Two operators took first-time seats on the National Limousine Association Board of Directors during the NLA’s quarterly board of directors meeting Sunday, Feb. 28 before the start of the International LCT Show in Las Vegas.
Winning three-year terms following the Jan. 21 election, Jason Kaplan, President & CEO, The Driver Provider, Phoenix, Ariz., was elected to the board’s At Large seat, and Javaid Chaudhry, president and CEO of NYG Limousine, Rosedale, N.Y., was elected to the seat representing the U.S. Northeast Region.
“I am honored and humbled to be elected to the board by my peers,” said Kaplan, a 19-year industry veteran who launched his company in 1997. “I ran because I wanted to give back to the industry and because this is an urgent time to defend the industry against TNCs.”
Kaplan stared out in the business after selling his personal car to afford a lease for a new sedan to work as a one-man operation. “Yeah, I learned leasing wasn’t the smartest idea after racking up a lot of miles,” he mused.
Today, his operation includes multiple locations throughout Arizona, Salt Lake City and Jackson Hole, Wyo. With 146 vehicles, 209 chauffeurs and 36 support staff, Kaplan’s goal is to fight illegal transportation network companies (TNCs) and help steer the NLA to react quicker for the next “curveball that comes along.”
“I think we learned from some missteps in not responding quicker to the TNCs,” Kaplan said. “We have to be more agile and everybody — including our grass-roots associations — has to be unified to react as an industry to the next big thing. It’s easier to mobilize early to stop something before it gains momentum. We all know that we can expect change and surprise in this light-speed technology age. We need to be more unified.
“There are a lot of talented and successful people on the board, and I’m proud to give back and help fight TNCs and unify our industry,” Kaplan added.
Cabbie Turns Operator
Elected to the board for the first time, Javaid Chaudhry is a 12-year industry veteran and an NLA member from the get go. He started in the private transportation industry driving a cab in the late 1980s, and then drove a limousine for Carey for six years before he started his one-man operation in 2006. Today, his operation has grown to a fleet of 40 sedans and vans.
“My primary reason for running for the board was that I wanted to give back to the industry that has been there for me during some difficult times and also because I want to fight against TNCs,” Chaudhry said.
As to experience, Chaudhry said he has witnessed the “ups and downs” of the industry and is focused on fighting the “growing menace” of TNCs. “I want to work with the NLA to find solutions and unite the industry to work with regulators on leveling the playing field so that we may all prosper. We must stand together for the continued survival of the industry.”
Javaid also is a board member of the Limousine Association of New York (LANY). He and Kaplan were elected during the NLA’s first election conducted via electronic balloting. The NLA Board of Directors has 18 members who serve staggered three-year terms, with six seats coming up for election every year. The NLA, based in Marlton, N.J., has more than 2,050 members.
Tom Halligan is LCT East Coast editor, based in Marlton, N.J. He travels regularly to industry association meetings in the eastern U.S. Tom can be reached at tom@lctmag.com.
Keywords
election ILCT 2016 industry politics Jason Kaplan Javaid Chaudhry NLA NLA board of directors
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