By Morgana Somers, Programs Coordinator, IAM

The Alan F. Wohlstetter Scholarship Fund seeks to enhance the professionalism of the global household goods moving industry by supporting the professional development and education of students and industry professionals worldwide. In January 2022, the AFWSF Board launched the innovative Industry Training Program (ITP) in which successful applicants are awarded a $500 scholarship toward professional training programs offered by IAM Learning, as well as other reputable programs such as the FIDI academy, LACMA, EURA and WERC.

In the first year of the program, 99 ITP scholarships have been awarded to candidates from a variety of backgrounds and skill levels. The program has been a true global success, and has awarded scholarships to applicants from more than 30 different countries. 

We have seen several member companies take advantage of this program as there is currently no limit to scholarship awards per company. ISS Relocations has received multiple ITP awards for staff members at various branches. Abhilash Nair, Global CEO of ISS Relocation states, “Especially when the training is developed by an industry organization who knows our professional needs and provides scholarships to learn—this is taking responsibility of upgrading the industry. The scholarships add more value in the current scenario by adding status at a lower cost to make your organization and team stand out in marketplace competition.”

 

For this feature, we interviewed seven of our scholarship awardees to get insight into their personal perspectives on how they heard about the ITP, their experience with the program, what courses they completed, why they selected them, and their advice for others who haven’t yet applied for scholarship awards through the ITP.

 

Romana Andrews  |  Removals Manager, EIF International (Fiji)

I am the Removals Manager at EIF International Fiji. I have more than 15 years of experience working in the relocation industry, learning the ropes of the trade whilst on the job. I began my career in 2004 with Williams & Gosling PTE Ltd, where I worked for 17 years before joining EIF International in 2021, where I started the new Removals division of the company. I am grateful and appreciative to have received the Alan F. Wohlstetter Industry Training scholarship; with this certified training I will be able to enhance the reputation of my company as well as provide more credibility with the work that I do.

While exploring the IAM website, I stumbled upon the training section, which immediately caught my attention. I was intrigued to learn more about the available programs and decided to apply for a scholarship. To my surprise, I received notification of my selection from the IAM Training Committee the very next day. I was overwhelmed with gratitude and humility to have been chosen for such a prestigious opportunity. 

I was truly invigorated by my experience with the AFWSF Industry Training Program and found it to be both enlightening and educational. It was a delightful challenge to break free from conventional thinking and utilize the wealth of knowledge and expertise that I have amassed over the years. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

My primary goal in applying for the program was to pursue industry accreditation and validate the wealth of knowledge and expertise I have gained through years. I firmly believe that completing the program will be a significant asset to my career, providing me with the credentials and recognition that will open doors to new opportunities and advancement.

I am proud to have completed both the Move Coordinator Training and Residential Sales Program, which led me to earn the esteemed IAM Moving Specialist Designation. I am already the head of my department. My goal is to leverage the vast network and resources available through IAM and utilize my credentials to expand our organization’s presence in the competitive Fiji market. With this in mind, I am eager to secure new business opportunities that will drive our growth and success.

In my opinion, these courses are an absolute must for individuals at all levels of experience, from beginners to seasoned professionals. The courses not only provide an excellent introduction to the industry, but they also establish a comprehensive framework and set of standards that should be followed by all practitioners, regardless of location in the world. This is what sets the international removals business apart from other industries—by instilling industry best ethical practices, we can ensure that we provide a reliable and trustworthy system for transporting household goods to our customers across all corners of the globe. Ultimately, these courses serve as a catalyst for achieving excellence in our field and elevating the standards of our profession as a whole.

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Caitlyn Harkins  |  Corporate Relocation Coordinator, DN Van Lines (USA)

I have just completed my first year working in the relocation industry. I started with DN Van Lines having no experience or understanding of the industry, but now, one year later, I have achieved certification as an IAM Trusted Moving Specialist. 
I first heard about the AFWSF Industry Training Program when my supervisor attended the ERC convention where she learned about it. She encouraged me to apply for the scholarship so that I could learn more about the industry, which I have been working in for less than a year.

I am extremely grateful to the AFWSF Training Program for providing the opportunity for me to learn and grow more quickly than I could have on my own. While there is still much more to learn, I truly feel that going through this IAM course gave me a clearer understanding of the Relocation Industry.

My motivation to apply for the program was in learning. Being so new to the industry, I struggled to answer simple requests. I decided to apply to the program with the intent of acquiring more knowledge, to become a reliable resource to my company, and to be able to offer better assistance to clients and partners.

I took the IAM Trusted Moving Specialist course with the scholarship that I was granted. Now that I have a better understanding of the whole relocation processes, I find myself finally capable of confidently offering my assistance in coordinating. Since completing the course, I have already noticed more inquiries coming in though IAM Mobility Exchange.

My advice to others in the industry about the ITP is, go for it! Completing these training programs does take some time, energy and work, but the dedication to completion simply reenforces the priorities of attention and details, which are both vital to success in this industry.

 

Simon Hood  |  Director, John Mason, International Movers (UK)

I graduated from Bournemouth University with a marketing degree in 2009, before experiencing first-hand the trails and tribulations of an expat by going on assignment with Hewlett Packard in Germany. Upon returning to the UK, I began a 15-year career in the global mobility sector working at a relocation management company, and then joining John Mason International Movers in 2015. In 2021, I became the owner of John Mason International following an MBO. The company remains one of the UK’s largest independent groupage export shippers and works with agents around the world to assist with import shipments to the UK. Notably, in 2005, I was ranked 83rd in the world at mini golf.

I first heard about the Alan F. Wohlstetter Industry Training Award from IAM after researching more about the IAM Trusted Mover program. It was a simple process to apply, and the scholarship provides the opportunity to be applied to various courses within the industry.

What motivated me to apply for the program was that in order to become part of IAM Trusted, a company is required to have completed the IAMTrusted Moving Specialist (ITMS) training via IAM Learning, which was the course that I completed. It’s not how it impacted me personally, but how it has impacted the company. This was the first IAM course I’d ever completed online. Having the scholarship enabled me to have the opportunity to experience firsthand the IAM learning platform, providing me confidence and insight on how it could be beneficial for my employees. Since completing it, I have signed up several employees to take IAM Learning courses and made it part of our onboarding process. 

My advice to others in the industry about the ITP? Apply for it. Don’t delay. What have you got to lose? It opened my eyes to the value of these training courses. Good luck!

 

Biniyam Ketema  |  General Manager, Segon-Marill (Ethiopia)

I have a 10 years’ experience (General Manager – 2 years; D/General Manger – 4 years; Operation head -3 years; Sales reperesetative-3) in the packing and mobility service in one of the leading moving companies in Ethiopia, Segon-Marill international Movers. My educational background includes a law degree from Mekelle University in 2007, my first MBA in theatre and development in 2014 from Addis Ababa University, and my second MBA in logistics and supply chain management in 2022 from Addis Ababa University, School of Commerce.

I learned about the AFW Industry Training Program via an email from IAM. Being an IAM member company, our company received the invitation over network email. I have found the AFWSF Industry Training Program quite useful. The majority of the training I received as part of the program allowed me to streamline the FIDI certification process for our business. Also, I learned a lot about the moving industry from several of the seminars.

In the circumstances of our nation, there was no standardized training facility or resource for the moving service. Nearly all moving businesses employ their extensive industry understanding. I applied for this scholarship because, as a manager, I was seeking a chance to learn about the moving business in an organized and personalized way; I wanted to learn more about what the IAM and FIDI training entails.

Thus far, I've taken courses related to risk management, excellent surveys, cultural sensitivity, moving preparation, forwarding by air and sea, and effective selling. All of the courses I have done up to this point have taught me how to effectively attract clients and offer a moving service that is standardized but also tailored to the needs of our nation.

The courses teach the expected behavior of booking and destination agents as well as the typical method of conducting a pre-move survey. The survey module is an excellent benchmark for defining the relationship between the origin agency, the booking agent, and the client. The cultural awareness module also helps you comprehend the expectations and experiences of your customers. I've had the chance to create several strategies for interacting with clients from various ethnic backgrounds thanks to this module. The forwarding by air and sea courses have given me the chance to analyze and update our company’s current processes and procedures to meet the necessary criteria.

I strongly advise everyone to take advantage of this opportunity for education, from which they will receive valuable feedback that will help them and their organization reach an excellent quality on a global scale. Having consistent training and information about the processes will allow everyone to improve their service level because the moving sector is often a global experience.

 

Ibrahim Khan  |  Director Operations, Servico Freight Services (Pakistan)

I am the third generation of a family business created by my grandfather during his college days in 1953. I grew up watching him passionately center his life around the business and saw my father reform it as our industry morphed through new technologies and rapid globalization. While studying International Relations in university, I realized organizations stay relevant only through constant efforts to adapt to the changing environment around them. Five years into the industry, I look forward to IAM Learning’s tailor-made courses for mobility sector professionals to compound my experience and expand my capabilities in managing an international relocation company as we move to a new era.

I first learned about the AFW Industry Training Program through the IAM Portal magazine. I found applying for the scholarship to be a straightforward and simple process. The training program has been an invaluable learning experience, and the resources in the training program cannot be found elsewhere online. 

I was motivated to apply for the program because it offers important professional development and keeps up with the latest industry trends. With my scholarship, I completed the ‘Financial Discipline for Movers’ course. The course upgraded my knowledge regarding analysis of different stages of a moving company and provided a critical lens to examine and forecast my financials and the trajectory of the business. Most importantly, it helped me set quantitative measures to analyze performance. 

I find the Industry Training Program to be an invaluable resource for professional development in our niche industry. The courses provided will help train new employees and also refresh veterans, while providing you the tools to improve the operations and management of your company.

 

Leonidas Lacayo  |  International Traffic, Mudanzas International (Honduras)

My dad, Leonidas Lacayo Sr, founded Mudanzas International-Honduras in 1991, the year I was born. I grew up as part of the team for 30 years. I joined the traffic and sales department in earnest in 2021; moving from Austin where I lived for 11 years back to Tegucigalpa. I still keep Texan roots, though, serving as Quartermaster (supply) with my Army Reserve unit out of Austin.

 
In a short time, I have been welcomed and felt encouraging support from the IAM community, especially from those in second and third generation family-owned businesses. 

I am grateful for my ITP scholarship award! I have used the awarded AFWSF funds to enroll in the IAMTrusted Military Moving Specialist certification program. In Honduras we are ITGBL and DPS approved, and deliver cargo to the Joint Military base Soto Cano. The certification will support our mission to provide a quality and comprehensive service to military personnel stationed in Honduras.

I first heard about the AFW Industry Training Program through Luis Holst with Gridiron, who serves with IAM-YP and shared the resource on our LACMA NEXT group chat. He does a great job of raising awareness on industry opportunities. 

My experience with the AFWSF Industry Training Program has been very positive and helped reinforce my knowledge to better serve our clients. The material is presented in a concise manner to enable learning for new personnel in our industry, as well as a refresher with up-to-date information for experienced professionals. 

Mudanzas International is our family-owned business established in 1991 in Honduras. I joined the company last year and felt the knowledge gap was significant as nothing can beat experience. The AFWSF training program helped me close that gap and made me a stronger contributor to our team’s success. I chose to complete IAM’s U.S. Military Moving Specialist certification as we serve U.S. military service members in Honduras. It allowed me to get up to date with best practices established in our industry. 

These resources have been put together expertly by Ray Da Silva, President of Mobility Exchange and an experienced staff at IAM. We owe it to our employees, our clients and ourselves to prepare in the best way possible as moving industry experts. If your goal is to exceed your clients’ expectations with your service, this is a great foundation on which to build upon.

 

Tamara Slacki  |  Trainer, Mobilitas Group (Croatia)

I am originally from Pula, Croatia, and I currently work in the AGS Zagreb office as a Talent Trainer for the Mobilitas Group. Leveraging my background and degree in foreign language teaching, I entered the moving industry roughly a year ago with much enthusiasm.

Although my work experience and education proved useful in training individuals on various IT tools and creating instructional materials, I recognized that I had much to learn about removals, relocation, transportation, and other aspects of the industry. To expand my knowledge and enhance my skills, as a part of my learning journey I applied for and was fortunate to receive the Alan F. Wohlstetter Industry Training Program Scholarship Award. With the aim of gaining exposure to new topics, I enrolled in Worldwide ERC’s Strategic Talent Mobility program and am pleased to have earned my certification.

I am grateful to IAM and Worldwide ERC for affording me this opportunity to deepen my understanding of the industry and stay informed of the latest trends and practices. I also wish to thank the Mobilitas Group for their support and encouragement as I continue to learn and develop professionally.

I heard about the AFW Industry Training Program through an email that promoted the program, and I just went ahead, read about it, and applied. The experience was great because Morgana from IAM and Elizabeth from Worldwide ERC really did everything to accommodate to my wishes for the trainings.

 
My motivation for the training was just to gain more knowledge about different aspects of the industry. Also, IAM is a trusted source for trainings, so I thought I cannot go wrong applying for it. With my scholarship award, I completed Worldwide ERC’s Strategic Talent Mobility program, which gave me a valuable insight into everything that goes into planning Talent Mobility.
I believe if you are the kind of person who likes to keep their professional knowledge and curiosity fresh, apply for the program—you have nothing to lose and much to gain!

The ITP scholarships are designed to enhance your personal skills, your company’s capabilities, and the professionalism of our industry as a whole. It is a great way both to build on industry experience and to train new hires, and there are no limits to the number of applicants per company. 

Apply today on the IAM website!