During the IAM Annual Meeting & Expo in Las Vegas in October, IAM (International Association of Movers) announced a ‘soft’ launch of the Global Moving Foundation (GMF).
While this sounds like a new organisation, it is not. Rather, it is an evolution of the Alan F. Wohlstetter Scholarship Fund (AFWSF).
In an interview for The Mover, Terry Head explained that the idea to pursue a foundation model came from an AFWSF strategic planning session back in 2023. That identified the need to rebrand the fund to make it more appropriate for current needs and able to drive a greater impact for its intended audiences.
The GMF will be involved in much more than education, which was the sole remit of the Alan F. Wohlstetter Fund. Terry Head is its chair with Angela DeConti serving as its new director. In addition to education, its focus now includes innovation, charitable work and the relationship with stakeholders as its primary pillars. “We probably should have set it up as a foundation, rather than a scholarship fund, from the start back in 2002,” Terry admitted. “But then I didn’t realise that IAM would get involved in these other areas.”
Under the new structure, the educational element will continue, including the academic awards and the popular Industry Training Program (ITP) as well as a new award to include more vocational education. The programme has also increased its flexibility to allow people to apply in their native languages. The name of the educational scholarship will continue to honour one of the founders of IAM and be rebranded the Wohlstetter Academic Awards.
Although the GMF will have a broader focus, its intention is to assist the recruitment and retention of young talent into the industry. The Wohlstetter Academic Awards will prioritize students who have an interest in the industry as a possible career choice.
But the GMF will be about much more than education ...
Photo: Terry Head (left) and Angela DeConti.