The Chairman's Corner

By Jeanette Homan

October 2025

Our day on Capitol Hill with the American Trucking Association was quite an experience for me. I’ve lobbied before, but this day was especially meaningful because of the significant impact the GHC has had on our industry. Many of us who primarily serve the military are barely hanging on to our businesses by a thread, so this visit carried a deep sense of urgency and purpose.

Steve Weitekamp and I visited two senators and two representatives from Arizona, along with three members of Congress from California, including Senator Alex Padilla and Senator Adam Schiff’s office. It was a very busy day! 

We began with a half-mile walk from the ATA Hill headquarters to the Capitol Building for the annual group photo. From there, our trek took us to the Hart Building, then to the Rayburn, Longworth, and Cannon buildings, and finally back to the Hart Building, where we concluded our last meeting with Senator Adam Schiff. 

Rain wasn’t in the forecast, but we spent the entire day walking up and down stairs, between buildings, and taking our group photo in a steady drizzle. Let me tell you, lobbying is not an easy task! Sometimes the members are engaged, and sometimes they’re not, depending on their agendas. Overall, though, I felt that they truly heard us. 

We spoke not only about the GHC and the future of the military moving program, but also about the need for greater regulation from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to crack down on rogue internet movers. We also requested their support in preserving the independent contractor model for our drivers. And lastly, we proposed designating May as National Moving Month—a great opportunity to raise awareness and celebrate our industry. 

Chapter Visits and Shared Success
On a brighter note, I’ve begun visiting our CMSA chapters—and what a wonderful experience it’s been! So far, I’ve attended the first two out of twelve chapter meetings, and each visit reminded me how diverse and resilient our members are.

My first stop was the Mid-Valley Chapter, where I was greeted by Jay Casey, another longtime friend of mine, and his team at Casey Moving Systems before the meeting. I truly enjoyed touring their operation and seeing how their business model—focused on office, industrial, and COD moves—differs from mine. They’ve done a tremendous job diversifying and staying in tune with current trends. I always say, embrace change, continue to evolve, or you become extinct—and Casey Move Systems has certainly embraced that philosophy. 

The Mid-Valley meeting itself was fantastic, with a great dinner and an even better opportunity to connect with local members. The next day, I visited Grace Moving, owned by my dear friends Sally and Patrick Bolger. It’s always inspiring to see how similar yet different we all are in our approaches to business. Grace Moving, an agent for Wheaton Van Lines, handles a minimal amount of military work; however, they’ve built an excellent operation that reflects their strengths and values. 

I shared with them something I believe deeply: at the end of the day, we’re not competitors. We’re all in the same industry and the same boat—just trying to make an honest living and support our teams. 

From there, I traveled to the Central Coast Chapter, where I met with Casey Fox at ASAP Movers. His company is thriving in the Wayfair and Costco final-mile delivery market, a smart and strategic pivot given the challenges facing our industry today. I really admire his entrepreneurial spirit and adaptability. 

That evening, I was privileged to speak at the Central Coast meeting, where we enjoyed great food, good company, and lots of energy. I had the pleasure of meeting Jason Turner and his family, and I congratulated Jason on hosting his very first chapter meeting. He did a fantastic job, and I thanked him for his involvement and support of CMSA. 

We truly have a wonderful organization that looks out for all our members. Seeing firsthand how much our president, Steve Weitekamp, does for both our industry and our association only deepened my appreciation for his leadership. 

And yes, like Washington, D.C., it rained when we visited Modesto, it rained all the way to the Central Coast, and it rained all day on Capitol Hill. So, I’ve decided it’s time to buy an umbrella… and I’m hoping I won’t need it when I visit the remaining ten chapters!

October - CMSA Communicator