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Joe and Michele Magnano
Newport Beach, Calif. — The kindness and generosity of the chauffeured ground transportation industry was on full display this past week when they rallied together to raise $72,615 for a friend in need.
In 2017, Michele Magnano, the wife of CLI Worldwide President Joe Magnano, was diagnosed with Stage IV adrenal cancer, an extremely rare and particularly insidious form of the disease. Recently, her oncologist recommended an experimental treatment called Cryoablation, which may help Michelle tremendously, but unfortunately is not covered by insurance.
Anxious to help his friends, A.J. Thurber of Grech Motors stepped up and created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds toward Michelle’s treatment. Thurber forwarded the link to his friends, and the news quickly went viral among the industry on social media.
On the GoFundMe page, Thurber wrote: “Anyone who knows Michele, Joe, and their family of humans and canines already know that if the roles were reversed, they are always the first ones to lend a helping hand. No situation prevents them from coming to the aide of someone, even during the toughest battle of their lives. Even though they do so unconditionally and without expectation, now is the time that we can help and be a part of Michele’s fight to beat this dreaded disease.”
Just 48 hours after the campaign went live, more than $60,000 was raised by 112 donors, which was more than $10,000 over the initial goal set by Thurber. The amount has continued to climb in the days that followed.
“We are truly beside ourselves with the love and support we have received from so many!” says Joe. “Our transportation family has been so instrumental in these efforts we are overwhelmed. So many of you who are close to us and the many of you whom are not have changed our lives forever. The battle we are facing is tough, but with the support from all of you, we shall prevail. This business is tough enough for all of us, but when our industry rallies TOGETHER we can accomplish so much! We want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts! THANK YOU!”
Visit bit.ly/2LzCBS7 to learn more about Michele or to contribute to the cause.
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305 Transportation Founder Alex Malek
Miami — With nearly two decades focused on providing high-quality chauffeured transportation services for clients around the world, industry veteran Alex Malek has launched 305 Transportation to create a unique specialized company aimed at offering attentive boutique five-star services for the luxury market. Based in southern Florida, 305 Transportation currently holds exclusive partnerships with various hotels in the region. Utilizing his seasoned expertise as an entrepreneur and experience within a corporate organization, Malek’s goal with 305 Transportation is to build a company where excellence in service is at the forefront of the business.
“Although the industry has experienced a lot of changes over the past few years, I know that there is still a strong need for first-class chauffeured transportation services in the luxury market. 305 Transportation is dedicated to meeting the demands of this market by bringing back a premier service that exceeds what clients would expect,” said Malek. “Providing our clients with the highest level of attention is the cornerstone of this company. We are dedicated to maintaining these exceptional standards with every individual, group and business we serve.”
With the Miami market open to the boutique first class, personal attention that Malek is accustomed to providing, 305 Transportation’s staff are very knowledgeable and prepared to provide the services expected from this level of clientele. The company uses the latest technology to keep track of logistics, personnel and air travel, and aims to provide a variety of transportation services, ranging from airport transfers and special occasions to meetings and events. In order to accommodate any number of passengers, 305’s fleet will range from sedans to minicoaches.
Contact alex@305transportation.com for more information.
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Matt Daus of Windels Marx on CNN
New York — Frequent Chauffeur Driven contributor Matthew W. Daus, a partner at the firm of Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, shared his insight in a CNN in a piece entitled Thousands of Criminals Were Cleared to Be Uber Drivers. Here's How Rideshare Companies Fought Stronger Checks, which discusses how public safety is being put at risk daily by companies like Uber and Lyft.
The segment, which aired June 1, addressed the many failures of the self-governed TNC background check system. It revealed that a study in the three states—Maryland, Massuchussets, and California—found that 1000s of drivers with, what should be, “disqualifying criminal records” were still working for TNCs. One of these active drivers was currently on parole after serving time for a murder charge.
Drivers are said to have been vetted by rideshare companies but many disqualifying drivers are slipping through the cracks. The issue is that while traditional transporters follow specific guidelines in order to operate, TNCs are allowed to set their own rules in regards to background checks and fingerprinting.
Daus, former Commissioner/Chair of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission says their game plan in every single state is to get a law passed that's just for them. He also added, "Taxis and limos are still required to abide by the old, more stringent rules, but Uber and Lyft have a free for all. It's become the Wild West."
Visit cnn.it/2xAHecD to watch the video.
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