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FLA President Rick Versace of A1A Limousine & Airport Service Orlando —With the 2017 CD Show happening right on their collective home turf, members of the Florida Limousine Association (FLA) and its many chapters and affiliated organizations—particularly the Central Florida Livery, Greater Orlando Limousine, and West Florida Limousine associations—held a standing-room-only morning meeting October 23.
With FLA President Rick Versace of A1A Limousine & Airport Service presiding over the meeting, he kicked off the breakfast gathering by sharing some of the wisdom that he and other association leaders gained—and even dispensed himself—during the previous day’s Association Summit.
Stephen Power of GroundWidgets “Associations elevate the industry,” he said. “They help you be successful because you’re sharing what you know with others, and they’re helping you learn from what they know. You learn how to present yourself and how to keep it classy while working together.”
Indeed, unity is an inevitable topic when discussing the notoriously fractured state comprising 67 counties that are all ruled by their own unique sets of laws and regulations, and Versace stressed that a continued concerted effort is the only way to survive.
“It’s all about unity,” Versace advised. “Associations help you be successful, but you have to help them be successful with your participation and support.”
He then launched into a review of what the FLA and the state’s transportation operators have been facing lately, starting with regulations that have come to fruition in the past year—which have betrayed just how uneven the regulatory landscape has become in a post-TNC world.
Industry members and association leaders from all over the country attended the October 23 FLA meeting “The playing field has gotten so lopsided, it’s ridiculous,” said Versace. As TNCs are all but exempt from coughing up the same local fees that chauffeured ground transportation operators are, one particular pain point stemmed from how the state imposes a $1,000 citation for both a chauffeur and their company if a car enters a county in which it has not been licensed to operate.
This has led to the FLA considering a return to state legislators to appeal for the same regulations that TNCs are afforded: a one-time statewide operational license that puts an end to constantly worrying about crossing county lines. Versace emphasized that this is not to say they’re courting deregulation but rather seeking eased operations.
Versace described the country-by-county regulations as being holdovers from when smaller companies were worried about Florida’s bigger businesses eating up their client base—a concern, he says, that has already come to pass with TNCs.
Members of the Chosen Payments team present Versace with the FLA’s rebate check One silver lining in the constant storm of TNCs is the improved technology they’ve brought to the ground transportation sector, which GroundWidgets’ Stephen Power discussed during his presentation about global distribution systems.
David Thompson and Paul Zizzo of RRL Insurance were also among the meeting’s guest speakers, and discussed how an uptick in major claims losses are why insurance rates are on the rise. They also explained what it means when the industry is in a hard market and how safety measurements influence insurance payments.
Versace added that the FLA is currently working with some providers to develop app-on insurance to help operators save costs in that regard. He also reminded those in attendance that the association always benefits from active board members and encouraged interested parties to help make the FLA an active force for positive change in Florida’s transportation landscape.
Before the meeting concluded, members of the Chosen Payments team presented Versace with the FLA’s rebate check, which came to $4,997.13.
Visit floridalimousine.com for more information.
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Newly elected TLPA President Mike Pinckard of Total Transit Denver — When the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association’s (TLPA’s) 99th Annual Convention & Trade Show headed to Colorado October 8-12, it brought together decision-makers from fleets across the U.S. and around the world, all eager to learn about the industry’s latest innovations and best practices.
Under the theme “Celebrating 100 Years,” the convention featured three informative general sessions; 29 educational sessions on important topics affecting the industry; a robust trade show; the election of TLPA’s new president, officers and directors; and more. In addition to Premier Sponsor Autocab, the four-day event was made possible with the generous support of industry vendors, including Gold Sponsors Atlas Financial Holdings and Ford Motor Company; Silver Sponsors MTData, Paratransit Insurance Company, and Verifone; and Bronze Sponsors The Black Car Fund and Metro Transportation Planning & Solutions Group.
On the convention’s opening day, attendees braved Denver’s first snowfall of the season to participate in a tour of host operator Metro Transportation Planning & Solutions Group’s facility. The educational segment of the convention opened that afternoon with the ever-popular discussion groups covering diverse topics including independent contractor issues; marketing; contracting; responding to RFPs; hiring and retaining drivers and support staff; duty of care; becoming a TNC; and cost-cutting measures.
TLPA CEO Alfred LaGasse (left) accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award from Outgoing TLPA President Bill Scalzi The Opening General Session on Tuesday afternoon featured outgoing President Bill Scalzi’s address, which included a look at TLPA’s accomplishments over the past year. These included significantly changing the membership dues structure, reducing costs, and increasing member benefits for operator members; developing Ride Local, a new marketing program for members; identifying and working on developing strategies to enable TLPA member operators to compete more effectively with TNCs; and in a surprise announcement, Scalzi presented the association’s CEO, Alfred LaGasse, TLPA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his 40 years of service to TLPA.
The convention also featured the election of officers and directors of the association in the coming year. The highlight was electing Mike Pinckard of Total Transit in Glendale, Ariz., to serve as TLPA president.
In his first remarks as president, Pinckard said, “We must begin the process of reshaping our vision for the future in a more inclusive and collaborative manner; in a manner that seizes the new and exciting opportunities before us, by blending the greatness of our past, with the innovations and excitement of the future.”
To that end, Pinckard outlined three key objectives during the coming year, including:
– Creating a new and inspirational strategic plan that provides the roadmap to the future of TLPA;
– Focusing on a new structure for TLPA that better serves its members, including improved conferences and meetings, more powerful research and analysis, and laser-focused government relations; and
– Launching a comprehensive brand review designed to re-define TLPA’s image and re-position the association to operate in a more inclusive and collaborative manner.
Pinckard concluded by stating, “I’m truly honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve as president of the TLPA, and I look forward to working with all of you, as we work together to shape the next phase in the evolution of this great industry.”
Planning is already underway for the Spring Conference & Expo in Oklahoma City from April 10-13, 2018, as well as for the grand celebration of TLPA’s 100th Annual Convention & Trade Show, October 26-30, 2018, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Visit tlpa.org for more information.
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Jeff Conly, ALA PresidentTempe, Ariz. — Signifying its efforts to further support local limousine and ground transportation companies, the non-profit Arizona Limousine Association (ALA) recently launched its new website, AZLimousineAssociation.com. The website marks new actions from the organization aimed at more actively helping Arizona’s licensed operators. On the website, active members, as well as operators interested in membership, can find details on state compliance and remain informed on ALA affairs by reading the board’s meeting minutes. The ALA aligns closely with the National Limousine Association to ensure uniformity and best practices within the industry as a whole.
“The ALA works to even the playing field, so our industry can provide service without the overlapping web of conflicting regulations that inhibit our growth, which transportation network companies, or TNCs, are exempt from,” said ALA President Jeff Conly of Vitesse Worldwide. “As a source of information and fellowship, the new ALA website serves as our latest effort to keep limousine and ground transportation companies competitive in Arizona’s landscape.”
Providing resources and information to help members operate effectively and profitably, the ALA educates chauffeured transportation operators, suppliers and vendors, as well as local and regional associations, to ensure their continued growth, development and prosperity. The association also works to create a harmonious environment for ground transportation operators in the State of Arizona, while allowing companies to compete ethically, as well as learn from each other.
The ALA is also the voice of the Arizona luxury ground transportation industry on legislation and issues affecting the limousine and chauffeured car community, especially concerning freedom in the workplace for independent contractors and operators.
Members of the ALA are entitled to exclusive discounts from vendors. ALA members also gain access to resources that include, but are not limited to, legislative templates and tools for local use, free seminars on limousine business management and TNC resources, including sample letter templates and a state policy advocacy checklist. Additionally, ALA members receive savings on various discount programs that are designed to more than pay for ALA membership
Visit AZLimousineAssociation.com for more information.
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