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But the story really begins two or three years ago, when Devlin realized that neither a corporate office that only offered surface parking nor continually renting out space made for a tenable long-term arrangement for his company and the motorcoaches in his fleet.
“From the standpoint of efficiency, morale, growth, and making an investment, it was time to buy our own building,” said Devlin. “What predicated that decision was getting into the coach industry, since we didn’t really have a place to park those bigger vehicles. When we bought our first two motorcoaches, we secured a secondary lot about 10 miles away from our office, but it was inefficient, inconvenient, and our coach chauffeurs felt isolated for being so far from the office and everyone else.”
A two-year search was followed by some repairs and remodeling once Devlin found the 44,000-square-foot former manufacturing facility that sits atop more than two acres of land: With its ample space for maneuvering buses and coaches, plus a prime location that allowed for both garage and office space, it was a perfect fit. And within just a couple of months, the renovated building was ready for the Premier family to throw open its doors for a welcome reception.
“I knew we were going to have a big open house,” Devlin said of an event that turned an office building into a catered soiree with food, cocktails, wall-to-wall decorations, a green-screen photobooth complete with props and costumes, and DJs. “But what I didn’t know was the extent that my team would go to. They literally transformed a warehouse into something else. It was just an incredible setup. It was a great setting and our clients loved it.”
In addition to having three minicoaches by Grech and some Mercedes-Benz Sprinters by First Class Customs on display, the open house also presented an opportunity for Premier to reconnect with its extended family and make sure that affiliates, vendors, and clients alike were able to put faces to the names they’ve been working with and enjoy some in-person conversation.
Devlin credits Director of Global Sales Lori Clark, Facilities Manager Todd Davis, Marketing and SEO Director Shelby Harris, and Associate Sales Kristi Walker for going above and beyond to ensure that the day was a success that brought the whole Premiere family together. Drawing on Walker’s DMC and planning background, plus relying on Clark and Harris to manage the guest list and other logistical moving parts while Davis “made the building look great,” Devlin knows that his entire team “worked tirelessly” to make it all come together spectacularly.
“By leaps and bounds, we exceeded our expectations of not only the production of the event but also the effect that it had on our clients,” he said. “When you think of a limo company, you don’t always get a great visual picture. But we really blew people away with our facilities.”
Affiliate Manager Jami Crouch added that being able to host an event while also maintaining the daily tasks that keep the company running added to the positive impression that Premier’s guests got from the day.
“Allowing our clients, partners, and guests to see our operation from the inside was really important,” she said. “Inviting them to see where everything happens, to see our dispatch department, to meet the people taking their reservations makes it so much more human. Plus, they got to see us host an event while still running the company—they got to see that we have a great team who can handle anything.”
And having the visible support of the industry behind them as the Premier team celebrated its newest milestone was the icing on the cake.
“Having so many of our affiliate partners come from all over the U.S. to support us as we opened a new facility by just being there for us and celebrating with us was such an incredible feeling and such a wonderful thing to be a part of,” Crouch added.
Now that life has settled back into a more day-to-day routine, Devlin is pleased with the new location’s convenient proximity that puts his company within five minutes of the downtown scene, 10 minutes from the city-owned public airport Love Field, and 20 minutes from DFW.
“We’re now really close to most of our starting and ending points,” he said. “Being so centrally located is already helping to increase the efficiency of our company.”
Visit premierofdallas.com for more information.
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As a result of the deal, B-Line will acquire key aspects of RJ Limos' infrastructure including their affiliate contacts, websites, domains and customer database. While B-Line will not be acquiring any of RJ Limos' vehicle assets, they have opted to absorb some of RJ Limos' drivers.
"In our business, contacts and relationships greatly impact the bottom line, so while this acquisition is indicative of our growth, it will also allow us to reach even further into our existing markets," said Bookidis.
The assets that B-Line did acquire will be absorbed into the existing brand, based out of Edwards, Colo.
"With this acquisition, we project a 100 percent increase in revenue in 2017, but this acquisition is about more than the bottom line, it is about maintaining the B-Line culture," said Bookidis. "We deliver only the best on both ends – our customers receive a luxurious and safe transportation experience, and our employees enjoy comprehensive benefits that rival the best mountain employers."
Within their operating markets, a significant portion of B-Line's business was retail and private transportation, such as airport commutes, and corporate business was supplementary. By contrast, Milfeld's business and affiliates had ties to corporate business, particularly non-emergency medical transportation.
"As Rob'ert exits the industry we have an opportunity to build on the foundations that he established with weddings, special events, and commercial entities in the valley and bring them into the B-Line fold," said Pippett. "Though we never directly competed, both of our companies prioritized safety and service, and that will continue as we serve our community on all levels. Everybody has somewhere to be; we just want them to enjoy the experience of getting there."
Visit aspenvaillimo.com for more information.
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Ann Marie Limousine was a subsidiary of Battisti Customs, a top manufacturer of custom vehicles. Epic’s strong relationship with Battisti’s owners led to an agreement to purchase the company. Epic moved Ann Marie’s operations to the South Bend Airport to better service its clients in St. Joseph County.
The move to South Bend Airport was no accident. In addition to strategic acquisitions, Epic Limo leverages its ties to the aviation industry to continue to grow. President Brian Sheely has years of experience in private aircraft charter and has brought those skills to bear in the limousine operation. Epic looks for opportunities to base locations at airports to better serve clients with convenience and speed.
Epic’s expansion began in 2015 when Sheely looked for opportunities for growth in the form of strategic acquisitions. That year, Epic Limo bought Cedar Mill Limo in St. John, Ind. The two companies already had a great working relationship, so purchasing Cedar Mill’s fleet and integrating its employees into the Epic team was a natural fit.
Then in June 2016, Epic acquired Southlake Limousine of Highland, Ind., Southlake had a large fleet and was one of the longest-running ground transportation companies in the state. Adding Southlake’s location to Epic’s footprint put the company within 28 miles of Chicago City Center and greatly expanded its ability to serve the Chicagoland and Northern Indiana areas.
Grateful for its growth and reach, Epic Limo is committed to giving back to the community and has shared its success by generously supporting various local charity organizations. Epic gives to a wide range of charitable efforts, such as Make a Wish, Housing Opportunities, Opportunity Enterprises, Reins of Life, The Caring Place, Honor Flight Network, and local VFW posts.
“It is our goal to provide our customers with top-notch service, in comfort and safety, whether we are taking them to the airport, on a corporate outing, or on a wine tour. We believe we provide the best luxury service in our markets,” says President Brian Sheely.
Visit epiclimoinc.com for more information.
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