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Marlton, N.J. — Grech Motors, the leading bus manufacturer and ardent supporter of the industry, has signed on as an exclusive sponsor and exhibitor at National Limousine Association (NLA) and Chauffeur Driven (CD) events. The upcoming CD/NLA Shows are scheduled for Boston this October and Las Vegas in February 2020.
Grech Motors CEO Ed Grech
Grech is the first sponsor and exhibitor to fully and exclusively commit to only the Boston and Las Vegas shows produced by the NLA and CD. Vendors and attendees alike have expressed their growing frustration with the increased number of industry events and groups that have cost them time and money away from the office. By solely committing to these two shows, Grech is leading the charge toward industry harmony.
NLA President Gary Buffo
Grech has been a longtime and generous supporter of the NLA, and chose to maintain its close working relationship when the Association inked a new partnership with CD earlier this year. The manufacturer is a Diamond Sponsor of the NLA—its highest level—and has consistently given back to the Association with exclusive rebates for members who purchase Grech products. Additionally, Grech has been a consistent Title Sponsor of the Chauffeur Driven Show since 2013.
“Congratulations to Gary Buffo, Chris Weiss, the entire NLA Board of Directors, and the Chauffeur Driven team,” says Grech Motors CEO Ed Grech. “The new partnership between the NLA and Chauffeur Driven provides the industry with a foundation for guaranteed successes. This partnership will continue the momentum needed for industry progression, and we look forward to many more years of sustained growth with these amazing business partners. This partnership places NLA members in a position of strength never seen before in our industry."
Grech adds, "As the leading bus manufacturer to the luxury ground transportation industry, Grech Motors has been the number one contributor and largest sponsor of the NLA and Chauffeur Driven for many years. This new partnership provides our industry with much-needed unity. Working with the NLA Board of Directors, the NLA management staff, and the entire Chauffeur Driven team has always been an absolute pleasure, and this union has brought together the best of all worlds."
Attending the CD/NLA Shows is an immediate ROI for NLA members as half of every dollar spent sponsoring, attending, and exhibiting at the shows goes directly back to the NLA and is used to continue its strong advocacy for the industry.
“On behalf of the NLA Board, I am so thankful to Ed Grech, AJ Thurber, and the entire Grech Motors team for this new exclusive partnership as the NLA and Chauffeur Driven head into an exciting new era. Grech Motors has been the NLA’s largest sponsor and contributor for several years, and we are thrilled to continue and nurture this strong relationship. We look forward to working with Chauffeur Driven and Grech Motors to continue to support, educate, and advocate for the luxury ground transportation
industry,” says NLA President Gary Buffo of Pure Luxury Transportation.
For more information about Grech Motors, visit grechmotors.com. More information about the upcoming CD/NLA Shows can be found at limo.org, chauffeurdrivenshow.com, and in issues of Chauffeur Driven.
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L to R: John Murphey of Black Steel Transportation, Jordan Sanders of Hollowsands Luxury Limousine, NLA Board Member Kevin Illingworth of Classique Worldwide Transportation, Mary Onstead of Compass Limousine, Bill Faeth of Limo University, Eric Alimena of Alimena Limousine & Worldwide Transportation, NLA First Vice President Douglas Schwartz of Executive Limousine, Paul Kovie of Sunshine Limousine & Sedan Service, Kirk Bagger of Captains Car Service, and Steven Dial of Your Personal Driver. Marlton, N.J. — The National Limousine Association (NLA) and Chauffeur Driven (CD) are proud to announce an alliance with Limo University founder Bill Faeth, which was approved by the NLA Board of Directors in June. Faeth will work alongside the NLA to develop member-only content specifically geared toward operators with 19 vehicles or less. The exclusive content will be available to NLA members as part of their membership, and is expected to launch this summer. “No Operator Left Behind”—the brainchild of Faeth—is a multi-pronged initiative that aims to arm those small operators with the education and support they need to thrive, while connecting them with larger NLA member operators who have the experience to offer guidance. Faeth’s idea perfectly complements one of NLA President Gary Buffo’s long-term goals to bolster small operators and to make NLA Board members more accessible to the membership.
“Since 2015 when I started Limo University I have had one mission and that is to help small and midsize operators grow profitable businesses. The alliance with the NLA/CD is a natural progression to have a greater impact industrywide,” says Faeth. Content will be delivered through podcasts with a closed Facebook group so that operators can keep the conversation going. Although Faeth and the NLA will initially spearhead topics, Faeth says that he expects many more will be curated through the group conversations. The sessions will become part of an extensive library available to NLA members as long as they are a part of the Association.
Faeth, a former industry operator based in Nashville, has assisted hundreds of dedicated company leaders navigate the changing times and increase profitability since 2015 through his popular Limo University and its various programs. “This partnership and No Operator Left Behind initiative will help our members grow, market, and protect their businesses. This is perhaps the best member benefit the NLA has developed since I became a member in 1996,” says Buffo. To further strengthen the voice of the small operator, he adds that the NLA Board will be tasked with creating a small operator seat on the Board during the next bylaws revision.
Additionally, Faeth will host sessions dedicated to the smaller operators at the upcoming CD/NLA shows, starting this October 13-16 in Boston.
Find more details about No Operator Left Behind in upcoming NLA newsletters as well as in the July issue of Chauffeur Driven.
For more information about the NLA, visit limo.org. For more information about Limo University, visit limogrowth.com.
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ABC Companies will close its Camden facility in 2020
Faribault, Minn. — ABC Companies, exclusive distributor of Van Hool vehicles in North America and a provider of motorcoach sales, service and technical support announced that it will consolidate its service operations and close the Camden, N.J., facility in March, 2020. The closure is part of the company’s future growth plans to realign and expand its presence in closer proximity to the New York Metro area market.
“The difficult decision to consolidate operations in Camden has been the result of a thorough assessment of our business operations. We are committed to supporting our staff through this transition,” said ABC President & COO Roman Cornell. “We are grateful for the dedication and hard work our employees have contributed over many years.”
The Camden site offers a full range of fleet maintenance and repair services including body shop, mechanical, and technical services. Over the next year, ABC will begin to consolidate operations in Camden as they complete a multi-million renovation at its Jersey City location. Encompassing five acres, the expanded site will double the size of existing operations to include equipment sales, service, and body shop services, and a new 20,000 square foot parts warehouse and sales counter. A full inventory of new and preowned motorcoach models will be available on site for inspection, test drives, and sale, including new ABC Express Van Hool models for fast customer delivery.
“We have been a proud member of the Camden community for the past four decades,” said Senior Vice President/Eastern Region Mike Laffan. “While we reposition our business to meet and exceed the expanding needs of our customer base, we’ll continue to focus on providing high-quality service both during and after the transition.”
Visit abc-companies.com for more information.
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