LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Industry associations from across the country (Canada and Switzerland, too) gathered here for meetings and events during the annual International LCT Show Feb. 29 to March 2.
In fact, a new Florida association was started at the Show — the Central Florida Livery Association (CFLA), proving how Florida keeps growing as a chauffeured transportation market.
President Wendy Kleefisch, owner of Brevard Executive Limousine, Indialantic, Fla., said the group was formed to unify and serve operators in the growing central portion of the state, which includes Orlando and the Disney-plex.
“We saw the need to form an association and there is a lot of energy and buzz going on about our new group,” Kleefisch said. With the addition of the CFLA, Florida now boasts six industry associations: Florida Limousine Association (FLA), South Florida Limousine Association (SFLA), West Florida Livery Association (WFLA), Greater Orlando Limousine Association (GOLA), and the recently launched Southwest Florida Chapter of the FLA.
The CFLA is also supported by ex-members of GOLA, who left that organization because of its leadership’s stance on Uber in the Orlando region. That did not sit well with members who view TNCs as a detriment to the industry.
In opening remarks to association presidents at the roundtable meeting, NLA President Gary Buffo said the NLA’s goal this year is to work closer and more often with associations on matters of mutual concern, such as TNCs, insurance rates, and industry public relations and marketing initiatives.
Attendees included: Jeff Greene, Greater Atlanta Limousine Association; Tom Holden, Charlotte Regional Limousine Association; Rick Versace, (FLA); Michael Cunningham, New England Limousine Association; Jeff Shanker, Limousine Association of New Jersey; Kevin Illingworth, John Raftery, Tom Garrett, Greater California Livery Association; Carolyn Henson, North Carolina Limousine Association; Douglas Schwartz, Matt Silver, Robert Cunningham, John Villanova, Long Island Limousine Association; John Dahdaly, Ontario Limousine Owners Association; Matthew Yorke, Tennessee Association of Chauffeured Transportation; Ralph-Martin Trummel, Swiss Limo Association; Paul Walsh, Virginia Limousine Association; Doug Pinzer, Wisconsin Limousine Association; Steve Rhoads, Philadelphia Regional Limousine Association; Kent Sparks, Kentucky Limousine Association; and Cliff Wright, (GOLA).
Of course talk centered on the fight against TNCs. Leaders shared their collective successes and failures in their states, cities and local areas, and shared approaches to influence legislators and regulators to make TNCs comply with established private transportation rules.
NLA board director Scott Solombrino attended with representatives from the NLA’s lobbying firm, Cornerstone Government Affairs, who updated leaders on anti-TNC actions at the federal level. I’ll have more about the NLA Show presentations in the May issue.
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
Association News Florida Limousine Association Florida operators Gary Buffo GCLA Greater Orlando Limousine Association ILCT 2016 Kevin Illingworth limo associations limo tradeshows NLA Scott Solombrino
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