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MLA President Len Joseph of On The Town Limousines (left) with VLA President Bill Kerr of Camryn Executive Transportation
The Maryland Livery Association (MLA) and Virginia Limousine Association (VLA) held a joint meeting on October 15 in the ballroom at the CD/NLA Show at the Gaylord National. Sponsored by Advantage Remarketing Solutions and HILB Group, the meeting featured a packed house of operators and vendors from the Beltway Area and beyond. Under the theme of “the Importance of Local Associations,” MLA President Len Joseph of On The Town Limousines and VLA President Bill Kerr of Camryn Executive Transportation presented as a tag team and welcomed several high-profile guest speakers.
First, NLA and New England Livery Association President Brett Barenholtz of Above All/Maine Limousine was introduced to talk about the NLA and associations as a whole. He said that being part of regional/national organizations presents operators with a “unified voice,” particularly in times of crisis. Barenholtz also spoke of the importance of lobbyists to local associations, as they give the group a powerful voice with legislators. Lastly, the NLA president said that being part of regional associations is “like having a 20-group” as you can share ideas and issues with fellow operators.
Next, Kerr introduced representatives from the meeting’s sponsors. Eric Coolbaugh of Advantage Remarketing Solutions spoke briefly about his company’s services as dealer and financer of vehicles, and he was followed by Bryan Johnson of insurance provider the HILB Group. Joseph then took the opportunity to thank Chris Weiss and Rob Smentek of Chauffeur Driven for supporting local associations in the magazine and at meetings. A representative from Limo Anywhere also spoke, offering 50 percent off set up fees to the meeting’s attendees.
NLA Treasurer/Florida Limousine Association President Rick Versace of A1A Global Group was next to take the podium. He reinforced Barenholtz’s sentiment about the strength of lobbyists and then spoke a bit about the insurance crisis facing the industry. Versace cited tort abuse as the primary cause of the exceptionally high rates that operators are seeing. He also discussed the importance of operators and chauffeurs having access to the curb at airports.
Then, Jennifer Matthews and Andrea Bickley of the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority were introduced. The pair was on hand to perform on-site permitting for operators who operate at Dulles and Regan International Airports.
Kerr and Joseph then offered tips and advice to build stronger local associations. Joseph advised leaders to “always think about takeaways and bring education to every meeting.” He shared that the MLA member attendance has grown substantially at their meetings and credits the education and guests that they offer at their lunchtime meetings. He also suggested that organizations need to build a board of directors the way one would build a business. Joseph encouraged the associations to get good vendors involved on the board level. Kerr discussed the recent revamping of the VLA with a new board and emphasized the importance of joining other regional associations as an affiliate member.
Visit marylandliveryassociation.org or virginialimousineassociation.org for more information.
[10.21.24]
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Can you believe we’re less than a week away from the 2024 CD/NLA Show in National Harbor? We’re ready to hit the Gaylord National on October 13-16, located just outside Washington, D.C., and frankly, we couldn’t be more excited. We’ve planned four days of networking, education, and, yes, fun, and can’t wait to see our industry friends and colleagues once again. Despite the show being just around the corner, there’s still time to register and, most importantly, save money. Simply click here to join the industry event of the season and beat the onsite prices.
By now, you’re undoubtedly more than a little interested in the 2024 CD/NLA Show events and sessions, and who can blame you? But if there were only a simple and easy way to get the lowdown on the entire show and plan your time in National Harbor… Well, thanks to returning sponsor North Point Global Transportation Services, the show app is here! This app is your gateway to all of our show’s exhibitors, attendees, speakers, events, floor plans, and so much more—in other words, everything you need to navigate the CD/NLA Show. Just head to your favorite app store and search for CD NLA Shows to download the newest version of our show app.
Once you have the app, you can schedule personal appointments with other app users, whether it’s having coffee with an affiliate or dinner with a vendor. Don’t forget that you can also customize your show agenda by saving events that you don’t want to miss and receive push reminders. Download today and create your personal profile. It’s easy and free!
Nicole Banks of I AM Resource
In the meantime, while you’re planning your show experience on the app, be sure to make plans to stick around on Wednesday, October 16, for a pair of deep-dive sessions. First from 8:45-10:15 a.m., we have Beyond the Basics: Advanced Strategies for Leveraging Team Personalities. Join presenter Nicole Banks of I AM Resource as we will explore advanced strategies to improve communication and collaboration within your team. Learn how to use the strengths of diverse personalities to resolve conflicts, make better decisions, and create a more cohesive, high-performing work environment. Walk away with practical insights and techniques to help your team achieve sustained success.
Sean Duvall of Golden Limousine International 
Jeff Shanker of Black Tie Transportation
Then at 10:30 a.m., we conclude our educational programming with Perfecting the Recipe for a Stronger Risk Management and Safety Plan, an in-depth look at building your safety program. In this session, moderated by Sean Duval of Golden Limousine International and featuring speaker Jeff Shanker of Black Tie Transportation, you’ll go beyond the basics and dive into real-world examples you can bring back and implement right away. You’ll get hands-on materials, templates, and practical tools that will take your safety efforts to the next level. Whether you’re refining your current program or building from scratch, this session will give you the actionable resources you need to drive results.
Visit cdnlashow.com for more information.
[10.08.24]
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HighPoint Solutions Founder & CEO Carol Grant
HighPoint Solutions is pleased to announce their launch into the luxury ground transportation industry. Based in Carlsbad, Calif., the family-run enterprise is poised to provide operators, vendors, and suppliers with an array of FinTech services, such as credit card processing and fraud alerts.
Founder & CEO Carol Grant has close to a decade of experience with credit card processing in the industry and is a respected and familiar face. She’s served in various roles within the processing industry, including partnership management, customer service, operations, and tech support. Her extensive experience and leadership drive the company’s commitment to providing exceptional support and innovative solutions.
“I love creating relationships and helping luxury car service owners and merchants with their day-to-day operations, whether it’s accepting credit cards or giving them advice on their POS systems,” says Grant. “I really enjoy matching the right people with the right types of services.”
Grant’s experience with credit card processing makes her an invaluable partner for any business, particularly when it comes to her skill in finding areas that can save her clients time and money by analyzing existing card statements—a must in a profit-sensitive industry like transportation. Furthermore, she’s adept at handling card disputes, especially when operators are frustrated by a suspicious chargeback. In those unfortunate circumstances, Grant says she and her team will go to bat for you.
While HighPoint Solutions serves a variety of industries, including bike dealers, jewelry sales, and other high-ticket items, Grant says she feels most at home in the chauffeured transportation sector. She began her credit card processing career assisting operators with their financial needs.
“This industry is extremely unique; it’s a tight-knit community among affiliates, which is something I’ve always respected. I have knowledge of the software companies that operators utilize, and I understand the small business owner. I have a thorough grasp of what operators need to run their businesses efficiently and profitably,” she says.
Another aspect of the industry where Grant has immense familiarity is with local and regional associations. As a one-time director of association partnerships, she worked first-hand with industry organizations and knows the specific processing and FinTech needs.
“I have experience managing and cultivating association relationships. I am proud to say that I recently joined the Colorado Limousine Association as a vendor member, and I look forward to expanding relationships with other associations,” says Grant.
As a family-owned and operated firm, HighPoint Solutions is committed to service excellence and reinforces that a team member can always be reached, regardless of the day or time zone. Grant’s hands-on approach is geared toward total customer satisfaction, and she affirms that the company will always look out for their client’s best interests.
“I’m really excited to bring my expertise to this sector and assist operators in reducing costs and improving efficiency,” says Grant. “My strong connection with the chauffeured transportation industry has always fueled my passion for driving meaningful change and delivering results,” says Grant.
Visit highpointsolutionsgroup.com for more information.
[10.08.24]