Swifter, Higher, Stronger
CMSA 2016 Convention

CMSA members will be channeling the Olympic spirit with the motto Swifter, Higher, Stronger by attending the 98th Annual CMSA Convention in Olympic Valley, California! Held at the Resort at Squaw Creek, this year's Convention will be overflowing with valuable information for the summer season ahead. This year’s theme will review re-cent complex industry issues with which CMSA members must hurdle over and will receive industry tips on how to make a smooth cross at the finish line for a successful year.
Kicking off the Convention is the CMSA’s Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday afternoon. In the evening, the invitation-only Movers and Shakers Reception and Dinner will be held in honor of this year’s CMSA leadership: all Board members, Chapter Presidents and Committee members. The Movers and Shakers Reception will be sponsored by Dewitt Co./ Royal Hawaiian Movers, and the dinner will be sponsored by TransGuard General Insurance Company of America.
The Insurance Committee, Government Affairs Commit-tee, Membership Committee and Military Affairs Committee meetings will convene on Wednesday morning. After a brief lunch break, the Association’s outgoing Board of Directors and incoming Board of Directors will convene their meetings. As always, attendees are welcome and encouraged to sit in during all committee meetings to learn about industry news and issues.
For members just arriving at the Resort that day, the Con-vention registration desk will be available just outside the Grand Sierra Ballroom for registration packets and event tick-ets pick up.
On Thursday morning, golf enthusiasts can tee off at the Old Greenwood Golf Cours in Truckee, CA for the Conven-tion Golf Tournament. The golf tournament, sponsored by Pioneer, will start with its modified shotgun at 10:30 a.m. with a $10,000 hole-in-one prize sponsored by TransGuard General Insurance Co. of America. The hotel’s Grand Sierra Ballroom will be open 8 a.m. through 4 p.m. for exhibitors to set up their booths for the Thursday night Exhibitors Wel-come Reception.
The highly anticipated Exhibitors Welcome Reception, sponsored by New Haven Moving Equipment, is another highlight of the CMSA Convention. The event allows moving company management to connect with the Association's Asso-ciate members for potential services and products in the mar-ket. The event will have an ongoing photo slideshow of past CMSA events as well as hors d’oeuvres and beverages served throughout the night.
The Squaw Creek Breakfast, sponsored by CardConnect, will start the day's activities in the Grand Sierra Ballroom. Following breakfast, the Friday General Business Session master of ceremonies and 2011–2012 CMSA Chairman Dennis Doody of Blue Chip Moving & Storage, Inc. will conduct the yearly roll call to welcome this year’s attendees. Then, the 2016 Convention keynote speaker, Darren Kavinoky, will grace the stage to give a presentation on how to over-come personal and professional challenges.

Convention Keynote Speaker
Darren Kavinoky is living proof that massive change can happen in a moment, and personifies triumph over adversity. Because of his decades of experience dealing with extreme forms of misbe-havior, both with his clients and his own, Darren knows that change can happen in an instant, and that the past does not have to affect the future.
After two decades of unsuccessfully battling with his demons, Darren has gone on to achieve previously unthink-able levels of success. The bankrupt attorney who once swept floors in a furniture store to make ends meet has since created several multi-million dollar businesses, including a law firm that employs more than 30 people and created and Hosts the Investigation Discovery channel’s Television Show, Deadly Sins. He has completed seven Ironman triath-lons and continues to make physical and psychological change part of his everyday life.
Darren knows firsthand that seemingly miraculous trans-formations are possible, and he delights in powerfully deliv-ering that message to others in his Keynote speech Be The Billboard.
Next up will be American Moving & Storage Associa-tion (AMSA) President & CEO Scott Michael will discuss the national moving trends and what CMSA members can expect in business for the 2015 summer season. The 2015– 2016 CMSA Chairman Pat Longo of Andy’s Transfer & Storage will take the stage next to share his experiences from the past year visiting chapters with CMSA President Steve Weitekamp and a few anecdotes of lessons he learned while involved in industry issues. Following Longo, CMSA Presi-dent Steve Weitekamp will review the Association’s pro-gress in 2015, including meetings with the CPUC regarding further actions against illegal operators.
The Olympic Valley Luncheon, sponsored by Paul Han-son Partners Specialty Insurance, will follow the morning general business session. Our luncheon speaker will be Chuck Cole, of Advocation LLC, to share his perspective on the current California Political Climate.
After lunch, the Military Affairs Breakout Session will start with the International Association of Movers (IAM) Senior Vice President, Chris White, giving a short update on the current policies of the DP3 program and what moving companies can expect to see in the upcoming summer sea-son. Following White’s presentation, the top military move specialists will discuss capacity and customer issues that lie ahead. Convention delegates will have the opportunity to ask panelists questions after their discussion on all aspects of the military move market.
After a day of professional talks and industry discussions, relax and enjoy Friday night’s on-site Mardi Gras event with dinner, music, and games sponsored by Kentucky Trailer, The Pasha Group/Gateways International, Redwood Moving & Storage, Arpin Van Lines Inc., Atlas Van Lines Inc., National Van Lines Inc., North American Van Lines, Stevens World-wide Van Lines Inc., UniGroup and Wheaton | Bekins
The Alpine Sunrise Breakfast, sponsored by Lambert Transfer & Storage, kicks off the Saturday morning of the Convention. After breakfast, the Saturday General Business Session will start off with Master of Ceremonies, CMSA board member, Jesse Chabot. First on the agenda willl be Terry Head, President of the International Association of Movers, who will present the state of the international reloca-tion market and the global migration trends of 2015.
Next, Van Line panel moderator Brian Larson of Mother Lode Van & Storage Inc. will introduce this year’s panelists to discuss industry trends, capacity improvements they imple-mented in their companies and what their expectations are for interstate moves this year. The audience will have an opportu-nity to ask any burning questions they may have regarding the interstate industry at the end of the discussion. Following the Van Line panel, Adam Lowy of Move for Hunger will com-ment about how much impact CMSA members have had on the organization since Move for Hunger and CMSA joined forces last year.
The Convention continues on with its Gold Medal Lunch-eon, sponsored by Champion Risk & Insurance Services, L.P. and Vanliner Insurance Company. A highlighted event at the Convention, it is a time for the Association to recognize its leadership in helping to raise funds for its Scholarship Fund, the Special Olympics and the new Chairman’s choice charity, The Alzheimer’s Association. Chapter Presidents will be rec-ognized for their efforts during the year and will receive an award for their dedication to the CMSA. This year, $5,000 donations will be given to the Southern California Special Olympics and the Alzheimer’s Association of Orange County and $55,000 in scholarships will be awarded to college and vocational students. Scholarship recipients will have a chance to attend the event and say a few words to thank the member-ship and describe their education aspirations.
The Saturday night Chairman’s Reception Dinner and Ball, which is sponsored by CDS Moving Equipment Inc., is the final highlight of the 2016 Convention. Attendees will first be introduced to the 2016–2017 CMSA officers and their significant others as well as the 2016–2017 CMSA Chairman Robert Fraser of Redwood Moving & Storage, who will be escorted by former CMSA Chairmen.
Senior Chairman Pat Longo of Andy's Transfer & Storage will receive the honorary CMSA lifetime membership and pass the gavel to Chairman-elect Robert Fraser. Delegates will dance throughout the night in celebration of the newly in-stalled CMSA Chairman.
Join us in “Swifter, Higher, Stronger” at the 98th Annual CMSA Convention in Olympic Valley! Full registrations that are paid by March 10th will be entered in a $50 cash raffle! Register today by calling the CMSA office at (562) 865-2900 or visit the Convention kiosk on the CMSA website at http://bit.ly/cmsa2016conv

- CMSA Communicator