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LBTOUNY President Kevin Barwell of Giorgio’s Limousines (right) and Director David Bastian of Towne Livery with Sharon Beasley of 5 Star Limo of Elmira, who won a pass to the upcoming CD/NLA Show in Boston Buffalo, N.Y. — The Limousine, Bus, and Taxi Operators of Upstate New York (LBTOUNY) held its annual summertime part-business/part-social meeting August 13, when members and supporters came together to discuss association, local regulatory, and industry matters before enjoying a Buffalo Bison game at Sahlen Field.
The meeting included an update regarding the ongoing developments in state legislation, including discussions regarding bills that have since passed into law, that LBTOUNY President Kevin Barwell of Giorgio’s Limousine Service and other association board members have been embroiled in ever since last year’s tragic accident in Schoharie.
In addition to learning about the current operational landscape, enjoying the camaraderie of their peers, and reveling in the amenities and privacy of the Bison Suite that hosted the evening event, members were treated to some prizes that added a dash of excitement to the summertime social. A pass to the upcoming CD/NLA Show in Boston was raffled off and Sharon Beasley of 5 Star Limo of Elmira was the lucky winner.
The very next day, Barwell, LBTOUNY Legislative Chairman David Bastian of Towne Livery, Albany Director David Brown of Premiere Transportation, Syracuse Director Mark Crisafulli, and Joe DiDomenico of American Limousine headed to Syracuse for an afternoon meeting with New York Assembly Transportation Chair William Magnarelli to discuss pending legislation.
A handful of LBTOUNY members had met with Assemblyman Magnarelli in February to discuss the then-potential ban on limousines and the proposed legislation that came with it and to speak for legitimate operators who abide by the law and correct procedures; ultimately, the ban on limousines and additional legislation was removed from the New York State Budget at the time. Last month’s meeting allowed LBTOUNY representatives to give their feedback on nearly a dozen proposed regulations in a nearly two-hour meeting with the assemblyman, who Barwell says has been proceeding with fairness and feels "that he's doing his due diligence, and we support him on this."
“Assemblyman Magnarelli wants to take a close look at all the legislation and how it affects people, transportation, and the future of the limousine industry in the state,” he said. “Some of these bills are going to have an effect: We’re for the ones that relate to drug and alcohol testing, we just believe it should encompass all forms of transportation. If you want to make money off of driving people, then you should be regularly tested for drugs and alcohol. That’s essential to the driving industry.”
The ongoing issues of handling stretch limousines, however, is still up in the air.
“Some of those proposals are feasible; the rest, the technology isn’t there for what they want—like mandating air bags in the back of a limousine—and we really can’t agree with those,” Barwell explained. “For a lot of these laws, they had not one bit of input from our industry.”
A task force comprising individuals from the transportation industry was discussed, which Barwell said “we agree with, as long as members from the private sector are involved.”
Check out the October issue of Chauffeur Driven for expanded coverage regarding LBTOUNY's ongoing efforts to fight for New York state's legally operating transportation providers.
Visit lbtony.com for more information.
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John DeMarcello, Safety & Operations Manager of Sterling Limousine & Transportation Services
Wrightstown, Pa. — Sterling Limousine & Transportation Services, based in the Philadelphia region, has announced that John DeMarcello has been promoted to fill the company's Safety & Operations Manager position./p>
According to DeMarcello, he first joined Sterling in January 2017 as Weekend Operations Manager. During his time in this position, he says he "welcomed the opportunity to utilize my knowledge and experience in a leadership capacity, placing emphasis on clear and concise communication and attention to detail."
DeMarcello's resume goes farther back, though. He recalls how he "first started in the industry in 2003 and has managed operations involving warehousing, over-the-road trucking, international ocean and air freight, and time-critical shipments."
DeMarcello expressed his excitement for his new role for several reasons.
"We have a group of key employees that are highly motivated and demonstrate a work ethic that is second to none," he said. "I am very fortunate to inherit a team with a wealth of industry experience and commitment to excellence. My primary focus will be on reinforcing our infrastructure for our anticipated growth over the next couple of years. The safety of our employees and customers is paramount, and this is achieved through ongoing trainings with our management team and staff. I am thankful to Mr. [Johnny] Donohoe and his family for this opportunity and look forward to contributing to the continued success of Sterling Limousine [& Transportation Services]!"
Sterling President Johnny Donahoe said of DeMarcello: "After two-plus years with Sterling, John has shown he has the necessary skill set to be a perfect fit for this position. His focus on attention to detail and follow-through, along with his great leadership qualities, made this an easy decision for me."
Visit sterlinglimoservice.com for more information.
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Marlton, N.J. — We’re just weeks away from the industry event of the year: The CD/NLA Show in Boston. Held October 13-16 at the Westin Boston Waterfront, the event promises four solid days of professional development, networking, and unsurpassed buying opportunities for all of your business needs. While our room block at the Westin is now sold out, we still have a select number of rooms available at the neighboring Aloft for the incredible rate of $227 a night. Act now—once these rooms are gone, you won’t find a better rate in the area.
We’re honored by the acclaim the CD Show receives from the industry each year for our world-class education and networking opportunities, but frankly nothing makes us prouder than the participation and big-heartedness on display during our annual Charity Auction & Dinner. It’s truly a special evening for us, because, thanks to you and your generosity, we’ve been able to raise more than a half-million dollars for charity over the past six years. All attendees are invited, so set a reminder for Tuesday, October 15 at 8:30 pm, because this year’s event will be one you won’t forget.
In 2019, it’s all about the kids, as CD and charity dinner co-sponsors Aadvanced Limousine and Chosen Payments are thrilled to have partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities as our spotlight cause. For those unfamiliar with the non-profit, the Ronald McDonald House provides low- or no-cost housing for traveling families while seeking medical treatment for their seriously ill or injured child. This incredible night includes a buffet dinner (at no additional cost to attend) and a live auction with an array of items from sports memorabilia to one-of-a-kind trips. Most importantly, it’s a chance for the industry to step up and support a great organization that helps countless kids and their families each year.
This year, we’ve made some changes to our charity auction to make it even easier for attendees to bid and pay for auction items. In conjunction with charity auction technology easily accessible through our show app (once again sponsored by North Point Global Transportation), you’ll be able to bid, track, and pay for your winning auction items in real-time. What’s more, if you’re somehow unable to attend the dinner, you’ll be able to bid and donate remotely. We’ve smoothed out the process to make it easier for you to open your heart—and wallet—for the Ronald McDonald House. Special thanks to our charity technology co-sponsors Commonwealth Worldwide and Windy City Limousine & Bus.
Sam Amato
Barbara Chirico
Ed Grech
George Jacobs
Dawson Rutter
David Seelinger
However, our most impactful event of the show got better, as this year, we're introducing a new tradition to the show—the Chauffeur Driven Hall of Fame. The amazing unsung heroes among us will be recognized for the selfless work they’ve done throughout the years to better our industry. For our inaugural event, we’re thrilled to be able to honor a group of true luxury ground transportation trailblazers, including Sam Amato of Gateway Global, Barbara Chirico of GEM Limousine, Ed Grech of Grech Motors, George Jacobs of Windy City Limousine & Bus, Dawson Rutter of Commonwealth Worldwide, and David Seelinger of EmpireCLS Worldwide. Not only will we be celebrating the professional accomplishments of these leaders but also the influence they’ve had on the industry-at-large. It’s sure to be an unforgettable night.
If you’d like to donate an item or service for our charity auction, please contact Director of Events Jess Pavlow at jess@chauffeurdriven.com. It’s not too late to lend your support.
Visit chauffeurdrivenshow.com for more information.
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