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Members of the HALCA board (L to R): David Dillon of Carey Houston, President Wes Hart of American Corporate Transportation, Linda Pomerleau of Gulf Coast Limousine Services, Kevin Claypool of Atlas Limousines, and Lauren Barrash of The Wave
Houston — More than 80 members and supporters of the Houston Area Livery & Charter Association (HALCA)—including Chauffeur Driven’s Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela—convened for the association’s July 21 meeting, which was chock-full of guest speakers and local updates.
As Houston will be electing and re-electing its city council in November, HALCA President Wes Hart of American Corporate Transportation kicked off the evening meeting by introducing four current council members and one hopeful, all of whom had an opportunity to speak later in the meeting.
Jagiela spoke about CD’s immersion in the industry as well as the upcoming Miami show in October. He also discussed how Chauffeur Driven’s presence at meetings across the country has given the staff an opportunity to witness firsthand the regionally unique and nationally unifying issues, regulations, and solutions—an exposure allowing for a widely reaching perspective that can be shared with operators nationwide.
Hart, who attended NLA’s Day on the Hill in June, then discussed his positive experience at the annual legislative days. He relayed how walking the Capitol halls yielded several promising meetings with elected officials, wherein the primary topics discussed were Code 179 (especially in regard to the 2015 limit reduction) and how the Department of Labor needs to protect TNC drivers under the auspices of employee rights rather than the current IO model. A particularly successful meeting with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who indicated her support of the industry’s concerns, prompted the suggestion that HALCA should draft a letter to further engage her in the issues.
HALCA’s Immediate Past President Erich Reindl of Avanti Transportation and Richard Mishriky of CTI Transportation
David Dillon of Carey Houston explained his involvement with and role in the Chapter 46 ADA Task Force, which deals with the possible introduction of accessibility requirements to a percentage of each operators’ fleets. Dillon has been working with the group to explain the financial and insurance-related ramifications that each company could face, which would be especially crippling for the city’s many small operators. He has also been exploring alternative avenues to introduce an accessibility compromise. Additionally, Dillon provided updates on how Houston is aiming for a fourth-quarter proposal to city council regarding these issues, for which neither the taxi industry nor Uber—the only TNC currently operating in the city—have ventured any input.
The four city council candidates—incumbent councilmen Michael Kubosh, Mike Laster, and Robert Gallegos, as well as hopeful Lane Lewis—then addressed the audience. Each candidate introduced himself, offered support to the industry, and extended the invitation to hold meetings with any operator who has transportation concerns by emphasizing an election official’s obligation to be accessible to those they represent. Many HALCA members seized the opportunity to vocalize their issues not only with uneven playing field TNCs are creating but also the city’s demand that traditional operators divulge proprietary business information via revenue reports.
Visit houstonlimos.info for more information.
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The TLPA held its conference at the Hyatt Regency
Maui Resort and Spa
Maui, Hawaii — Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA) President Mike Fogarty of Tristar Worldwide ran a successful Mid-Year International Leadership Conference July 15-18, which hosted about 80 participants. This year’s conference focused on the ever-growing TNC segment of the ground transportation industry.
International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) President Matt Daus of Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf provided a litigation update. He discussed: California Labor Commission’s ruling that an Uber driver is an employee and not an independent contractor; cases in which TNCs are being challenged for not meeting Americans With Disability Act requirements; hybrid personal/commercial insurance policies for TNC drivers; and “One Standard for All,” his co-authored report saying a national fingerprint-based background check has a 1-percent error rate while name-based checks have error rates up to 43 times greater.
A panel of operators and a state lobbyist reviewed what has worked in opposing state-level Uber-sponsored legislation. They agreed that lobbyists must be retained, new allies are often friendlier toward arguments supporting public-safety regulations, gathering data on Uber and the rest of the for-hire transportation industry is an important step, and level-playing-field and public-safety messages are what resonate best with lawmakers.
John Boit, president of TLPA’s public relations representative Melwood Global, gave an update on TLPA’s Who’s Driving You? campaign, citing a Washington Post article that said TLPA “has been Uber’s primary lobbying foe at the national level.” He reviewed how Uber’s positive sentiment index has dropped from 52.76 percent in December 2012—just before the initiative’s launch—to 31.93 percent in December 2013, and then 6.39 percent in December 2014. This decline is due to many factors, but the campaign’s role was a significant one.
TLPA President Mike Fogarty
Paul Miller, CEO of TLPA’s legislative counsel Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies, delivered the conference’s federal legislative battle update. TLPA urges Congress to let each state develop regulations for the for-hire transportation industry, including TNCs. He noted the employee-versus-independent-contractor issue is a presidential-election topic and the subject of a U.S. Department of Labor policy statement. Miller also said that the commerce committees will likely hold hearings on the sharing economy soon, and the labor and tax-writing committees may address worker status in that economy. He recommended an action plan—and boldness.
The final panel focused on retooling technology and operating models. Two operations presentations focused on how better, less expensive technology combined with operational changes and targeted marketing can grow market share while reducing wait times. IT Curves and MTData, technology vendors recently certified by Global Taxi Network, reviewed how apps work with licensed for-hire transportation companies to improve service. While industry apps enable passengers to order vehicles, track their movements, and automatically pay by credit card, they also allow passengers to make advance reservations, pay by cash, and avoid surge pricing.
TLPA’s board met for more than five hours, debating and adopting both strategies and work programs to continue the public-safety and level-playing-field fight and support innovative approaches to retooling technology and service-delivery models.
“I think it is fair to say that everyone left this meeting feeling better informed, optimistic, and reenergized,” Fogarty said. “For the latest information on not just surviving but thriving in the post-TNC environment, everyone should attend our Annual Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas this October 26-30.”
Visit tlpa.org for more information.
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Nashville — The first-ever Chauffeur Driven Executive Retreat took Music City and the Omni Nashville Hotel by storm June 22-24, delivering high-quality education and citywide entertainment in equal measures—much to the resounding delight and benefit of our 200 attendees. Many thanks to Platinum Sponsors Turtle Top and The Tenney Group, and to all of our generous Gold, Silver, and Affiliate sponsors for their help in making this tight-knit event not only possible but also a success.
“The Nashville Retreat was the best gathering I have attended in years,” said Terry Cox of Worldwide Transportation in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. “The limited number of attendees allowed for closer mingling, targeting specific subjects, and getting deeper insight into common issues and opportunities—not to mention an openness and understanding of who a person is and what their company culture and values are.”
The inaugural retreat kicked off with a workshop from recruiting and employee management expert Kristen Carroll of The LMC Group. With a focus on “Creating Demand for Top Talent,” Carroll provided insight into not only finding and retaining a top-notch staff but also enhancing one’s own leadership skills. Much of the session was devoted to the chauffeur position as a key role in any operation, highlighting why TNCs keep attracting drivers and how luxury chauffeured ground transportation can emulate that appeal honestly and to everyone’s benefit.
“The educational programs exceeded my expectations, with a great presentation from Kristen Carroll and the ideas associated with hiring top talent,” said Ed Kahakauwila of L.A. Limousines & Transportation Services in Victoria, British Columbia.
Monday evening took full advantage of the seamless integration between the Omni and The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, as our Welcome Reception in the museum’s conservatory brought everyone together before the private tour of the CMHOF Museum began. After a whirlwind trek into country music’s past and a few showcases highlighting its present superstars, the cocktail reception and BBQ dinner back at the conservatory made for a satisfying prelude to the evening’s highlight: a private concert where singer/songwriter Phil Vassar rocked the intimate Ford Theater with original tunes and familiar covers alike. The amiable musician followed up his energetic set with a meet and greet punctuated by friendly conversation, a flurry of autographs, and oodles of photo opps.
“Phil Vassar’s concert was one of those “once in a lifetime” moments and a great experience,” said Scott Woodruff of Majestic Limousine & Coach in West Des Moines, Iowa.
The next day saw two eye-opening, world-class presentations with Jennifer Blackmon of The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center, “Leadership & Employee Engagement” and “Memorable Customer Service.” Blackmon discussed the connection between fostering a respectful—and respected—staff and delivering a personalized customer experience that goes far beyond your clients’ needs, whether they’re explicitly expressed or not.
“The energy created by Jennifer Blackmon from The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center had the ballroom buzzing,” said Ron Stein of Exclusive Sedan Service in North Hollywood, Calif. “Her passion for both the "Leadership & Employee Engagement" and "Memorable Customer Service" seminars came home with us—in fact, we can't stop thinking about them.”
Two very different tours were on the agenda for Tuesday: First up was a bus tour of the city that brought many retreat-goers face-to-face with the ways Nashville’s history complements its modern flare. Once the buses—provided by Signature Transportation and Grand Avenue Worldwide--passed through the city streets surrounding the Omni, there were plenty of chances to see period architecture abutting modern high-rises, hear about how the Cumberland River has influenced the city as the road hugged its banks, learn how the old automotive factory at Marathon Village is now home to a range of contemporary businesses, and catch a glimpse of everything from government buildings to art installations to a full-scale Parthenon replica to the music industry’s beating heart at many Music Row mainstays.
It was then off to the evening’s honky-tonk crawl along Broadway, where spirits were flowing as freely as the live music and lively conversation. With stops at The Stage, Legends Corner, The Second Fiddle, and Silver Dollar Saloon (plus a few improvised visits to other watering holes along our route), the good times rolled on well past midnight.
“The nightlife was fun, and it was so great that almost everyone was together on Broadway,” said Brianna Candeub of Park Avenue Limousine in Trevose, Pa.
Frank Rosenbaum of Global Business Strategies closed out the educational portion of the retreat with his workshop on “Maintaining Your Financial Edge in the Chauffeur Driven Industry.” Drawing on his experience with the ground transportation industry, Rosenbaum discussed the ways a company can develop financial solutions while charting its own roadmap to overall increased value.
“There were great speakers presenting interesting, entertaining, and very useful information—even Frank Rosenbaum's presentation on a hard topic to cover kept my attention, and I learned a lot from it,” said Barbara White of VIP Transportation Group Executive Chauffeured Transportation Services in Orlando, Fla.
We ended the Executive Retreat with a visit to Lynchburg, home of the Jack Daniel’s Distillery. Each group got to spend some time in the historically evocative center of town and see the whiskey-making process up close at the distillery’s sprawling property.
“The Jack Daniel’s tour was phenomenal: I am now a whiskey connoisseur!” said Tracy Raimer of Your Private Limousine in Chicago, Ill.
We’re hard at work finalizing the plans for next year’s retreat in New Orleans, as well as making sure October’s Miami Beach show brings you all the best education and most exciting entertainment you’ve come to expect from Chauffeur Driven’s events. Check out our August issue for complete coverage of and loads of photos from our first-ever Executive Retreat—and with less than 100 days until Miami, don’t forget to check out chauffeurdrivenshow.com for the most up-to-date information about the industry’s most-anticipated show of the year.
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