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- Category: Industry News
Golden Limousine International President & CEO Sean Duval has been awarded the 2024 Honorary Community Service Degree from Washtenaw Community College (WCC). This esteemed recognition celebrates Duval's support of WCC students and his extensive contributions to the regional community as a local business and community leader.
Duval is not only a successful entrepreneur running a thriving business, but he is also a dedicated philanthropist. His vision for Golden Limousine International extends far beyond business excellence. Having held numerous leadership positions within the Ann Arbor & Ypsilanti communities, including two years as chair of the Washtenaw Community College Foundation Board and currently serving as the board chairman of the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, he continues to provide engaged and innovative leadership for these and many other organizations and encourages others to do the same. His decades of community service also include significant contributions to Destination Ann Arbor, A2Y Regional Chamber, Ele's Place, Michigan Works!, among others.
The Golden Limo story began over 32 years ago when Duval set out to transform the chauffeured transportation industry locally. His goal was to set new standards in service and reliability and create a company deeply embedded in its community. Today, Golden Limousine International is a proud industry leader, recognized for its unwavering commitment to its core values: Service, Excellence, Reliability, Value, and Efficiency. They believe that by serving their community, they are contributing to its betterment while enhancing their own company culture and values.
During his address to the Spring 2024 WCC graduating class, Duval shared valuable insights from his journey as a business and community leader:
- Failure is inevitable and necessary: "Each of my setbacks has been a steppingstone, a necessary step to learn hard lessons, teaching me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of never giving up."
- If it is to be, it's up to we: "If we continue to foster a spirit of collaboration and mutual support, we can ensure that no one is left behind. It's up to WE. WE are the help we are looking for."
- Opportunity, not passion: "Find what you are good at, continuously hone your abilities, and be open to new possibilities. Success often comes at the intersection of skill and opportunity."
These words of wisdom encapsulate the essence of Duval's leadership and his commitment to making a difference.
Visit goldenlimo.com for more information.
[07.02.24]
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On Tuesday, June 18, the Illinois Limousine & Bus Association (ILLBA) held another session of their midmorning Coffee With ILLBA webinar series. With guest speaker Jim Luff of Aurora Payments, the online event tackled the topic Everything You Want to Know About Chargebacks but Are Afraid to Ask.
In the midst of a heatwave in Chicago, ILLBA President Tracy Raimer of Windy City Limousine & Bus and Secretary/Executive Director Paula DeBiasi addressed upcoming events in the Midwest that will be of interest to operators, specifically the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, and the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Luff was then introduced, who kicked things off by acknowledging that chargebacks are “a necessary evil of the business.” The 35-year veteran of the luxury ground transportation industry and Aurora Payments’ association relationship manager then launched into a PowerPoint presentation.
First and foremost, the session elucidated the definition of a chargeback, namely “the payment amount returned to a credit or debit card after a customer disputes the transaction.” Luff then detailed the three causes of chargebacks, which include True Fraud, Friendly Fraud, and Merchant Errors. True Fraud refers to a customer’s use of a stolen or counterfeit card. To defend yourself from this crime, Luff suggests that operators have procedures in place to verify the ID of the person using the card. Also, he advised that operators be ready to notify the credit card company with a “Code 10” transaction, which alerts the bank of a potential unauthorized purchase. Friendly Fraud, which Luff said is on a huge uptick since COVID, occurs when a family member or employee uses a credit card. In these cases, documentation of the service (e.g., GPS tracking) or threat of legal action generally dissuade the chargeback. The third category of chargeback, Merchant Errors, generally happens when a customer doesn’t recognize the business name on their statement. Again, documentation is key to defending your company in this instance.
Luff also reviewed the telltale signs of telephone fraud (i.e., overly chatty customers who request that the charge be run immediately) and common myths of chargebacks. Above and beyond everything, operators are strongly encouraged to respond promptly to any chargeback, even if it’s a small amount of money. Ultimately, too many chargebacks on your record can hurt small businesses and negatively impact their relationships with credit card companies. The presentation concluded with a lively Q&A session.
Before ending the webinar, DeBiasi reminded operators that Chicago City Tax Filing is due August 15. She and Raimer also encouraged all operators and chauffeurs to report illegal operators at the airport. While they said that airport officials and police are making an effort to reduce bad actors, they simply don’t have the manpower to oversee all curbside activity. Taking cellphone pictures of license plates goes a long way with shutting down illegal activity. Incident reports can be accessed by clicking here.
If you missed this month’s Coffee With ILLBA, simply click here for a recording of the proceedings. The next webinar is scheduled for July 16, and will focus on low-cost marketing ideas.
Visit illba.org for more information.
[07.01.24]
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- Category: Industry News
It is with heavy heart that Chauffeur Driven announces the passing of industry mainstay Kaye Marseilles after a long illness. She was 72.
Kaye is best known for being part of Grech Motors’ superstar sales team for more than three decades. However, she began her time in the industry as a chauffeur, eventually starting her own limousine service. In 1988, she joined popular limousine manufacturer Krystal Enterprises in sales, a position she held through the company’s transition into Grech Motors.
“I am lucky to love what I do and enjoy working for my clients to have them grow with me,” she said of her sales career.
A regular at tradeshows and industry events, Kaye was much beloved by operators and other sales professionals.
“Sometimes there’s that one person that from the moment you meet them, they make an impact on you for a lifetime. That was Kaye Marseilles—not just a treasure to the industry, but truly one of my very best friends. Words will never describe how thoughtful and kind she has been to everyone she’s ever met. I aspire to one day be just half as great a person as she was and always will be in my heart,” says Tammy Carlisle of Action Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation.
“Kaye will be missed by many in our industry. Her bright smile and charismatic personality made her someone we all wanted to be around. She will always be our queen!” says Tami Rutter of Commonwealth Worldwide.
“Sad to hear of Kaye's passing. I first met her a few years ago at an industry show. Although I was certainly not the prospective client she was looking for, she took a genuine interest in my small company, and we had some great chats. May she rest in peace,” says Paula DeBiasi of Chicago Coachworks.
“Life will not be the same without Kaye. She was a legend and gave so much to this industry. I will miss her so much, especially at the shows. It was her and I against all the men lol!” says Tina Hyde of Executive Coach Builders.
“Kaye Marseilles was trailblazing woman! She was a top performing sales star in a time when women were not expected or respected. May God bless her family with the peace that surpasses all understanding,” says Yvette Roybal of Octane Buick GMC.
The Chauffeur Driven team would like to extend their condolences to Marseilles’ family and friends. We will post information about services once they become available.
[06.25.24]