IAM President Terry Head about the Young Movers Conference

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Importance of Strategic Partners and Alliances

 

Regardless of the industry in which you or your business choose to operate, having strategic partners, allies or simply just friends is always a good thing. It’s been proven time and time again that these types of professional and personal relationships will provide you with a competitive advantage over those entities and individuals who don’t recognize the benefits of establishing these important interactions and fail to invest the time, energy and financial resources necessary to build and maintain them.

This is the basic principle upon which most trade associations are built, and it is no different in the context of the partnership that has developed between the International Association of Movers (IAM) and the Federation of European Movers Associations (FEDEMAC).

FEDEMAC and IAM, as separate and distinct organizations, each focus on the interests and well-being of our respective memberships, yet our approaches and objectives vary to certain degrees. These differences in strategic plans, as well as governance models, cultures and even styles tend to influence how we approach an issue, conduct our operations and market our programs and services. Even where our members are geographically located, as well as the national/regional laws, rules and regulations under which the associations and our members operate, often dictate differences in styles and methods.

The best results from a strategic partnership or alliance are realized when both entities are not adversarial in the marketplace and when they openly recognize that there will be differences, yet are able to concentrate on contributing their respective strengths to complement each partner’s efforts beyond its expertise and/or resources.

What both IAM and FEDEMAC do agree on is the significance and value of the role our younger members play in the growth and future success of our respective associations and the global moving industry as a whole. It is this shared recognition of the importance to attract, train and retain younger talent in our industry which has led IAM and FEDEMAC to devote so much in the way of resources, financial or otherwise, to the Young Movers Conference (YMC) held annually each Spring in Europe.

FEDEMAC launched the YMC and has been active from the early years. IAM, however, has only been involved in the YMC for the past six or seven years and only as a co-sponsor for the last two years. At its recent meeting in Madrid, Spain, the YMC served as a clear example how two organizations can effectively cooperate in drawing on the capabilities of their respective staff and younger members to plan and stage a highly successful event.

What is most interesting about the Young Movers Conference is that it is, for the most part, planned and managed by the attendees themselves. There is minimal involvement from the professional staffs of FEDEMAC and IAM. Once a country and city venue are chosen—again by the attendees—the national association in the selected country, under the guidance of FEDEMAC and IAM, sources the hotel, plans out the business program and social events, then works with the two larger associations to promote and market the event.

This method of direct involvement by the attendees has its pros and cons. It is possible that it may need to change going forward as the group’s attendance numbers continue to grow and the needs and wants of the attendees evolve, but the method appears to have worked for the YMC so far.

Having a different group involved in the planning each year adds freshness to the process; and who knows better what to see or experience in a particular country or city than the people who live and work there? On the negative side, switching organizers each time can bring on inconsistency in the process, which can lead to some missed opportunities or poor execution in the planning and execution of the event.

The post-conference surveys from this year’s YMC have provided great feedback and a number of excellent suggestions on how to make the YMC better for all involved. FEDEMAC and IAM continue to communicate on what changes or additions might be warranted.

Regardless of what direction the YMC takes in the future, IAM pledges to continue its support and involvement for the benefit of our young talent and the betterment of the Industry.

IAM President

Terry Head

November 15, 2016 News 200
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