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- Category: Industry News
San Diego — The Chauffeur Driven Executive Retreats are known for their top-flight education, first-class accommodations, and one-of-kind networking events, but this year, when we return to the West Coast on May 6-8, you’ll get the chance to find out if you have what it takes to win The Executive Game. Courtesy of our friends at Strategy Leaders, Chauffeur Driven is excited to bring this interactive, role-playing activity that’s exclusive to our much-anticipated event.
If you want to get smarter about running a business, you won’t want to miss our hands-on round of The Executive Game on Tuesday, May 8, which we’ll be bringing to you with the help of Strategy Leaders’ Andi Gray, Robyn Goldenberg Cohen, and Eddie Monroy. The business management team has embraced and utilized this gamified training tool to demonstrate your leadership skills as a team steering your virtual company toward success—and retire with the most money.
Groups of 8-10 will separate into teams, which includes a leader and a “bean counter” armed with a laptop—to create a virtual company to steer through all the challenges that operators face in the luxury ground transportation industry. Teams can be organized by attendees in advance or assigned at the event. You’ll work together to decide how to increase profits, invest your time as an owner, reach your goals, overcome obstacles, and plan a successful exit strategy—all without the real-life consequences of trial-and-error. Your business expertise and experience will get you so far in the game though, as your “company” will be dealt an array of challenges from a deck of cards that may put you on the road to bankruptcy.
Get ready to demonstrate your entrepreneurial passion, as The Executive Game will get hyper-competitive and intense. As the game progresses, and you emerge from business challenges victorious—or on the losing end—there will be plenty of hooting, hollering, and even attempted bribery! The team that retires with the most money will not only receive a prize, but also those invaluable bragging rights.
How will you stack up against your industry peers? Register now to find out.
Don’t forget: We’ve secured a room block at $249/night at the Pendry Hotel, one of the newest hotels in America’s Finest City, and the only 5-star resort in the hip and historic Gaslamp Quarter. This rate is not going to last long; act now before it sells out.
We’re also offering a limited discount you can apply towards our registration fee. Just mention the code SKYBOX at check out to receive $100 off the $899 rate. Don’t miss out.
Visit sandiegoretreat.com for more information.
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- Category: Industry News
Director of Events Carly Sokoloff Marlton, N.J. — Please join Chauffeur Driven in welcoming Carly Sokoloff as our new director of events.
Although Sokoloff is new to the chauffeured ground transportation industry, she comes into the position with a wealth of experience in events management. The Philadelphia native is a 2010 Temple University graduate holding a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management, and immediately got a start in the hospitality industry serving as an event sales coordinator at two popular corporate event facilities. Sokoloff then moved on and joined an association management firm, where she worked as a meeting planner for a national industrial manufacturing association. She loved this role, as it allowed her to be ingrained in the corporate environment and expand her experience with meeting planning and event venue sales. In the past year, she has been working for an events booking agency, contracting entertainment in venues along the East Coast.
Sokoloff is looking forward to becoming a key part of the chauffeured ground transportation industry, and working closely with Chauffeur Driven’s clients and readers at our retreat and trade show.
“I’m so excited to join the Chauffeur Driven team,” says Sokoloff. “I’m looking forward to learning more about this industry and becoming a vital part of it. I can’t wait to meet Chauffeur Driven’s event attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors when we work together at our Executive Retreat and Trade Show.”
Longtime CD team member—and familiar face—Jess Pavlow will remain onboard as a consultant, still maintaining an active role in our events and the affiliate directory
“Replacing someone like Jess is never easy, but we are absolutely thrilled to have found Carly and ecstatic to have her join the CD family,” says Publisher Chris Weiss. “And with Jess staying on as a consultant, we get the best of both worlds. Not only do we get to cultivate and develop new talent in Carly, but we also have Jess’ knowledge and experience for Carly and the rest of the staff to tap into.”
Director of Events Carly Sokoloff can be reached directly at carly@chauffeurdriven.com or 856-452-0323.
Visit chauffeurdriven.com or sandiegoretreat.com for more information.
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- Category: Industry News
Elkhart, Ind. — Premier Products, the leading manufacturer of seating, window glass, and HVAC systems for the luxury bus and van industries, has announced that they recently performed successful air bag deployment testing on their front replacement seat covers for Ford Transit and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles. This makes them the first company in the industry to commit to this type of testing for aftermarket seat covers.
“As a company, Premier is laser focused on designing the most innovative products with an enormous emphasis on safety,” says Eric Alpert, CEO. “When conversion builders of the Transit and Sprinter vehicles upgrade to our seats, they obviously want the driver and passenger seats to match for continuity. Since OEM front seats are now equipped with air bags, we invested heavily in engineering, testing, and equipment to be the first seat supplier to make sure that we were within spec of the factory seat cover air bag deployment.”
Left: OEM seat — Right: Premier Products seat
In order to meet the safety standards set in the Sprinter and Transit, Premier engineered their covers to allow the airbag to deploy at the same speed and reliability as the OEMs. Additionally, they invested in a specialized sewing machine solely purposed to stitch the air bag seam on these covers.
“This machine is amazing,” says Alpert. “It records a ‘time stamp’ of every stitch that the machine produces and creates a label that is fixed to the back of this seat cover. This not only provides absolute consistency so that each cover meets the appropriate safety standards, but it also protects Premier, the builder, and the operator from liability that could arise from an air bag deployment.”
Premier recorded the safety testing via high-speed video to capture the precise deployment speed of the OEM and aftermarket seat covers.
“As an operator, you should make sure that you are purchasing vehicles and accessories that protect you and your customers,” adds Alpert. “Premier Products has taken these steps to ensure this.”
Visit premierproducts.net or call 855.881.1800 for more information.
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