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“We are excited about this relationship for a number of reasons, not the least of which is Nations Bus’s strong reputation in the industry for cultivating long-term, repeat customer relationships with their clients,” said Vern Kauffman, COO for McSweeney Designs. Kauffman further lauded Nations Bus’s “full commitment to providing world-class sales and service for the product lines they represent,” and has complete confidence in the dealer’s ability to represent McSweeney Designs in marketplace
The new partners said that they were elated to immediately see the benefits of their alliance at October’s Chauffeur Driven Show in Miami, Fla. While jointly manning the McSweeney Designs booth on the exhibit floor, the combined efforts of McSweeney Designs and Nations Bus resulted in the sale of two MD Exec Livery 14-passenger portal-door luxury shuttles to Simon and Barbara White, the owners of VIP Transportation Group of Orlando, Fla.
The Whites commented about their new purchase: “We are extremely proud to have partnered with McSweeney Designs and purchased two of their all-new design 14-passenger Executive Mercedes Sprinters with more units to be added in our fleet for 2016. McSweeney’s design and quality of craftsmanship is an exact fit for what our corporate and affiliate partners are now demanding from us.”
Building upon this positive dealer and end-user momentum, McSweeney reports that Nations Bus Sales will be stocking its product to ensure quick delivery, as well as to leverage the strengths of its in-house design, engineering, and build teams to assist clients in the development of custom-tailored upfit solutions to uniquely suit their own upscale transportation needs.
Send an email to vkauffman@mcsweeneydesigns.com or chip@nationsbus.com for more information.
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Even though he had the high bid of $45,000 at the LCT-NLA Show East auction on Nov. 9, Jacobs continued to raise his bid in $500 increments until he thought the price was right. When the gavel came down, he paid $48,000 to the NLA to benefit the Harold Berkman Memorial Fund, the limousine industry’s leading charity and philanthropic arm.
“My goal was to add another Transit to the Windy City Limousine fleet while also supporting the Howard Berkman Memorial Fund. I kept bidding because I didn’t think enough money had yet been raised,” Jacobs explains. “Everything I have in my life I got from the limousine industry, and when you get a chance to donate back to the same industry, you should do it. That’s how I feel.”
Ford donated the 15-passenger high-roof Transit wagon to NLA for the auction as part of the Ford Lincoln Limousine and Livery Vehicles’ annual support promotion for the association. Last year’s promotion raised $39,000 each for NLA and the Harold Berkman Memorial Fund.
The Fund is named after the late Harold Berkman, founder of Los Angeles-based Music Express, a past NLA president, and a founder of the professionally organized limousine industry. To date, the Charity Fund has contributed more than $750,000 to various charities, including When Georgia Smiled, Alliance for Lupus Research, American Cancer Society, City of Hope, CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and Philabundance.
“Ford is proud to be a long-time partner with NLA and to work together to support the Harold Berkman Charity Fund,” says Craig Hall, Ford fleet marketing manager, commercial vehicle sales and marketing. “Supporting this charity fund helps organizations doing important work like finding cancer cures and preventing domestic violence.”
Jacobs bought the first Transit limousine built in the United States earlier this year and says he has been planning to add more Transit vans to the Windy City Limousine fleet ever since. Transit, America’s best-selling full-size van, is available in 58 configurations from the Kansas City factory.
Visit limo.org/harold-berkman-memorial-fund or windycitylimos.com for more information.
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Robin McGraw announced the partnership November 20 in a video message posted to her foundation’s Facebook page. The message was then shared by Robin’s husband, television personality Dr. Phil McGraw, to his show’s Facebook page November 23.
The Aspire Initiative includes a potentially lifesaving smartphone app, Aspire News, is available free of charge to download on Google Play, as well as at whengeorgiasmiled.org. The app allows a user to create a pre-written text or voice message to be sent to designated numbers (such as 911 or other chosen emergency contacts) with just the tap of a button. The ignition of the app's "go button" also starts a recording to capture the details of the domestic violence encounter and/or other dangerous events taking place. Aspire Newsis designed to appear like any other smart phone app to the untrained eye, allowing it to be both downloaded and used discreetly.
“Hailing a private driver, unfortunately, does not always come without risk and I am so proud that my foundation, When Georgia Smiled, has partnered with Ride Responsibly to further broaden our reach, increasing passenger safety and awareness,” McGraw says. “We are proud to be a part of this vital initiative to keep our roads and our citizens well-informed and, ultimately, safer.”
"This alliance is a necessary step in our deeper commitment to fight violence and sexual assault. We are proud to partner with When Georgia Smiled and Aspire, educating the public of the help available at their fingertips, when they need it most," adds Buffo. "With an alarming number of recently reported sexual assault cases involving ride-hailing drivers, it is an imperative initiative to provide safety to those who find themselves in danger."
The partnership is an extension of the NLA’s ongoing Ride Responsibly initiative to increase passenger safety, education, and awareness for anyone using a ride-hailing app-based car service such as Lyft, Uber, or Whisk. The campaign urges consumers to arm themselves with the necessary tools to Ride Responsibly and make informed choices when it comes to their own safety.
Visit whengeorgiasmiled.org to learn more about both When Georgia Smiled and the Aspire Initiative, rideresponsibly.org for more information about Ride Responsibly, and limo.org for more about the NLA.
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