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“Going back to 1942, our belief has always been that customer support is ultimately what drives sales,” said Schetky Vice President David Schetky. “When looking to open a facility in Arizona, one of the comments we heard over and over again was that customers did not feel like they were getting the proper level of support. This was exciting for us, because support is what we excel at. Schetky opening an office in Arizona became the perfect fit.”
In their new location, Schetky will be representing the industry’s top bus manufacturers, including ElDorado, Goshen, Champion, and World Trans.
“Schetky is a very strong dealership for REV Group, and their company is known for going above and beyond to service their loyal customers,” said REV Bus Group’s Regional Sales Director Jason Walle. “As a REV Platinum Partner, Schetky is a great example of how our partnerships can bring success, and our commitment to them allows Schetky to provide the absolute best pricing and parts availability.”
The new office is easily accessible via major freeways such as I-10, Loop 101 and the upcoming completion of Loop 202. Along with vehicle sales, Schetky will be offering parts and service for customers in Arizona, and will provide training for all vehicle and wheelchair accessibility components.
Visit schetkynw.com for more information.
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Meetings are a significant component of the five-day event, and the ABA Annual Meeting on Saturday was just one opportunity for the greater community to come together for an update about both the past year and what lies ahead. Various regional associations, boards, committees, and councils embraced this unifying opportunity to bring their far-flung members together to face-to-face discussions over the course of the conference.
During the annual meeting, ABA announced its 2018 board officers:
Chairman of the Board: Don DeViVo of DATTCO in New Britain, Conn.
Vice Chairman of the Board: Gene Berardi of Adirondack Trailways in Hurley, N.Y.
Immediate Past Chairman: John Meier of Badger Coaches in Madison, Wis.
Treasurer: John Miller of Miller Transportation in Louisville, Ky.
Additionally, Mike Dickson of Southeastern Stages in Atlanta, Ga., and AJ Kinney of Great Day Tours and Charter Bus Service in Cleveland, Ohio, were voted to three-year terms; Nicole Twigg of Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau in Louisville, Ky., was voted to a one-year term; and Kim Grzywaczof CIT Signature Transportation in Ames, Iowa, was appointed a one-year term as the 2019 ABA Marketplace Chairman.
"ABA recently went through a strategic planning routine and have mapped out the next three years for the association and how we service our members and the industry," said ABA President & CEO Peter Pantuso. "These new officers and board members will play a key role in helping ABA continuing being the most respected and valued motorcoach, travel, and tourism association and I look forward to working with all of these dedicated professionals."
With educational sessions, speakers, and workshops accounting for a significant part of the conference, ABA offered more than 50 seminars led by an array of speakers and industry experts alike. Its breakout-session program was divided into three tracks: Professional Development, Technology, and Sales and Marketing. Short informational sessions on the showroom floor, safety education from ABA's Bus Industry Safety Council, maintenance and operations education, legislative updates, webinars, and certifications all rounded out the spate of learning opportunities to be found in the Charlotte conference.
Keynote Speaker Steve Miller shared his nontraditional approach to marketing and branding. Miller, whose book Uncopyable takes its name from his business philosophy, told attendees about his formula for helping companies—including some among the Fortune 100—separate themselves from their competition to grow as entrepreneurs and find success.
The beating heart of the conference is its fundraising work, and this year was no exception. The philanthropic initiative ABA Gives Back has raised money every year for a charity based in the conference's host city since 2007; thanks to attendees' generosity, ABA Gives Back has raised more than $347,000 in the past decade. This year's beneficiary was the Isabella Santos Foundation, which was established in 2009 in honor of its young namesake, who succumbed to the neuroblastoma she battled for five years since her diagnosis at age 2. The foundation has donated more than $1.5 million to neuroblastoma cancer research and children's cancer charities in search of a cure, and ABA members raised another $25,085 to support its passionate mission.
Up next for ABA is its Capitol Hill Flyover Days in Washington, D.C., which it will host in conjunction with the United Motorcoach Association April 10-11. The 2019 ABA Meeting & Marketplace will be Jan. 25-29 in Louisville, Ky.
Visit buses.org for more information. [CD0318]
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Since 2013, the England-based industry magazine Professional Driver has honored the private car, chauffeur, and taxi industry with a black-tie event that recognizes the companies, teams, and individuals who maintain the integrity and high-touch service that exemplify luxury chauffeured transportation.
This year was no exception. On November 23, a crowd of more than 450 guests included the chauffeurs usually waiting in parked cars outside galas and special events who found themselves in the middle of the action—often, right in the spotlight—as well as the decision-makers who have navigated their companies through the perilous, uncharted territory of existing alongside TNCs and were celebrated for their myriad successes.
An independent panel of four industry-entrenched judges—including ProDriver Editor Mark Bursa—selected the honorees, who were recognized for everything from creative marketing approaches, community contributions, and continually elevating the perception of the U.K.’s private car industry from the busy streets of London to the remote northern corners and everywhere between.
Chauffeur Company of the Year, 1-10 vehicles
Gold – Orion Luxury (London)
Silver – Cole Executive Hire (Malmesbury)
Bronze – Chauffeur Travel (Bath)
Chauffeur Company of the Year, 11-30 vehicles
Gold – iChauffeur (London)
Silver – Driven UK (Horley)
Bronze – Herts Executive (Welwyn Garden City)
Chauffeur Company of the Year, 31+ vehicles
Gold – Club Class Chauffeurs (Hailsham)
Silver – Brunel (London)
Bronze – Little’s Chauffeur Drive (Glasgow)
Bronze – Premiere Chauffeur Drive (London)
Private Hire Company of the Year, 1-80 vehicles
Gold – Go Green Taxis (Didcot)
Silver – Cabs Smart (Ipswich)
Silver – Location Cars (London)
Bronze – Castle Cars (Tonbidge)
Private Hire Company of the Year, 81+ vehicles
Gold – Parker Car Service (London)
Silver – Royal Cars (Oxford)
Silver – Carrot Cars (London)
Marketing Award
Gold – GLH (London)
Silver – Addison Lee (London)
Bronze – Go Green Taxis (Didcot)
New Start Business
Gold – Orion Luxury (London)
Silver – London Luxury Chauffeuring (London)
Bronze – Myhills Mini Coaches (Cambridge)
Community Award
Gold – Street Cars (Manchester)
Silver – GLH (London)
Bronze – Solway Private Hire (Silloth)
Environmental Award
Gold – Addison Lee (London)
Silver – Greentomato Cars (London)
Bronze – Cloud Cars (Nottingham)
Professional Driver of the Year
Gold – Hilary Hutchinson (Lakeland Chauffeurs)
Silver – Simon Peacock (Capstar Chauffeurs)
Bronze – Marc Brodie (GLH)
Bronze – Bogdan Tepes (Herts Executive)
While the Professional Driver of the Year is a hard act to follow and typically serves as the evening’s grand finale, there was a surprise last call this year. The Special Recognition Award, befitting its name, had a particularly significant meaning in the wake of the tragic, fatal bombing at a concert in Manchester this past spring.
In a time of chaos and confusion, chauffeurs from all over the region prioritized people over profit to safely ferry dazed concert-goers and bystanders to safer grounds free of charge. According to Bursa, who presented the award, among those leading the rally to help was Sameer Arshad of Street Cars—the evening’s 2017 Community Award Gold medalist—who "asked all his drivers to pick up as many people in need of rides home or to the hospital as possible." He reportedly told his drivers: "This is our city, at the end of the day. Money’s not everything."
"On May 22, a suicide bomber murdered 22 people and injured more than 60 as they left an Ariana Grande concert at the MEN Arena in Manchester," Bursa said before inviting Arshad up to the stage to accept the award "on behalf of all the north-western taxi and private hire companies and drivers who went well beyond the call of duty" to become the city’s fourth emergency service on that terrible night.
Bursa added: "Many drivers and operators turned off their meters and offered free rides to get people to safety. Some drivers abandoned their cars and went inside the police cordon on foot to find their frightened customers and escort them out of danger and back to the car. Drivers from all across the region offered to help. Companies from Liverpool sent cars to Manchester, and the local taxi firms worked through the night, without pay, to get people home safely."
The evening also saw the eighth presentation of the Professional Driver Car of the Year awards, selected by readers of the magazine after a full day of testing more than 60 vehicles back in August. This year’s big winners were:
Chauffeur Car of the Year: BMW 740Le xDrive Exclusive
Green Car of the Year: Hyundai Ioniq Electric Premium SE
Luxury SUV of the Year: Volvo XC60 D5 Inscription
Executive Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz E220d AMG Line
GMPV of the Year: Mercedes-Benz V250d AMG Line Extra Long
Estate Car of the Year: BMW 530d Touring xDrive M Sport
2017 Professional Driver Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz E220d AMG
Visit prodrivermags.com/qsi-home for more information about and photos from the award ceremony. [CD0118]