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1st Vice President Joe Gulino of Gem Worldwide, President Mike Rose of My Limousine Service, Secretary Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite, and Treasurer Barry Trabb of Complete Fleet Livery Sales
It was a packed house at the Sheraton Hotel in Parsippany, N.J., for the 2024 kick-off meeting of Limousine Association of New Jersey (LANJ) on Tuesday, January 30. CD Editor Rob Smentek joined the 75 operators, vendors, and guests in attendance for the lunchtime meeting, which was open to all operators in the tri-state area.
After the buffet lunch, Outgoing LANJ President Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Worldwide thanked the attendees and welcomed more than a dozen prospective members and vendors. He then introduced Tim Rose of Dolphin Transportation Specialists to say a few words about recently passed member Barbara Chirico of Gem Worldwide. Rose began by requesting a moment of silence, and then shared a bit about his longtime friendship with Chirico, calling her a trailblazer in the luxury transportation industry and citing her longstanding role within LANJ and her place as first female president of the National Limousine Association.
CD Editor Rob Smentek (left) and Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite
“You’re all beneficiaries of the hard work that Barbara put in,” Rose said. “She won’t be duplicated.”
Next, Sharenow welcomed guest speaker Michael DeLamater of Market Street Strategies, who serves as LANJ’s lobbyist. He offered details of the current battle over congestion pricing in New York City. DeLamater stated that this has been his “primary focus” over the last 18 months. Ultimately, his goal is to eliminate the congestion tax for operators, or at the very least carve a lower rate. This is particularly crucial to N.J. operators since they are not recognized in N.Y. as “FHV class.” DeLamater is pushing for all operators to be treated (and charged) the same, whether they have N.J. or N.Y. plates.
Michael DeLamater of Market Street Strategies
“My job is to give the industry a voice,” he stated.
Following DeLamater’s presentation, Sharenow confirmed that he is stepping down from his role as president. He said that it had been an “incredible pleasure” to fight for the best interests of the industry in his more than eight years in the role. Sharenow thanked LANJ Executive Director Patricia Nelson, saying that it would have been impossible to serve without her assistance. He then revealed the 2024 LANJ Board of Directors, which was ratified unanimously at the meeting.
L to R: Shady Azar of Gem Worldwide, Emil Akman of Business Class Limo, Jason Messinger of BBZ Limousine & Livery Service, and Ron Robinson of Sterling Limousine
President: Mike Rose of My Limousine Service
1st Vice President: Joe Guilino of Gem Worldwide
2nd Vice President: Jeffrey Cartagena of Leros Transportation Group
Secretary: Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Worldwide
Treasurer: Barry Trabb of Complete Fleet Livery Sales
PAC Chair: Pete Corelli of Lakeview Custom Coach
It was a packed house at the Sheraton Parsippany for the 2024 LANJ Kick-Off Meeting
Executive Director Patricia Nelson
Directors: Anthony Azara of Avalon Chauffeured Services, Gary Dersarkissian of The Good Life Transportation, Jay Erlich of Europe Limousine Service, Karen Gajda of Country Club Transportation, Ray Gallagher of RMA Worldwide, Michael Marroccoli of EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, John Maziarz of Arrive in Style Transportation, Jason Messinger of BBZ Limousine & Livery Service, Mohamed Osman of Fleetwood Limousine Worldwide, Tim Rose of Dolphin Transportation Specialists, Josh Schneeweiss of Advanced Limousine & Worldwide Car Service, David Seelinger of EmpireCLS Worldwide, Tony Viscusi (honorary) of Global Limousine, and Chris Weiss of Chauffeur Driven
Newly elected President Mike Rose then delivered the LANJ Report, saying that it was a “tremendous honor” to follow Sharenow. He promised a full slate of events for the coming year and is looking to increase engagement in the association among members and the board.
The next LANJ meeting is scheduled for March 19 at noon at the Hampton Inn in Woodbridge.
Visit lanj.org for more information.
Photos by Sam Emam of Special 1 Media
[02.05.24]
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The American Bus Association Foundation (ABAF) recently released an important report that studied the impact that motorcoaches have on the environment. The study, Updated Comparison of Energy Use and Emissions from Different Transportation Modes Using the Latest Available Datasets, was conducted in conjunction with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI). According to the press release regarding the report, this new study expands on another study the ABAF released in 2019 “reaffirming motorcoaches as a sustainable and environmentally friendly mode of transportation.” The 2019 study was conducted in conjunction with M.J. Bradley & Associates (now part of ERM), an energy and sustainability advisory company.
According to ABAF, the association’s research arm partnered with TTI to assess the environmental impact of motorcoach operations, comparing energy use and emissions with other transportation modes. The report pitted motorcoach travel against other modes such as trains, vanpool, and personal passenger car.
The full report is available at buses.org or via this link: bit.ly/3uhKTtZ.
“This recent report continues to show the energy efficiency and low emissions by motorcoaches, especially on a per person basis. It is clearly the best travel option for most of the traveling public and the environment,” says ABA CEO Peter Pantuso.
Visit buses.org for more information.
[01.30.24]
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ILLBA’s holiday dinner welcomed 35 members and guests
On Tuesday, January 23, the Illinois Limousine & Bus Association (ILLBA) held their annual holiday dinner at Carlucci in Rosemont, Ill. Despite an icy blast that stuck the Chicagoland area, 35 attendees and guests attended from across the region for an evening of low-key networking and three-course meal sponsored by Nationwide Bus Sales and L.A. West Luxury Coaches.
“This was the first official in-person social event the association has held since COVID,” says ILLBA Executive Director/Secretary Paula DeBiasi of Chicago Coachworks. “It was really about networking. Many of our members have never had the opportunity to meet face-to-face since the pandemic, so this dinner gave them the opportunity to relax and get to know each other.”
ILLBA President Tracy Raimer of Windy City Limousine & Bus, along with DeBiasi, took time to welcome the members and thank them for coming. After they thanked the evening’s sponsors, a local photographer was on hand to take free headshots of each attendee.
L to R: Jim Jordan of Lux Tux Transportation, ILLBA President Tracy Raimer of Windy City Limousine & Coach, and CD/NLA Show pass winner George Georgiev of K&G Coach Line.
“This was a really cool thing, particularly since a headshot can run you $150-$250,” says DeBiasi. “We’ve been distributing posts to the members that their photos should be put on business cards and marketing material for the show in Vegas.”
In addition to the free headshots, members were invited to take part in a series of raffles, including a pass to the CD/NLA Show in Vegas this March 3-6. George Georgiev of K&G Coach Line was the lucky winner of the pass.
“It’s always great to see people get excited for the raffles,” says DeBiasi. “It adds to the excitement of the evening.”
ILLBA’s next event is a Coffee With ILLBA webinar on Tuesday February 13, via Zoom.
Visit illba.org for more information.