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Mike Fogarty (left), President of the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA), and Bill Rouse, President of the Taxicab Paratransit Association of California (TPAC), presented a united message at the TLPA Spring Conference & Expo and TPAC Annual Convention San Diego — The Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association’s (TLPA’s) fourth largest Spring Conference & Expo was held in San Diego, Calif., April 29 through May 2. TLPA President Mike Fogarty of Tristar Worldwide welcomed 366 attendees, including fleet operators, exhibitors, industry experts, and members of the Taxicab Paratransit Association of California (TPAC), which held its Annual Convention in conjunction with TLPA’s meeting.
On the first morning of the event, the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Foundation met to discuss its key initiatives: Transportation On Patrol—a “neighborhood watch on wheels” program that utilizes locally operating taxis, limousines, and paratransit vehicles to serve as additional eyes and ears for the communities they patrol—and its History Video project, which is recording an oral history of the for-hire vehicle industry. That afternoon, the Taxicab and Paratransit Steering committees held open meetings to discuss issues and concerns to be addressed by TLPA during the remainder of 2015, including topics to present at TLPA’s Annual Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas. The opening cocktail reception was held in the exhibit hall later that evening.
After a buffet breakfast in the exhibit hall the next day, attendees were treated to six educational sessions: Why Transportation Bookers Stay and/or Leave a Limousine Network; How to Prepare and Conduct a Paratransit Safety Meeting; Complying with the Affordable Care Act; Taxi Regulatory Reforms Needed to Compete with TNCs; Paratransit Driver Safety Meeting Demonstration; and Public Relations Response to TNCs.
Thursday was also the day the exhibit hall opened, and visiting vendors were available to discuss the exciting new products and services on display. After lunch, the Limousine Steering and the Women in Transportation committees held open meetings to both set their work agendas and select topics for presentation at TLPA’s Annual Convention & Trade Show this fall.
Attendees visited vendors to discuss the exciting new products and services on display in the exhibit hall During the General Session, which was held Thursday afternoon, Fogarty welcomed attendees by stating, “TLPA is the world leader in fighting Uber.” He added that he could not emphasize enough the importance of addressing our industry’s image, and stated how imperative it is to “reach the people not in this room.” He said each attendee should leave the conference determined to improve one thing in his or her operation and service delivery.
TPAC President Bill Rouse also addressed attendees and introduced the keynote speaker, California State Senator Ben Hueso. Senator Hueso, who grew up in the taxicab business in San Diego, called for a level playing field, stressing how unfair it is to have heavily regulated operators competing with new lightly regulated companies that are providing the same service.
The next TLPA event is its 97th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nev., which will be held October 26-30.
Visit tlpa.org for more information.
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L to R: Jennifer Wong of DriveProfit, Chauffeur Driven Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela, and Arthur Messina of Create-A-Card West Orange, N.J. — When the Limousine Association of New Jersey (LANJ) held its May 13 meeting at The Wilshire Grand Hotel, the house was packed with state operators and supporters who came out for a day that included a slate of guest speakers, recognition of longtime board members, and the annual auction that is LANJ’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Chauffeur Driven’s Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela and Editor Madeleine Maccar were present at the event.
LANJ President Jeff Shanker of A-1 Limousine kicked off the meeting by welcoming and thanking everyone in attendance. He also presented both LANJ’s Immediate Past President Jim Moseley of Trip Tracker and LANJ Director Barbara Chirico of Gem Limousine Worldwide with tokens of the association’s appreciation, speaking of how far LANJ has come in recent years because of its members’ dedication.
Newly installed NLA Executive Director Sarah Gazi also spoke at the meeting, as both she and NLA Deputy Executive Director Kyle Hammerschmidt presented LANJ with a rebate check.
Assemblyman Joseph Lagana, who is the primary sponsor of AB-3765, was the meeting’s keynote speaker. When the Assembly Transportation Committee passed the bill in March, LANJ had opposed it for not addressing all areas of the association’s TNC safety concerns; however, members of the association have been working with Lagana to revise the bill before it goes to the Senate, and he has expressed his concern for the public-safety threats that arise from TNCs’ lax regulations.
L to R: LANJ President Jeff Shanker of A-1 Limousine, Assemblyman Joseph Lagana, and LANJ First Vice President Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Chauffeured Services Worldwide “I wouldn’t even put my name on the bill if it didn’t have an insurance trolling period,” Lagana said, referring to the “app-off” times when a TNC driver might otherwise not be covered. “Each day that passes, people are at risk.”
The auction raised more than $10,000 for LANJ, and a number of CD donations were among the items up for grabs: Barry Trabb of Complete Fleet won a full-page ad; Bob Schiavo of Albert’s Transportation won the South Jersey Affiliate Central ad; Cabot Smith of Royale Limousine won an e-blast; Arthur Messina of Create-A-Card won a pass to next month’s Executive Retreat in Nashville; and Karen Gajda of Country Club Transportation Services won two passes to the Miami Show this October.
LANJ’s next general meeting is scheduled for September 16.
Visit lanj.org for more information.
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FLA’s May 27 meeting will be held at Loews Miami Beach Hotel
Miami Beach, Fla. — The Florida Limousine Association (FLA) will be holding a free meeting open to all industry members and vendors May 27 at Loews Miami Beach Hotel. Chauffeur Driven will be sponsoring the event.
This must-attend meeting will provide insight into a variety of topics delivered by speakers representing many facets of the industry.
FLA’s Executive Director and CD Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela will kick off the meeting by discussing sponsorship programs he’s developing, plans for the association’s website, and more regarding both the recent successes and future goals of Florida operators. Chauffeur Driven Publisher Chris Weiss will also be speaking at the meeting, providing a national perspective of the industry and highlighting how operators are flourishing both locally and across the country.
FLA President Rick Versace of A1A Airport & Limousine Service
Rick Versace of A1A Airport & Limousine Service, the association’s president, will present What Has the FLA Done for Me Lately?, an overview of the legislative battles that FLA and its supporters have been fighting at both state and county levels. With Uber attempting to circumvent operational licensing on a county-by-county basis by appealing for a statewide law, the Florida market has taken its TNC fight to Tallahassee, the state capital, again and again. It has also hired Sachs Media Group to serve as its PR team.
As TNCs have highlighted the public demand for and interest in applying app technology to the industry, FLA has helped develop miRide, which allows clients of luxury ground transportation operators the ability to make their reservations with either their preferred company or, in the case of the on-demand option, with the closest vehicle available. The app is slated to roll out across Florida before connecting national operators who wish to be included in its network. Representatives from miRide will be on hand at the meeting to discuss the app, its integration, and its marketing.
Mike Marroccoli of The Capacity Group will be providing an overview of the STOP program with a PowerPoint presentation about its user-friendly online courses that certify all chauffeurs who successfully complete the program.
Those who wish to attend tomorrow’s meeting can still RSVP by emailing Philip Jagiela at philip@palmamc.com
Visit floridalimousine.com for more information.
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