MSI Executive Forum:
Agenda and Session Info

Wednesday: September 21st

  • MSI-arranged transportation from airport (Boston Logan or Manchester, NH) to host hotel, Wentworth by The Sea
  • 6:00pm – 9:00pm: Welcome Cocktail Reception (Wentworth by the Sea Ballroom)

Thursday: September 22nd

  • Breakfast at hotel
  • 8:15am: Buses depart hotel for MSI headquarters
  • 9:00am – 9:30am (Main Conference Room)
    MSI Executive Forum: Partners in Global Mobility
    Timm Runnion - CEO, MSI
    Welcome and opening remarks
  • 9:30am – 10:30am (Main Conference Room)
    Collaboration in a Multi-Generational Workforce
    Keynote Speaker Tammy Erickson - Award-winning author; Expert on Organization, the Changing Workforce and Generations at Work
    This keynote session explores the four generations in today's workforce, each having different assumptions about how the world works. Understanding the teen experiences that influenced current attitudes and behaviors, creates empathy and provides practical insights on engaging each generation for more effective and successful collaboration.
  • 10:30am – 10:45am  Break
  • 10:45am – 11:45am (Main Conference Room)
    Crisis Management:  Japan, Egypt, the US…Anywhere!  Are Our People Ok?  Everything You Will Need to Know to be Prepared.
    David Sarafinas - Senior Director, Business Development, International SOS
    Alex Puig - Regional Security Director, Americas, Travel Security Services, International SOS
    Pablo Weisz - Security Manager, Americas Region, Travel Security Services, International SOS
    Dr. Robert Quigley - Regional Medical Director, Americas, International SOS
    Do you have a plan to secure your people around the world in case of a natural disaster, medical emergency or political crisis? With the tsunami in Japan, the political uprising in Egypt and other global events, it is paramount, now more than ever, to ensure the safety of your employees and their families, and have evacuation strategies in place to call on, should the need arise. This exciting presentation will present a mock crisis similar to the recent events in the Middle East and Japan. The panel will involve the audience for first-hand experience in dealing with an event of this magnitude, demonstrating best practices every step of the way, implementing crisis management plans, and how to leverage technology through travel agencies and GDS systems.
  • 12:00pm – 1:00pm (Dining Room)
    Lunch
  • 1:15pm – 2:15pm Breakout Sessions
    Session 1: The "NEW" New Normal:  Global Mobility as a Strategic Advisor (Main Conference Room)
    Andrew P. Walker - Principal, Mercer
    During the financial crisis, many mobility functions were tasked with finding more cost effective ways to manage their programs. In the wake of the global financial crisis, mobility functions have new and enduring opportunities to improve operational effectiveness, add value, and support the HR and business agendas of their organizations. In this session we will discuss how global mobility can (and must!) transcend its transactional focus to become an important strategic partner and an enabler of effective talent management, workforce planning and other important business goals.

    Session 2: The Price is Right: Understanding Relocation Appraisal & Home Inspection Process (Dining Room)
    Mark Gronke - Vice President, National Business Development, Fidelity Inspection & Consulting Services
    Jody Scannell - Manager, Review & Training, LSI Relocation Solutions
    Kelly Newman - Director Client Services, MSI
    This session will enhance participants' understanding of the relocation appraisal and home inspection process. Panelists will discuss the differences between various types of appraisals and inspections that frequently arise during the relocation process and how these can be addressed with employees.
  • 2:30pm – 3:30pm Breakout Sessions
    Session 1: Welcome to New Jersey…We’re Not in Kansas Anymore! The Group Move Experience (Main Conference Room)
    Mary Ridges - HR Policy and Relocation Manager, Navistar International Corporation
    Susan Ginsberg - Vice President Global Services, Ricklin-Echikson Associates
    Paula Sjostedt - Director Client Services, MSI
    Debra Sharp - Director Client Management, MSI - Moderator
     This session will discuss what’s new in group moves. Recent group move approaches will be discussed with tips on how to make it a success for everyone involved. Case studies will explore several group moves with a focus on strategies, preparations and outcomes.

    Session 2: Culturally Thriving or Just Surviving? (Dining Room)
    Dean Foster - President, Dean Foster Associates
    In today’s global world, the all-important competitive advantage goes to those individuals and organizations that have “cultural competence”: the ability to leverage cultural differences to the success of the business project. This interactive session will explore the “best practices” for ensuring successful expatriate assimilation abroad, and the do’s and don’t’s for maximizing ROI on this critical globalization investment.
  • 3:30pm – 3:45pm Break
  • 3:45pm – 4:45pm:  Breakout Sessions
    Session 1: Managing Moves into Emerging Markets:  the Challenge, the Preparation, the Requirements. (Main Conference Room)
    Paul Neve - Regional Director Client Services, The Americas, MSI
    Elaine Phipps - Regional Director Client Services, EMEA, MSI
    Sharon Leong -Regional Director Client Services, Asia Pacific, MSI
    Michael Ray - Vice President, Emigra Group, LLC
    This informative, interactive session will highlight the potential pitfalls you may face and solutions you will need to know with MSI’s panel of experts. They will navigate you through some of these challenging locations helping to ensure the least impact to your organization in this ever-changing environment. MSI’s Regional Directors from the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific will share their wealth of experience about immigration, housing and lifestyle, hardship and safety and a host of other topics that will make you an expert as well!

    Session 2: Help! I am sinking fast! Corporation to the Rescue?  (Dining Room)
    Heather Hayes - US Compensation & Global Mobility, TJX Corporation
    Barbara Springer - Executive Vice President, @Properties
    Luanne Diodati - Inventory Specialist, MSI
    Laurie Allen - Director Client Services, MSI – Moderator
    Short sales, foreclosures, deed in lieu of foreclosure, promissory notes, loss on sale…oh no! What does it all mean? Should the corporation be the life boat? This session will explore the meaning of all of this and the options facing corporations today, including whether corporations should "bail out" employees who are underwater.
  • 5:00pm: Buses depart MSI for hotel
  • 6:30pm – 10:00pm:  Cocktails and Dinner (Wentworth by the Sea Ballroom)
    No Mountain Too High:  Challenging Change with the Adventure Attitude
    Keynote Speaker John Amatt – Mount Everest Climber/Expedition Leader, CEO and Author, President, One Step Beyond Worldwide
    This exciting presentation explores the metaphor of striving to reach the top of the world. Illustrated by magnificent color photography from John Amatt’s successful expedition which climbed Everest, this presentation investigates the qualities we must all bring to bear in climbing to the top in today’s difficult and unpredictable economic environments.

Friday: September 23rd

  • 7:30am: Bus from hotel to MSI
  • 8:30am – 9:30am:  Breakfast at MSI (Dining Room)
    The Art of Partnering - Navigating Professional Relationships
    Gregg Gregory - Teams Rock
    As the communication process becomes more effective, trust increases, relationships are strengthened, and productivity improves. Building bridges with partners, especially among those with whom we communicate with less frequently, can prove to be challenging. Awareness brings effectiveness. In this highly energized session, Gregg illustrates how to recognize the communication style of anyone within two minutes and adapting your communication style to create more effective and meaningful partnerships.
  • 9:45am – 10:45am: Breakout Sessions
    Session 1: "Wipeout": Maneuvering Through the U.S. Housing & Mortgage Markets (Main Conference Room)
    Ryan Huskey - Vice President, Corporate Lending Group (CLG)
    Maureen Campbell - President, Pearce Plus Relocation & Senior Services
    Melissa Graber - Director Client Services, MSI - Moderator
    This session will explore the constantly changing U.S. housing and mortgage markets. Experts in both fields will discuss what’s new and what you need to know as a consumer and relocation professional.

    Session 2: What Keeps You Up at Night? International Compensation, Payroll and Tax – Ask the Experts   (Dining Room)
    Linette M. Barclay - Grant Thornton LLP
    Dave Leboff - President, Expaticore
    Nellie Bogart - Vice President, International Compensation & Payroll, MSI
    Kate DeFrancisco - Director Client Management, MSI - Moderator
    This interactive session will focus upon tax, compensation and payroll issues affecting global organizations and their globally mobile population. The integration of tax, compensation and payroll activities are critical to all global organizations. Learn how your organization can effectively manage a global program and stay in compliance with the ever-changing regulation landscape.
  • 11:00am – 12:00pm: Breakout Sessions
    Session 1: Technology Moves: See How Technology is Changing the Way We Move (Main Conference Room)
    Jeff Forsyth - Chief Information Officer, MSI
    Come see how innovations in technology are changing the way we move. Self-Service, Cloud, Mobile solutions - what, when and how you can use technology to keep connected during your relocation.

    Session 2: Client Services Meetings  (by appointment only – Dining Room)
  • 12:15pm  – 12:30pm: Bag lunches; buses depart for airport