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Newly revitalized for 2024, the Minority Limousine Operators of America (MLOA) held a general membership webinar on Tuesday, July 30. With operators logging on from around the country, the online event dealt with effective staffing solutions and was host to two guest speakers, Harry Dhillon of Hashtag Biz Solutions and Jodie Lethgoe of CareerDriver.
MLOA President Tiffany Hinton
MLOA President Tiffany Hinton welcomed attendees to the afternoon meeting and stated their intention to hold similar monthly events. She acknowledged that the association had been “quiet” for many months, although the board has been working from behind the scenes. Hinton revealed that a new MLOA website is set for debut, and the organization will be looking to be more inclusive with more advocacy for the industry. She then introduced her fellow Board Members.
Speaker Harry Dhillon of Hastag Biz Solutions 
Speaker Jodie Lethgoe of CareerDriver
Next, Dhillon was invited to speak about Hashtag Biz Solutions’ role as a “business solution module” for the industry. His services cover remote staffing, call answering, and digital marketing for operators. Regarding staffing, Dhillon is proud to offer agents—fully pretrained in industry-leading software systems—that can be onboarded to US companies within 24 hours. Similarly, his remote operators, who are available 24/7, can be immediately activated. Dhillon also outlined his digital marketing services that offer “affordable solutions” from web design to social media marketing, as well as search engine optimization. Following his presentation, Dhillon received a number of glowing references from operators on the call.
Then, Lethgoe discussed the chauffeur recruitment services offered by CareerDriver, demonstrated by a four-tier funnel model that includes driver leads, selling the role, screening the candidate, and conversion to drivers. After a company casts a wide net for leads, she emphasized the importance of selling the position using “three P’s” (Process, Pitch, and Preview). This concept should create an accurate and attractive view of both the job and the company in the candidate’s eyes. Lethgoe’s presentation will be offered free to MLOA members, along with a discount on CareerDriver’s lead generation services.
Before concluding, Hinton encouraged members to suggest ideas or speakers for future meetings as the MLOA is looking for fresh content. The next MLOA webinar will be held in August (date to be determined).
Visit themloa.org for more information.
[08.05.24]
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Plans are heating up as we continue preparing for the 2024 CD/NLA Show held October 13-16 at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center, set on the banks of the Potomac in the exciting National Harbor. We’re thrilled to return to the ground transportation industry hub of the Northeast, just a short drive from Washington, D.C. Once again, thanks to the generosity of our Title Sponsor Volvo, we’re able to bring you four days of the best in networking, education, and fun—all under one roof.
Among the most popular events at the CD/NLA Show year after year is the Operator Mentoring Program, which gives operators an invaluable opportunity to learn from some of the industry’s most iconic names in a roundtable format. This long-running hit gives the intimate group—made up of representatives from around the country—a chance to contribute and bring fresh ideas to the conversation.
“The Operator Mentoring Program was incredible, and I look forward to being able to participate in that again in the future,” says Jana Hightower of Ascent Luxury Transportation.
We’re pleased to announce that this perennial favorite returns Sunday afternoon. This year, we’re presenting a terrific and diverse mix of industry rock stars of all ages, company sizes, backgrounds, and markets. Moreover, we’re excited that we’ve increased the usual number of tables from 18 to 24, but each mentor will work with a more intimate group of 7 participants, whereas previously it was 10.
This year’s mentors are:
| Maya Adrine of Golden Limousine International | Shariff McMichael of Dav El/BostonCoach |
| Brett Barenholtz of Boston Car Service/Above All Transportation/Maine Limousine Service | Michelle Miller of Elite Coach Transportation |
| Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation | Christina Nguyen of Premier Transportation |
| Paula DeBiasi of Chicago CoachWorks | Jeff Nyikos of Leros Transportation Group |
| Nour Elotmani of Destination MCO | Hoss Oskouie of Atlantic Limousine & Transportation |
| Faith Glasgow of Peak Limousine | Tim Rose of Dolphin Transportation Specialists |
| Athena Grimm of BAC Transportation | Tracy Salinger of Unique Limousine |
| Karl Guenther of Statement Limousine | Doug Schwartz of Executive Transportation |
| Tiffany Hinton of MOTEV | Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Worldwide |
| Kevin Illingworth of Classique Worldwide | Dave Uziel of Urban Worldwide |
| George Jacobs of Windy City Limousine & Bus | Mike Vargas of DH2 Worldwide |
| Becky Laramee of All Points Limousine | Rick Versace of A1A Global Ground |
Don’t delay! The Operator Mentoring Program is limited to 200 participants—and it is filled to capacity every year! All seats are a first-come, first-served basis. We strongly encourage you to click here and sign up today. Keep in mind, this session is designed for company operators (sorry, no vendors or suppliers), and only one person per organization is allowed.
“The Operator Mentoring Program is one of the most valuable parts of the show for many of us, as we can share ideas and solutions, and hearing from leaders of the industry on how we can make our business model more profitable is always important,” says Robert Rodríguez of First Class Destination Solutions.
Keep your eyes peeled for future editions of our e-newsletter for the latest information on our 2024 CD/NLA show, including updates about educational sessions, nightlife, show floor happenings, and the State of the Industry presentation.
Visit cdnlashow.com for more information.
[07.30.24]
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The American Bus Association (ABA) has been honored by Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) for its pivotal role in supporting TAT’s mission through education, advocacy, and collaborative initiatives within the bus industry. TAT, which works to combat the often-hidden epidemic of human trafficking, awarded the bus association its prestigious 2024 TAT Champion Award in the Association Category. The award was presented during the recent Bus Industry Safety Council (BISC) meeting in Orlando, Fla. Jeff Shanker, chief strategy officer for Black Tie Bus Charters and current chair of BISC, accepted the award on ABA’s behalf.
BISC Chair Jeff Shanker of Black Tie Bus Charters accepts the TAT Champion Award for ABA from TAT’s Annie Sovcik. Photo courtesy of ABA.
Annually, the TAT Champion Awards celebrate outstanding partners whose innovative and dedicated efforts significantly advance TAT’s mission in the categories of Organization, State Agency, and Association. ABA has been active in helping bring awareness to the issue, primarily through TAT’s Busing on the Lookout (BOTL) initiative.
TAT was established to help professionals in the trucking industry combat human trafficking and has since expanded its efforts to include other transportation sectors. Training resources for the bus community are available at the TAT Motorcoach website.
“We are deeply honored to receive the 2024 TAT Champion Award,” says ABA’s President & CEO Peter Pantuso. “This recognition underscores our commitment to eradicating human trafficking and highlights the crucial role our industry plays in this fight. Together with TAT, we are making a significant impact and will continue supporting this vital cause.”
Visit buses.org for more information about ABA.
[07.30.24]