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Vice President of Operations Briana Candeub
Trevose, Pa. — Park Avenue Limousine is proud to announce that Briana Candeub has been promoted to vice president of operations, effective as of September 27.
Even though she grew up with her father Alan’s company, the eldest of the second-generation Candeubs to work in the business is on the cusp of her fourth year as a full-time employee, and is thrilled that she’s proven herself to the man who’s both her dad and her boss.
“Something that we had discussed since day one is that a title is not just given—it’s earned,” she said. “So when he came to me and said that it’s time for me to have a title, it meant that I’ve made him proud, which obviously makes me feel great. After my brother, my sister, and me, this is my dad’s fourth baby, and the fact that he trusts me with this responsibility means that I’ve made my mark here.”
After not only working to show that she’s not the type to rest on familial laurels but also diligently making a name for herself in her own right, Briana feels that this is further proof of accomplishing both aims.
“I don’t want to be the boss’ daughter to the rest of the company, and I don’t want to be known as Alan’s daughter to the rest of the industry: I want people to know me for me, and know that I have what it takes to succeed. Even though this is a family business, I’m not riding my dad’s coattails. I’m a hard worker, I’m here to grow the company and excel even more.”
Crediting that hard work and dedication in helping to establish her own identity within the chauffeured transportation sector, Briana has also gotten to work in a variety of roles during her time learning the ropes of a legacy business. She will now utilize those sales, customer service, and other necessary skills to keep her father’s business on an upward trajectory—starting with her long-term vision of taking Park Avenue’s current fleet of 50-60 vehicles and ramping it up to the 80-100 vehicle range.
So far, though, her proudest accomplishment is harnessing the best parts of working alongside someone she’s known her entire life to the benefit of the company’s bottom line.
“Both my dad and I together have been growing our sales network and, even more so, our worldwide network,” she says. “That’s something we’ve been working as a team to accomplish since I’ve been on board, and it’s where I’ve seen the biggest improvement in a goal that I’ve had a helping hand in reaching.”
Briana admits that she has not always dreamt of joining the family company. After graduating from Temple University in 2013, she immediately went to work at Philadelphia’s Four Seasons Hotel, where she managed several different departments and learned “invaluable lessons,” especially in regard to providing high-level customer service. But after two years, that path ultimately led her back to where she realized she was meant to be.
“I didn’t wake up one day and realize that I would love to be a limousine operator,” she said. “But I did wake up and realize that I want to be a business owner. I’ve come to love this industry: It’s something new every day, I get to travel, I get to meet so many wonderful people, and I’m using everything in my background to make sure our clients are getting the best service possible.”
And while she will be facing her own challenges as she works her way to the top, Briana is ready to maintain Park Avenue’s reputation after watching her father diligently establish it.
“I’ve seen—and have experienced—the ways hard work pays off,” she said. “I’m ready for what’s next.”
Visit parkavenuelimousine.com for more information.
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Golfers from all over the country supported GALA’s annual charitable outing
Roswell, Ga. — The Greater Atlanta Limousine Association (GALA) hosted its annual charity golf outing September 19, when about 75 golfers convened for a day of camaraderie for a good cause despite the lingering effects of Hurricane Irma.
GALA President Jeff Greene of Greene Worldwide Transportation said that the event marked another successful installment of the annual fundraiser benefiting Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, which has been the recipient of the golf tournament’s charitable aim for years.
“The day was a big success, and we were very fortunate to have a lot of participation from all over,” he said. “We raised over $30,000 for our charity, everybody had a good time, and we’ll be presenting a check to Children’s Healthcare in the next month. Overall, everything couldn’t have gone any better.”
Greene feels it’s important for the association to give the Atlanta-area industry a chance to work together for a good cause while also stepping away from the stress of work and enjoying the company of their peers, both regional and national.
One of the teams at the GALA golf tournament
But, mostly, it’s all about helping the young patients and their families who rely on Children’s Healthcare.
“Children’s Healthcare is one of the largest non-profit children’s cancer and research centers in the world, and they’re located here in Atlanta, so that’s been a great feeling to know that we’ve been helping them out for years,” Greene said. “It’s a great time for operators and vendors to come together and know that our donations go directly to research for cancer and blood disorders. It’s a day that’s not about competition, it’s about everyone doing something good for charity.”
Greene added that it’s a testament to GALA’s golf committee that, even when faced with scheduling conflicts and weather-related cancellations, its members still made sure the event went off without a hitch.
“Chad Casey, our golf chair, and Fred Rich, the co-chair, did a great job putting everything together and organizing it,” he said. “Everyone’s already excited for next year.”
Greene said that the association is considering moving the golf outing to late August for 2018 to make the most of a quieter time for operators.
The next GALA event will be its October 17 meeting.
Visit galalimo.org for more information.
[CD1017]
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CD Director of Events Jess Pavlow and Tom Halsnik of Black Pearl Limousine, who won a pass to the 2017 CD Show
Tampa, Fla. — Members of the West Florida Limousine Association (WFLA) came out for the September 20 meeting after grappling with Hurricane Irma barely more than a week prior. CD Director of Events Jess Pavlow was among those on hand for the meeting.
The meeting kicked off with a message from WFLA President Jeremy Jenkins of His & Hers Limousines, who thanked all in attendance for being there and offered assistance to those who were still working their way back to normal operations after the storm left cancelations, changed plans, and closed airports in its wake.
WFLA members have also been grappling with the transition of local regulatory bodies. A bill signed into law by Florida Governor Rick Scott in June mandates that the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission (HCPTC) will be dismantled by December 31 and its duties parceled out to other government agencies.
The attendees of the September 20 WFLA meeting
Pavlow then detailed highlights of the rapidly approaching 2017 CD Show in Orlando before raffling off a pass, which was won by Tom Halsnik of Black Pearl Limousine.
With the dissolution of the HCPTC underscoring how Florida is divided into independently operating counties, it also highlighted how a fractured operational landscape can add to the inherent frustrations of running a chauffeured transportation company, especially in the face of continued disruption from TNCs. In that spirit, Jenkins ended the meeting by speaking to WFLA members about the necessity of working together, both as a timely response to a hurricane’s unexpected calamity calling for strengthened solidarity among operators and in recognition of how juggling so many different, inharmonious regulatory standards can be made easier with open communication and working together to the benefit of the industry.
The next WFLA meeting will be in November.
Visit wfla.org for more information.
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