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(L to R): Brian Whitaker of Chicagoland Transportation Solutions, ILA Director Travis Latham of Fellowship Fleet Limousine and Bus Company, Muhammad Bhatti of Limo Corp of Chicago, Andrew Armitage of Vintage Chauffeuring, Julian Enescu of Inter-Continental Limo Services, and ILA Vice President Greg Eggan of O’Hare-Midway Limousine Service
Springfield, Ill. — On April 21, six members of the Illinois Limousine Association (ILA) headed to the state capital in Springfield for its first-ever Day on the Hill—which, according to ILA member Brian Whitaker of Chicagoland Transportation Solutions, was a success and had members speaking with “more than 10 representatives and several people in the Secretary of State’s office.”
Those attending the legislative event rode together in a Sprinter supplied by Julian Enescu of Inter-Continental Limo Services, which gave them the opportunity to plan the day and prioritize the representatives they would arrange meetings with.
“The main purpose of this visit was to make introductions to (the representatives) we have not met with in person at their local offices and to refresh our relationships with the ones we had met in office,” Whitaker said. “This was a chance to introduce them to the Illinois Limousine Association, talk about the size of our membership, ask them to use us as a resource tool in deciding on future passenger transportation legislation, and if they asked, make them aware of our stance on TNCs. We succeeded in doing just that.”
ILA members were able to attend both Transportation Committee meetings held during the day and a Tour and Convention Committee meeting, as well as the House General Session that afternoon.
“This was more of an educational trip than anything,” said Whitaker. “We wanted to experience firsthand how our state government operates in Springfield and to make them aware that we are there for them if they have questions about our industry. In this aspect, I feel that we accomplished our goal and we will continue to enhance these relationships as time goes on.”
On the heels of a successful inaugural event, ILA’s plans are to continue making longer visits with legislators at their district offices.
The next ILA event will be its annual spring meeting, which is scheduled for May 20. The meeting will include updates on wage and hour issues, Department of Transportation audits, the Olive-Harvey College chauffeur training program, the operational considerations of employee and independent contractor models, updates from Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection, and a presentation from CD’s Publisher Chris Weiss.
Visit illinoislimousineassociation.com for more information.
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L to R: Judy Cowen of Carey Denver & Corporate GT Denver, Mary Norby of Carey Denver, John Hafer of A Custom Coach Diamond Limousine, Nikko and Franci Ouzounis of White Dove Limousine, Shane Stickel of Presidential Worldwide Transportation, Adam Paul of Colorado Corporate Car, and CD Industry & Brand Ambassador/CLA’s new Executive Director Philip Jagiela
Denver — Over 20 members joined the April 21 meeting of the Colorado Limousine Association (CLA), where association, industry, and regional topics were on the agenda. CD’s Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela was present for the evening meeting.
After CLA dispensed with monetary issues pertaining to an NLA refund check and a sponsorship donation from local dealership Sill-TerHar Motors, Denver International Airport (DEN) representative Mike Percy spoke about the airport’s new construction projects, as well as commercial parking’s staging areas. The completed project allowed for the addition of a second lane and new spaces. Dwell time had originally been reduced from 15 minutes to 10, but a request from CLA’s advisory board had the original period reinstated.
TNCs’ airport privileges were also up for discussion, especially regarding how they differ from those extended to traditional commercial vehicles; for example, TNCs and their drivers are not allowed any dwell time and must be registered with DEN. The airport has already begun issuing fines to those who fail to recognize regulations, as well as holding meetings with TNC representatives to make them aware of the consequences accompanying a failure to follow the rules, such as additional fines and vehicle impoundment.
Philip Jagiela (left) and Dianne Cavender of DDG Classic Limousines, who won a pass to Chauffeur Driven’s Miami show
The association also addressed its search for a new executive director at the meeting, and later hired Jagiela for the position.
“We are excited to have Philip on board,” said CLA President Shane Stickel of Presidential Limousine. “His industry and association experience will give us the advantage of having a professional manager running our organization. With the challenges our industry is facing with unregulated app technology, our board will have more time to focus on these rather than the day-to-day running of our association.”
Jagiela raffled off a pass to Chauffeur Driven’s Miami show, which was won by Dianne Cavender of DDG Classic Limousines.
CLA’s next meeting is scheduled for June 16, and the association invites all members to send Secretary Nikko Ouzounis of White Dove Limousine any items they would like to see included in future meeting discussions.
Visit cololimo.org for more information.
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At the LAXPD station, GCLA President Kevin Illingworth of Classique Worldwide Transportation (third from right) hands a check to officer Mike Dear, who, along with Police Chief Patrick Gannon (not pictured) represented the department at the annual Police Unity Tour
Los Angeles — When the Police Unity Tour kicked off May 9, members of the Los Angeles Airport Police Department (LAXPD) were among the throng of police officers who came from all over the nation to make the 400-mile bike ride from New Jersey to Washington, D.C.—with the support of the Greater California Limousine Association (GCLA).
Since 1997, the annual event has been honoring officers across the country who were lost in the line of duty but this is the first year that GCLA was asked to participate, a testament to its increasingly positive relationship with the LAXPD that has been the fortunate offshoot of attempts to curb TNC activity at the airport.
“LAX is ensuring that TNCs aren’t doing pickups at the airport right now,” said GCLA Director Matt Strack of Strack Premier Transportation. “We’ve been dealing with a lot of issues at LAX with the TNCs. From that, we’ve developed a partnership with the LAX Airport Police: They have our best interests in mind, and it’s how we’ve become friendly with some officers on the force.”
GCLA donated $500 to demonstrate its continued support of and gratitude for LAXPD and its efforts to uphold TNC rules, as Strack said that “a lot of other airports in the area are not enforcing the agreement.” As the Police Unity Tour raises funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the added benefit of contributing to a worthwhile charity made GCLA’s decision to help out the LAXPD an easy one.
“We want to take care of the LAX airport police,” Strack said. “When they asked us to sponsor them, we certainly did. We like the cause, we enjoy working with them, and we have a friendly rapport with them.”
Strack added that GCLA “will definitely consider” making a donation to the Police Unity Tour each year if the airport’s police department continues to participate in the charity ride.
“We enjoy the relationship we have with the LAX airport police and the fact that they’re enforcing the rules,” he said. “We appreciate their work on the matter and we want to support them.”
Visit policeunitytour.com to learn more about the annual bike ride and gcla.org for more information about the GCLA.
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