Mike Shaffer received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Moving & Storage Institute in February at the AMSA annual conference in San Diego. As his daughter, Michelle, called him to the stage, she shared this insight: "One of my dad's greatest achievements is making people feel the way they do when he refers to them as 'his buddy.'"

The highest honor a mover can earn is the Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Service. The Moving & Storage Institute presents it each year to one individual whose impact is undeniable. This year, the individual is Mike Shaffer, AWG Board Member and Chairman Emeritus. The announcement and presentation took place in February at the AMSA annual conference. 

"It caught me completely by surprise," says Mike. "When I saw my kids in the room, I thought, 'What are Michelle and Jim doing here?'" 

They were there to present the award to their father. Although Mike was caught off guard, his selection came as no surprise to those who know him. Mike entered the moving industry as a trainee in Atlas Dispatch. His career culminated with executive tenure as CEO and Chairman. He spent 38 years helping build a company he loves. He is an Atlas man through and through, still committed to the company as a board member for both Atlas World Group and Atlas Van Lines Canada. He left the corner office in 2008 and stepped into a well-deserved retirement. 

Despite all the success, Mike remains what people call a regular guy. He values the friendships he has made during his career. And he is grateful for those who helped him along the way. 

"I've been fortunate to work with really good people," says Mike. "This award is more a reflection on them than it is on me."