GCLA Takes Its Celebrations to Northern and Southern California

L to R: Jenna McCann and Mike Campbell of Grace Limousine & Shuttle, Melissa and Scott Woodruff of Majestic Limousine, Matthew Strack of Strack Ground, and Sarah McKee of Chosen Payments The Greater California Livery Association (GCLA) recently held its Northern and Southern California end-of-the-year parties. On December 5, the association’s record-setting holiday party and annual election took place in Los Angeles and welcomed 210 attendees, while its NorCal holiday party took place in Napa December 9. GCLA members, supporters, and family members turned out for the festive affairs in droves—and industry members from all across the country did, too, including peer groups Going Global and Enterprise Strategy Group, who were holding their meetings in California, and Chauffeur Driven Publisher Chris Weiss.

The December 5 elections yielded new officers for the 2018 GCLA board of directors:
President: Mo Garkani of Continental Limousine
1st Vice President: Harry Dhillon of Ecko Transportation Worldwide
2nd Vice President: Jeff Brodsly of Chosen Payments
Secretary: Darren Croasdale of La Costa Limousine
Treasurer: David Kinney of API Global Transportation

The mix of incumbent and first-time directors include Selim Aslan of Men In Black Transportation, Perry Barin of MusicExpress, Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation, Carlos Garcia of Carlos Transportation, Robert Gaskill of Motev, Phil Hartz of Acton SoCal Penske Professional Vehicles, and Chris Hundley of The Limousine Connection.

“We are hoping the momentum from this huge event and our new board will carry us on to great things in 2018,” said GCLA Executive Director Tom Garrett.

The Southern California event also hosted its annual live and silent auctions, the association’s biggest fundraising event of the year, which helps the GCLA continue its lobbying efforts on behalf of the local industry. With Brodsly and Mary Johnson leading the auction, the roughly 200 attendees helped raise more than $30,000.

The 2018 GCLA Board of Directors (L to R): Perry Barin of MusicExpress, Selim Aslan of Men In Black Transportation, ­Secretary Darren Croasdale of La Costa Limousine, Carlos Garcia of Carlos Transportation, Treasurer David Kinney of API Global Transportation, President Mo Garkani of Continental Limousine, 1st Vice President Harry Dhillon of Ecko ­Transportation Worldwide, Director Robert Gaskill of Motev, 2nd Vice President Jeff Brodsly of Chosen Payments, Phil Hartz of Acton/SoCal Penske Professional Vehicles, Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation, and Chris Hundley of The Limousine Connection Among the items auctioned off were passes to Chauffeur Driven’s 2018 events: Harry Dhillon of Ecko Transportation Worldwide won a pass to the Executive Retreat in San Diego, while two passes for the Chauffeur Driven Show at the Gaylord National went to Robert Gaskill of Motev.

The Napa event was an evening to remember in its own right, with a bevy of vehicles on display for attendees to check out, plenty of chances to mingle with industry peers, and even an educational component when California Highway Patrol provided clarity on its upcoming regulations governing modified limousines that will be put in place January 1.

Visit gcla.org for more information.

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CD Publisher Chris Weiss (left) with many of GCLA’s ­out-of-state attendees
  L to R: CD Publisher Chris Weiss, Jeff Brodsly and Taylor Houston of Chosen Payments, and Todd Szilagyi and Robert Vaughan of Best VIP Some of the industry’s peer groups brought attendees from all across the country to GCLA’s South California meeting L to R: GCLA Director Chris Hundley and Kristin Hundley of The Limousine Connection, GCLA President Mo Garkani of Continental Limousine, and Margaret Day of Reston Limousine Ryan Silva of Epic Transportation places his bid