7/15/2004
SIRVA CRPs Give Stressed-Out Movers a Little TLC
CHICAGO, July 15, 2004 — How many Certified Relocation Professionals™ (CRPs) does it take to help sell your home quickly, move you across the country, find and close on a new home, and then help your family adjust to their new surroundings? It takes only one. But just in case, SIRVA has 208.
SIRVA, Inc. (NYSE: SIR) announced today that 51 additional employees earned the CRP designation after successfully completing the exam given by the Employee Relocation Council (ERC) in May. More SIRVA employees passed the exam than those from any other company. Of the 53 SIRVA employees who took the exam, 96 percent passed—a rate much higher than the overall pass rate of 76 percent. With almost 30 percent of SIRVA Relocation employees holding the CRP or Senior CRP designation, SIRVA is a leader in developing relocation professionals.
The CRP program was introduced in 1990 by the ERC to formally test and recognize relocation professionals’ knowledge of the industry. Designees must pass a three-hour comprehensive exam on the following topics: relocation appraisal, residential real estate, corporate relocation policies, tax and legal matters, and family relocation issues.
“The CRP program is an excellent way for relocation professionals to demonstrate their broad knowledge and understanding of this complex industry,” said Robert J. Rosing, president, relocation solutions—North America, SIRVA. “Seeing the CRP designation after someone’s name means that person is committed to professional growth and education and has a mastery of all aspects of the relocation business. Simply put, it lets our customers know they can trust SIRVA’s expertise.”
“It helps to fill in the blanks for those facets of the relocation process that I don’t deal with on a daily basis,” said Rachel Fregien, a SIRVA relocation counselor who passed the test in May. “The more knowledge I have, the better.”
More than 4,500 ERC members hold the CRP designation, according to the ERC. Those who pass the exam retain their designation by maintaining personal ERC memberships and earning 30 recertification credits within each three-year period following their initial certification. SIRVA offers its employees ERC-certified continuing education courses to earn credits.
David Barlow, senior vice president, client support services for SIRVA, is one of the elite group of 159 Senior Certified Relocation Professionals (SCRPs) in the country. The SCRP designation is awarded to those CRP designees who earn ERC’s Distinguished Service Award through dedicated service and contributions to ERC. Members accumulate points toward the Distinguished Service Award by moderating discussions or serving as a panelist at ERC meetings, contributing editorial content to Mobility magazine or serving as a committee chairman.
“It’s wonderful to be recognized for doing something I consider part of my job,” said Barlow, who has been in the relocation business for more than 30 years. “It’s important to constantly stay in touch with what’s changing in this business. ERC helps me do that.”
About SIRVA, Inc.
SIRVA, Inc. is a leader in providing relocation solutions to a well-established and diverse customer base around the world. The company is the leading global provider that can handle all aspects of relocations end-to-end within its own network, including home purchase and home sale services, household goods moving, mortgage services and insurance. SIRVA conducts more than 365,000 relocations per year, transferring corporate and government employees and moving individual consumers. The company operates in more than 40 countries with approximately 7,700 employees and an extensive network of agents and other service providers. SIRVA’s well-recognized brands include Allied, northAmerican, Global, and SIRVA Relocation in North America; Pickfords in the U.K.; Huet International in France; Kungsholms in Sweden; ADAM in Denmark; Majortrans in Norway; Arthur Pierre in Belgium; Rettenmayer in Germany; Varekamp in The Netherlands, and Allied Pickfords in the Asia Pacific region. More information about SIRVA can be found on the company’s Web site at www.sirva.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not historical, but are made based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects upon SIRVA, Inc. and its subsidiaries. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those anticipated by management. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, including without limitation those described under the caption “Business-Investment Considerations” and other risks described in our 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We do not intend, and are under no obligation, to update any particular forward-looking statement included in this release.
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