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The Minnesota Chauffeured Transportation Association (MCTA) held its most recent meeting March 21, where members and potential members alike gathered at Elsie’s Restaurant in Minneapolis for dinner, networking, and discussion.
President Len Nelson of Valley Limo began the meeting before introducing the evening’s two guest speakers, Steve Holes of the Metropolitan Airports Commission and Gary Meyer of Prime Security Bank. Holes, manager of landside operations, offered preliminary information about and took questions regarding the 2018 Super Bowl in Minneapolis, and also updated those in attendance about airport construction. Meyer discussed commercial financing, particularly in regard to what makes a business bankable and what makes a bank a good financing source.
The meeting’s member highlight focused on Bernie Fautch of Eclipse Global Transportation. The 32-year industry veteran began his career at another company before his time with Eclipse, where he’s been working for 18 years. He shared a few of the tips he has both learned and lived over more than three decades in chauffeured ground transportation, especially the importance of putting savings aside and hiring good people.
Vice President Charlie Murray of Total Luxury Limousine updated members about upcoming industrywide events. On a more local level, Murray also explained how the Minnesota Restaurant Association is leading the movement to influence the minimum wage proposal to recognize total taxable income—commonly referred to as “tip credit”—in a $15/hour policy, which would affect transportation companies headquartered in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, meanwhile, is spearheading the effort to limit cities’ ability to have their own minimum wages.
After Secretary/Treasurer Gina Brennan of Corporate Car & Coach delivered her reports, the meeting closed out with a round-up of new business to address, such as putting MCTA signage on members’ vehicles to denote them as association supporters and finalizing yearly meeting dates.
Visit mnlimo.org for more information. [CD0517]
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The Maryland Limousine Association (MLA) hosted a Bull & Oyster Roast & Limo Show at Jimmy’s Famous Seafood April 9. Among the meeting’s attendees were Chauffeur Driven Director of Events Jess Pavlow and Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela.
MLA President Michael Greene of A Platinum Plus Limousine presided over the meeting, which doubled as a fundraiser. Attendees were able to view a 2017 Lincoln Continental on display. Vendor sponsors East West Lincoln, Executive Automotive Service, T-Mobile, and Rohrer Bus Sales supported the event. A DJ was provided by Martens Johnson Insurance Agency and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse supplied gift cards for raffle to support the fundraiser for the association. “We had a blast,” Greene said.
About $1,500 was raised at the inaugural event, one that Greene intends to repeat as a relatively new president of the association: His term started in November 2016 and will run for two years. He has been a longtime board member of the MLA but was prompted by recent legislation to get more involved.
“By increasing the visibility of the association with an event like the Bull & Oyster Roast, we can increase membership and become a strong voice in our community,” Greene remarked. To cap off the event, MLA Vice President Joanna Fridinger of The Limo Lady won a full show pass to the 2017 CD Show, which will be held in Orlando from October 22-25.
Visit mdlimoassoc.org for more information. [CD0517]
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More than 75 attendees came out to support the Greater California Livery Association (GCLA) when it met up in Las Vegas March 14. CD Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela was among those present for the evening meeting.
With President David Kinney of API Global Transportation at the helm, the meeting kicked off with a summary of the association’s January Day on the Hill in Sacramento. Kinney also thanked those who participated in the legislative event for their support and encouraged more members to attend in the future.
Amendments to SB-109, a bill pertaining to emergency exits in party-carrying vehicles, were considered a “significant victory” for GCLA and the industry alike, as it changed the financially onerous original mandate of adding a fifth door to one that more realistically required an exit hatch in limousines. Members were reminded that January 1, 2018, is the new date for enforcement for adding pop-out windows or a roof hatch to limousines that required modification.
The meeting’s keynote speakers were Charles and Spencer Tenney of Tenney Group, which specializes in the acquisitions and mergers of transportation companies. The father and son, respectively, discussed the industrywide trends they’ve seen emerge, such as the acceleration of retirements, concerns over regulation, rising interest rates, and high valuations.
The Tenneys went on to emphasize the importance of educating potential buyers. After explaining why having—and being familiar with—a business plan can help tell your story, they covered topics that help owners become better sellers, such as taking a proactive role in the sales process, offering confidentiality protection, and doing credit checks on those who express interest in doing business with you. From a buyer perspective, the two stressed the importance of authentic empathy, humility, and kindness in approaching a deal with a seller who might be coming to the deal reluctantly, and cautioned against walking away from negotiations too soon, as there is a shared risk in virtually every transaction.
In terms of regional news, beginning May 11, all operators dropping off passengers at Los Angeles International Airport will have to ask their passengers which terminal they’re heading to, due to increased congestion during the Delta relocation from terminals 5 and 6 to 2 and 3—the largest airline relocation in LAX history, which will affect 21 airlines. For pickups, GCLA suggests checking with airlines and flightstats.com to ensure passengers are met at the correct terminal. Visit goo.gl/72Wf1Y to learn more about the relocation.
Next up for the GCLA is its May 16 meeting in San Diego. Visit gcla.org for more information. [CD0517]