Continental Makes Short List for Car of the Year

Detroit — The 2018 Lincoln Continental was a contender on a short list of vehicles competing for the top spot of Car of the Year via magazine Motor Trend. The prestigious award has been around since the publication’s founding in the late 1940s, and was won by the Lincoln Town Car in 1990. The last award for the Ford Motor Company was in 2010 with the Ford Fusion.

The Continental was up against such contenders as the Audi A5, BMW 5 Series, Tesla Model 3, and Volvo V90. Although the Continental did not end up as one of the seven finalists, Motor Trend gave props to the vehicle’s executive seating package in the back seat—a highlight for the most important vehicle component in our industry.

Coverage of the awards continues through the end of this month when all winners will be named. All coverage can be viewed here: http://ift.tt/2AjGYic.

For more information on the Continental, visit lincoln.com.

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B-Line Acquires RJ Limousines

B-LineXpress Co-Owner Nate Pippett
Edwards, Colo. — Local luxury private transportation and limousine service provider, B-LineXpress announced that they have acquired longtime local transportation provider RJ Limousines of Vail. This acquisition marks an expansion for B-Line as they look to increase their depth in the three primary markets—Vail Valley, Roaring Fork Valley, and Denver —that both B-Line and RJ Limos service.  Rob’ert Milfeld, owner and founder of RJ Limos and B-Line’s co-owners and founders Nate Pippett and Chris Bookidis were the primary handlers of the acquisition, though there was some professional consultation.

As a result of the deal, B-Line will acquire key aspects of RJ Limos’ infrastructure including their affiliate contacts, websites, domains and customer database.  While B-Line will not be acquiring any of RJ Limos’ vehicle assets, they have opted to absorb some of RJ Limos’ drivers. 

“In our business, contacts and relationships greatly impact the bottom line, so while this acquisition is indicative of our growth, it will also allow us to reach even further into our existing markets,” said Bookidis.

B-LineXpress Co-Owner Chris Bookidis
The assets that B-Line did acquire will be absorbed into the existing brand, based out of Edwards, Colo. 

“With this acquisition, we project a 100 percent increase in revenue in 2017, but this acquisition is about more than the bottom line, it is about maintaining the B-Line culture,” said Bookidis. “We deliver only the best on both ends – our customers receive a luxurious and safe transportation experience, and our employees enjoy comprehensive benefits that rival the best mountain employers.”

Within their operating markets, a significant portion of B-Line’s business was retail and private transportation, such as airport commutes, and corporate business was supplementary. By contrast, Milfeld’s business and affiliates had ties to corporate business, particularly non-emergency medical transportation.

“As Rob’ert exits the industry we have an opportunity to build on the foundations that he established with weddings, special events, and commercial entities in the valley and bring them into the B-Line fold,” said Pippett. “Though we never directly competed, both of our companies prioritized safety and service, and that will continue as we serve our community on all levels. Everybody has somewhere to be; we just want them to enjoy the experience of getting there.”

Visit aspenvaillimo.com for more information.

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Epic Limo Expands Throughout Northern Indiana

Epic Limo President Brian Sheely
Valparaiso, Ind. — Epic Limo has announced an expansion of their service area following the purchase of Ann Marie Limousines. This marks the company’s third acquisition in just over two years. Currently, Epic offers service in LaPorte, St. Joseph, Lake, and Porter Counties as well as the rest of the state.

Ann Marie Limousine was a subsidiary of Battisti Customs, a top manufacturer of custom vehicles. Epic’s strong relationship with Battisti’s owners led to an agreement to purchase the company. Epic moved Ann Marie’s operations to the South Bend Airport to better service its clients in St. Joseph County.

The move to South Bend Airport was no accident. In addition to strategic acquisitions, Epic Limo leverages its ties to the aviation industry to continue to grow. President Brian Sheely has years of experience in private aircraft charter and has brought those skills to bear in the limousine operation. Epic looks for opportunities to base locations at airports to better serve clients with convenience and speed.

Epic’s expansion began in 2015 when Sheely looked for opportunities for growth in the form of strategic acquisitions. That year, Epic Limo bought Cedar Mill Limo in St. John, Ind. The two companies already had a great working relationship, so purchasing Cedar Mill’s fleet and integrating its employees into the Epic team was a natural fit.

Then in June 2016, Epic acquired Southlake Limousine of Highland, Ind., Southlake had a large fleet and was one of the longest-running ground transportation companies in the state. Adding Southlake’s location to Epic’s footprint put the company within 28 miles of Chicago City Center and greatly expanded its ability to serve the Chicagoland and Northern Indiana areas.

Grateful for its growth and reach, Epic Limo is committed to giving back to the community and has shared its success by generously supporting various local charity organizations. Epic gives to a wide range of charitable efforts, such as Make a Wish, Housing Opportunities, Opportunity Enterprises, Reins of Life, The Caring Place, Honor Flight Network, and local VFW posts.

“It is our goal to provide our customers with top-notch service, in comfort and safety, whether we are taking them to the airport, on a corporate outing, or on a wine tour. We believe we provide the best luxury service in our markets,” says President Brian Sheely.

Visit epiclimoinc.com for more information.

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Premier’s Open House Welcomes 250 Guests

Members of the Premier team were on hand for the day, including Facilities Manager Todd Davis Dallas — It was an industrywide affair when Premier Transportation held an open house November 15 to celebrate the grand opening of its new location. With upward of 30 national operators coming in from all over the country, visits from local affiliates, a number of vendors making the trip out—including representatives from Grech Motors, which sponsored the event—and scores of clients dropping by throughout the day, owner Eric Devlin estimates that 250 guests helped the Premier team celebrate their newest Texan home right in the heart of Dallas’ uptown Hospital District.

But the story really begins two or three years ago, when Devlin realized that neither a corporate office that only offered surface parking nor continually renting out space made for a tenable long-term arrangement for his company and the motorcoaches in his fleet.

“From the standpoint of efficiency, morale, growth, and making an investment, it was time to buy our own building,” said Devlin. “What predicated that decision was getting into the coach industry, since we didn’t really have a place to park those bigger vehicles. When we bought our first two motorcoaches, we secured a secondary lot about 10 miles away from our office, but it was inefficient, inconvenient, and our coach chauffeurs felt isolated for being so far from the office and everyone else.”

Members of the transportation industry came out in droves to attend Premier’s November 15 open house A two-year search was followed by some repairs and remodeling once Devlin found the 44,000-square-foot former manufacturing facility that sits atop more than two acres of land: With its ample space for maneuvering buses and coaches, plus a prime location that allowed for both garage and office space, it was a perfect fit. And within just a couple of months, the renovated building was ready for the Premier family to throw open its doors for a welcome reception.

“I knew we were going to have a big open house,” Devlin said of an event that turned an office building into a catered soiree with food, cocktails, wall-to-wall decorations, a green-screen photobooth complete with props and costumes, and DJs. “But what I didn’t know was the extent that my team would go to. They literally transformed a warehouse into something else. It was just an incredible setup. It was a great setting and our clients loved it.”

In addition to having three minicoaches by Grech and some Mercedes-Benz Sprinters by First Class Customs on display, the open house also presented an opportunity for Premier to reconnect with its extended family and make sure that affiliates, vendors, and clients alike were able to put faces to the names they’ve been working with and enjoy some in-person conversation.

Premier’s owner Eric Devin addresses the event’s attendees Devlin credits Director of Global Sales Lori Clark, Facilities Manager Todd Davis, Marketing and SEO Director Shelby Harris, and Associate Sales Kristi Walker for going above and beyond to ensure that the day was a success that brought the whole Premiere family together. Drawing on Walker’s DMC and planning background, plus relying on Clark and Harris to manage the guest list and other logistical moving parts while Davis “made the building look great,” Devlin knows that his entire team “worked tirelessly” to make it all come together spectacularly.

“By leaps and bounds, we exceeded our expectations of not only the production of the event but also the effect that it had on our clients,” he said. “When you think of a limo company, you don’t always get a great visual picture. But we really blew people away with our facilities.”

Affiliate Manager Jami Crouch added that being able to host an event while also maintaining the daily tasks that keep the company running added to the positive impression that Premier’s guests got from the day.

“Allowing our clients, partners, and guests to see our operation from the inside was really important,” she said. “Inviting them to see where everything happens, to see our dispatch department, to meet the people taking their reservations makes it so much more human. Plus, they got to see us host an event while still running the company—they got to see that we have a great team who can handle anything.”

The garage at Premier’s new facility And having the visible support of the industry behind them as the Premier team celebrated its newest milestone was the icing on the cake.

“Having so many of our affiliate partners come from all over the U.S. to support us as we opened a new facility by just being there for us and celebrating with us was such an incredible feeling and such a wonderful thing to be a part of,” Crouch added.

Now that life has settled back into a more day-to-day routine, Devlin is pleased with the new location’s convenient proximity that puts his company within five minutes of the downtown scene, 10 minutes from the city-owned public airport Love Field, and 20 minutes from DFW.

“We’re now really close to most of our starting and ending points,” he said. “Being so centrally located is already helping to increase the efficiency of our company.”

Visit premierofdallas.com for more information.

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MCTA Discusses Super Bowl LII, Elects 2018 Board

The November 14 MCTA meeting hosted a packed house Minneapolis — The Minnesota Chauffeured Transportation Association (MCTA) met up on November 14 for a meeting chock-full of information and speakers, plus the election of the 2018 board. Outgoing MCTA President Len Nelson of Valley Limousine & Coach kicked off the meeting with his report before turning the floor over to evening’s speakers. Jeremy Lee of Wells Fargo Finance, Mike McKay of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Steve Holes of the Metropolitan Airport Commission, Todd Anderson from Carey Limousine, and attorneys from law firm Lockridge Grindal Nauen all shared a range of insights and information with the meeting’s nearly 30 attendees.

With Super Bowl LII coming to Minneapolis in February, operators are primed for an uptick in business—and immersed in planning and coordinating all the moving parts that come with handling transportation for one of professional sports’ biggest days of the year. Having found success with the casual Happy Hours the association debuted earlier this year, MCTA is currently planning another one for January in order to focus on additional Super Bowl plans. Anderson reminded everyone that the Super Bowl LII Transportation Committee will be meeting December 4 to discuss chauffeur background checks, drop-off areas, game day passes, and more.

Outgoing Vice President Charlie Murray of Total Luxury Limousine reported that Minneapolis’ January 1, 2018, rise in minimum wage will affect all companies that do work in the city, not just those based in the city. He added that operators should pay attention to a similar push for a minimum-wage increase in St. Paul.

At the end of the meeting, the 2018 MCTA Board of Directors was unanimously elected as the following:

President: Charlie Murray of Total Luxury Limousine
Vice President: Gus Ortiz of Executive Transportation
Secretary/Treasurer: Chad Peterson of Renee’s Royal Valet

Outgoing President Nelson and Secretary/Treasurer Gina Brennan of Corporate Car & Coach were thanked for their many years of serving on MCTA’s board in various capacities.

MCTA is currently planning membership meetings for both January and March, with plans to host a holiday party in February.

Visit mnlimo.org for more information.

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GCLA to Host Regional Holiday Parties

GCLA embers mix and mingle at the 2016 SoCal holiday party
The Greater California Livery Association (GCLA) is gearing up to close out 2017 with its two annual Northern and Southern California events.

The combination annual meeting/holiday party is scheduled for the evening of December 5 in Los Angeles at the LAX Marriott, while the December 9 NorCal end-of-the-year party will take place at Napa Ford. Both meetings promise hours of networking, gift bags and prizes, delicious buffet dinners, opportunities to meet with the industry’s vendors, vehicle displays and demos, and plenty of industry-relevant updates.

The SoCal meeting will also include an awards ceremony and one of the association’s biggest fundraisers of the year, a live auction hosted by Jeff Brodsly of Chosen Payments, who’s also on the GCLA board of directors; the Napa meeting will feature a representative from California Highway Patrol to “answer questions and provide clarity” about the new regulations pertaining to modified limousines that will be taking place come January 1.

Tickets for both parties can be purchased at a pre-sale discount and online. Visit http://ift.tt/2Af3wQX to get your tickets to the December 5 party for $65 ($75 at the door), or the December 9 party for $30 ($40 at the door) at http://ift.tt/2AGFT4U.

Proceeds from the events will benefit the GCLA’s lobbying fund, which allows the association to continue fighting for its members and the industry at large.

Visit gcla.org for more information.

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CLA Meeting Focuses on Statewide, Internal Topics

Some of the attendees present for the November 21 CLA meeting. Denver — In what Colorado Limousine Association (CLA) Secretary Jason Ramsey of Prestige Worldwide Transportation describes as a “standing-room only” meeting, more than 30 people turned out for the association’s November 21 member meeting for an evening that included guest speakers, statewide information, and association-specific topics.

Those in attendance heard detailed presentations from Amy Ford of the Colorado Department of Transportation, Jeremy Lee of Wells Fargo Finance, and George Kovach of Mutual Bank of Omaha. Lee also explained how his company helps finance “sedans and motorcoaches and everything in between,” according to Ramsey, while Kovach discussed traditional SVA lending for growing companies. Ford, meanwhile, provided an update on the reconstruction of interstate I-70 at the I-25 interchange.

“She said that we’re basically not going to be losing any lanes but we will see a shift in traffic patterns—so that was good news,” Ramsey said. He added that the “hot topic” of the meeting was the future of transportation technology, such as computer-driven pods. “They’ve had companies reach out to them to say that the technology is there, but they just don’t have the space to implement it at this point in time.”

While it’s mostly quiet on the Denver International Airport front, Ramsey emphasized that the CLA wants to remind everyone currently using switchable transponders that they need to get them reactivated at the airport by the December 15 cutoff date.

The association’s executive board is anticipating a message from state legislators this Wednesday, November 22, with a list detailing 2018 PUC proposals, which will be discussed during a special executive board meeting the following morning. While Ramsey said that the board is obviously withholding any opinions and actions until its members see what the new year has in store for transportation operators, one potential item is already of considerable concern to the CLA.

“We’ve been hearing that they want to take away bench seating in Sprinter and Transit vans,” Ramsey said. “90 percent of executive vans being operated here have bench seating, so the language that defines luxury limousines could change. It’s one of those things that don’t make much sense to anybody: It would put a lot of people at a very, very significant disadvantage. So we have our eye on that possibility.”

Toward the end of the evening, members discussed how a PUC sampling of 200 Uber drivers in the past 18 months yielded the discovery that more than a quarter—57 drivers—“should have not been allowed on the platform under state law.”

“Among the findings of the investigation were 12 drivers with felony convictions; 17 drivers with major moving vehicle violations; three drivers with interlock driver’s licenses, which are required after recent drunk driving convictions; and 63 drivers with driver’s license issues,” a press release from the association states.

Ramsey added that the CLA has asked the PUC to perform a complete audit of all TNC companies’ platforms, while noting that the PUC’s $8.9M fine would be reduced by nearly half if Uber pays it within 10 days.

“That’s a drop in the bucket,” he said. “For such a small sampling over a year and a half, we think the PUC needs to examine TNCs more closely when a random sample has so many risks to public safety. it doesn’t bode well, especially when we have limousine companies that go through a fingerprint process TNCs aren’t subject to.”

The next CLA event will be its annual holiday party on December 5, where Ramsey said guests will have a chance to win more than $500 worth of prizes.

CLA will kick off 2018 with a January 16 membership meeting at a new location—Ecotech Institute in Aurora—and with elections for the new year’s board.

Visit cololimo.org for more information.

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NLA Celebrates Legislative Victory, Pens Open Letter to President Trump

Scott Solombrino, president and CEO of Dav El / BostonCoach New York — The National Limousine Association (NLA) has announced that Congress’ long-in-the-works federal tax bill contained a provision that would have given the TNCs a “safe harbor,” which would allow companies like Lyft and Uber to continue to misclassify their workers. Through the hard work of the NLA’s Government Relations and Public Relations programs, the association was able to garner the support of three senators who were able to strike the provision through an amendment.

In a letter to association members, NLA Secretary Scott Solombrino, president, Dav El/BostonCoach, cited this as “the single biggest event since our passage of the ‘Ride Act’ years ago” and praised Senators Murray, Brown, Warren, Casey, Carper, Sanders, Murphy, and Sheehan for their roles in pulling the provision from the bill. He also thanked his NLA President Gary Buffo of Pure Luxury Transportation along with Robert Alexander of RMA Worldwide and Jason Kaplan of The Driver Provider, his co-chairs on the Legislative Committee and Public Relations Committee.

“This is a HUGE win for our tiny but very powerful industry,” said Solombrino. “Battles like this will not go away; they will continue to try to find pathways to legalize their criminal business practices.”  

In the weeks after the NLA’s legisilative win, Solombrino penned an open letter to President Trump in order to bring attention to the negative impact that autonomous vehicles will have on the American workforce. In the letter below, which was drafted on behalf of the NLA, Solombrino responds to Uber’s move from its current model of ride-sharing using freelance drivers to owning a fleet of autonomous cars about not being a commercial business until drivers are no longer in the picture.

Chief among the issues raised to the president is Uber’s advocating for the development of autonomous vehicles, despite the company “that has built its existence on the hard work and labor of its drivers, profited off of the revenue generated by hardworking Americans and now it has publicly stated that its goal is to rid itself of the majority of its workforce.”

Solombrino also cited a report from CBS, which stated that “at least 10 million US jobs have a high risk of bowing to automation in the next decade as companies deploy machines that can learn and perform tasks.” Also, he mentions that more than 1.8M truck drivers’ jobs are now on the line, with .some estimates pegging the number of jobs in the U.S that rely on driving at 20 million.

The open letter (which can be read in its entirety at http://ift.tt/2AHdqMn) makes an appeal that President Trump not only consider the economic effects of autonomous vehicles, but also the safety implications of not having a person in control.

“To be put simply, it is your promise and your prerogative to ensure that the American worker is protected and allowed to prosper,” wrote Solombrino. “Drivers are voters, computers are not. This will be among your most enduring legacies as President, and I urge you to speak out on this issue and come to the aid of hard-working American drivers.”

Visit limo.org for more information.

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VLA Holds First-Ever Executive Board Retreat

Board members of the VLA after their recent election to the board Fredricksburg, Va. — On November 20, Virginia Limousine Association (VLA) hosted its first-ever Executive Board Retreat, where an intimate gathering of the board and a pair of vendor members met up to ensure that the association remains advantageously positioned to face the future. CD’s Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela also serves as VLA’s executive director, and was present for the event.

Jagiela began the retreat on a lighthearted note, including a humorous questionnaire that highlighted the purpose of the gathering: the chance to “examine issues in far more depth than is possible in board meetings.” That conversation explored topics like crafting a fundraising strategy, re-examining the association’s mission and vision, sponsorship programs, and organizational structures.

Rewriting the association’s mission statement alone was a two-hour process as retreat-goers wracked their brains to craft an assertion that wholly reflected the ideals that the VLA strives for, embraces, and upholds.

According to its newly revised statement, the VLA’s “mission is to promote a stronger relationship and understanding between legal owner/operators, VA Department of Motor Vehicles, other government agencies and the public to work toward the betterment of the chauffeured transportation industry.” The association emphasizes its dedication to promoting professional and ethical behavior, pursuit of fair and equitable regulations, prioritizing education and safety, and elevate the industry’s reputation while seeking global partnerships with similar organizations. Ultimately, the association aims “to promote confidence and growth in the chauffeured transportation industry across the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Member engagement was also a focal point of the day’s conversation. In order to reach out to prospective members or current ones who might be somewhat intimidated by bigger meetings, “breakout meetings” were suggested as a way to facilitate small-group conversation to ensure that every voice gets heard.

The executive board members were keen on ramping up VLA’s communication efforts, starting with a bimonthly newsletter that will aim to highlight a member and a vendor each month, as well as deliver some educational insight to recipients. Education itself was a broader conversation,

Of course, proactive external involvement is a crucial piece of the puzzle, too, and retreat attendees endeavored to explore ways to strengthen legislative relationships, craft speaking points for appealing to regulatory bodies and representatives, and determine members’ 2018 needs.

The next VLA member event will be the association’s December 4 holiday party.

Visit vla-limo.org for more information.

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Robust Showing at Southern Regional Motorcoach Association Meeting

The welcome dinner



The annual regional meeting of the Motorcoach Association of South Carolina, North Carolina Motorcoach Association, and Virginia Motorcoach Association was held in Blue Ridge Mountains of Roanoke, Va., this September 16-20. The Hotel Roanoke & Convention Center was the perfect host property for the several hundred motorcoach operators, vendors, and staff who joined the five-day event. It included individual association meetings; education sessions with representatives from insurance, the leading national bus associations American Bus Association (ABA) and United Motorcoach Association (UMA), and government agencies like the TSA; a Market Place of affiliate bus companies operating in the region; and up-close look at the latest motorcoaches on the market; tons of networking; and lots of opportunities to enjoy some downtime with fellow operators. Managing Editor Susan Rose was on hand for the weekend events.

Like our industry, motorcoach operators are highly collaborative and often work in many different states, and thanks to proximity and shared issues, the meeting of the three associations was the ideal chance for many affiliates to enjoy the company of old friends or meet new ones. The trio also share an administrator—Linda Morris—who did an amazing job leading the charge in uniting members for the event.

Because motorcoaches are regulated through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), all operators are facing the implementation of electronic logging devices (ELDs) by December 2017, and it was one of the hottest topics across all sessions of the event. According to Suzanne Rohde with ABA, all efforts to repeal or again postpone ELDs have failed. It was clear, however, that there were still a lot of lagging questions from those companies that haven’t yet installed the devices—and even more frustration from those who have.

L to R: Wilnette Morgan of Morgan & Sons, and Rhonda Moody, Gary Moody, and David Brown of Holiday Companies



Danielle Smith of the FMCSA also attended the conference and tried to clear any confusion regarding ELDs—with some success. ELDs were born out of the trucking industry and were applied to motorcoaches, which have very different methods of operation. She admits that some of the more nuanced issues will be resolved over time as they are brought to the attention of the agency and tried to allay any fears that operators may have. ELDs log to the second, so operators and drivers alike will have to be mindful of Hours of Service and break periods because even logging on several seconds too early restarts the eight-hour break clock.

ABA and UMA will continue to monitor the situation and will report on any changes or rule modifications.

Keith Johnson of Reston Limousine (left) and Bob ­Crescenzo of Lancer Insurance



Security was also a hot discussion topic as the use of larger vehicles have been linked to recent terrorist activities in Europe. According to Joe Lopez and Darryell Williams, both TSA inspectors for the Department of Homeland Security who spoke at the conference, because of the lockdown of airline safety, terrorists are looking for other ways to target multiple groups of people via trains, buses, and subways. Both Lopez and Williams offered suggestions for driver training, especially in how to handle the situation should an item be spotted, and encouraged all motorcoach operators to take these threats seriously. They stressed that it’s better to be safe than sorry when dealing with suspicious items, because the device is often triggered when it’s innocently opened by a well-meaning driver. Lopez and Williams also noted that operators are welcome to have assessments of their facility done by the TSA, which includes recommendations for training, tightening security, and best practices.

Despite the seriousness of the trending topics, the event overall was filled with warm Southern hospitality and sparked a lot of great conversation. As motorcoach companies are often family-owned operations passed down through the generations, the industry has benefited from that closeness.

It wasn’t all work and no play: Attendees had a chance to enjoy some fun-filled tours that were related to the area, including a Shop ‘Til You Drop and Downtown Food and Culture. There was also a golf outing and nightly dinners.
The 2018 MCASC-NCMA-VMA Regional Meeting is scheduled for August 8-12 in Greenville, S.C. Visit ncmotorcoach.org, scmotorcoach.org, or vamotorcoach.com for more information. [CD1117]

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TLPA Annual Convention Lays Groundwork for New Industry Vision

Newly elected TLPA President Mike Pinckard of Total Transit
Denver — When the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association’s (TLPA’s) 99th Annual Convention & Trade Show headed to Colorado October 8-12, it brought together decision-makers from fleets across the U.S. and around the world, all eager to learn about the industry’s latest innovations and best practices.

Under the theme “Celebrating 100 Years,” the convention featured three informative general sessions; 29 educational sessions on important topics affecting the industry; a robust trade show; the election of TLPA’s new president, officers and directors; and more. In addition to Premier Sponsor Autocab, the four-day event was made possible with the generous support of industry vendors, including Gold Sponsors Atlas Financial Holdings and Ford Motor Company; Silver Sponsors MTData, Paratransit Insurance Company, and Verifone; and Bronze Sponsors The Black Car Fund and Metro Transportation Planning & Solutions Group.

On the convention’s opening day, attendees braved Denver’s first snowfall of the season to participate in a tour of host operator Metro Transportation Planning & Solutions Group’s facility. The educational segment of the convention opened that afternoon with the ever-popular discussion groups covering diverse topics including independent contractor issues; marketing; contracting; responding to RFPs; hiring and retaining drivers and support staff; duty of care; becoming a TNC; and cost-cutting measures.

TLPA CEO Alfred LaGasse (left) accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award from Outgoing TLPA President Bill Scalzi
The Opening General Session on Tuesday afternoon featured outgoing President Bill Scalzi’s address, which included a look at TLPA’s accomplishments over the past year. These included significantly changing the membership dues structure, reducing costs, and increasing member benefits for operator members; developing Ride Local, a new marketing program for members; identifying and working on developing strategies to enable TLPA member operators to compete more effectively with TNCs; and in a surprise announcement, Scalzi presented the association’s CEO, Alfred LaGasse, TLPA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his 40 years of service to TLPA.

The convention also featured the election of officers and directors of the association in the coming year. The highlight was electing Mike Pinckard of Total Transit in Glendale, Ariz., to serve as TLPA president.

In his first remarks as president, Pinckard said, “We must begin the process of reshaping our vision for the future in a more inclusive and collaborative manner; in a manner that seizes the new and exciting opportunities before us, by blending the greatness of our past, with the innovations and excitement of the future.”

To that end, Pinckard outlined three key objectives during the coming year, including:

– Creating a new and inspirational strategic plan that provides the roadmap to the future of TLPA;

– Focusing on a new structure for TLPA that better serves its members, including improved conferences and meetings, more powerful research and analysis, and laser-focused government relations; and

– Launching a comprehensive brand review designed to re-define TLPA’s image and re-position the association to operate in a more inclusive and collaborative manner.

Pinckard concluded by stating, “I’m truly honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve as president of the TLPA, and I look forward to working with all of you, as we work together to shape the next phase in the evolution of this great industry.”

Planning is already underway for the Spring Conference & Expo in Oklahoma City from April 10-13, 2018, as well as for the grand celebration of TLPA’s 100th Annual Convention & Trade Show, October 26-30, 2018, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Visit tlpa.org for more information.

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MLOA Meeting Offers Education, Opportunities

MLOA President Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation
Orlando — Even after the late-night suite party it hosted, the Minority Limousine Operators of America (MLOA) welcomed more than 80 attendees to its October 24 breakfast meeting—one of the most well-attended in-person meetings of the far-flung association to date.

MLOA President Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation began the meeting by discussing the increased educational opportunities the association has been offering its members by the way of webinars and programs, as well as other benefits of membership and a summation of the MLOA’s past year in highlights.

The MLOA’s executive board
Making good on the MLOA’s promise to deliver relevant, in-demand information, the meeting featured Keynote Speakers Daniel Selby of Daniel Selby PLLC and Randel Holmes of Delta Airlines.

Selby, an accountant, gave those in attendance an interactive session on “the business of tax.” Along with discussing mergers and acquisitions, he dispelled the double-taxation myth as it relates to profits being taxed at both the corporation and individual levels. He also helped demystify heady topics like alternative tax triggers, as well as explained how to scale one’s business for pro-activity.

Members of Chosen Payments presented Brewster with the MLOA’s rebate check
MLOA 1st Vice President Darrell Anderson of A-National Limousine was credited for introducing Holmes to the association—and sidestepping an offer for his company to handle a global contract for Delta by opening it up to all MLOA members in good standing instead.

Holmes discussed that business opportunity, as well as how to make the most of corporate philosophies for companies aiming “to make their suppliers and employees as diverse as their customers.” He also examined the mechanics of RFP submissions by using examples of the newly launched Delta A320 plane and what those 11-13 crew members expect from their dedicated ground transportation providers.

The October 24 meeting was one of the MLOA’s best-attended events in association history
At the end of the meeting, Brewster acknowledged the many meeting sponsors and the MLOA advisory board of vendors, reiterating that the latter’s knowledge and former’s support make providing the education that members demand possible.

Chosen Payments ended the meeting on a high note by presenting Brewster with a rebate check for $1,656.47.

The next MLOA meeting will be its November 29 conference call.

Visit mlooa.org for more information.

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