As we approach the final month of summer, you can bet that Chauffeur Driven (CD) and the National Limousine Association (NLA) are hard at work finalizing plans for the industry event of the fall: The CD/NLA Show in National Harbor. We look forward to seeing our friends—old and new—at the fantastic all-under-one-roof Gaylord National on October 25-27 for three days of education, networking, and fun. If you haven’t yet registered for the autumn event, simply click here and take advantage of the Early Bird Rate that’s in full effect until September 10.
The CD/NLA Show Education Committee has been toiling for months to deliver a slate of programming that appeals to operators of all sizes and markets. We’re proud to announce a few highlights of what’s to come in October, from speakers both inside and outside of the industry.
We kick things off on Sunday morning at 11:45 a.m. with a session entitled Beyond Balance: Achieving High Performance Without Self-Destruction that will offer tips on leading without running on empty. Then on Sunday afternoon at 1:15 p.m., we’re pleased to welcome SEO/GEO expert Kelly McLaughlan from technology outfit KME.digital for Be Found, Trusted, and Chosen: How to Win With SEO/GEO. With a heavy focus on Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), this session will share why 58% of Google searches never turn into a phone call, and how being findable, trusted, and chosen can mean the difference between $0 and $10K in bookings this month. You'll also get hands-on auditing advice for your Google profile, optimizing your website, or building a review system so you can start winning back those bookings right now.
Then, at 2:45 p.m., owners looking to get to the next level of their business are sure to find value in Navigating Potholes & Pivots on Your Growth Journey presented by a powerhouse panel of operators. Join moderator Andy Hernandez of CTA Worldwide and speakers Christopher Sarris of Global Alliance Worldwide, Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Worldwide, and Wanda Van Dyke of Ambassador City Chauffeurs for a session designed to help you pause, reflect, and refocus—whether you manage one car or a diverse fleet. We will explore where your business has been, where it is now, and what decisions are needed to reach your goals. The discussion will include the importance of mission and vision, brand fidelity, and making intentional adjustments during growth. We will also examine key data points that can guide decisions about adding vehicles, hiring staff, and investing in systems that move your business forward. If you have ever asked yourself, “How do I grow?” or “When is the right time to take the next step?” this session will help you answer those questions with greater clarity and confidence.
Concurrently at 2:45 p.m., we’ll conclude for the afternoon, but not before we explore the legal side of things with What's Your Exposure? Legal Risks Every Operator Should Know. This promises to be a tremendous overview for protecting your business.
The following day, we start things bright and early (after a provided breakfast, naturally) at 8:15 with Ripping Apart Your Expenses to Improve the Bottom Line. Finances are the lifeblood of any business, so not having your costs dialed in can be an unnecessary drain on precious resources. This session is designed to strengthen your bottom line by taking a deeper dive into your current expenses and operations, using proven tactics and tools to identify waste, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. You'll learn how to evaluate spending with a critical eye, distinguish necessary investments from unnecessary expenses, and uncover opportunities to run a leaner, more profitable operation.
This is followed by a pair of sessions at 9:30 a.m. beginning with How SOPs and Chain of Command Save Your Time, Money & Sanity. This interactive roundtable workshop will explore the key pieces of a healthy organization, including company structure, chain of command, hiring practices, and building a culture rooted in clarity, accountability, and celebration. Through guided conversation and shared experiences, participants will reflect on their current team structure, share what is working, identify common challenges, and leave with practical ideas they can apply to build a stronger, more aligned company culture.
At the same time, we’re offering The Recovery Playbook: What to Do When the Unexpected Happens. If you’ve learned anything as a business owner, it’s that the unexpected will always happen—and often, there’s no playbook. From devastating incidents and medical emergencies to public relations crises, every business will eventually deal with moments that test its leaders. Hear how an expert panel responded under pressure and gain practical strategies for navigating your own unexpected crisis with greater confidence.
On Tuesday, we’re thrilled to offer a trio of seminars, starting with Lessons From the Road: Practical Solutions for Unplanned Fleet Challenges at 9:00 a.m. If you’re in the transportation business, you know that fleet challenges happen to even the best-maintained vehicles. Every company owner has stories about the strange problems, unexpected failures, and extraordinary discoveries that have either ruined—or saved—the day. Join us for this roundtable session to learn proven strategies, maintenance habits, and operator tricks that can keep your luxury vehicles on the road for years to come. Expect candid stories, real-world solutions, and hard-earned lessons you can use to turn your next fleet emergency into a win.
Next, at 10:30, we present Stop Driving Blind With Your Numbers, which looks at how truly successful operators manage from a dashboard and hard data. In this session, you'll learn the key numbers that reveal whether your company is genuinely profitable, where cash is disappearing, what lenders look for, and how to use your financial statements to make better decisions. You don't need to become an accountant; you need to know what questions to ask and which numbers matter.
Finally, our educational programming concludes with Ghost Revenue: The Invisible Problem You Don’t Know You Have. Join noted speaker (and operator) Jomara Gonzalez of Magic Carpet Shuttle for a demonstration of how you could be sitting on thousands of dollars in unrecovered pipeline revenue and not even realize it. Quotes go cold, estimates go unanswered, and deals die in silence, not because the prospect said no, but because no one followed up the right way. Gonzalez will introduce the Ghost Revenue concept and walk you through a practical audit framework to identify exactly where the pipeline is leaking. You’ll learn a structured four-touch follow-up system built specifically for charter and ground transportation sales cycles and leave with a repeatable process you can implement the week you get home. No fluff or theory—just a system that works.
“As a new operations director to a 25-year veteran operation, it was wonderful to take part in a setting that offered such concentrated information,” says David Joseph of On the Town Limousines.
“A great show put on by Chauffeur Driven and the NLA. The educational seminars were excellent with a lot of participation from the attendees. The show had non-stop action from 7:15 a.m. all the way up to the evening hours,” says Dave Shaw of Olympus Limo.
In the meantime, don’t forget to book your accommodations at the Gaylord National. Our exclusive room block, which averages $299/night, is filling up fast. Click here to secure your room.
Visit cdnlashow.com for more information.
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