Altair Global Relocation

About Us

Staying on the cutting edge of service delivery and cost performance necessitates a willingness to embrace a solutions driven one-world outlook.

Incorporated in 1989 as AmeriCorp, Inc., we became Altair Global Relocation in early 2005 to better achieve our mission—to be recognized globally as the source for customized relocation solutions. We are:

Continuing development of innovative global solutions
Delivering measurable results to every client
Driving profitable growth through service excellence
Placing every client and employee in a position to succeed
Valuing all client, employee, and supplier relationships

Altair remains the same company, with the same great people and original management group. We’ve just expanded our boundaries . . . and, by association, yours.

About Us - Global Locations

Global Locations

Altair Global Headquarters & Central Service Center

7500 Dallas Parkway, Suite 300, Plano, Texas 75024
+1 972 468 3000

Atlantic Service Center

2 Corporate Drive, Tower 2, Suite 646, Shelton, Connecticut 06484
+1 203 929 2800

Pacific Service Center

201 N. Civic Drive, Suite 240, Walnut Creek, California 94596
+1 925 945 1001

Midwest Service Center

601 Carlson Parkway, Suite 1030, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55305
+1 952 475 6338

EMEA Region Office

1 Northumberland Avenue, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5BW
+44 20 7872 5814

About Us - History

History

Altair Global Relocation is a leading provider of relocation services to corporations worldwide. Incorporated in 1989 as AmeriCorp, Inc., Altair is the largest woman-owned and independent, full-service relocation management company offering a comprehensive selection of U.S. domestic and international mobility solutions. Altair does not have a parent company or any subsidiaries, which means our most important relationship is unquestionably with our clients.

Altair was founded as a high quality service alternative focused on business-to-business relocation solutions. Our foundation was and continues to be our accountability as an independent provider of service and financial value with measurable results to each client in every business environment. To communicate and reinforce our corporate philosophy, Altair has developed its Vision and Mission statements to guide our decision making and day-to-day activity.

About Us - Officers - Bill

Bill Plummer, SCRP

Chairman Emeritus

In 1989, Mr. Plummer co-founded the company that would become Altair Global Relocation. His vision and purpose have been constant: to help transferees and clients by giving them superior relocation solutions. Mr. Plummer continues to lead Altair by following the same principles on which he founded the company; to act with compassion, to serve with integrity, to lead with innovation, to communicate with honesty, and to keep our promises.

Regarded as a visionary and pioneer in the relocation industry, Mr. Plummer has earned recognition for emphasizing customer care as the top priority at Altair Global Relocation.

Mr. Plummer's career in relocation began in 1969 at Republic Bank of Dallas where he established a relocation department and signed many Fortune 500 companies as clients. After completing this venture, Mr. Plummer distinguished himself by establishing several successful relocation-related businesses and earning a reputation as an innovator.

Mr. Plummer is frequently requested as a speaker, panelist, and expert in the relocation field. As a member of the Employee Relocation Council (ERC), he serves on the advisory council and holds the Senior Certified Relocation Professional (SCRP) designation. He has been recognized by ERC with the Distinguished Service Award and the Meritorious Service Award. Mr. Plummer is a graduate of Oklahoma State University.

About Us - Officers - Gail

Gail Plummer, SCRP

Chief Executive Officer

Gail Plummer serves as Chief Executive Officer and is the majority stockholder of Altair Global Relocation. Altair is headquartered in Plano, Texas, with offices in Walnut Creek, California; Shelton, Connecticut; Minnetonka, Minnesota; and London. As Co-founder, Ms. Plummer’s hallmark has been the establishment of a performance-based culture that develops merited partnerships with suppliers and customers. She currently leads the development and execution of corporate strategy.

Prior to co-founding Altair, Ms. Plummer established a successful career in real estate sales, culminating as Director of Relocation Services for a major north Texas real estate firm. She is a member of Worldwide ERC®, the premier global professional association for workforce mobility, earning her Certified Relocation Professional (CRP) designation and awarded the association’s Meritorious Service Award for participation on numerous committees, and her continued active support. Ms. Plummer is also a frequent speaker and editorialist in the relocation industry.

A member of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), Ms. Plummer was also inducted into the Dallas Business Journal’s inaugural Women in Business program in 2008, honoring exemplary women business owners in the Dallas/Fort Worth area as key contributors to the global economy.

Away from the office, Ms. Plummer serves as Second Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of The Chiapas Project, an endeavor which currently commands her attention. Based on the principles of microfinance promoted by Grameen Bank, The Chiapas Project seeks to provide assistance to the indigenous Zoque people of the State of Chiapas, Mexico. Through micro-loans of as little as $100, women are empowered to start small, often home-based businesses and become entrepreneurs in their own right. Participants’ success filters down to their children through access to better education and health care, and to their community through the creation of jobs. Loan repayment rates top 98%, and many women take out subsequent loans to reinvest in their ventures.

Helping other women to build their own businesses seems appropriate for a successful businesswoman and entrepreneur. “Life should be worthwhile. And it is, if you can make even a small difference,” Ms. Plummer says.

Ms. Plummer encourages community involvement and charitable giving through her own participation in many non-profit organizations. She is a board member for the Dallas Summer Musicals, Baylor Health Care System Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association, and the Center for Brain Health at the University of Texas at Dallas; a Worldwide ERC Foundation Trustee, serving on the Foundation Charitable Outreach Committee; a trustee for Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park; a Development Committee member of the Museum of Nature and Science; and past President of the Alzheimer’s Women’s Association for Resources & Education (A.W.A.R.E.). Her personal commitment has translated into a companywide effort at Altair, where employees regularly participate in a variety of fundraising and community activities through Altair’s CAT (Community Action Team) organization and individual initiatives.

Ms. Plummer is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.

About Us - Officers - Gary

Gary Dittrich

Executive Vice President
Global Development

Gary Dittrich joined Altair in January 2005 as Executive Vice President. His role is pivotal to Altair’s long term growth and expansion into both Europe and Asia. He is also responsible for leveraging Altair’s capabilities as they relate to new product development, business to business solutions, policy consulting, and benchmarking

Gary brings over twenty-five years of industry leadership experience from roles as Founder and CEO of two successful industry consulting firms; as GMAC Home Services’ Board Member, COO, and Relocation Company President; as Equitable’s Regional President; and as Director of one of the country’s largest corporate relocation programs. Gary is a nationally recognized speaker and author in the relocation industry. He also serves on the Board of the Worldwide ERC Coalition®, The Center for Governmental Issues.

Gary received his Bachelor of Arts degree at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. He is active in numerous civic and community assistance programs such as Half the Sky and Habitat for Humanity.

About Us - Officers - Kris

Kristin Hanger, CRP
Executive Vice President
& Chief Operating Officer

Since joining Altair in 1994, Ms. Hanger has been instrumental in directing the services, capabilities, and infrastructure of the company through several strategic initiatives. During the recent expansion of the company’s global service offerings and supplier alliances, she has been a key contributor to the success of this project.

Ms. Hanger is responsible for ensuring that Altair delivers on its promises, and that our processes, quality assurance measures, and technology initiatives support our customers’ needs. She manages all aspects of the Operations division, which include the following departments: Global Service Delivery (Dallas Global Headquarters, Atlantic Region, Pacific Region); Household Goods Move Management; Information Services (Quality Assurance, Reporting, and Technology); Financial Management (Accounting, Expense Management, and Tax Gross-Up); and Human Resources & Administration.

Ms. Hanger began her career at Altair with 11 years of experience in the relocation, human resources, and legal fields. She is a member of ERC, and holds the Certified Relocation Professional (CRP) designation.

Ms. Hanger holds a degree in Economics from the University of New Mexico. She is active in numerous civic and community assistance programs.

About Us - Officers Home

Executive Team

Gail Plummer
Chief Executive Officer

Dennis O'Gara
President

Chad Sterling
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Don Smith
Executive Vice President

Gary Dittrich
Executive Vice President, Global Development

Kelly Tepera
Senior Vice President, Client Solutions

Jason Beaudreau
Senior Vice President, Business Technology

About Us - Vision, Mission, Values

Vision, Mission, Values

By holding steadfast to the principles which were the foundation upon which Altair was built, we have become a worldwide leader in the mobility industry.

Vision

To be globally recognized by corporations and their employees and families as the source of quality, customized employee relocation and business location solutions.

Mission

To develop global solutions and innovations
To place every client, business, and person in a position to succeed
To drive profitable growth through service excellence
To deliver measurable, positive results to every client in all business environments
To value all client, employee, and supplier relationships

Values

Aim High	Play It Straight	Make It Fun
Growth	Right Thing to Do	Life Balance
Innovation	Integrity	Winning
Performance	Diversity	Imagination
Excellence	Respect	Recognition
Global Solutions	Accountability	Success
	Teamwork	Desire to Serve
	Ownership

Careers

Careers at Altair

Altair Global Relocation provides domestic and international relocation management services to corporate clients whose employees must transfer to a different city, state, or country. Our employees come from a variety of backgrounds including real estate, accounting, household goods move management, information technology, and marketing.

Altair attracts some of the most dedicated and knowledgeable relocation professionals in the industry because we offer a combination of:

Competitive compensation and benefits
Career advancement and educational opportunities
A culture that rewards both teamwork and individual accomplishment

Privately owned and family oriented, we believe that a caring, nurturing environment creates caring, nurturing employees – who in turn provide the great customer service that Altair is known for. This philosophy is even incorporated into our mission statement:

To place every employee in a position to succeed
To value all employee relationships

See our current job postings for opportunities that are right for you.

Clients - Awards

Awards

Altair is proud to be recognized by these valued clients and partners.

Clients - Case Studies

Case Studies

Group Move for U.S. Domestic Client

Our client, a major international food manufacturer located in the Midwest with operations throughout the United States and numerous global locations, requested assistance with a group move that developed as a result of a major business reorganization. The goal of the reorganization was to improve current and future competitive position within the industry.

Their reorganization effort required the client to move the headquarters office and redeploy mission critical employees and families to the new location. Altair was asked to immediately develop an efficient and cost effective group move program to fit the client's new business needs and culture.

What was the Altair Solution? Read more here.

International Relocation Program & Policy Consulting

This client, a global firm with more than 100,000 employees around the world, had issues with process inefficiencies in all functional areas (from accounting to travel reservations). These process issues lead to longer transitional periods and more confusion for the assignees, internal administration, and third party suppliers.

What was the Altair Solution? Read more here.

Clients - Home

Our Clients

We provide personalized global services to companies moving as few as 10 and as many as 1000 employees. The majority are fully outsourced.

We proudly recognize that our clients include companies from start-ups to Fortune 500 names, and comprise some of the best names in every industry:

Banking / Financial Services
Coal / Energy
Food & Beverage
Industrial
Medical / Pharmaceutical

Restaurant
Retail
Services
Tech
Telecommunications

Contact Us - Home

Contact Us

We would love to hear from you! You're welcome to contact us at our headquarters address or via telephone.

Altair Global Headquarters
7500 Dallas Parkway, Suite 300
Plano, Texas 75024

+1 972 468 3000

Or, if you prefer electronic communication, select the appropriate icon below to complete a web form. Don't forget to include your name and telephone number.

Global Services - Administrative

Altair offers a wide variety of services to decrease the administrative burden on your human resources staff or in-house relocation department. We can advise on how to get the most from your program through our administrative services, many of which are provided as part of a comprehensive relocation program, at no additional cost to the client.

Policy Benchmarking & Design	Expense Tracking & Reporting
Group Move Consulting & Management	Management Reports
Expense Management	Quality Monitoring & Reporting
Benefits Payments	Supplier Management & Reporting
Equity Advance	Cost of Living Reports
Payment in Any Currency	Year End Reporting
Tax Assistance	Counseling for Assignment Duration
Recruiting Support	Repatriation / In-Bound USA

Global Services - Client Solutions

Altair offers a number of services in support of relocation and global mobility administration. Utilizing industry best practices, our relocation professionals deliver high-impact solutions to our clients:

New client implementations; program changes for existing clients
Policy analysis, benchmarking, and development
Global mobility consulting
Group move planning and execution
Quality assurance programs
Customized reporting

Global Services - Departure

At Altair, we provide a variety of global departure services to ensure that your relocating employees get started on the right foot. Typically, these services include policy counseling, assistance with the disposition of the employee's primary residence (whether owned or leased), cultural training for individuals or families who are embarking on an international move, and other services to prepare employees as they embark on a new phase in their lives.

Policy Counseling	Candidate Assessment & Selection
Budgets & Cost Estimates	Cost of Living Calculations
U.S. Home Sale (IRS-qualified Programs)	Canadian Home Sale
Country-Specific Home Sale	Inventory Management
Lease Cancellation	Property Management
Visa & Permit Procurement	Tax & Social Security Briefings
Country Reports

Global Services - Destination

The right combination of destination services greatly enhances the relocating employee's experience and perception of a successful relocation. Typically, these services include area tours, assistance in finding a new home (whether buying or leasing), expense management, and settling-in services for individuals or families who are embarking on an international move.

New Home Search	Leasing Assistance
Area Tours & Orientations	Home Finding Trips
Final Move Coordination	Pre-Assignment Trip
Travel Coordination*	Settling-in Services
Benefits Payments & Financial Services	Language Training
Cultural Introduction	Auto Procurement
Spousal Career Assistance	Dependant Care

*Provided by on-site, third-party provider

Global Services - Home

Global Services

Altair does more to ensure the success of your program by providing:

A full complement of global services and country-specific programs that answers the needs of your employees on the move
Business location advisory services that maximize operational performance
Professional consulting services to provide the best possible benefit to your employees at maximum savings to you
Technology to keep your managers informed with real-time data, on-demand reporting, and issue resolution information
A personally-assigned relocation consultant to each employee around the clock
A personally-assigned relocation professional to each client

Whatever, however, and whenever you require it, we can provide it . . . both within the U.S. and around the world.

Global Services - Logistics

Logistics services usually include movement of household goods, automobiles, and pets; temporary living arrangements for the relocating employee and family if the new residence is not yet available; and coordination of many aspects of the final move.

Household Goods Move Management & Storage	Automobile Transport
Temporary Living Coordination	Pet Transport
Travel Coordination* for Home Finding & Final Move Trips

*Provided by on-site, third-party provider

Global Services - STAR Technologies

Altair’s STAR web portals for clients, relocating employees, and suppliers provide exceptional real-time access in a secure and convenient environment. The technology was developed through a partnership that included an ISO-9001 certified technology company, Altair’s relocation experts, clients, suppliers, and relocating employees.

One of our advantages is that we choose to support our technology with Microsoft’s Windows Platform. Our success with this platform and with the Microsoft .NET Framework led to Altair being selected as the subject of a Microsoft case study.

Altair’s technology platform has also been featured as part of Microsoft’s CIO Interview series, which recently spotlighted Kelly Tepera, our Senior Vice President, Client Solutions and Jason Beaudreau, our Vice President, Business Technology.

Participants in the relocation process use their STAR web portal to manage their relocation program through:

On Demand Reporting
Interactive Cost Estimates
Online Expense Processing
Destination-Specific Information and Cultural Tools
Personal Message Center
And More!

Because STAR is web-based, a client, transferring employee, or supplier only needs access to the Internet. No other infrastructure requirements are necessary, and there is no cost to the client or employee for using this application.

Home

Altair Global Relocation

As the global economy dissolves borders and transforms the world into an extension of your local neighborhood, companies on the move turn to experienced relocation management firms to steer them in the right direction. Whether you are outsourcing your program for the first time or contemplating a large group move, Altair Global Relocation has the ability to guide you.

We Keep Your Promises

Managed by our founders since 1989, our relocation-only business focuses on what matters most to our clients—the well-being of their relocating employees and families, and a leading value proposition. Moving to a different city, state, or country is a major life event, undertaken at no small cost.

The assistance of an experienced advocate can mean the difference between relocating and relocating successfully.

Altair will help you keep your promises: to your employees, to your company, and to your stakeholders for both service and cost performance.

News

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: August 13, 2009

Altair Global Relocation is a leading provider of employee relocation services to companies around the world. While information is the cornerstone of our ability to provide superior service, our most important asset is the trust our customers place in Altair. We value the relationship we have with our customers and are committed to responsible information-handling practices. We take great care in safeguarding your personal information and in complying with all applicable federal and state privacy laws and our own internal standards and best practices.

This policy covers information collected and displayed on altairglobal.com and does not apply to other web sites that may be accessible through altairglobal.com. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of those other sites to learn how they collect and use information about you.

To assist you with reading through our Privacy Policy, we have provided questions and answers below that you may find helpful in understanding our privacy practices:

What information does Altair COLLECT from me?
Does Altair SHARE my personal information with others?
Do I have CHOICES regarding the use of my information for marketing purposes?
How does Altair SECURE my personal information?
Do Altair web sites use COOKIES, OTHER TECHNOLOGIES or THIRD PARTIES to collect information about me?
How can I UPDATE my information?
Does Altair collect information from CHILDREN?
Whom may I CONTACT if I have questions or concerns about the privacy or security of my information?
Will this Privacy Policy CHANGE?
What CERTIFICATIONS does Altair have surrounding privacy and data security?

What information does Altair COLLECT from me?
Information You Provide to Us
We may obtain personally identifiable information about you ONLY if you elect to give us that information and will be used to contact you or register you for a Webinar. The types of personally identifiable information we ask you to provide may include the following:

Name
Address
Zip code
Telephone number
E-mail address

Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our web site, we automatically collect information about your visit that does not identify you personally. We can tell the type of computer, browser, and web service you are using. We also know the date, time, and pages you visit. Collecting this information helps us design the site to suit your needs. See the cookie section below to learn more about this technology. Top

Does Altair SHARE my personal information with others?
We may need to share your personal information with certain third parties such as our agents, service providers and other representatives acting on our behalf for limited purposes.

The third parties with whom we conduct business are only authorized to use your information to perform the service for which they were hired.

From time to time, we may be required to share personal information in response to a valid court order, subpoena, government investigation, or as otherwise required by law. We also reserve the right to report to law enforcement agencies any activities that we, in good faith, believe to be unlawful. We may share certain personal information when we believe that such release is reasonably necessary to protect the rights, property, and safety of others and ourselves. We may also transfer personal information in the event of a corporate sale, merger, acquisition, dissolution, or similar event. You will be notified via a prominent notice on our Web site for 30 days of any such change in ownership or control of your personal information. Top

Do I have CHOICES regarding the use of my information?
Altair is an opt-out organization. Individuals may deny permission of the use of their personally identifiable information. For individuals wishing to deny permission or “opt out”, they can contact their relocation consultant or send a request to the contact information below. Individuals who request to “opt out” may prohibit Altair from providing the relocation services which we have been authorized to provide. Top

How does Altair SECURE my personal information?
Altair is committed to protecting the Personal Information you share with use. Altair uses a combination of industry-standard security technologies, procedures, and organizational measures to protect against the loss, misuse, and unauthorized access of your personal information under our control. To help us accomplish this, we take the following steps:

We employ internal access controls to ensure that the only people who see your information are those with a need to do so to perform their official duties.
We train relevant personnel on our privacy and security measures.
We physically secure the areas where we hold hard copies of the information we collect online.
We regularly back up the information we collect online to insure against loss.
We use technical controls to secure the information we collect online as appropriate, including but not limited to: encryption, firewalls, password protections.
We periodically test our security procedures to ensure personnel and technical compliance.

We cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us by e-mail, and you do so at your own risk. Top

Links to Other Sites
This site may contain links to other sites. Altair is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of other Web sites.

Do Altair web sites use COOKIES, OTHER TECHNOLOGIES or THIRD PARTIES to collect information about me?
A cookie is a small data file that a web site or e-mail may send to your browser, which may then be stored on your hard drive. Cookies simulate a continuous connection which lets us "remember" information about your session, and allow you to move within areas of our web sites without reintroducing yourself.

Individuals who visit our site and register for webinar events have the option of being remembered by placing a persistent cookie or unique file that is stored on your computer during the visit to either website. Cookies do not gather or expose personal information. They are tools used by web sites to store user preferences.

This site also utilizes a third party tracking utility to gather anonymous data to evaluate the effectiveness of our websites through technologies such as cookies. Altair has no access or control over these third party cookies. Examples of anonymous information that may be collected include the total number of initial and repeat visitors, length of login, and pages visited during a session. Our web site may also use other technologies to track which pages of our web sites our visitors view. This anonymous clickstream data helps us understand how visitors use our web site. You can disable cookies from your Web browser and still have full functionality to our site. Top

How can I UPDATE my information?
Individuals who wish to update or correct personal information should contact their assigned Altair relocation consultant or use the contact information provided below. Top

Does Altair collect information from CHILDREN?
We are committed to protecting the privacy of children. In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), we will not knowingly or intentionally collect personal information online from children under the age of 13. Top

Your California Privacy Rights

Residents of the State of California, under a provision of the California Civil Code, have the right to reques from companies conducting business in California a list of all third parties to which the company has disclosed Personal Information. Alternatively, the law provides that if the company has a privacy policy that gives either an Opt-out or Opt-in choice for use of your Personal Information by third parties (such as advertisers) for marketing purposes, the company may instead provide you with information on how to exercise your disclosure choice options.

Altair has a comprehensive privacy policy and provides you with details on how you may either Opt-out or Opt-in to the use of your Personal Information by third parties for direct marketing purposes. Therefore, Altair qualifies for the alternative option and we are not required to maintain or disclose a list of the third parties that received your Personl Information for marketing purposes during the preceding year.

If you are a California resident and request information about how to exercise your third party disclosure choices you must send a request to privacy@altairglobal.com.

Whom may I CONTACT if I have questions or concerns about the privacy or security of my information?
To report any known or suspected privacy or security breaches or if you do not feel your concerns have been addressed in our privacy statement, feel free to contact us. You may contact us in the following ways:

By email at privacy@altairglobal.com
By phone at +1 972 468 3000
By mail at

ATTN: PRIVACY
ALTAIR GLOBAL RELOCATION
7500 DALLAS PARKWAY
SUITE 300
PLANO, TX 75024
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Top

Will this Privacy Policy CHANGE?
Because Altair will continue to implement new technologies and improve the services and features we provide, this policy is subject to change. Changes or additions to this Privacy Policy will be posted below for 30 days. If we change our information practices or this Privacy Policy in such a way that your personal information may be used or shared in a different manner from when it was collected, we will give you the opportunity to opt-out of having your information used or shared in that new manner. Top

What CERTIFICATIONS does Altair have surrounding privacy and data security?

Safe Harbor
Altair certifies to the EU Safe Harbor Principles as set froth by the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use, and retention of data from the European Union. Should you have a dispute involving data processed from the EU, you may contact the American Arbitration Association for non human resources data) and EU Data Protection Authorities (HR data only).

TRUSTe Certification
Because Altair wants to demonstrate its commitment to your privacy, it has agreed to disclose its information practices and have its privacy practices reviewed for compliance by TRUSTe and be a licensee of the TRUSTe Privacy Program. TRUSTe is an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to build user’s trust and confidence in the Internet by promoting the use of fair information practices.

If you have questions or concerns regarding this statement, first contact our privacy office using any of the methods provided in the “Contact Us” section of this policy. If satisfactory response or resolution is not received within a reasonable timeframe, TRUSTe is available as a contact. Please see additional information at TRUSTe Watchdog Dispute Resolution Process. TRUSTe will serve as a liaison with the Web site to resolve user concerns

Acceptance of This Privacy Policy
By using this site, you consent to the collection and use of your Personal Information and other non-personally identifying information by Altair in accordance with this Privacy Policy. Top

Resources - Altair Advisor

The Altair Advisor

Altair publishes the Altair Advisor as a periodic newsletter for our clients, on topics of interest to today’s relocation administrators and human resources professionals.

Recent issues include:

The Effects of Subprime Lending on Relocation
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Buyout Basis: BMA vs Relocation Appraisal
Chinese Drywall: An Invisible Problem
Understanding the Impact of Synthetic Stucco
H-1B Filing Season for 2011

If you are not a client but would be interested in receiving the Altair Advisor, please e-mail your request with contact information.

Resources - Best Practices

Best Practices

Home Sale Programs

Altair recommends cost effective solutions that maintain or improve employee service satisfaction through implementation of a variety of best practices. Many of these practices revolve around home sale and tax assistance procedures.

Careful evaluation of tiered relocation policies and the use of an Amended Value home sale program.
Delaying the appraisal and purchase offer, and requiring a mandatory marketing period of 120 to 180 days. This method is used to encourage the transferee to do as much as possible to obtain an outside buyer, provides a reasonable amount of time in which to do so, and makes the guaranteed buyout available as a fall-back offer. Using a delayed appraisal in your home sale program will decrease the number of properties that are taken into inventory.
Mandating a list price no higher than 105% of the BMA and/or appraisal (and no higher 103% of the BMA in depressed markets).
Offering a sliding scale home sale bonus for employees receiving buyout offers to encourage a higher amended value sale rate, creating a net cost reduction for the overall program. The sliding scale could be 3% for selling the property in the first 30 days, 2% in 60 days and 1% in 90 days.
In 2009, Altair published an updated Best Practices paper regarding the double deeding process.

Tax Gross-Up Decisions

Tax assistance, commonly referred to as tax gross-up, is a benefit determined by client policy and typically applied to all taxable income. Altair can assist you in selecting the tax methodology that makes the most sense for your employees and your company.

Resources - Webinars

Educational Webinars

On the last Wednesday of each month, our Corporate Communications department hosts a web-based learning forum in which Altair staff and guest presenters examine different relocation topics (e.g., tax policies, international and domestic assignments, home valuation, etc.). These interactive sessions are offered to clients and invited guests at no charge.

The webinar program provides a variety of benefits including:

Expert counseling on specific relocation topics
Concise analysis of information gathered from numerous relocation organizations
A method for attendees to earn CRP, PHR, and other recertification credits
Chances for participants to secure free individual policy consultation
Open question and answer sessions

Recent webinars have included these topics:

2009 Real Estate Update: Looking Across the Nation
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: Temporary Domestic Assignments
Gift Giving Across the Cultural Divide
New RESPA Guidelines and Their Impact on Relocation
To Gross-Up or Not to Gross-Up

For a complete listing of Altair’s upcoming Webinar Schedule, please see the Events calendar. If you are not yet an Altair client, but are interested in attending a webinar, please contact our sales team.

Resources Home

Resources

Whether you are new to relocation, new to outsourcing your program, or just looking for the latest in industry news, we provide a wealth of information.

For our clients, we provide the periodic newsletter Altair Advisor and participation in our informative webinar series, both published by our Corporate Communications department; reports on best practices for home sale programs and tax assistance; position papers authored by industry experts; and much more.

These resources are provided at no charge to Altair clients.

You may also be interested in the following organizations and trade publications:

Why Altair - Accountability

Accountability

Each Altair client and relocating employee is provided a single point of accountability for results.

Your Client Services Vice President

Your dedicated Altair representative is accountable for your service experience and cost performance, and for assembling the appropriate resources for your program. This veteran professional delivers valuable services while building strong, partnering relationships:

Managing the transition phase of a new relationship (whether switching from another provider, or establishing a new relocation program).
Supporting your managers through such innovations as recruiter training, relocation training, and the Altair Advisor newsletter.
Recommending improvements through policy benchmarking, program analysis, and competitive analysis.
Developing unique solutions such as specialized relocation cost estimators and online tracking tools.

Your Employee Contact

The Altair consultant is solely responsible for ensuring the success of each relocation. While your relocating employee is supported by an entire team at Altair, the consultant acts as the lead, managing our team’s collective effort.

Why Altair - B2B

B2B

Our business to business services meet clients’ needs for professional advice, industry expertise, program enhancements, unique situational or event support, and resolution of industry issues.

7/28/2010	Global Leader in Distribution Facilities Chooses Altair as Relocation Vendor
6/15/2010	Producer of Postage Meters Picks Altair for Relocation Services
6/07/2010	Rob Johnson Earns Senior Global Mobility Specialist (SGMS) Designation
6/01/2010	Altair Global Relocation Named as a Technical Partner with the RES Forum Community
5/15/2010	Asset Management and Securities Firm Invests in Altair
5/11/2010	Global Shoe Company Chooses Altair
4/19/2010	Dennis O'Gara Announces Promotions of Kathy Couture, Brian Potts, and Janet Schaefer
4/15/2010	Altair Named as Associate Member of EuRA
3/26/2010	Altair Announces Promotion of Shannon Cross to Vice President and Corporate Controller
3/24/2010	Gary Dittrich Honored with 2010 Worldwide ERC Distinguished Service Award
3/22/2010	Rob Johnson to Serve as a Session Panelist at the Worldwide ERC 2010 National Relocation Conference
2/4/2010	Major U.S. Cheese Manufacturer Chooses Altair as Relocation Provider
2/1/2010	Energy Management Company Selects Altair as Relocation Services Provider
1/19/2010	International Leader for Drilling Products and Services Selects Altair as Relocation Provider
1/15/2010	Sandy Mckinney Recently Served as Chair Person of Midwest Employee Relocation Conference
1/1/2010	Global Leader in Specialty Paper Chooses Altair as Relocation Services Provider
12/24/2009	Leading Producer of Acetyl Products Picks Altair
11/2/2009	IABC Honors Kimberly Edwards for Altair Advertisement
9/14/2009	Altair Chosen by One of Worlds Largest Tobacco Corporations
9/1/2009	Joyce Brown Honored by Southeastern Regional Relocation Council (SRRC)
8/24/2009	Investor-Owned Electric and Gas Provider Selects Altair
6/19/2009	Leading Publisher of Academic Print and Digital Information Signs with Altair
6/2/2009	Gail Plummer, Co-Founder and CEO, Announces Promotions at Altair Global Relocation
6/2/2009	Gail Plummer, Altair Co-Founder and CEO, Announces Dennis O'Gara as President
5/13/2009	Gail Plummer, CEO, Receives Distinguished Service Award from Worldwide ERC
5/15/2009	Major Semiconductor Company Chooses Altair

Technology Solutions	Online submission of expense reports and scanned receipts Online cost estimators Real-time, on demand reporting
Financial Solutions	3-Step audit of expenses and tax gross-up Real-time financial costs Dedicated financial analysts
Service Solutions	Enhanced communication tools Online information Dedicated consultants
Performance Solutions	Open book pricing model Leveraging size, knowledge, and technology for improved cost performance Client-based Service Level Agreements
Consulting Solutions	Group move planning and execution Benchmarking and policy development Implementation support Explanation of industry regulatory and legislative issues Webinars

Why Altair - Cost

Cost Containment

We have been refining our approach to value-driven service delivery for years. During new client implementation, our team thoroughly reviews your relocation policies and provides cost containment recommendations specific to your program. Following is a sampling of our general cost containment services:

Altair partners with mortgage companies and title companies in an effort to reduce client cost on home sale closings. Our partnership with Fidelity Residential Solutions allows us to utilize their nationally negotiated pricing with other title companies across the United States.
We have developed an Approved Mortgage Lending Program that provides added value to each employee’s relocation experience, as well as offering cost savings to our clients who provide closing cost reimbursement.
By requiring our Program Lenders to cap their fees (application, processing, underwriting, etc.), our program results in significant cost savings. Our Lenders continue to demonstrate their ability to successfully temper loan solicitation with excellent service delivery.
Additionally, our title company closers and our consultants review destination Settlement Statements (HUD-1) to guarantee that our clients are paying only customary titles fees.

Household Goods Transportation Management

Our expertise and leverage has allowed us to create our own modified "M" tariff rather than moving to the higher-cost "N" tariff.

Real Estate Transactions

We have negotiated both the use of alternatives to the appraisal process and reduced appraisal fees. We have also examined each state for the applicability of the two deed process. Combined, these efforts save money on every transaction.

Mortgage Closing Cost

We have negotiated closing costs for each mortgage originated. Our objectives are to reduce our currently low closing costs of $595 in total lender fees without increasing interest rates for the relocating employees. The $595 fee is very low and saves our clients hundreds of dollars per closing (amount varies for each lender).

Why Altair - Home

Why Altair

Never have companies had so many choices in selecting their business partners. While our integrity and exemplary performance makes Altair unique, our differences run deeper. Altair's success combining strategic direction and values results in exceptional performance in every business environment, making Altair a proven relocation solutions leader.

As a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE), Altair can contribute significantly to your diversity spending initiatives.
As an Independent Company, Altair has the flexibility to partner selectively and to focus on long-term strategies that benefit all our stakeholders.
The simplicity of our Single Point of Accountability service model ensures clear responsibility for results.
Business to Business Services align our resources with your objectives, through our dedicated Client Solutions Center.
We incorporate Quality Assurance initiatives into every aspect of our program. Our measurement/reporting/improvement formula results in optimal service and financial performance.
Our Technology Solutions enable the global data management necessary to maximize your program's efficiency.
Our Client Solutions Center offers Cost Containment recommendations specific to your program. We also provide substantial savings through our shipping contracts and partnerships with major mortgage and title companies.

Why Altair - Independent

Independent

Altair is privately held by the original founder and senior management. We have no parent company or subsidiaries, and have no plans for mergers, acquisitions, or other significant organizational changes.

As an independent company, Altair focuses on investment decisions that yield long-term benefits to all stakeholders. We deliver superior results in all business environments because we have the flexibility to make our own decisions and selectively partner with the best providers around the globe.

Similarly, Altair is not legally affiliated with any of our suppliers and does not operate a pay-to-participate supplier network. We are never bound to use a particular supplier for a given service. Instead, suppliers earn opportunities and recognition from Altair through outstanding performance with regard to price, accuracy and exemplary customer service. Our strategy for allocating business among third party suppliers is dictated solely by the needs of the client, the demands of the situation and the demonstrated ability of these suppliers to provide services that meet our requirements for quality.

Why Altair - Quality

Quality

We incorporate quality initiatives into every aspect of our program.

Our formula for providing optimal financial and service performance is: Measurement + Reporting + Accountability = Results.

As an example, Altair is unique in the administration of both mid- and post-move household goods surveys to transferring employees. Mid-relocation feedback allows preemptive resolution of potential problems before they happen. Post-relocation feedback is analyzed and used to both modify existing processes and create new service solutions for our entire client base.

Why Altair - Technology

Altair's technology was developed through a partnership that included an ISO-9001 certified technology company, Altair’s relocation experts, clients, suppliers, and relocating employees. One of our advantages is that we chose to support our technology with Microsoft’s Windows Platform. Our success with this platform and with the Microsoft .NET Framework led to Altair being selected as the subject of a Microsoft case study.

Our technology provides the global data management tools necessary to maximize your program’s effectiveness. From cost estimators and budget tools, to timely billing and custom reporting that you can produce in real-time, Altair possesses the technology to make our partnerships work seamlessly.

For employees who prefer a “self-help” approach to collection of information, communication, and relocation organization, our STAR website meets their needs while still offering the consultant’s professional support.

Altair’s web portals for clients, relocating employees, and suppliers provide exceptional real-time access in a secure and convenient environment. Simple and intuitive interfaces allow for communications and information retrieval in just a few easy clicks.

Why Altair - WBE

WBE

Altair contributes significantly to your diversity spending initiatives as a Woman-owned Business Enterprise (WBE) certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Majority-owned and majority-managed by women, Altair promotes diversity as a core value in all of our stakeholder relationships: with employees, with suppliers, and as Tier 1 diversity expenditure for our clients.

Altair Global Relocation

About Us

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Bill Plummer, SCRP

Chairman Emeritus

About Us - Officers - Gail

Gail Plummer, SCRP

Chief Executive Officer

About Us - Officers - Gary

Gary Dittrich

Executive Vice PresidentGlobal Development

About Us - Officers - Kris

Kristin Hanger, CRPExecutive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

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Last Updated: August 13, 2009

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Executive Vice President
Global Development

Kristin Hanger, CRP
Executive Vice President
& Chief Operating Officer