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GVL&TOA President Edison Kahakauwila of L.A. Limousines Victoria, British Columbia — While the Greater Victoria Limousine and Tour Operators Association (GVL&TOA) became a formalized group in February, the association has gone through an array of identities and focused on numerous industry issues since it began meeting in 2002.
As the British Columbia Livery Association, the organization’s original focus was on combating the provincial government’s deregulation of the entire transportation sector. The association’s previous incarnations were largely successful in their mission, according to GVL&TOA President Edison Kahakauwila of L.A. Limousines, who also spearheaded the earlier associations, which wound down in 2006.
In the time since, both the Greater Victoria area’s and the transportation industry’s issues have changed, and the newly formalized GVL&TOA aims to continue addressing the concerns it’s been tackling as an informal group since 2008—with both a ground transportation company’s and tour operator’s needs in mind.
“This new association is more focused on today’s issues, where local governance is of greater concern and now encompasses a broader role in the transportation services industry,” Kahakauwila said. “Another role of the association will be assisting in directing profit centers to our members by actively being involved in big-picture environments like the cruise line, conference, and airport industries. With a majority of operators being small, membership will give them a real sense of involvement that will ultimately improve the product and services provided.”
Currently representing 12 companies and with others expressing interest in joining the association, GVL&TOA represents the varied mix of owner/operators, tour operators, and full transportation companies serving the Greater Victoria region.
“When I went through the process of creating this association, I looked at our diverse reality,” Kahakauwila said. “The “limousine” part represents the fundamental basis of one segment of the tour industry. The other part was tour operators, and a lot of tour operators are ground-transportation-based—in fact, a majority of them are. So it was important to get that in there so the people who are in the industry part-time were still recognized as being involved in the greater industry.”
By becoming a formalized group, Kahakauwila hopes that GVL&TOA can be an instrument of education for industry operators and regulators alike.
“If you deal with an association, you’re talking to maybe two people who represent a group’s best interest. But if you’re dealing with lots of independent people, you suddenly have 15 or 20 people who don’t understand how you’re trying to help them,” he said. “If I’m talking for a group, I can make sure that the key commonality is education: educating those who legislate us, educating people in the business, educating the people who are running our cars. That way, they understand what we’re doing and why these rules exist.”
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CD’s Industry and Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela
Marlton, N.J. — Chauffeur Driven has hired industry veteran Philip Jagiela as its Industry and Brand Ambassador.
Jagiela comes to CD with more than three decades of experience in a range of roles throughout the industry. In addition to having run his own chauffeured transportation company, he has served as the longtime president of Philadelphia Regional Limousine Association (PRLA) and was the NLA’s executive director for more than two years.
As CD’s Industry and Brand Ambassador, Jagiela will be traveling the country to attend association meetings, speaking to and being a resource for regional and statewide associations, their members, and their leadership. He will provide firsthand insight on an array of relevant topics, ranging from the fight against TNCs, fostering industry unity, building membership within each association, and working with regulators, airports, and politicians.
“I’m excited to be joining the CD team in this position,” Jagiela said. “I believe it will give a greater depth of service to local, state, and regional associations and what they need.”
The newly established position draws on Jagiela’s rich history in the industry, and will benefit from his wide perspective as an operator, association leader, and management professional. Having owned and run Aries Transportation Group for nearly 25 years, he also served on the PRLA board in various capacities before becoming president of the association. It was during his tenure as PRLA’s president that the NLA contracted him as its Legislative Liaison for State and Local issues, which is a role he held for four years before being named executive director.
“We welcome Philip to the Chauffeur Driven family and are excited that he became available,” said CD President and Publisher Chris Weiss. “With Philip’s vast knowledge as an operator and association leader, he will be valuable asset to both associations and the industry at large.”
In addition to joining the CD team, Jagiela has recently taken on the role of executive director for both Florida Limousine Association and Long Island Limousine Association; he also has founded PALM Association Management and Consulting, which will assist the for-hire transportation industry’s regional organizations with their logistical needs.
Any associations interested in having Jagiela speak at their meetings can send an email to chris@chauffeurdriven.com.
Jagiela can be reached at philip@chauffeurdriven.com.
[CD0315]
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CD’s Director of Events Lori Battista
Marlton, N.J. — Lori Battista brings more than 15 years of experience in planning meetings and events for an array of industries to Chauffeur Driven’s newly established Director of Events position.
Battista earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in hospitality management at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Over the course of her career, she has worked for companies such as Cardinal Health, Lowenstein Sandler, BMW of North America, and Greystar, and has managed events for the hospitality, legal, and medical communications industries.
Having spent two years at BMW of North America, where she planned the four-day National Aftersales Conference and trade show for more than 2,000 participants, Battista comes to Chauffeur Driven with previous experience in the automotive industry.
“My varied events industry experience will be a great match for the Chauffeur Driven Show as we head to Miami and other premier destinations, as well as the growth of CD’s events department—beginning with the development of our first-ever Executive Retreat in Nashville,” Battista said. “I look forward to marrying the growth and innovation that accompany change with good, old-fashioned customer service.”
She also looks forward to applying her diverse background to this new position, and values the opportunity to be a part of CD’s longstanding relationship with the industry.
“We are delighted to have Lori on board and excited about what she brings to the Chauffeur Driven team,” said CD President and Publisher Chris Weiss. “Lori’s professionalism, drive, and attention to detail will enable her to jump right in and hit the ground running.”
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