Southwest Movers Association

About

Enhancing the performance and profitability of moving companies and promoting a safe, reliable, and ethical moving industry.

Story

The association was originally founded as the Texas Warehouse and Transfermen’s Association at a meeting held in Fort Worth in August, 1917. The late S. J. Westheimer of Houston, organized the meeting and served as the first president of the association until February, 1921.

On May 1, 1931, the states of Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma were taken into the region served by the association and the following year New Mexico was admitted. At the Galveston Convention in July, 1934, the name of the association was changed to Southwest Warehouse and Transfer Association.

The first paid secretary of the association, Col. Neil Banister, was employed in 1927 and served until he resigned in 1930. The association had several secretaries until WW II, and then the job went to Beatrice Parker, who served as assistant secretary, until the war was over. The job title was changed and W. Scott Clark took the job as executive vice president in 1945. Mr. Clark retired after 28 years of service to the association on December 31, 1975. He was succeeded by Stephen Jurbala who served for three years.

In November of 1978, the association offices were moved from Dallas to Austin, and Dan Felts assumed the office of executive vice president. The title of executive vice president was changed to president, and from president to chairman of the board following board approval on January 21, 1982.

In 1995, the position of president was eliminated when Dan Felts retired and a new position of executive director was created.

In 1999, the board of directors and membership voted to have Texas Motor Transportation Association manage SMA, and Bill Webb, president of TMTA, became the executive director of Southwest Movers Association effective October 1, 1999.

In July 2006, John D. Esparza officially took over the helm as the new executive director of Southwest Movers Association, and president of TMTA after Bill Webb's resignation.

Mission

SMA is dedicated to enhancing the performance and profitability of moving companies, promoting a safe, reliable and ethical moving industry, and advocating sound public policies that benefit consumers of moving services and the moving public.

Products

Educational Programming, On-line Training, Max 3B Tariff, Safety & Compliance.