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MLOA President Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation began the meeting by discussing the increased educational opportunities the association has been offering its members by the way of webinars and programs, as well as other benefits of membership and a summation of the MLOA’s past year in highlights.
Making good on the MLOA’s promise to deliver relevant, in-demand information, the meeting featured Keynote Speakers Daniel Selby of Daniel Selby PLLC and Randel Holmes of Delta Airlines.
Selby, an accountant, gave those in attendance an interactive session on “the business of tax.” Along with discussing mergers and acquisitions, he dispelled the double-taxation myth as it relates to profits being taxed at both the corporation and individual levels. He also helped demystify heady topics like alternative tax triggers, as well as explained how to scale one’s business for pro-activity.
MLOA 1st Vice President Darrell Anderson of A-National Limousine was credited for introducing Holmes to the association—and sidestepping an offer for his company to handle a global contract for Delta by opening it up to all MLOA members in good standing instead.
Holmes discussed that business opportunity, as well as how to make the most of corporate philosophies for companies aiming “to make their suppliers and employees as diverse as their customers.” He also examined the mechanics of RFP submissions by using examples of the newly launched Delta A320 plane and what those 11-13 crew members expect from their dedicated ground transportation providers.
At the end of the meeting, Brewster acknowledged the many meeting sponsors and the MLOA advisory board of vendors, reiterating that the latter’s knowledge and former’s support make providing the education that members demand possible.
Chosen Payments ended the meeting on a high note by presenting Brewster with a rebate check for $1,656.47.
The next MLOA meeting will be its November 29 conference call.
Visit mlooa.org for more information.
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With FLA President Rick Versace of A1A Limousine & Airport Service presiding over the meeting, he kicked off the breakfast gathering by sharing some of the wisdom that he and other association leaders gained—and even dispensed himself—during the previous day’s Association Summit.
“Associations elevate the industry,” he said. “They help you be successful because you’re sharing what you know with others, and they’re helping you learn from what they know. You learn how to present yourself and how to keep it classy while working together.”
Indeed, unity is an inevitable topic when discussing the notoriously fractured state comprising 67 counties that are all ruled by their own unique sets of laws and regulations, and Versace stressed that a continued concerted effort is the only way to survive.
“It’s all about unity,” Versace advised. “Associations help you be successful, but you have to help them be successful with your participation and support.”
He then launched into a review of what the FLA and the state’s transportation operators have been facing lately, starting with regulations that have come to fruition in the past year—which have betrayed just how uneven the regulatory landscape has become in a post-TNC world.
“The playing field has gotten so lopsided, it’s ridiculous,” said Versace. As TNCs are all but exempt from coughing up the same local fees that chauffeured ground transportation operators are, one particular pain point stemmed from how the state imposes a $1,000 citation for both a chauffeur and their company if a car enters a county in which it has not been licensed to operate.
This has led to the FLA considering a return to state legislators to appeal for the same regulations that TNCs are afforded: a one-time statewide operational license that puts an end to constantly worrying about crossing county lines. Versace emphasized that this is not to say they’re courting deregulation but rather seeking eased operations.
Versace described the country-by-county regulations as being holdovers from when smaller companies were worried about Florida’s bigger businesses eating up their client base—a concern, he says, that has already come to pass with TNCs.
One silver lining in the constant storm of TNCs is the improved technology they’ve brought to the ground transportation sector, which GroundWidgets’ Stephen Power discussed during his presentation about global distribution systems.
David Thompson and Paul Zizzo of RRL Insurance were also among the meeting’s guest speakers, and discussed how an uptick in major claims losses are why insurance rates are on the rise. They also explained what it means when the industry is in a hard market and how safety measurements influence insurance payments.
Versace added that the FLA is currently working with some providers to develop app-on insurance to help operators save costs in that regard. He also reminded those in attendance that the association always benefits from active board members and encouraged interested parties to help make the FLA an active force for positive change in Florida’s transportation landscape.
Before the meeting concluded, members of the Chosen Payments team presented Versace with the FLA’s rebate check, which came to $4,997.13.
Visit floridalimousine.com for more information.
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Under the theme “Celebrating 100 Years,” the convention featured three informative general sessions; 29 educational sessions on important topics affecting the industry; a robust trade show; the election of TLPA’s new president, officers and directors; and more. In addition to Premier Sponsor Autocab, the four-day event was made possible with the generous support of industry vendors, including Gold Sponsors Atlas Financial Holdings and Ford Motor Company; Silver Sponsors MTData, Paratransit Insurance Company, and Verifone; and Bronze Sponsors The Black Car Fund and Metro Transportation Planning & Solutions Group.
On the convention’s opening day, attendees braved Denver’s first snowfall of the season to participate in a tour of host operator Metro Transportation Planning & Solutions Group’s facility. The educational segment of the convention opened that afternoon with the ever-popular discussion groups covering diverse topics including independent contractor issues; marketing; contracting; responding to RFPs; hiring and retaining drivers and support staff; duty of care; becoming a TNC; and cost-cutting measures.
The Opening General Session on Tuesday afternoon featured outgoing President Bill Scalzi’s address, which included a look at TLPA’s accomplishments over the past year. These included significantly changing the membership dues structure, reducing costs, and increasing member benefits for operator members; developing Ride Local, a new marketing program for members; identifying and working on developing strategies to enable TLPA member operators to compete more effectively with TNCs; and in a surprise announcement, Scalzi presented the association’s CEO, Alfred LaGasse, TLPA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his 40 years of service to TLPA.
The convention also featured the election of officers and directors of the association in the coming year. The highlight was electing Mike Pinckard of Total Transit in Glendale, Ariz., to serve as TLPA president.
In his first remarks as president, Pinckard said, “We must begin the process of reshaping our vision for the future in a more inclusive and collaborative manner; in a manner that seizes the new and exciting opportunities before us, by blending the greatness of our past, with the innovations and excitement of the future.”
To that end, Pinckard outlined three key objectives during the coming year, including:
– Creating a new and inspirational strategic plan that provides the roadmap to the future of TLPA;
– Focusing on a new structure for TLPA that better serves its members, including improved conferences and meetings, more powerful research and analysis, and laser-focused government relations; and
– Launching a comprehensive brand review designed to re-define TLPA’s image and re-position the association to operate in a more inclusive and collaborative manner.
Pinckard concluded by stating, “I’m truly honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve as president of the TLPA, and I look forward to working with all of you, as we work together to shape the next phase in the evolution of this great industry.”
Planning is already underway for the Spring Conference & Expo in Oklahoma City from April 10-13, 2018, as well as for the grand celebration of TLPA’s 100th Annual Convention & Trade Show, October 26-30, 2018, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Visit tlpa.org for more information.
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