Cover Art: The Janowitzes at the Amerant Bank Arena, home of the Florida Panthers. Photography by Chris Weiss.
In the realm of high-end transportation, Larry’s Private Car Worldwide stands as a testament to the fusion of family ethos and luxury service, thanks to the vision of Founder & CEO Lawrence Janowitz. From its humble beginnings in 1993, Janowitz has grown the company into a pillar of the South Florida transportation community, well respected for its expansive services. Despite its growth, Janowitz’s commitment to family values permeates every aspect of the business, emphasizing ethical practices, accountability, and a hands-on approach to service.
Prior to establishing Larry’s Private Car Worldwide, Janowitz honed his experience with New York’s taxi services and several of the largest car services in New York state. After relocating his young family to Florida and laying the groundwork for what would become a full-service enterprise, the company initially operated from his residence while partnering with tour company Gray Line, which held the airport contract. He eventually expanded operations beyond the airport, ably supported by his wife Bajihe, who managed the company’s finances. The legacy later continued with his sons, Matt and Jason, who brought their business acumen back to the family fold after gaining degrees and outside experience. Under their father’s guidance, they learned the intricacies of the transportation industry from the ground up.
Operations at Larry’s are a family affair, with leadership roles and responsibilities rotated, ensuring a personal touch remains integral to their business model. The company culture extends to their office staff, many of whom have become like family, growing with the company and contributing to its success.
CEO Larry Janowitz The scope of Janowitz’s ventures encompasses Larry’s Private Car Worldwide, Dignitary Transportation (a company they acquired), and bus division Jano Coaches, each representing a different aspect of the multi-faceted transportation company. Innovation and adaptability have been crucial, especially through changing times like the COVID pandemic, which saw shifts in demand against their varying services.
In a strategic move, to refresh their fleet and offer unique options to clients, Janowitz introduced custom-stretched Lincoln Aviators, in addition to an already extensive fleet ranging from sedans, SUVs, and limos, to Sprinters, mini-coaches, and coaches with ADA options, distinguishing their offerings in a market saturated with more common vehicles.
Janowitz’s seat on the board and longtime involvement with the Florida Limousine Association highlights his dedication to advocacy and improvement within the industry, fighting for fair regulation and operational improvements, he says. This commitment is also mirrored in his companies’ proactive steps to streamline operational efficiency and embrace legislative changes that benefit luxury transportation statewide.
“I instilled it in my sons that this is the way we do it. Even as we continue to grow, we’re still a family-run business.” – Larry Janowitz, CEO of Larry’s Private Car Worldwide
Florida has been among the toughest states to operate a transportation service due to the multiple required permits through the counties, airports, and often within cities. Upwards of a dozen costly permits or licenses were required (depending upon where you operate), and without the right one, fines could be steep, ranging into the thousands. Now, a groundbreaking reciprocity bill could streamline the process for Florida operators that allows “a person who holds a valid, active vehicle-for-hire license or permit issued by a county or municipality in which they reside to operate the vehicle in any other country or municipality without being subject to additional licensing or permitting requirements and without paying additional license or permit fees.” This massive win could effectively end years of time, money, and frustration.
The Dispatch department (L to R): Raphael Terracuso, Jason Janowitz, and Mark Sweet Their re-location from a home-based operation to a corporate office marked a new era for Larry’s, balancing business growth with the personal joys of an expanding family, which includes their young grandchildren. Despite family considerations for re-branding, the legacy of Larry’s remains entrenched in the community with many still asking to speak to Larry himself—a sign of the personal connection and trust the brand has secured. The reality is, Larry does exist, and he diligently oversees the journeys of his companies, which he says always remains grounded in unwavering family values, exemplary service, and a forward-looking vision so that they are on the forefront of luxury transportation for years to come.
Today, Larry’s is among the largest and oldest transportation companies in the South Florida area. Janowitz cherishes the reputation he has carefully nurtured since he launched more than three decades and has instilled in his team, including President of Affiliates and Global Sales Matt Janowitz and President of Operations Jason Janowitz.
Recently, after resisting the idea of producing golf shirts with the company logo for a while, his adult sons thought it would be a great idea for brand awareness. “They finally got the shirts made and now wherever they go they get stopped by someone telling them they just booked with us yesterday, or they rode with us last week, or their company uses us all the time” says Janowitz. “We’ve built up that name recognition and good reputation for over 30 years in business.”
L to R: CFO Warren Pizik, General Manager Cory Bachan, and VP of Operations Tim Clinton The golf shirts were such a simple idea, but the brand behind that familiar yellow-and-black logo is one that Janowitz fiercely protects as part of the South Florida transportation community.
Larry’s may have become a large operation, but Janowitz still treats it like it’s a small company, which means abiding by a code of ethics—whether it’s with clients, affiliates, independent contractors, or employees. It’s about consistency, owning and making good on mistakes, paying on time, and being accountable, he says. He knows that reputation is critical, but also how easily it can be bruised.
“I instilled it in my sons that this is the way we do it. Even as we continue to grow, we’re still a family-run business,” he says.
Like his father did for him, Janowitz made sure that his sons understood every aspect of running a transportation service before they could advance into more senior roles.
The company launched a bus division, Jano Coaches, about a decade ago “When we first started, my youngest son Jason would cover the phones overnight, playing video games to pass the time. Sometimes the phone would only ring a few times all night, but then it grew—suddenly, the phones were ringing throughout the night. That’s how we developed our night shift,” says Janowitz.
“Enjoying the night life, Matt would begin wakeup calls from wherever he may have been at 3 a.m.,” Janowitz jokingly explains. “That is one of the things we continue to do—wakeup calls, whether it is through a standard phone call or technology. Even in the middle of the day there is someone tracking our drivers. That is part of our quality control. It’s important that we keep our reputation intact.”
Joining the family legacy, Matt and Jason Janowitz absorbed the business’s nuances, growing from understanding the nitty-gritty of overnight calls and quality control to spearheading operations and driving strategic growth. Jason is in the office in the early morning through mid-afternoon, while Matt comes in later and stays through the evening. Understanding that the business is a true 24/7 operation, the brothers work around the clock to ensure the service provided is up to par with their clients’ expectations.
“We try to have a family member woven into the day to day, so they’ll each work a day on the weekend. We try to keep it fair with the managers—if you’re throwing out the garbage, so am I. There is nothing that we ask of the staff that we also won’t do. Holidays, weekends ... everyone splits it up,” he says.
Larry Janowitz (center) with sons Jason (left) and Matt Although the finances were (and continue to be) overseen by Jason and Bajihe, they made a bold move and hired full-time CFO Warren Pizik, also a family friend, in 2021—which was a key time for the company in between the pandemic slump and succeeding frenzy. The operational team, strengthened by General Manager Cory Ann Bachan and VP of Operations Tim Clinton, mirrors the company’s commitment to excellence and innovation. Together, they have cultivated a familial atmosphere, roping in friends and nurturing talents, while transforming employees into an extended family.
“Cory knows every job in the company. Outside of fixing cars, she can perform pretty much every function. She oversees all the departments and everybody in them, but also knows the financials and works with Jason and Warren,” says Janowitz.
In addition to handling all the company’s IT needs, Clinton helps supervise the safety department and ensures that anything electronic is in good working order—everything from computers to camera equipment to assisting the company mechanic with vehicle wiring and other components. “Tim is like an IT genius; he can fix anything” says Janowitz. “He has a big job because he also handles a lot of what I would do, but he’s our go-to guy.”
Most of the office staff—15 in all—are friends who the Janowitz family knew before they began working for the company or have become family after developing them in their position. Head Dispatcher Raphael Terracuso was a friend of Jason’s and was hired in reservations ... with not-so-great results initially.
“I told Jason, ‘This guy is terrible. He is not the right fit,’ so we tried something different. He ended up as the head dispatcher, a position he’s flourished in for years,” says Janowitz. Despite attempts at name changes—LPC Transportation or Larry’s Private Car—the company will probably always be known affectionately as Larry’s Limo to locals. Janowitz proudly explains: “We thought about changing the name to something corporate, but I say if it’s worked for this many years, leave it alone.”
With all that said, the company has more shirts on order to continue their brand recognition locally. As their presence continues to grow worldwide, be on the lookout for their newest tagline: “Is Larry in your neighborhood?” [CD0324]