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Everett, Mass.—Scott Solombrino, the longtime president and CEO of Dav El/BostonCoach Chauffeured Transportation Network, is leaving his position after 43 years. Solombrino, who founded his first limousine company in 1978 while a freshman at Suffolk University, is moving on to focus on his leadership roles within the ground transportation industry and write a memoir of his life in the industry. Under Solombrino’s leadership, Dav El/ BostonCoach grew to become one of the country’s largest privately held chauffeured transportation companies.
Solombrino will remain a strong force for the betterment of the ground transportation industry internationally, through his work as president of the Allied Leadership Council for the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and as a member of its Board of Directors, positions he has held for more than 20 years. Solombrino will also continue serving as secretary and director of the National Limousine Association (NLA), of which he was a four-time president and co-founder. He will remain a leading voice and ferocious advocate for improved safety regulations for ride-hailing companies through his leadership roles with Ride Safe Massachusetts and Ride Responsibly.
The decision not to renew his current employment agreement with Dav El/BostonCoach was made after a long and deliberative process. In addition to his focus as an industry leader and icon, Solombrino plans to write a memoir detailing his life in the industry. He had strong praise for Dav El/BostonCoach and is very optimistic about the company’s future.
“This is a decision I am making for positive reasons and I look forward to the future,” said Solombrino. “I leave Dav El/BostonCoach with great pride, knowing our team is operating the finest chauffeured transportation company in the world. Our standards have set the bar and our reputation for impeccable services are unmatched in the ground transportation sector. I want to thank David and Derek Marcou and all of our employees, and want them to know I have full confidence they will continue leading this company toward a great future. I wish everyone the best as I move on to the next chapter in life.”
Solombrino’s positive impact on the industry was never more evident than in 2002, when the U.S. Congress and President Bush unanimously passed legislation expanding the rights of chauffeured transportation operators nationwide. His continued dedication, discipline, and hard work contributed to the passage of the landmark legislation on behalf of the industry he worked for throughout his career. Now, he looks forward to telling his story.
“It’s been an incredible ride in an amazing industry. I have so many positive experiences to share and have gained a unique perspective on life through this work. I now will have time to write that story,” added Solombrino.
Visit davelbostoncoach.com for more information.
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Before opening La Costa Limousine, Brown owned a thriving mobile auto detailing business. He realized that his client base would also be an ideal target market for limousine service. Brown discussed his plan with Theriot, and they decided to go into business together. As Brown says, “This was the 80’s—running a limousine company was going to be fun.” And it was!
Starting with one vehicle, Brown and Theriot did it all—driving, answering the phones, maintaining the limousine, and marketing the business. After nine months, they had two cars, and by the next year they hired another chauffeur because they now had three vehicles. In his mind, Brown never expected to have more than five vehicles: That was the dream.
Word got around about the excellent service La Costa provided, and the late 1990s saw a huge leap in La Costa’s operations. They went from four cars to 18 in a short time period.
“It can be hard to operate as a 12-15 car business, but we were able to fly through those potential growing pains,” explains Brown. “We landed the Dav El account, which brought us a lot of business. We had stretch limos running to Los Angeles and back all day long and on the weekend, seven days per week. Our per car revenue was incredible.”
By 2005, La Costa was recognized by major industry awards, but every business faces challenges, and the financial crisis of 2007-2008 hit La Costa hard, as it did just about everyone in the industry. La Costa weathered the tough times and adapted to stay financially strong. Today, the company has 60 vehicles and 130 employees serving all of San Diego County, Los Angeles, Southern California, and nearby states such as Arizona.
“At Commonwealth, we’ve been working with La Costa Limousine for over 15 years. Their service is absolutely flawless, and their staff is a pleasure to work with. We consider La Costa to be an all-around top-notch partner to Commonwealth,” says Commonwealth Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation Global Affiliate Director Tami Saccoccio.
When Brown and Theriot look back at what enabled La Costa to thrive when so many companies have failed, they know exactly what has set them apart. They offer top-of-the-line service and have never tried to be the cheapest, because people will pay for quality. No service provider can be perfect, but when something goes wrong, La Costa does whatever it takes to make it right. Brown says that they never wanted to be the biggest game in town, but because of their good reputation, they are now the busiest.
Thirty years in the limousine industry in California have given Brown and Theriot many memories and a lot of great stories. Brown recalls the client who lived at an exclusive resort and booked limo service every day to do her errands—including trips to Target so she didn’t overpay for socks at the resort! Another client booked a limousine to take him and his dog from San Diego to Toronto for a family reunion: all told, the round trip took two weeks for him and his dog.
Brown and Theriot are grateful for the opportunities and the success they have had, so they give back to the community and their employees. La Costa donates regularly to charities and fundraisers. Their special passion is the Make-A-Wish foundation, and they have been honored to provide more than 2,500 rides for deserving children. Brown and Theriot are proud of the many employees who have worked for La Costa for a long time, including two office staff members who have been there for over 20 years.
As they look to the future, Brown and Theriot have some exciting plans, but more than anything, they intend to keep providing the stellar service that has built their reputation. They are careful to make decisions that will play to their strengths, serve their clients well, and set them up for many more decades of success.
Visit
lacostalimo.com
for more information.
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Since Sanchez founded the company in 2007, Hermes has established itself as a well-respected ground transportation operation, which offers a full-service fleet ranging from sedans to motorcoaches as wells as event planning services. In addition to the Hall of Fame honor, Hermes was also a runner up for Meetings + Events Best Transportation Provider for 2019.
Sanchez is proud to be included in the Hall of Fame, especially since Hermes is the first chauffeured ground transportation company to be recognized in the category.
“I feel very honored that our company was the first in our industry to win in this category; it makes it even more special. The award is a testament to the hard work and dedication our team exhibits every day. I am very proud of what we have accomplished but at the same time I feel like we still have an exciting journey ahead of us.”
The operator has big plans in place to establish itself as a pre-eminent transportation provider, while continuing to grow within the meeting and events space.
“The commitment that meetings and events industry personnel make to pull off the impossible never ceases to amaze me,” says Sanchez. “I have never been associated with a more committed group. The attitude is never ‘no’ it’s always ‘let me see what I can do.’ The meetings and events industry always manages to bring calm to the chaos.”
Visit hermesworldwide.com for more information.
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