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San Diego, Calif. — KLTS Limousine has announced the acquisition of one of Southern California’s oldest limousine operations, LJ Transportation. Following its most successful fiscal year-to-date, KLTS made its first move in a plan to acquire companies in order to establish nationwide roots. KLTS hopes this acquisition will catapult the 13-year-old company to the forefront of San Diego’s leading ground transportation providers.
Following the acquisition, KLTS Limousine will house 42 senior chauffeurs, and a new fleet of 40+ vehicles. LJ Transportation will continue to operate under its name at its current location, which will also serve as a second headquarters for KLTS.
“I look forward to combining the potential and quality of service my team and I have built KLTS upon and the 30-plus years of great business LJ holds to this day,” said KLTS President & CEO Mike Muhsin. “I think this merger of old and new will bring KLTS to an exciting place as a serious player in the Southern California market. With this expansion, KLTS plans to concentrate on gaining affiliates, large groups as well as new accounts nationwide.”
Founded as a one-car operation in 2003, KLTS is San Diego’s second largest ground transportation provider. LJ Transportation was founded in 1985 by owner Calvin Steria.
Visit kltstransportation.com for more information.
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Houston — In its biggest event of the year, Houston Area Livery and Charter Association (HALCA) celebrated the holiday season with well over 100 guests comprising industry friends and family. CD Director of Events Jess Pavlow was among those who traveled all across the country to attend the annual party.
Newly elected president Ismael Abed of LaBrees Limousines and Past President Erich Reindl of Avanti Transportation emceed the event, with Reindl running the auction that highlighted the evening. Among the items won that evening was a pass to the 2017 CD Show in Orlando, which was won by Gary LeCamu of Diamond Limousines.
The full 2017 board of directors is as follows:
President: Ismael Abed of LaBrees Limousines
Vice President: Matt Assolin of Nikko’s Worldwide Chauffeured Service
Secretary: Lauren Barrash of The Wave
Treasurer: Mary Vaught of Vaught Insurance
Directors: Moe Boughaba of Houston Corporate Transportation, John Ferrari of AFC Transportation, Amer Hourani of A Ambasador Limousine & Transportation, Josef Khanoyan of AAA Corporate Car & Limo, and Younes J. Ouazdi of Transgates Limousines
Visit the newly redesigned houstonlimos.info for more information.
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Des Plaines, Ill. — The Illinois Limousine Association (ILA) kicked off 2017 with its first open board meeting of the year on January 3, hosted at vendor member Midwest Transit Equipment’s headquarters and included a vehicle preview.
The meeting saw 35 members and nonmembers alike come together for the opportunity to discuss attendees’ various industry, operational, and TNC-related questions, as well as an overview of what the association is planning for the year to come.
“ILA’s first meeting of the year was a breath of fresh air!” said ILA President Tracy Raimer of Chicago Transportation Group. “The attendance was great, and the interaction and discussion from everyone was lively and informative. We spent a bit of time discussing what topics our membership would like to see for our upcoming annual meeting on May 10, and were able to create a decent list of ideas to begin working on.”
“I feel it was a great starting meeting for the year,” added ILA Vice President Brian Whitaker of Chicagoland Transportation Solutions, who was especially thrilled with the camaraderie exhibited by those in attendance. “The discussion was incredible: Ideas were flowing from many of the attendees. Members and non-members started throwing out questions, like where to get buses washed and who to use for phone answering service—right away, George Jacobs offered for them to bring their bus to Windy City, where it would cost less to wash than what they were paying now. And Chris Vecchio of Chi Town Party bus offered to talk with another member about answering services and even hinted that he had something in the works himself.”
As the ILA has been embroiled in a fight with the city of Chicago to seek a more level playing field between the regulated transportation industry and TNCs, some of the conversation inevitably steered toward that—though it was unanimously appreciated that the focus was more on empowering operators than fighting with the likes of Uber and Lyft.
“One comment that was great to hear was from Anuj Patel of Ponterelli Companies that we were having great discussions and that the words “Uber” and “Lyft” were no longer the main topic of conversation,” Whitaker said.
The next open ILA board meeting will be February 1.
Visit illinoislimousineassociation.com for more information.
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