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Washington, D.C. — The Minority Limousine Operators of America (MLOA) met up for its annual in-person meeting in a packed room during the 2016 CD Show in our nation’s capital on October 11.
MLOA President Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation
MLOA President Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation introduced his fellow board members—First Vice President Darrell Anderson of A-National Limousine, Second Vice President Reggie Tymus of Capital City Limousine, Treasurer Travis Latham of Fellowship Fleet, and Secretary Regina Goff of A Goff Limousine & Bus Company—before recapping highlights from the association’s five-year history.
Brewster also discussed how the association aims to empower its members through education, including its upcoming eight-part webinar, which is a free series designed to helps MLOA members with topics such as chauffeur training, strategic sales skills, building a successful company, affiliate development, corporate marketing, insurance and risk management, and drafting business plans. MLOA’s new Director of Sales and Marketing, CD’s own Philip Jagiela, also reiterated his commitment to delivering the kind of educational offerings that the membership base is clamoring for.
The meeting’s Keynote Speaker Sharon Pinder of the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council
The meeting’s Keynote Speaker Sharon Pinder then took to the podium. As President & CEO of the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council, she emphasized the importance of Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification—and the importance of organizations like the MLOA, which she likened to her father’s barber shop for its place in facilitating necessary conversations with peers who understand the unique struggles of running a minority-owned business.
“Owning a business is like walking into the abyss,” she said, adding that having a community around you makes the trek into the unknown far less daunting and much more of a unified experience.
Members of the MLOA Board of Directors (L to R): Secretary Regina Goff of A Goff Limousine & Bus Company, Treasurer Travis Latham of Fellowship Fleet, and First Vice President Darrell Anderson of A-National Limousine
Pinder also explained that minority-owned businesses are one of the fastest-growing entrepreneurial sectors—especially those owned by black women—and that it’s fostered a climate where corporations’ diversity suppliers are especially keen on working with MBE-certified businesses, much to MLOA members’ potential advantage.
“Certification is a license to hunt for new business,” Pinder advised the audience.
The MLOA will have its next conference call on November 30.
Visit mlooa.org for more information.
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Washington, D.C. — The Virginia Limousine Association (VLA) welcomed more than 50 members and guests at their general membership meeting held October 12 at the Chauffeur Driven Show. CD Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela, who also serves as VLA’s executive director, moderated the meeting, which included recognition of association sponsors and two notable guest speakers.
After a buffet breakfast, things quickly got underway with a welcome from VLA President Paul Walsh of Superior Executive Transportation, who reminded attendees about the approaching inauguration and the importance of providing service during that event.
The sponsors of the October 12 VLA meeting held in Washington, D.C.
Jagiela followed by recognizing the executive board, and then thanked the meeting’s sponsors, giving them each an opportunity address thee room. Steven Wolfson, a representative from the meeting’s Gold Sponsor Century Business Solutions, was the first to speak, sharing a bit about the credit card processing services that the company offers. To continue their support of the VLA, Century offered a promotion that gives operators who subscribe to their service a $250 honorarium toward association membership fees. Other sponsors who spoke or were recognized for their support included American Executive Sedan, Georgetown Insurance, Love Limousine, MCI Coach, Reston Limousine, Superior Executive Coach, Corporate Car Worldwide, ZBest Worldwide, U.S. Sedan Service Worldwide, Karhoo, Create-A-Card, Quarles Petroleum, Fredericksberg Limousine, and Richmond Limousine.
The VLA executive board
Next, Jagiela welcomed Neville Waters, public information specialist for the D.C. Government of For-Hire Agency (DFHV), formerly known as the D.C .Taxi Commission, whose presence at the meeting marked a major sea change in the way chauffeured ground transportation will operate in the district: For years, the relationship between operators and the commission was adversarial at best. Operators from Virginia and Maryland were prohibited from performing point-to-point services within D.C. limits, and the enforcement officers were employing tactics likened by many to “stormtroopers.” With the recent rebranding of the government agency, and the placement of new acting DFHV director Ernest Chrappah, the communication lines have been opened to the VLA members and area operators, and they report that the situation is already drastically improving.
Waters shared a personal video from Chrappah (who was unable to attend) in which he addressed the VLA, which outlined the DFHV’s new, more pragmatic approach to ground transportation. To prepare for the inauguration, the commission will be offering online applications to streamline the process for operators to receive a special event decal to perform point-to-point service. More importantly, the DFHV is in the process of developing a program that will allow Virginia and Maryland companies to offer point-to-point jobs in D.C., with the provision that they provide trip data through a new app. Furthermore, the department is looking to continue its dialogue with the for-hire industry by holding more meetings and town halls with operators.
Neville Waters, public information officer, D.C. Government For-Hire Agency
After the video presentation, Waters echoed Chrappah’s embracement of technology and new vision for the industry. He then took questions from VLA members regarding the new regulations. Before Waters finished, Jagiela recognized him and the DFHV for opening a “conduit for communication to develop a level playing field for the industry.”
The meeting continued with a presentation from Gary Myers, division manager with the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA), who detailed the construction of a new terminal at Ronald Regan International Airport and the challenges it will present to ground transportation in the metro area. While Myers admitted that the project slated to run from 2017-2020 will make things “difficult in the interim,” he mentioned that an expanse for for-hire parking is in the works. He encouraged VLA members to visit www.mwaa.com for updates.
Gary Meyers, division manager with the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority
The morning’s last speakers were two officers from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. In anticipation for the inauguration, they provided an overview of the use of rental cars in a for-hire capacity, and distributed forms relating to the practice.
Before the meeting was adjourned, two raffle winners were announced. Joe Oulton of Richmond Limousines was the winner of a backpack donated by American Motor Products and Steven Little, sales manager with Battisti Customs, was the 50-50 winner; Little generously donated his cash winnings back to the association.
VLA members were enthusiastic about the meeting, particularly in regard to its proof of advancement in the relationship with the D.C. DFHV.
“These developments are nothing short of remarkable,” said VLA committee member Barry Gross of Reston Limousine. “As a Virginia operator who relies on business in D.C., we are incredibly pleased that the DFHV has created a pathway to offer point-to-point transportation within the district. This is a privilege for which we’re willing to pay a price.”
The next VLA meeting will be in Atlantic City on November 15.
Visit vla-limo.org for more information.
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Harrisburg, Pa. — Fourteen members of the Philadelphia Regional Limousine Association (PRLA) took part in a Day on the Hill on October 17. Their goal was to provide education to lawmakers and their staff on the regulatory challenges that the chauffeur ground transportation industry currently faces in the state. The event was a timely one, with action on the long-standing Senate Bill 984 (“The Ride Share Bill”) gaining momentum in the capital.
Among those who attended were PRLA President Steve Rhodes of Rhoads Limousine and Board Member Anthony Onorata of Anthony Limousine.
PRLA Legislative Committee member Michael Barreto, Philadelphia branch manager of Flyte Tyme Worldwide, stated that the association is looking to get more proactive in its interactions with government agencies, and has even gone as far as hiring legal counsel to aid in its fight with the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA).
“We planned the Day on the Hill in order to try get education out to the House side of the Hill and their consumer affairs committee regarding The Ride Share Bill that has been sitting for close to a year,” said Barreto. “We tactfully set up appointments with members on the committee and had conversations with them. The overall position we created raised a buzz.”
The PRLA legislative committee participates on a Day in the Hill in Harrisburg, Pa.
Barreto said the information they provided was eye-opening to a lot of the representatives and their staff, especially among those who have used TNCs in the past and were unaware of the “digital hitchhiking” aspect of the services. The PRLA members met with roughly 20 people in Harrisburg and followed up the following day by sending links to the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association’s Who’s Driving You campaign to roughly 275 legislators and staff.
“Any initiative we were able to accomplish is beneficial to the industry. We’ve gone to the Hill before, but this time we had a clear concise message,” added Barreto.
Regrettably, the Ride Share Bill was passed by the House on October 19, giving TNCs the green-light to operate permanently in the state of Pennsylvania. However, this is not viewed as a total loss to the chauffeured ground transportation industry, as Barreto pointed out that there were “amendments added in that made regulatory oversight of livery a little less burdensome.” Also, the state is reportedly restructuring the tariff requirements to not be so concrete so operators can promote more dynamic flexible pricing.
In light of this recent turn of events, PRLA will now look to focus its efforts on the battle with the PPA, specifically to combat the recent 110-percent increase in the per-vehicle rate for vehicle registration.
The next PRLA meeting is scheduled for November 15 in Atlantic City.
Visit prlainc.com for more information.
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