a STAT
shipment from Iowa to Louisiana.
Richard spent an hour re-arranging
a van operator’s route to have this
picked up. This shipment
contained baby warmers –
...but this was
effort above and destined to a hospital that
beyond what he had very sick babies from the
needed to do.
devastated New Orleans resulting from Hurricane Katrina.
If it wasn’t for Richard, and of course
the van operator, this never would
have happened. Richard always goes
out of his way to help me, always
goes the extra mile, but this was
effort above and beyond what he
needed to do. Far too often people
say “Sorry, I’d like to help but can’t.”
But not in this case.
40
RE: Bill Seaman, Harry Morris,
and Frank Miller
Ace World-Wide Moving &
Storage Co. (39)
Fallsington, Pennsylvania
Peg and I want you to know how
pleased we are with the outstanding
service Ace Worldwide gave us during
the move from Ohio to Pennsylvania.
We especially want to recognize
several of your people: Bill Seaman,
Harry Morris, and Frank Miller;
RE:William Duggan
without them this move would have
Wm. Duggan Co., Inc. (2189)
been a tough ordeal for Peg and I.
Walpole, Massachusetts
It is so rare nowadays to get as
I have been transferred a number
outstanding service that these men
of times and just wanted to let you
provided. They did such a wonderful
know about one of your professional
job that Peg insisted we have
van operators and what
the same crew unload us. I
an excellent job he did.
…my hat is off
to you and your may have told you this, but
Mr. William Duggan
organization... this is the 5th move that Peg
and Company were
and I have made and she
responsible for our move
insisted that when we moved to
and from the beginning to the end,
Ohio, it would be her LAST move. But,
every effort was made to protect not
when the position was offered to join
only the furniture but also, the woodWheaton Science Products and it
work, walls, staircase, etc. My wife and
meant a move
I have been moved by Mayflower,
It is so rare
to the East
Bekins, and Allied, and none of our
nowadays
to get
Coast, Peg was
moves were ever this professional.
as outstanding
rather reluctant
service that these
Even the men who helped Mr.
to do this
men provided.
Duggan were very pleasant and paid
again, but
attention to what they were doing.
working with Bill, Harry, and Frank
If Mr. Duggan is what Atlas is all
made it easier for her.
about, my hat is off to you and your
These men did a commendable
organization because it was first class.
job and you can tell that they have
Thank you for your time in this
worked together like a well-oiled
matter and once again, job well done!
machine–anticipating
what needs
Yours truly,
to be done before ever having to
William W. Nylan
be directed to do so.
Vice President
Airtron
Atlas should be proud to have
this humanitarian on their staff and
Richard should be praised for not
only doing what was needed to
help, but stayed on top of it until
it was delivered.
Countless babies thank you Richard!
Laura Kurzawski
Advance Relocation Systems
(59)
Baltimore, MD
Again, Peg and I want to thank you
for arranging for these men to handle
our move. Please pass on our sincere
thanks to Bill, Harry, and Frank for a
job well done!
Sincerely,
Kevin F. Sullivan
As promised, Barry showed up at
my new home on time with all of my
belongings. His team was very professional and efficient and everything
went smoothly.
The entire team at Atlas performed
above my expectations. Thank you
for making my first cross-country
move a great one!
Very truly yours,
Ruth E. Anderson
RE: Jimmy Huskins
American of Virginia, Inc. (103)
Waynesboro,Virginia
Your company came to pack my
household goods for a move from
Virginia to Georgia. The
American of
packing and moving teams
Virginia is most
were very courteous and
fortunate to have
handled this responsibility
dedicated people
in a very courteous and
like these.
most professional manner.
I wanted to give special
credit to the Van Operator Jimmy
Huskins and his wife for the fantastic
job they did in very hot and humid
conditions. American of Virginia is
most fortunate to have dedicated
people like these.
Thank you American of Virginia for
a stress free move.
Sincerely,
J.C. Coleman
RE: Chip Wright
All Points Moving
& Storage, L.P. (97)
Houston,Texas
and Barry Tonn
RE: David Owens and Kay Carr
Ace Relocation Services,
Golden Van Lines, Inc. (991)
Joint Venture (35)
Longmont, Colorado
Cudahy,Wisconsin
I cannot say enough good things
I had accepted a new job which
about all of you who managed my
meant I had to move cross country –
move from Colorado to Arizona.
this being my first. I found the entire
Dave and his crew, who picked my
experience completely overwhelming
until I met Chip Wright. He was calm, shipment up in the rain and mud
were so professional and organized–
cool, professional, organized and
didn’t leave a spot anywhere!
friendly. He eased my anxieties and
I felt completely comfortable that
gave me helpful
everything would arrive safely–
tips on how to
Thank you for
and it did...exactly when they told
accomplish the
making my first
me it would. They worked
task at hand.
cross-country
move a great one! non-stop in the heat, never
He was helpful
complained, and left everything
and reassuring.
exactly as it needed to be.
On moving day, Barry and his
Kay did a wonderful
team arrived on time and ready to
I cannot say enough
job of coordinating the
work. Barry was quite personable. I
good things about
move and personally
immediately knew my belongings
all of you who
following-up
after
the
managed my move...
were in good hands. The truck was
pickup
and
delivery.
loaded without incident and the
I’ve moved three times in 2 1/2
move was underway.
Chip called the next day to confirm years and this was the best yet!
I’ve told many friends what a great
that everything went off without a
job you do.
hitch. Barry called from the road to
Sincerely,
give me his arrival date and time.
Joyce Thim
I couldn’t believe how on top of
everything they both were.
41
January 2006
2 New Year’s Day – US, Canada, BDS and International offices closed
26-27 AWG Board of Directors Long Range Planning Meeting – Edgewater Beach Hotel, Naples, FL
31- Feb. 1 Agent Leadership Conference – Headquarters, Evansville, IN
Calendar
February 2006
Jan. 31-1 Agent Leadership Conference – Headquarters, Evansville, IN
20 President’s Day – Atlas International offices closed
20-22 Agent Sales Training – Headquarters, Evansville, IN
21-23 GSA Household Goods & Freight Forum – Hyatt Regency Orange County, Garden Grove, CA
23-24 Atlas National Symposium – Casino Aztar, Evansville, IN
March 2006
5-9 Exhibitor Show 2006 – Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV
21 Atlas Canada Spring Board Meeting – Atlas Canada Headquarters, Oakville, ON
21-22 Agent Customer Service/Coordinator Training – Headquarters, Evansville, IN
22-23 AtlasNet Training – Headquarters, Evansville, IN
26-28 GlobalShop (NASFM) 2006 – Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL
April 2006
8-11
11-12
12-13
14
15
18-20
26
27-28
AMSA Annual Convention & Trade Show – Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Beach Club, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Agent Customer Service/Coordinator Training – Headquarters, Evansville, IN
AtlasNet Training – Headquarters, Evansville, IN
Good Friday – Atlas Canada and BDS offices closed
Vehicle Inspections Due
Agent Sales Training – Headquarters, Evansville, IN
AWG Board of Directors Meeting – Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Philadelphia, PA
39th Annual Atlas Forum on Moving – Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Philadelphia, PA
May 2006
22 Victoria Day – Atlas Canada offices closed
29 Memorial Day – US, BDS and International offices closed
June 2006
25-28 SHRM 58th Annual Conference & Exposition –
Washington Convention Center,Washington, DC
www.atlasworldgroup.com
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Atlas World Group
P.O. Box 509
Evansville, IN 47703
Evansville, IN
Permit No. 1352

2005 Winter Amplifier

Transcription

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