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Some of the volunteers distributing the CFLA’s Cans for a Cause donations Brevard County, Fla. — When the Central Florida Livery Association (CFLA) closed out its monthlong Cans for a Cause initiative at the end of May, it had high hopes of helping the food pantries at two local charities, One Heart for Women and Children and Hope & Help.
The association had hosted a poker tournament at the end of April that raised more than $1,300 to purchase food donations for the two charities—the former is an outreach organization for families dealing with domestic abuse; the latter provides support and education for those living with HIV and AIDS—and hosted an additional food drive at its May 8 membership meeting.
And on June 1, a team of volunteers comprising members of the association spent the afternoon unloading more than 20 boxes of canned goods, boxed food, and other non-perishable necessities. The donation was the largest single donation in Hope & Help’s history—a record that CFLA broke last year with its seven boxes of donated food.
The first stop on CFLA’s donation distribution was One Heart for Women and Children.
“It was very emotional for everyone who went to do the delivery,” CFLA President Wendy Kleefisch of Brevard Executive Transportation said. “We got there and the shelves were empty: All they had was some coconut water and a bottle of olive oil, since the three local pantries they previously leaned on have all closed their doors.”
Kleefisch added that people were already stopping by the center to pick up food while CFLA members were making their delivery, which deeply affected the day’s volunteers.
CFLA President Wendy Kleefisch of Brevard Executive Transportation (left) with One Heart for Women and Children President Stephanie Bowman “You can see how much these people really needed this food, especially during this time of year because most people don’t think of making food donations in the spring and summer,” Kleefisch said. “The emotion on the bus after we finished dropping off the boxes was completely different because we saw the impact this was making on the community.”
This was the CFLA’s second year supporting Hope & Help, which has since expanded to offer medical services, counseling, support services, and more.
“It was wonderful seeing how Hope & Help has grown in just a year,” Kleefisch said. “They’re more able to help patients learn how to live and give them support. Because it’s no longer a death sentence, people now need help living with AIDS and HIV.”
The CFLA’s efforts were so successful that the local news even covered their efforts. You can see the broadcast at bit.ly/2sOSrBG.
Kleefisch is overjoyed at the response this year’s Cans for a Cause, and is already looking forward to next year.
“As we grow as an association, people donate more and more,” she said. “This was the best year for Cans for a Cause so far, and next year will be even better.”
The next CFLA event will be its July 10 meeting.
Visit cfla.org for more information.
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NELA’s 2nd Vice President Tina Benson of L.A. Limousine (left) and Secretary Lynda Saitta of Momentum Drives Boston —The New England Livery Association (NELA) recently held its annual Chauffeur Appreciation Day, a yearly event where the board of directors and other members volunteer to both prepare lunches for and support the driving staff that serve as the public faces of their operations.
On June 7, the Logan International Airport Limo Pool turned into the place to be to grab some grub, win some prizes, check out some entertainment, and be recognized for all the work that chauffeurs do to keep New England’s luxury ground transportation companies running.
Now in its 18th year, the long-running day of gratitude serves up free meals of hotdogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, and sausages by the hundreds—and with all the fixin’s—to busy chauffeurs as they make airports runs to and from New England’s largest airport.
Officers and members of NELA came out to work the food stations and booths In addition to the many NELA representatives who manned the grills, ran the raffle tables, and ensured that the day ran smoothly, more than two dozen gold, silver, bronze, entertainment, copper pennant, and raffle sponsors helped make this year’s Chauffeur Appreciation day possible. Gold sponsors included Allied Technologies, Black Tie Limousine, Commonwealth Worldwide Executive Transportation, Dav El/BostonCoach, and Grace Limousine.
The next events for NELA include its June 19 annual membership meeting and August 7 annual George Colarullo Memorial Golf Tournament.
Visit nelivery.org for more information.
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L to R: Nation’s Bus CEO Chip Osborne with L.A. West’s Founder Vern Kauffman, Business Manager Paula Sterling, and Vice President of Sales Kevin Kropf as the first Sprinter comes off the builder’s production line
Statesville, N.C. — Luxury coach builder L.A. West has announced that the first vehicle has rolled off their assembly line since their brand was relaunched this year. The custom Mercedes-Benz Sprinter was delivered to Nations Bus Sales’ Florida Dealership in St Augustine. The company’s CEO, Chip Osborne, was present for the vehicle’s unveiling.
“When we were approached with the plans for Vern and his team to acquire the McSweeney luxury ground transportation segment, we were delighted,” says Osborne. “The transition has been seamless from both a dealership and end-user standpoint. I was a part of the trajectory that Vern and his team started with McSweeney, and have no doubt that it will continue under the LA West badge.”
“Nation’s Bus has been our number one dealer in volume, so it seemed appropriate that they would get that first vehicle, says LA West Founder Vern Kauffman. “We appreciated that Chip Osborne took the time out of his busy schedule to be there when the Sprinter came off the production line. We see this vehicle as a natural continuation of the McSweeney Brand.”
Founder Vern Kauffman (left) gives Chip Osborne of Nation’s Bus a tour of L.A. West’s new production facility
When McSweeney Designs left the luxury ground transportation industry to focus on its core market in performance trucks, Kauffman acquired the inventory, equipment, engineering rights, and warranties from the company. He then revived the L.A. West brand that was dormant since he sold the company to a VC firm in 2005. Kauffman then relocated the McSweeney Designs operation from Birmingham, Ala. to Statesville, N.C.
“We are fortunate to have key production and management personnel from McSweeney that are commuting from Birmingham on a weekly basis,” says Kauffman. “This has helped immensely in accelerating our launch. It saved a great deal of time with training and product development, which would have been a time-consuming process.”
Those making the drive to join Kauffman at L.A. West are Mark Isbell, purchasing manager; Dennis Treadwell, production manager; and Pete Price, line foreman; and Kevin Kropf, vice president of sales, who is a stakeholder in the company.
The L.A. West team celebrates the first Sprinter to roll off their new production line.
According to Kauffman, L.A. West’s reboot of the company has put them in an enviable position not common for most new companies entering the industry. “Normally, the biggest challenge is having an adequate sales distribution channel. In this situation, our immediate challenge was getting production set up and underway,” he says. “From a sales standpoint, there’s been 100 percent conversion rate in terms of dealers that represented the McSweeney Brand. In fact, many are expanding their commitment to the LA West brand. We have a nice backlog of orders in terms of sales. It’s a bit of a role reversal in terms of what one might expect from the industry.”
In the coming weeks, L.A. West will be introducing a Ford Transit with a European portal door. Kauffman says that the vehicle is the final stages of the engineering phase and will be introduced in June.
“This is a unit that is brand new to us, and brand new to the industry.”
Visit lawestcoaches.com for more information.
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