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L to R: Angelo DiMarco Sr., Stephen DiMarco, and Angelo S. DiMarco
Berlin, Conn. — Premier Limousine has been named a 2018 Hartford Business Journal Family Business Awards finalist. The Family Business Awards honor the achievements of the top family-owned companies in Connecticut. Having announced an expansion in services, the addition of new vehicles to its fleet and the implementation of an advanced suite of technologies, Premier Limousine was recognized for its significant growth over the last 12 months.
“Premier Limousine would not be in the position we are now if not for the hard work, passion and dedication of both my family and the amazing team that we are so lucky to have here,” said Premier Limousine CEO Stephen DiMarco. “It’s a privilege to be named a Family Business Awards finalist, and we’re honored to be recognized as one of the leading family-owned companies in our state.”
Founded in 1985 by Stephen DiMarco, Premier Limousine currently employs five members of the DiMarco family. This includes Stephen DiMarco’s son, Angelo DiMarco, who holds the position of president of marketing & IT.
The Family Business Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of Connecticut’s family-owned businesses and tell the story of a select group of the region's most successful firms. In addition to an awards event, winners will be recognized in a special issue of the Hartford Business Journal.
For over 30 years, Premier Limousine’s focus has been to provide chauffeured transportation with an exceptional level of personal service. From friendly support representatives to courteous chauffeurs that work to go above and beyond in offering assistance, Premier Limousine is dedicated to treating every customer like family.
Visit premierlimo.com for more information.
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Matt (left) and Nikko Assolin of Nikko’s Worldwide Chauffeured Services have been named TLPA’s Limousine & Sedan Operator of the Year for 2018Rockville, Md. — What started as a local whim has turned into a national win.
After moving from New York to Houston, Nikko Assolin opened a small limousine company in 1982, a move his son, Matt, said was “sort of on a whim.” But that move paid off—and this month, Nikko’s Worldwide Chauffeured Services will receive the industry’s highest honor, having been named the Limousine & Sedan Operator of the Year by the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA).
The international trade association, the oldest and largest of its kind in the world, will honor both Nikko and Matt, who joined the company in 2008.
The company, now a 50-vehicle operation with fleets in Houston and Austin, is known for its exceptional attention to service and its high-profile clientele. Its customers have included major entertainers, politicians, and sports figures for the past 25 years.
“The Assolin family has built a remarkable company with some of the best customer service in the business, supported by excellent technology,” said TLPA CEO Alfred LaGasse. “Equally exemplary is their commitment to serving our industry through numerous volunteer efforts that help other fleets deliver the very best service.”
There are a lot of moving parts to delivering such service, according to Matt: “We exist in our industry to be in the service of our clients and there are a lot of things that go into that,” he said. “Like making sure we have great employees, making sure we have great vehicles and, in this day and age, making sure we have great technologies in place.”
Father and son will accept their award in front of hundreds of industry professionals on Oct. 28 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
The honorees also include Grigory Eskin, the 71-year-old whom TLPA will recognize as 2018’s Limousine & Sedan Chauffeur of the Year.
TLPA has recognized Grigory Eskin as 2018’s Limousine & Sedan Chauffeur of the Year
When Eskin and his wife, Rachel, left Lithuania in 1980, their goal was to give their six-year-old son a better education. Eskin spoke six languages, but not English. He had $316 to his name. But he knew a better future awaited. He worked hard and learned quickly, moving from his first job as a taxi driver to being a chauffeur with Vital Transportation, Inc., of New York City in just three years.
Four decades later, Eskin is still with the same company.
“Vital is my company; it is my family,” Eskin said. “Everything I have in life is because of Vital. If you are a hard-working person and you are willing to get something, you’re always going to get it. My main goal was to give my kids the best education. And I did.”
Berj Haroutunian, president of Vital Transportation, said it is Eskin’s strong work ethic, superb driving record and attention to detail that make him so deserving of the award. He noted that Eskin has even been honored in the past by New York City officials for not receiving a single ticket in a year, a rare achievement in such a congested metropolis.
“Grigory is one of a kind,” Haroutunian said. “I wish everyone was like him.” He notes that Eskin was with the company when it was just a 10-car fleet. It now has over 450 vehicles.
Rounding out this year’s slate of winners are:
- Robert DeLucia of Star Transportation and VETaxi of Pittsburgh: Taxicab Operator of the Year
- Frank Ciccarella of SCR Medical Transportation of Chicago: Paratransit & Contracting Operator of the Year
- Judy Griffin of Checker Cab, Yellow Cab and Blueboird Mobility of Fort Myers: Outstanding Contributor to Women in Transportation (posthumous award)
- Anthony Sims of Checker Cab of Atlanta: Taxicab Driver of the Year
- Myron Hubbard of SCR Medical Transportation of Chicago: Paratransit & Contracting Driver of the Year
TLPA will hold its 100th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas from October 27-29.
Visit tlpa.org for more information.
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L to R: MLOA First Vice President Darrell Anderson of A-National Limousine, Jim Luff of Chosen Payments, MLOA President Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation, MLOA Second Vice President Reggie Tymus of Capital City Limousine, Sarah McKee of Chosen Payments, and MLOA Treasurer Travis Latham of Fellowship Fleet with the rebate check Chosen Payments presented to the MLOA board National Harbor, Md. — Nearly 60 members, supporters, and industry friends attended the Minority Limousine Operators of America (MLOA) meeting held October 9 at the 2018 CD Show.
It was the association’s first in-person gathering since Barbara Oliver was hired as its executive director, and she was welcomed with thunderous applause as she began the meeting.
President Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation then gave a brief history of the nearly eight-year-old organization, explaining how the MLOA was born of “a lack of education for smaller and minority operators” and that its growth is thanks to its dedicated members.
“The 27 attendees of our first meeting more than seven years ago formed the nucleus of the association,” he explained. “We prioritized fellowship, have offered countless webinars and educational opportunities, and last year’s presentation from Delta yielded a half-million-dollar deal for one of our members. You’re all bringing life to the MLOA!”
Treasurer Travis Latham of Fellowship Fleet and Second Vice President Reggie Tymus of Capital City Limousine gave their respective reports—though Tymus said that big news would render his “membership report totally obsolete.”
“You’ll be shaking my hand later,” he said.
Craig Hall of Ford-Lincoln Limousine and Livery Vehicles and Brian Patnoe of Mercedes-Benz both spoke as new sponsors and expressed their intent on helping the association thrive.
“You have a special organization and we want to be here as a supporter,” said Hall, whose company was also a Title Sponsor of the CD Show.
L to R: MLOA Second Vice President Reggie Tymus of Capital City Limousine, Karen Swain of Excelous, MLOA President Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation, MLOA Executive Director Barbara Oliver, Vic Boulton of Excelous, MLOA First Vice President Darrell Anderson of A-National Limousine, and MLOA Treasurer Travis Latham of Fellowship Fleet After Sarah McKee and Jim Luff of Chosen Payments presented the MLOA’s $2,097.74 rebate check to the board, Brewster made the good-news announcement that Tymus had promised: MLOA membership is now completely free.
“Our sponsorships allow us to say that our membership is free!” Brewster exclaimed over a room of desktop drumrolls that quickly turned to applause. “Instead of paying the $295 fee, you don’t have to pay a cent. There is power in numbers, and this is one of the perks of a robust membership and the support of our generous sponsors.”
Several members immediately stepped up after the announcement to make donations to the association.
Oliver then welcomed the day’s esteemed guests, Vic Boulton and Karen Swain of the Atlanta-based consulting firm Excelous. Swain offered an extensive presentation on the best methods, tips, and strategies for crafting an RFP that does justice to the services an operator’s company can provide.
“There is a process to proposal writing,” she advised the audience. “Before you respond with an RFP, you have to understand what the job entails and demands. You cannot ignore the specifications of an RFP contract and construction: It WILL disqualify you. Read the minimum qualifications first!”
Swain further outlined the anatomy of an RFP, offered up advice like requesting a review of your RFP from the procurement officer the next time your proposal isn’t selected so you can learn what corrections to make, and how simply copying and pasting from previous RFPs or other sources from within your company is frowned upon.
And while the meeting officially ended after its prescribed hour and 15 minutes, both Swain and Boulton stayed well beyond that to lend additional insights to those looking for a crash course in RFPs.
The next MLOA meeting will be its bimonthly general conference call for all members November 28.
Visit mlooa.org for more information.
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