Linda has been working in Customer Care for over 6 years now.  She can clearly remember when she got hired back in 2005, when she was the only one in Customer Care.  Now, it has grown to 10 amazing people!!  Her passion is helping others, so this position is a great fit for her since she works daily with clients and landlords supporting them in all kinds of issues and resolving problems. It is very rewarding work even with all of the challenges she faces when she tries to make everyone happy …and we all know, that’s not easy sometimes!

At the beginning of 2012, she was asked to head up our new program the “Healthy Side of THD”.  This is her true passion and she is so excited to be able to have this great opportunity for THD to utilize her talents and abilities from her past accomplishments. Already she can see a difference the pedometers the company bought for the employees interested has made in getting them moving.   Prior to working for THD, she worked in the health and wellness industry for over 25 years and even had her own business which she called “Healthy Self.  She was a certified personal trainer, hypnotherapist, yoga and meditation instructor and nutritional counselor so we know we are in good hands with Linda running the program.

Linda says her personal life is not too exciting. She has recently moved back to Texas to be near her family that she adores so that’s why she’s willing to put up with that Texas heat!  The only man that matters to her right now in her life is her dog Benz. He is handsome, intelligent, some say he’s big boned (not fat!), loyal and only drools occasionally.

She is so thankful for THD and grateful to be part of something so wonderful!

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- GSA Application Services is pleased to announce that Temporary Housing Directory (THD) has been awarded a GSA Schedule 48 contract and are now certified to provide goods & services to the Federal Government. Acknowledging the growth in federal spending through the General Services Administration (GSA), Temporary Housing Directory have listed their long-term lodging services on GSA Advantage!®, the government's electronic online ordering system www.gsaadvantage.gov.

"This GSA contract is a seamless fit with our traditional corporate package and supports our everyday relocation offerings," stated Tony LaRocca, Vice President of Temporary Housing Directory.  He continues, "We're looking forward to working with the Department of Defense as they scale back overseas conflicts and bring home our troops. THD will ramp-up operations to provide customized temporary housing solutions for our veterans."

Temporary Housing Directory offers a variety of custom temporary and short-term housing solutions that are uniquely tailored to each client subject to their individual accommodation needs. THD handles most housing needs including insurance related claims; corporate housing relocation; extended stay housing; catastrophe and disaster relief support.

Temporary Housing Directory is also a member of The Long-Term Lodging Vendor Council. Made up of GSA MAS vendors, the council will assist in connecting GSA and its customers to 30 day + travel solutions that are service driven and cost effective.   Providers will become an educational resource and conduit for innovation in facilitating the requirements of the SIN 653-9 Statement of Work.

About Temporary Housing Directory, Inc.:

Temporary Housing Directory, Inc. is a nationwide service that coordinates the selection and management of short term housing choices for individuals displaced due to an insurance claim and corporate relocation. THD is the first company to bring together the full service solution of hotel placements and furnished housing to one point of contact. They also provide catastrophic response services delivering emergency assistance for the relocation of CAT teams and their policyholders with hotels and furnished housing. Visit www.temporaryhousingdirectory.com for more information.

About GSA Applications:

GSA Applications managed the tender process on behalf of Temporary Housing Directory facilitating the application preparation, submission and negotiations with government buyers at the GSA. With over 700 schedules awarded to date, Tampa FL based GSA Applications leverages its industry-leading experience and in-house staff of specialists to deliver professional government marketing services to businesses nationally. Visit www.gsaapplications.com for more information.

Meet Amy!

No two days are ever the same; every day has a new challenge, a new set of priorities, a fast pace and an unwavering company focus on outstanding customer service. This is why Amy loves working on corporate and relocation accounts for Temporary Housing Directory. In the relocation division of THD Amy works directly with clients placing transferees into temporary housing; searching for the perfect housing options for an individual, family or group of transferees. During this process she negotiates rates and lease terms with properties and local vendors to help maximize the value of these options for our clients. Amy also answers questions regarding the placements and invoices, submits requests for proposals and creates custom reports to meet a client’s specific needs. She really enjoys working closely with the other departments as the entire THD team strives to create a seamless experience for our clients and their transferees.

Amy began her career with THD thanks to some friends. Over the course of the past four years, as the company has grown she has seen those friendships, and many new ones, grow into a second family.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated the third Monday in January.  This holiday celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader. King is most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation on public transport and for racial equality in the United States.  King also rose to national prominence as head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. This organization hoped to promote nonviolent protests against racism and segregation

Interesting Facts about Martin Luther King Jr. include:

• King was born as Michael Luther King, Jr. but changed his name to Martin as did his father in honor of the founder of the Lutheran denomination.
• King sang with his church choir at the 1939 Atlanta premiere of the movie Gone with the Wind.
• On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.  As a result, King helped organize The Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted over 1 year.  At the end of the boycott the United States Court ruled to end racial segregation on all Montgomery public buses.
• In August, 1963 King organized a march a peaceful; protest at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.  With over 200,000 people at the march King gave his famous speech “I have A Dream”
• King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10,1964 for leading non-0viloenet and civil rights demonstrations
• In honor of King who was shot on April 4, 1968 the Martin Luther Memorial was opened to the public on October 16, 2011 instead of the originally planned date of August 22nd.  The reason for the delay was due to the ill effects of Hurricane Irene. .

 Excerpts of famous speeches delivered by Martin Luther King:

Caroline has been working in our hotel department for over 6 years.  She enjoys working closely with insured’s, adjusters and her friends at Temporary Housing Directory.  She takes pride in making sure insured’s are comfortable in hotels while they are out of their homes.  Her goal is to make the hotel stay as stress fee as possible for insured’s as well as adjusters.  Maintaining correspondence with insured’s and adjusters are a number one priority.  Her responsibilities include placing insured’s in hotels and extending the hotel stay as needed.

The challenges to her job include issues with hotels having sold out situations, hotels charging THD for incidental charges and insured’s not checking out in a timely manner.  Many issues can arise with extensions.  Adjusters may not be able to get information they need from insured’s or outside adjusters and this can hold up the extension process.

As a hotel coordinator she understands the job is very detailed oriented.  Information she processes in the database system affects the entire company. 

She's been married to Jeff for over 20 years and loves being a mother to Madeline and Ryan. In her spare time she likes to cheer on her daughters soccer team.  Go Piranhas!!!  She also likes to hike and ski in the beautiful Colorado mountains. 

She is so thankful for the opportunities THD has offered her.  The challenges Temporary Housing Directory has expected from her has made her a stronger and more confident person.  She loves her family at THD and will make every effort to do whatever it takes for THD to stay #1!!!

The holiday season can be a very dangerous time of the year according to the United States Fire Administration (USFA) with fires causing approximately 400 deaths caused by these fires, over 1600 injuries and about $100 million dollars in property damage. The most joyous of times can also be deadly. Short-circuiting tree lights are cited as the leading cause of these fires.  By following some of the outline precautionary tips from USFA, individuals can greatly reduce their chances of a holiday fire casualty.

Preventing Christmas Tree Fires

• Christmas Tree Fire Hazards - Movie segments demonstrating how fast a live Christmas tree can become fully engulfed in flames. Special fire safety precautions need to be taken when keeping a live tree in the house. A burning tree can rapidly fill a room with fire and deadly gases.
• Selecting a Tree for the Holiday
  Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground. If many needles fall off, the tree has been cut too long, has probably dried out, and is a fire hazard.
• Caring for Your Tree
  Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Do not put your live tree up too early or leave it up for longer than two weeks. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.
• Disposing of Your Tree
  Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or woodburning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service.

Holiday Lights

• Maintain Your Holiday Lights
  Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.
• Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets
  Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires - they should not be warm to the touch.
• Do Not Leave Holiday Lights on Unattended

Holiday Decorations

• Use Only Nonflammable Decorations
  All decorations should be nonflammable or flame-retardant and placed away from heat vents.
• Never Put Wrapping Paper in a Fireplace
  It can result in a very large fire, throwing off dangerous sparks and embers and may result in a chimney fire.
• Artificial Christmas Trees
  If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.

Candle Care

• Avoid Using Lit Candles
  If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning.
• Never Put Lit Candles on a Tree
  Do not go near a Christmas tree with an open flame - candles, lighters or matches.

Remember to have smoke alarms on every level in your home in working condition.  You should test them monthly, keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times.  Make sure every member of your family knows how to call for help and practice your home escape plan.

Temporary Housing Directory wishes you a safe holiday season.  For more information about our temporary housing services please contact us at 800.817.3220

On November 11, Teresa Vidger, THD President brought the entire THD team to Phoenix, AZ to celebrate their annual holiday event at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge.  This annual event is a way that Teresa feels that she can celebrate the contributions of each THD member and reward them with a beautiful destination that is meant for a lot of laughs and fun times.   This year was special as it is THD’s 10 year anniversary. 

The day started off with a lunch outdoors where everyone could enjoy the lovely fall weather visiting with old colleagues as well as meeting the newest members of the THD family.  There was also some free time to spend and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Arizona desert.

That evening the festivities continued with the annual team photo then reception to further mingle and have fun getting caught up.  The reception was followed by dinner at a wonderful Italian restaurant, Tuscany.   Teresa gave service awards for the team members that had been with the company for 5 plus years.

After dinner, the celebration continued as each Temporary Housing Directory department performed a skit for the Annual Holiday Follies with comedy, dancing and singing skits that filled the room with laughter and applause.  The managers and even Teresa dressed up in 70’s gear to start the THD Follies and get everyone laughing.   Prizes were given out to the best skits and fun was had by all! 

At the end of the evening, THD’s first four employees hosted a video and presented it to a very surprised Teresa with a DVD that looked back on the great memories and successes of THD over the past 10 years. Each employee shared with Teresa why they are thankful for working at such a great company.  Tears were shed and it was a great way to end the night.

As THD celebrates the holiday season and 10 years of providing temporary housing it is with great pride and gratitude that we thank all our customers for helping make THD a success.

Kathy is a senior member of the Housing Consultant Team and Leasing Team Trainer.

As a consultant, she works with our clients in helping to find the perfect temporary home while they are displaced. She searches for rental options, works with landlords to negotiate leases, coordinates furniture and house wares deliveries and helps to ensure that families are as comfortable as possible for the duration of their stay.

As a trainer, Kathy works with our new consultants to make certain they are well-versed in THD procedures, and able to competently and confidently communicate and educate adjusters as well as clients through the temporary housing process. She also helps to coordinate our specialized catastrophe team to make sure we are able to work in a streamlined manner in the event of a large-scale emergency.

Kathy has been with THD since August 2005, and looks forward to many more years. When she is off work, she spends her time trying to keep up with her husband and 3 children. When asked what she does in her spare time, she started laughing so hard that she fell onto the floor.

Relocating an employee and sending someone on temporary assignment requires preparation, coordination, administration, and follow-up to ensure the employee transition is smooth. How do you let someone else assist you in this complex process? 

Professional corporate housing providers are a full-service solution with the ability to provide a single point of contact, technology to simplify the process, and flexible billing and reporting options. From beginning to end, the provider handles all of the planning and preparation required for the temporary housing need when relocating an employee and family to an unfamiliar area. Offering a comprehensive solution to relocation companies, and the security of knowing the job is done right, is only one facet of what corporate housing offers.

Many mobility professionals already know the value of working with a corporate housing provider partner, so we asked them to share their perspectives.

Issue #1: Taking the Stress out of Moving

Studies have shown that anxieties about a new location are the greatest cause for stress during relocation. Add relocating with a family and this is an infinitely more complicated process. It is critical to create a simplified process.

Tom Colucci, CRP, vice president of strategic sourcing for Mobility Services International (MSI), said corporate housing providers reduce stress and anxiety by being available to consult throughout the entire process. “By responding to all transferee concerns as quickly as possible, with as much information as possible, [it] alleviates many concerns over what to expect, how the process will work, [and] who to contact with any issues,” he said.

“Just knowing they have a place to lay their head is comforting,” said Paul Kuchenbecker, a buyer for Re:Sources.

One mobility professional goes on to say, “the more the corporate housing can resemble the comforts of home, stress and anxiety will be reduced.... it is important because this is the one place the transferee can fully unwind and feel like [he or she is] going ‘home’ at the end of the work day, even though it is a temporary stay.”

Issue #2: The Space Factor

A temporary apartment is typically substantially larger than a standard hotel room or extended-stay lodging option. This is vitally important during a relocation or transition, because corporate housing serves as the transferee’s primary residence during the relocation.

“Our relocation evaluation completed by the transferee at the end of [his or her] move will ask questions about their stay in corporate housing,” says Colucci. “Usually, the transferee will want the additional space in corporate housing, especially if family will be visiting during their stay, along with the ability to prepare meals in their unit.”

Beth Archibald, SCRP, SGMS, president of Archibald Relocation & Real Estate Services, adds that “attention to detail for furnishings, toys for kids, food in the refrigerator on arrival, and up-to-date details of checking in with them throughout their stay,” is equally important.  “[The] convenience of having their own kitchen and not having to eat out all of the time,” is just one of the reasons that a transferee prefers to stay in corporate housing over a hotel room. Undoubtedly, space is key while traveling with families.

Issue #3: Location, Location, Location

Being in an unfamiliar area is hard in the best of circumstances, and working with a provider that can supply a lodging alternative close to all the amenities someone requires while staying long term eases these challenges.

Proximity to conveniences such as grocery stores, entertainment, fitness facilities, and recreational areas can make all the difference. Providers additionally can offer advice on locations such as the quality of schools—typically a vital decision factor for employees moving with families. 

Corporate housing providers also can accommodate difficult scenarios. With their established relationships with many apartment communities, these communities often are more flexible in obliging special requests than if an individual approached the apartment community directly. Archibald cited a recent situation in which “...we had a challenging rural location and only a corporate housing company came to the rescue... it was a win/win situation for all involved.”

Issue #4:  Increased Productivity

Staying in a temporary apartment instead of a hotel room also can increase productivity as the employee is less stressed and more comfortable during his or her stay. There is no need to worry about moving personal items during a weekend trip back home, for example. Many companies allow families to accompany relocating employees, and with corporate housing the additional needed space is not an issue.

This arrangement results in a better work-life balance and more engaged employees. “We have had some comments from transferees that they liked their furnished apartment[s] so much that they did not want to move out,” adds Colucci.

Last month RMS (Risk Management Solutions) estimated how much Hurricane Irene will cost the Property and Casualty industry.  The California based company estimates that the insured loss for the United States will be between $2 billion and $4.5 billion, which do not include inland flood losses and all National Flood Insurance Program losses from surge and rains.  Another company, AIR Worldwide estimates the losses to fall between $3 billion to $6 billion.  In addition to the US losses, RMS estimates that the losses in the Caribbean due to a Hurricane Irene being a Category 3 to be about $500,000 million to $1 billion

"Our estimate range reflects some uncertainty, including the definition of hurricane versus non-hurricane deductibles for individual states, and the uncertainty surrounding losses from damage caused by tropical storm winds," said Michael Kistler, director of Model Solutions at RMS. "During Irene, a large swath of tropical-force and low hurricane-force winds swept across a large area of exposure causing widespread, low-levels of damage."

Hurricane Irene made landfall on August 27, 2011 as a category 1 hurricane near Cape Lookout, NC and then made landfall again near Little Egg Inlet, New Jersey on August 28.  The hurricane became a post tropical storm and continued over the United States east coast and up into Canada.  Losses from wind, storm surges and inland flooding were observed in the northern portions of the Caribbean and along the east coast from North Carolina to Vermont.

With downed power lines, Hurricane Irene caused a widespread of power outages in the area.  The damage caused in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast area include reports of total roof detachment but most of the non-flooding damage was less severe with damage to roofs, windows, siding and cars  caused by downed trees and branches.