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Neil Goodman of Aventura Worldwide (1947-2019)
Neil Goodman, managing partner and founder of Aventura Worldwide in Aventura, Florida, passed away on November 18 after a short battle with cancer. Nearly 300 friends, family, and members of the industry were present when he was laid to rest yesterday in Florida.
“It was a very sad day, but there were lots of good stories shared about ‘The Godfather’ as we called him. He was a terrific guy with a huge personality, and above all, a great friend to so many people. We are all stunned at the sudden and unexpected loss of our dear friend,” said Dawson Rutter of Commonwealth Worldwide.
Goodman was a fixture in the industry for years, although it was happenstance that he chose chauffeured ground transportation. Goodman adopted the Sunshine State as his home, as many New Jersey natives are wont to do, several decades ago. While pursuing a career in an entirely different industry, he took on a customer-service gig at a high-end resort that included chauffeuring guests, a job that he said he truly enjoyed. Several years later in the early ‘90s, he turned that passion for service into his own operation, and Aventura Worldwide was born.
Goodman, along with his wife and life partner Toni, built a well-respected company in the ultra-competitive South Florida market, catering to high-end clientele, celebrities, and sports figures. Goodman said in a Chauffeur Driven article in 2015 that he wanted to be able to pass along a company to his children, one that they could then leave to their children one day. Their son Scott Tinkler joined the company over a decade ago and now serves as president and CEO. Their daughter Kristen is the most recent family member to sign on to Aventura as director of sales and marketing.
Kristen spoke of her father’s generosity and spirit while delivering a eulogy during the ceremony. “He had a way of making you feel like you were the most special person in the world. His family meant everything to him, but Aventura was his legacy. We as a family are passionate about carrying on his legacy because it’s his name behind the brand—it’s not just Aventura but Neil Goodman. That’s important to us.”
Goodman was a beloved and well-respected member of the industry, was a mentor to many (literally, as a mentor at the Chauffeur Driven Show), and a longtime NLA member. He also served as president of the South Florida Limousine Association, often partnering with other Florida associations to combat the influx of TNCs in the state.
The family has requested that donations be made to Lauren’s Kids (laurenskids.org).
We extend our condolences to the Goodman family, friends, and loved ones, as well as the Aventura team on their loss.
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LITA Vice President Nancy Vargas of D2H Transportation and meeting speaker Mike Marroccoli of Limo Insurers
Plainview, N.Y. — The Long Island Transportation Association (LITA) resumed its meeting schedule November 12 with an information-packed gathering that attracted attendees from all over the greater New York and New Jersey area.
LITA President Doug Schwartz of Executive Transportation kicked things off with a welcome and thank-you to those who made the trip out before introducing the night’s educational agenda, which ranged from insurance insights to DOT updates to news about New York’s ever-evolving state laws. As First Vice President of the NLA, he also spoke about what the association is doing to assist Empire State operators who are still grappling with
Mike Marroccoli of Limo Insurers and Joe Marrotta spoke about the current state of the insurance aspect of the industry and explained the ongoing hard market while also talking about ways to make a good impression on a carrier in order to save a few thousand dollars as a way to cut costs without sacrificing coverage or safety.
LITA President Doug Schwartz of Executive Transportation
Dave Lipsky of Authority on Transportation also spoke about the new DOT changes he’s seen in inspections. The current state of the NYDOT bus inspection program can be reviewed here.
Updates were also issues about the Nassau County Taxicab and Limousine Commission, the body governing ground transportation in the Long Island region. Attendees also participated in a conversation about ways to onboard new chauffeurs, with several operators offering up their experiences, successes, and pain points as learning experiences and advice for those who are struggling to streamline the process of welcoming new members to an established driving team.
LITA’s next event will be the East Coast Holiday Party is co- hosting December 9 in Newark, N.J., with the neighboring Limousine Association of New Jersey and Philadelphia Regional Limousine Association.
Visit longislandta.com for more information.
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Marlton, N.J. — Since Chauffeur Driven’s inception seven years ago, the one thing we’re regularly asked is “when are you going to introduce awards at the show?” Well, you’ve asked for it, and now, you’ve got it.
Chauffeur Driven and the National Limousine Association are proud to announce the first-ever Driven By Excellence Awards to be presented at the 2020 Chauffeur Driven/NLA Show on Tuesday, February 25, at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Held in conjunction with the charity auction to benefit the Harold Berkman Memorial Fund, these awards will spotlight operators, organizations, and chauffeurs who continually embody and demonstrate the best values and tenets of the luxury ground transportation industry.
For our inaugural year, we’ll be presenting six Driven By Excellence awards in the following categories:
- Association of the Year - This award recognizes excellence at the local/regional association level. From advocacy to membership growth to education, the winning association’s achievements from 2019 will be recognized.
- Charity & Community Service - Within an extremely generous industry, this award recognizes an individual whose efforts to support community and charitable efforts go to the next level.
- Customer Service Excellence - Every successful company relies on strong customer service. This award spotlights the best of the best.
- Pinnacle of Safety - Does your company culture put safety first? This is your chance to show how you take safety to the next level.
- Chauffeur of the Year - Does your company have an all-star chauffeur who consistently goes above and beyond for your clients and your business? Highlight this individual’s contributions by nominating them for Chauffeur of the Year.
- Next Gen/Emerging Leader - This industry is full of young minds who are enhancing their businesses with fresh perspectives and new ideas. This award is the perfect opportunity to share how you are influencing your company and the industry as an emerging leader from the next generation.
Whether your business has two cars or two hundred, everyone is eligible. Simply visit https://cdnlashow.com/show-info/driven-by-excellence-awards.html before January 8 to submit your nomination. Once the questionnaires have been received, a multi-tiered committee of experts from within and outside the industry will judge the entries based on a pre-determined series of criteria.
From safety to customer service to association leadership, these annual awards aim to recognize the best of the best in the chauffeured ground transportation industry. Don’t miss your chance to be among the inaugural award-winning line-up. Don’t forget: submit your nomination by January 8, 2020.
Visit cdnlashow.com for more information.
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