- Details
- Category: Industry News
PBA Executive Director Patricia Cowley
Easton, Pa.— Chairman of the Pennsylvania Bus Association (PBA) John Bailey recently named Patricia Cowley as the new Executive Director of the Association. The announcement was made at the PBA’s annual meeting in Atlantic City, N.J., this past June.
Cowley stated the following:
“As the Pennsylvania Bus Association has been doing great things for the industry, I am excited about this opportunity to bring my energy and skills into the mix. My initial primary goals are to increase awareness of the value of the association to operators, and to enhance the existing programs and processes for the benefits of the members.
A little more about me: I have been actively involved in the related activities of the bus industry since the early ‘90s, and also serve as the executive director of the Greater New Jersey Motorcoach Association. My initial introduction was through Charter Partners. We managed a very large purchasing program for transportation clients throughout the mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. I was involved in the development of an industry peer group called Motorcoach Partners with Integrity (MPI). During my involvement with MPI, I have facilitated all aspects of group management. I developed several cooperative purchasing programs, including the purchase of fuel and other common supplies. From an educational value perspective, I have organized events for our members’ safety leaders, drivers, mechanics, human resource personnel, and the owners.
I also bring experience working with a board of directors. I currently serve as the secretary for the Cooperative Partnership Insurance Company, domiciled in Vermont. I have fulfilled this role since 2005. Part of my responsibilities include generating board and committee agendas, meeting material development and distribution, including post-meeting material, follow-up on deliverables, coordinating meeting arrangements, and corresponding with state legislators and attorneys. I have my bachelor’s degree in business administration, and an accounting degree.
I am looking forward to making some positive changes in addition to the initial primary goals stated above. In line with the PBA objectives, these will include recruitment of additional members and enhancing communications to bring more value to the membership. Further, these initiatives will include implementation of consistent, informative communications utilizing email, tapping into social media, enhancing the website and databases, exploring industry topics for educational purposes, and interaction with other transportation industry leaders and contacts.”
PBA was founded in 1923 and represents motorcoach operators, associate members, and travel supplier members.
For any additional information, contact Bailey at either jbailey@baileycoach.com or 717.718.0490, ext. 117.
Visit pabus.org for more information.
[CD0719]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
RoadStallion custom Sprinter
Easton, Md.—Luxury chauffeured group transportation provider RoadStallion recently announced its expansion into five new markets: Nashville, Chicago, Los Angeles, Baltimore/Washington, and Central Wisconsin. Customized RoadStallion Sprinters are also available in NYC, Atlanta, Tampa, and at every major U.S. event venue, since RoadStallion operating partners bring the fleet to the venue city to serve clients attending those events.
Together, with its operating partners in each market, RoadStallion arranges transportation on a personalized, bespoke basis to fit each customer’s requirements. These include exclusive ground transportation packages for premium events such as the Kentucky Derby, The Breeders’ Cup, The Masters, NBA All-Star game, NCAA Final
Four, CMA Awards, and major PGA events. Clients can also book a customized Dream Golf Day in a RoadStallion to 5-star golfing venues throughout the country.
Interior of a RoadStallion Sprinter
“A few reasons operators choose to partner with us is because we help drive business to our operating partners beyond what they generate on their own,” says Executive Vice President of RoadStallion Steve Duncan. “We also share the risk and reward of success without interfering with our operating partners’ complete control over the
deployment, positioning, and pricing of the services they provide using RoadStallions.”
RoadStallion describes their vehicles as highly differentiated, which allows their operating partners to compete more effectively in their markets and earn greater margins.
“We believe in the strength and power of the ‘wow factor’ in our business, says Anuj Patel of Pontarelli Companies. “It starts with our customer service and ends with our chauffeurs and vehicles. The RoadStallion provides that wow factor every single time someone uses it—or even just sees it for the first time. The RoadStallion team is hands-on and has been with us every single step of the way to ensure the perfect experience for us and all of our customers.”
Visit roadstallion.com for more information.
[CD0719]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
L to R: Olympus Limo Operations Manager Duane Sells and CEO Ted Koutsos with a 2019 MCI Livery Edition J4500s coach
Tampa, Fla.—Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is continuing its growth in the high-end limousine market with the delivery of three all-new Livery Edition MCI J4500s to Olympus Limo.
These high-spec, all-black coaches, built specifically for growing group business in the limousine market, will support Olympus Limo’s 45-vehicle fleet, which includes sedans, SUVs, vans, minibuses, and two pre-owned D4505 and J4500 coaches.
“These are our first new coaches,” said CEO Ted Koutsos, who with his wife Katie, started New Port Richey, Fla.-based Olympus with two stretch limousines in 1996. “Now, we’re positioned to offer a higher end level of luxury transport demanded by many of the corporate and destination management companies we serve today, especially on longer 600-mile plus coach trips.”
Koutsos chose MCI’s 2019 Livery Edition coaches for their comfort, amenities, advance technologies, and striking black exterior. The model features curb appeal, best-in-class legroom, baggage capacity, and interior space. The Livery Edition adds black leather diamond stitch seating for 56 passengers in addition to woodgrain flooring, a programable lighting package to personalize the interior in variable hues, a top-of-the-line entertainment system, and power outlets with UBS ports at each seat. The 2019 model is also equipped with an e-fan cooling package and clean-diesel Cummins engine to improve fuel efficiency every mile.
And for added safety, Olympus added MCI’s optional 360-degree camera that provides a bird’s-eye view around the entire coach to assist with parking and small movements.
The all-black exterior prominently features Olympus Limo’s logo. “Black implies a luxury-level industry standard,” said Koutsos. “This is the first-time black coaches of this rank and reliability are available in the areas we serve. Now we have a diverse fleet to cover it all—we can serve every size group and budget including school trips, local charters, and shuttles. And we do it all with exceptional service around the clock.”
Olympus Limo CEO Ted Koutsos (left) with MCI Southeast region V.P. of New Coach Sales Sean Kelchen
Olympus Limo was originally founded to serve Koutsos’ family-owned Spartan Manor banquet facility to transport wedding parties and other customers. Over time, Olympus started adding sedans, SUVs and minibuses to serve a widening clientele including cruise ship transport along Florida’s west coast and trips to Orlando and Miami. Tampa has become a favorite port of departure for a growing number of cruise passengers who want to enhance the cruise experience with a day or two at either the front end or on the back end of any of a variety of Caribbean itineraries.
Olympus’ first coach was a pre-owned MCI 102 DL3 bought in 2008 and today, it is one of the largest providers of luxury transportation on the West Coast of Florida.
“We’ve built trust over time with our customers,” said Koutsos. “We did it with limos first starting as the smallest but then grew to be the largest.” Olympus Limousine employs 11 office staffers and 55 uniformed drivers and today, the coach side of the business now accounts for about 40 percent of revenues and continues to grow.
Koutsos sees the ride-share phenomenon in part good for business. “It has created a marketplace where people are comfortable with paying for transportation services, and we’ve been able to grow by adapting.” Koutsos also believes in sharing equipment with affiliates in need of need extra coaches for larger events. “Our three new livery-edition J4500s put us in a good position to help other higher-end operators when they need us,” he said.
Visit olympuslimo.com for more information.
[CD0719]