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The American Bus Association (ABA) is reporting that they have partnered with several other associations in the bus space to support and fundraise for the communities that were impacted by the recent hurricanes Helene and Milton. According to the press release, ABA, Maryland Motorcoach Association (MMA), Tennessee Motor Coach Association (TMCA), and Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA) have joined forces to pledge $25,000 to these impacted areas in the Southeast.
The funds will be distributed to Mountain Ways, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with local nonprofits and government officials to ensure assistance reaches the region’s most impacted by flooding, according to the press release. The organization works directly with those affected to provide food, water, temporary shelter, and other essentials.
“At the Student & Youth Travel Association, we believe in the power of coming together to support communities in need,” said SYTA CEO Carylann Assante. “The devastation caused by recent hurricanes has impacted countless families, and we want to help rebuild and restore the communities. By coming together with other leading group travel organizations, we can make a difference and help ensure a brighter future for all those affected by these disasters.”
“The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene is heartbreaking, and TMCA believes that it’s our responsibility to support the victims of Hurricane Helene during this difficult time,” said TMCA President Jackie Denney. Our recent donation aims to provide relief and assistance to those affected by the hurricane, offering hope and help in the face of adversity to those affected in some small way. Of course, we can only do so because of the years of support we have received from our many members. Our prayers go out to all those affected by Hurricane Helene.”
“The American Bus Association is proud to support hurricane relief efforts in the Southeast, standing with the communities that have been severely impacted,” said ABA President & CEO Fred Ferguson. “Our industry is deeply connected to the regions we serve, and when disaster strikes, it’s vital that we step up to help. This donation reflects our commitment to the well-being of the people and businesses that rely on safe, reliable transportation. Together, we can play a part in the recovery and rebuilding efforts, helping these communities return stronger than ever.”
“MMA has chosen to combine our resources with other associations to significantly impact those affected by Hurricane Helene,” said MMA President Timothy Wilson. “Our goal is to donate to Mountain Ways through this collaborative effort and come to the aid of the victims in this time of need. We stand in unity and pray for all those affected and all those lending helping hands across the states of North Carolina and Tennessee.”
To help with the ongoing efforts, donations can be made to mtnways.org.
[10.29.24]
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There’s a big election happening next week, and we’re not just talking about the presidential contest. The National Limousine Association (NLA) plans to open their elections for six board seats to members in good standing this coming Monday, November 4, through Wednesday, November 6, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Information about voting will be sent to members via email.
The candidates for the 2025-2028 term are:
- At-Large (one open seat): Jamisha Ascue-Breland of Amaren Transportation & Management, Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation, Larry Janowitz of Larry’s Private Car, Jason Kaplan of The Driver Provider, Tom Sturdivant of Sedans on Demand, and Scott Woodruff of Majestic Limo & Coach
- Central (one open seat): Karl Guenther of Statement Limousine
- Northeast (one open seat): Joe Gulino of Gem Worldwide Ground Transportation and Shariff McMichael of Dav El/BostonCoach
- West (one open seat): Moe Bouayad of Crown Worldwide Transportation and Kevin Illingworth of Classique Worldwide Transportation
- International (one open seat): Karim Maachi of Cardel Global
- Canadian (one open seat): Kyara Kahakauwila of L.A. Limousines
To help members learn more about the candidates and their positions, the association recently hosted a Facebook live. The 45-minute video can be viewed here.
For more information about the election or assistance with voting, email info@limo.org or visit limo.org.
[10.29.24]
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Driving Transactions founder Ken Lucci and PAX Training President James Blain are taking industry education to a new level with the debut of their Ground Transportation Podcast. With the goal of helping transportation operators achieve financial health and success, the duo draws on their years—and sometimes decades—of experience operating their own businesses and direct daily interactions with operators, as well as wisdom from industry leaders.
Lucci, who runs the financial and M&A firm Driving Transactions, is a longtime industry consultant and a devoted student of financial metrics and business valuations. Using data compiled from more than 250 industry companies across the spectrum of revenue streams, he says that he has identified the patterns and problems organizations in our space share that make it difficult to turn a profit.
“When you're in a business that only drops 10 percent of every dollar to the bottom line, to the net profit, you're going to manage all the dollars, nickels, and quarters,” Lucci said during the inaugural episode of the podcast. “You have to take a holistic view of the business to know where we are missing things, and you and I both see the same issues,” he says referring to Blain. On top of escalating costs of insurance and labor, the pair sees quality of service waning, or at least inconsistent, for many companies.
“If the meal that's being put on the table is supposed to be a five-star experience but is now borderlining on two or three, profitability is going to suffer,” he added.
Blain, who has just under a decade of experience in the industry, also works with operators across the country through PAX, which offers numerous courses that home in on profitability through safety and service training at every level of the organization. In addition to the basics of transportation, PAX modules encourage a culture of service that differentiates luxury transportation from other budget modes of transportation. Additional courses explore vehicle maintenance, hiring, procedures for specialty vehicles, office positions like dispatch and reservations, and even an Entry-Level Driving Training Program.
“You can't get to actually provide a luxury experience if you can't nail that fundamental part of it, and that goes all throughout the business. If you don't have the fundamentals of your financials in place, you can't grow there,” said Blain during the introductory episode.
Using a blend of humor and practical, battle-tested advice, Blain and Lucci also want to help company owners recognize the components beyond the profit and loss sheets that impact revenue, including the evolution of the industry, fierce competition of low-cost providers, and the retention of skilled talent as labor costs soar.
There are five episodes currently available, including interviews with Bruce Heinrich of LEADER Worldwide (and founder of PAX Training), Adam Warner of inDrive, and NLA/NELA President Brett Barenholtz of Above All/Maine Limousine. On October 30, their interview with Mike Marroccoli of EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants addressing how you can manage the rising insurance costs will be released. The show plans to post episodes weekly.
Visit groundtransportationpodcast.com to listen to episodes for free and for more information.
[10.29.24]