Significant delays at Valparaiso port, Chile
23rd November 2018

Please be aware that, as a result of an ongoing strike by customs employees, there are significant delays for both import and export at Valparaiso port, Chile. Meetings are scheduled to discuss workers’ concerns and hopefully an agreement will be reached soon.

Thanks to Sylvia Garcia at Ward Van Lines for the update.

***UPDATE***

03/12/18 – Please note that following two weeks of delays, an agreement has been reached and the strike is now over.

Valparaiso port should gradually return to normal in the coming weeks.

Thank you.

GInter Receives Highest Cartus Honours
7th November 2018

OMNI Member GInter of Sao Paulo, Brazil has been as the top supplier to the Cartus Global Network in the “All Things Moving” category.

Robson Granero and Patrick Ohara received the award at the recent Cartus Conference in Seatlle, WA.

Many congratulations to all at GInter!

Thirteen Aires Employees attain CRP Designation
29th June 2018

Aires is pleased to announce the new Certified Relocation Professional (CRP) designations obtained from Worldwide ERC® by 13 employees. All candidates who prepared for this year’s certification successfully passed the exam, taking Aires total number to CRP-designated employees to 137. 

“At Aires, we value lifelong learning and the achievement of goals, and each year we support a group of employees in their pursuit of the Certified Relocation Professional (CRP) designation awarded by the Worldwide ERC®,” said Aires’ Trainer/Instructional Designer, Michelle McPeak. “This year, we are excited to announce that 13 of our team members in various roles ranging from Accounting to Operations to IT achieved their CRP. These dedicated employees took on this challenge by meeting for sixteen weeks to study, prepare, and assist each other in this endeavor. We are so proud to say that 100% of our candidates succeeded in achieving their goal this year. Their commitment to this effort was outstanding.”

Those receiving the CRP designations serve in a wide range of internal roles and include:

·   Justin Bibbo – Expense Management Account Coordinator

·   Melissa Bigelow – Post Relocation Survey Team Lead

·   Christine Buckley – Policy & Property Consultant

·   Amy Caldwell – Policy & Property Consultant

·   Richard Demus – Policy & Property Consultant

·   Cassy Hanna – Client Service Manager

·   Amber McMullen – Policy & Property Consultant

·   Rick Metzger – Policy & Property Consultant

·   Kelly Policicchio – Policy & Property Consultant

·   Amy Preston – Policy & Property Consultant

·   Emily Ptak – Account Manager

·   Jennifer Reibie – Policy & Property Consultant

·   Matt Surdock – CIS Application Support

Note on Importing Appliances into Cyprus
28th June 2018

OMNI would like to thank Natasha at Orbit Moving & Storage in Cyprus for providing the following information:

Any appliances that do not have the CE markings on them should not be shipped to Cyprus as the Customs officials in the Republic of Cyprus may confiscate them, should they be found.  Also note that all shipments from NON- EU origin countries are physically inspected by the customs.

Rob O’Donnell, PHR, joins Aires as Vice President of Organizational Development
7th June 2018

Aires is pleased to announce that Rob O’Donnell, PHR, has joined the company as Vice President of Organizational Development. In his role, Rob will be responsible for leading the Human Resources department at Aires and work to decrease organizational effort while increasing positive results, growing Aires’ return on management.

Mr. O’Donnell brings more than 30 years of comprehensive management, human resources, organizational development, and business consulting experience to Aires. He has spent the last decade with Solutions 21, a leading management consulting firm, as the Managing Director of Consulting Services. He provided detailed human performance consulting services to Aires during his tenure with Solutions 21.

“We have worked closely with Rob for many years as he provided excellent consultative services through Solutions 21,” said Aires’ President, Jeff Wangler. “We are pleased to have him join the company to strategically manage Aires’ human resources and organizational development efforts. He has a long history of experience and knows Aires well. His relationship with our company and years of experience make him the ideal choice for the role of Vice President of Organizational Development.”

Mr. O’Donnell has partnered with organizations around the world to help shape strategy and prepare emerging talent, focusing on abundance, purpose, stewardship, and transparent accountability. He will apply this approach in his new role, allowing Aires to continue growing as a leader in the relocation industry.

“I have admired this organization for a decade, and now I finally get to be a part of it. The timing was perfect, and this was an opportunity I could not let pass by,” said Mr. O’Donnell. “Aires is a disruptive force in the industry. I want to make sure that we are thought leaders in everything we do internally, setting the standards across the industry.”

Strikes in Brazil
24th May 2018

OMNI would like to thank Laura Ganon at Fink Mobility for providing the following information about two strikes in Brazil.

  1. Customs strike: the go-slow strike that has been happening for several months in Brazil has now  intensified. Customs clearance is still being done but very slowly also affecting port charges.

  2. Truckers strike: truckers have began a strike in Brazil, preventing any truck from circulating on the roads linking cities. This has affected distribution, leading to a lack of fuel and all types of products on the shelves.