FRIDAY, MAY 16 - BUSINESS SESSION

Keynote Speaker - Garrison Wynn

Garrison Wynn has worked with some of the world’s most effective corporate leaders and salespeople, from multibillion-dollar manufacturers to top New York Stock Exchange wire houses. He has a background in manufacturing, entertainment, telecommunications, and financial services.

Mr. Wynn started as a sales marketing person in a branch office of a Fortune 500 company at age 24 and was chosen to be department head at corporate headquarters three years later. He researched and designed processes for 38 company locations nationwide and developed and marketed products still being sold in 30 countries. An experienced actor in films and a former professional stand-up comedian, he has hosted PBS television specials and national radio programs.

His program titled, “Making the Most of Difficult Situations – Changing Markets, Changing Times,” is a not-to-be-missed speech covering a very relevant topic facing the Moving Industry today.

This funny, insightful keynote combines relationship building with no-fluff motivation and change to deliver real solutions in uncertain times. Wynn, examines the challenges we face and shows how we can laugh at our problems while using them as catalysts for success. This session covers a lot of ground and provides no-cost, easily implemented, proven solutions that can be used right away.

Speaker - Chuck Cole

Chuck Cole, President of Advocation, began his experience in federal, state and local government as an official and advocate in 1969.

Prior to becoming a lobbyist with Advocation, Mr. Cole served as Chief of Staff to the Senate Majority Leader, Barry Keene, where his responsibilities ranged from coordinating Senate Policy initiatives to assisting Senate members in accomplishing their legislative goals. Mr. Cole has also served in several staff positions in the Assembly, including consultant to the Assembly Committees on Water, Parks and Wildlife; Public Employment and Retirement; and Ways and Means. During the 1970-71 Assembly Internship Program he served on the staff of the Assembly Majority Floor Leader, W. Craig Biddle. He also worked in Washington, D.C. for Congressman John V. Tunney of Riverside, California.

In 1975, Mr. Cole was selected to serve as the Executive Director of the newly created Educational Employment Relations Board and was subsequently asked to serve as the Director of the Public Employment Relations Board. He held this position for 12 years during both Democratic and Republican administrations and was responsible for implementing public sector labor-relations laws and coordinating the agency's $6 million budget.

Before joining Advocation, Mr. Cole developed extensive experience with local government as an advocate and an official. He served as chair and member of the Sacramento County Planning Advisory Councils for Citrus Heights and Carmichael. In this capacity he reviewed development projects at local community forums and provided recommendations to the County Board of Supervisors. He was a member of the committee that proposed that Citrus Heights become an incorporated city.

FRIDAY, MAY 16 - CACTUS FLOWER LUNCHEON

Invited Speaker - Roy Ashburn, California State Senator

Roy Ashburn represents the residents of the 18th Senate District, which includes Kern, Tulare, Inyo and San Bernardino Counties. The Republican legislator was first elected to the Legislature's upper house in 2002. Ashburn brings a wealth of experience to the Capitol having previously worked as a State Assemblyman for six years and a Kern County Supervisor for 12 years.

Senator Ashburn currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Defense and Aerospace Industry. Ashburn, whose district includes a large number of military installations from Edwards Air Force Base to the China Lake Naval Weapons Center, is leading the fight to protect local communities against the devastating effects of base closures. Ashburn also serves as Vice Chair of Public Employees and Retirement, a key committee this year as Governor Schwarzenegger makes pension reform a key priority for his Administration. Additionally, Ashburn presides over the Rules, Appropriations, Government Modernization, Efficiency & Accountability, and Transportation & Housing committees.

While in the Capitol, Ashburn has tackled a number of important issues facing local families. His legislative efforts have focused on creating jobs and boosting economic development, reforming California's welfare system, reducing crime and increasing public safety, cutting taxes and restoring the ability of local governments to oversee their own affairs. Ashburn has also pioneered California's effort in developing a vaccine to eradicate Valley Fever, a sometimes-deadly lung disease prominent in the Southwestern United States.

Ashburn's legislative highlights include:

• After-school day care funding legislation to fix Proposition 49

• “Dylan’s Law” to ensure that dangerous juvenile felons receive appropriate sentences for their crimes.

• “Trustline” legislation to ensure that state-paid daycare providers complete full background checks before children are placed in their care.

• "Valley Fever Vaccine Legislation," provides funding to eradicate the deadly disease.

• "Welfare-to-Work Act of 1997," which replaced California's broken welfare system with work requirements, time limits and personal responsibility.

• "ERAF Reform," a measure that would force the state to return more local property tax dollars to cities and counties.

Senator Ashburn has a degree in Public Administration from California State University, Bakersfield and attended College of the Sequoias in Visalia. He is the father of four daughters, Shelley, Shannon, Stacy and Suzannah.

FRIDAY, MAY 16 - MILITARY BREAKOUT SESSION - FAMILIES FIRST PROGRAM

Speaker - Matt Connell

Matt Connell is the President and Managing Partner of Total Military Management (TMM) located in Jacksonville, Florida. Matt possesses more than 10 years of successful moving industry and military carrier development and management experience.

Prior to founding TMM, Matt began his moving career as an Agency Development Representative with Suddath Van Lines. In this position, he quickly grew his knowledge and understanding of the US Department of Defense (DoD) business practices and was soon promoted to Suddath’s Manager of Agency Development. Under Matt's leadership, the Suddath Military Network experienced significant growth and was awarded several major DoD contracts, including a Move Manager contract under the Full Service Moving Project. He was again rewarded for his accomplishments by being promoted to Director of Business Development.

During his tenure at Suddath, Matt saw an opportunity to start his own military moving business and developed a business model and plan. He subsequently founded TMM in 2003 with two other industry partners. In its short existence, TMM has experienced phenomenal growth. Each year since its inception, TMM has grown exponentially and has worked with SDDC and other industry partners in the development of the Families First program.

As President of TMM, Matt is intimately involved with the new programs that will reshape the future business practices and rules for acquiring and moving DoD shipments. His industry experience and proven business skills will guarantee TMM's success as DoD moving programs evolve.

Speaker - Matt Dolan

Matt Dolan is the Senior Vice President of Military and Government Affairs for The Arpin Group.

A native of Cranston, Rhode Island, Captain Matthew Dolan graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1983 and received his commission through Navy ROTC. Upon completion of flight training he was designated a Naval Aviator in May 1985. Captain Dolan’s first flying tour was as instructor at VT-2 in the T-34C, where he accumulated over 1000 instructional hours.

Captain Dolan’s primary fleet aircraft was the SH-60B. He accumulated over 3000 SH-60B flight hours over 5 deployments and 3 squadron tours. He was stationed in San Diego and Atsugi Japan, and commanded the HSL-37 Easy Riders in Kaneohe Bay Hawaii. His other sea tour was as Air Boss of USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3). He deployed for Operation Praying Mantis, Earnest Will, Pacex-89, Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Desert Fox, and Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

His shore tours included the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey California where he earned a Masters Degree in Operations Research, the Naval Bureau of Personnel in Washington DC, A Georgetown University Legislative Fellow on the staff of Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), as an instructor and the Navy’s Command Leadership School, and as the Presiding Officer as a member of OARDEC (Organization for the Administrative Review of the Detention of Enemy Combatants) in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Captain Dolan retired with over 4000 flight hours and numerous personal and unit awards.

Upon retirement he joined the Arpin Group as Senior Vice President of Military and Government Affairs. He is responsible for all Arpin Domestic and International Military programs and is a member of the Arpin management committee. In 2007 the Arpin Group moved over 12000 military families with the goal of treating every military member with the same honor and dignity with which they serve our nation.

SATURDAY, MAY 17 - BUSINESS SESSION

Speaker: Linda Bauer Darr

Linda Bauer Darr, President and CEO of the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA), Executive Director of the Moving and Storage Institute, and Publisher of Direction Magazine will be the first speaker at the General Session. She will address CMSA delegates on the state of the industry, the changes at AMSA, the image and advocacy challenges we face and the importance of working with the state associations to broaden our reach on all of these initiatives.

Ms. Darr’s impressive background includes almost 20 years of experience in transportation policy, association management and government relations. She has held senior positions with the American Trucking Associations and the American Bus Association, as well as serving during the Clinton Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Speaker: Sean Edgar

Sean Edgar is the Executive Director of Clean Fleets Coalition. He has an established presence at California Air Resource Board (CARB) since the September 2000 adoption of the Diesel Risk Reduction Plan (DRRP) and has participated in every major on-road and off-road rulemaking for more than seven years. Among his other accomplishments, Mr. Edgar represented the private solid waste collectors in the development and implementation of the CARB Solid Waste Collection Vehicle Rule, the first private carrier rule enacted under the CARB 2000 DRRP. He is a recognized expert and regular contributor to statewide panels regarding on-road fleet rule implementation and technology options.

Mr. Edgar has more than a dozen years of public policy development and field experience in hazardous and solid waste management assignments for clients in both the public and private sectors. He gained experience in the public policy arena while serving in the Office of Governor Pete Wilson. There he participated in the formation of Cal-EPA and performed research and policy formulation on topics such as military base closure, inland bay dredging, and toxics regulation.

Mr. Edgar is a Registered Lobbyist in California and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley and has completed substantial technical training and continuing education in the fields of environmental laws and regulation, hazardous materials management, and occupational safety and health.

Speaker: Jim Teague

Jim Teague joined Labor Relations Institute as Executive Vice President in 2007. He has since expanded its operations to include over 60 certified labor relations consultants that are available for on-site discussions and campaign management across North America.

Mr. Teague has 18 ½ years of experience with organized labor, starting as an organizing “salt,” working his way up to Director of Corporate Campaigns and Strategic Projects. He was the organizing director for two international unions and has worked with four other international unions.

He has a natural talent for engaging the audience. He has a unique ability to communicate and a passion to educate others on the realities of unions and their tactics. With a combination of experience, sincerity and enthusiasm, he delivers the message in such a way that leaves his listeners much wiser about the subject at hand.

Mr. Teague brings a perspective that can only be offered by one who has experienced every level of organized labor. He uses these experiences to teach others how to spot the signs of organizing, educate management on the tactics used to sway employee opinion and what to expect should the union be voted in.

Updated: April 24, 2008