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Jeff Shanker (left) and Gray Hill of Black Tie TransportationWinston-Salem/Greensboro, N.C. — Gray Hill, president and owner of Black Tie Transportation, Black Tie Bus Charters (Winston Salem/Greensboro, NC), Blue Diamond Transportation, and Academic Fieldtrips and Tours (Raleigh, NC), is pleased to announce that Jeff Shanker has joined the companies, as Chief Strategist for the companies. In conjunction with Laura Timmons and Brad Jackson, he will assist with the overall strategy for our business, compliance, training, safety, business development, and business relationships on a local and national level.
“With Jeff’s industry knowledge and diversity within the entire passenger ground transportation business, he is a natural fit for our growing companies,” says Hill.
Shanker, a tenured industry professional is excited about joining the Black Tie team. “The vision they have, the new facility currently under construction in such a prime location, and the continued business growth and expansion is truly inspiring. It is genuinely a privilege to join Gray, the Black Tie Transportation, Black Tie Transportation Bus Charter, Blue Diamond Transportation, and Academic Fieldtrips and Tours group of companies. I look forward to the teamwork and expanding our companies’ business and brand throughout the limousine and motorcoach industry. Gray has a great team in place and we all look forward to growing and the prosperous future.”
Hill, a second-generation company owner, has stewarded his companies from a single limousine to a fleet of over 75 vehicles including sedans, SUVs, vans, limousines, buses and motorcoaches with offices across North Carolina.
Visit blacktietransportation.net for more information.
[CD0917]
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NLA President Gary Buffo of Pure Luxury TransportationIn the coming weeks, the National Limousine Association (NLA) will begin accepting nominations for the 2018 NLA Board of Directors Election. Any NLA members who want to get more involved, shape the future of the association, and represent the members in their region are strongly encouraged to consider submitting a nomination.
To prepare yourself, please review the eligibility information, commitment requirements, and expectations below prior to submitting your nomination.
Make Sure You are Eligible
According to NLA bylaws (Article 6, Sections B and C), all prospective directors must meet the following criteria:
1. The individual must be a corporate officer or principal of a Regular Active Member (operator) company that has been a Regular Active Member for at least two consecutive years.
2. Any Regular Active Member sharing common ownership with another Regular Active Member can only have one representative on the NLA Board of Directors at one time.
3. A member of the NLA Board shall not be a member of another board of directors that is competitive to the NLA or the limousine industry.
4. Membership dues must be current for the Regular Active Member.
Which Board Seats are Up for Election This Year?
The following seats on the NLA Board are up for election for the 2018-2021 term:
1. At Large: 2 seats (any state in U.S.)
2. US Central Region: 1 seat (AR, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, OK, SD, TX, WI)
3. US Northeast Region: 1 seat (CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT)
4. US Southeast Region: 2 seats (AL, DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)
5. US West Region: 1 seat (AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY)
Items You Will Need to Submit
Below is the list of items that you will need to submit with your application. Be sure to submit all items; otherwise, your nomination will be incomplete and not considered by the Nominating Committee.
1. A brief biography that describes your background in the limousine industry.
2. A paragraph that explains why you want to serve on the NLA Board and what your goals are for the NLA if you are elected.
3. A photograph of yourself (in electronic format).
4. Proof of legality in the cities/states/airports in which the member operates. (Example: state, city, or airport permit or license)
5. Certificate of insurance verifying Regular Active Member compliance with the state/federal requirements.
6. Proof of your corporate officer position. (Example: Corporate resolution or articles of incorporation listing officers/shareholders)
7. An explanation of anything the Nominating Committee should know about you that might reflect adversely on the NLA.
What Else Do I Need to Know?
Being a member of any board is not just a title or something to put on your resume: There are commitments that each director must make, both of their time and financially. The Board meets face-to-face four times a year and via conference call another eight times. Additional conference calls are held as needed and there is action that must be taken via email periodically.
For most members, each in-person meeting includes flights and a hotel stay. The NLA provides a per-diem reimbursement that will cover some travel and lodging costs, but each board member covers the remainder of the costs. It is important to note that these meetings also mean time away from your business and family. Please make sure that you are comfortable with this and are able to devote your time and resources to the NLA prior to submitting your application.
In addition to the Board meetings and conference calls, board members are also assigned to be a co-chair of at least one NLA committee. Some of the committees meet via conference call weekly, others monthly or bi-monthly. Your committee involvement and participation is vital to the success of the association and where a lot of the "action" happens.
What Happens Next?
You will receive an email within the next couple weeks notifying members that the NLA is now accepting board nominations. If you have any questions at any time during the process, please email info@limo.org and the NLA staff will either answer it or forward it to the appropriate person to answer.
Visit limo.org for more information.
[CD0917]
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BY ROB SMENTEK
The Wheels in Motion Owner/GM group in Times Square
Industry consultant Driving Results brought its Wheels in Motion OWNER/GM peer group to the New Jersey/New York metro area for three days on July 10-12. Managing Director Arthur Messina planned and co-facilitated a jam-packed itinerary for each day, giving the owners and general managers the opportunity to learn, benchmark, foster relationships, and team-build.
Hosted at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson, overlooking the Freedom Tower and the Statue of Liberty, the beautiful view provided a memorable experience for the group, particularly those who have never been in NYC before. In addition to welcoming two new members, the event hosted several guest speakers and vendors, including representatives from Driver Schedule and Audi of America.
Wheels in Motion Co-facilitator Jim Luff kicked things off by reviewing and setting goals with the group, before spearheading a session called Preparing and Understanding Your P&L Statement. According to Messina, this was especially valuable for the membership, whose operations gross less than $2 million in sales.
“With this group of smaller operators, understanding a P&L statement is vital,” says Messina. “When you’re talking smaller revenue, there could be a big swing in profits and loss with a small change in either direction.”
The Gem Limousine family hosted the group for a site visit and Q&A
Following a presentation from guest speaker Michael Lindsey of Driver Schedule, who demonstrated the time-saving advantages of his company’s scheduling and human resources software, Luff offered a session about hiring sales reps. Then the Wheels in Motion members took part in one of Messina’s trademark team-building exercises, which have become one of the most anticipated features of Driving Results meetings. This time, he took everyone to Hudson Table, a culinary school in Hoboken, N.J., where the operators cooked their three-course meal from scratch. The group broke into three teams, each handling a different part of the meal, which included fresh pasta, ravioli, and tiramisu. The activity provided a lot of laughs, and everyone left with a full stomach.
“We find the team-building activities, especially cooking, to be very effective, since it requires a mix of different people closely working together to follow directions,” says Messina. “I like to see people who don’t know each other work together. It definitely helps to forge a great relationship.”
On day two, Luff kicked things off with a session on business valuation, which is of great merit to smaller operators in the current business environment. With the industry facing a constant stream of changes (and uncertainty), Messina says that everyone should be aware of the value of their companies as well as the options owners have for the future, such as buying someone out or being acquired.
The group toured Broadway Elite Worldwide, and met
with COO Jason Sharenow (center right)
Next, NLA board member Douglas Schwartz of Executive Limousine fielded questions during two extensive Q&A sessions. First, Schwartz spoke about the ways he’s increased his business; after lunch, he provided insight into his role as an NLA board member and the benefits of being an active member of an association.
Before heading to dinner, the afternoon concluded with a presentation from an Audi of America team, which concluded with test-driving some cars. Representatives from Access Commercial Capital were also on hand. The group then ventured to Brooklyn for a meal at the world-famous Peter Luger Steak House, and capped off the night at a rooftop bar in Midtown Manhattan.
Day three of the meeting was devoted to a field trip (aka roadshow) to visit three prominent N.J. operators. First the group headed to Royal Coachman Worldwide, where company President Jon Epstein gave a tour of the facility, and then they visited Broadway Elite Worldwide, where they were welcomed by COO Jason Sharenow. They finished the day at Gem Limousine Worldwide, where Owner Barb Chirico and President Joe Gulino held a Q&A and demonstrated that it’s possible to have a traditional family-run business, even with 100+ cars in the fleet.
“It’s important for our group to see that these owners each started in the same way they did,” explains Messina. “Talking to Jon, Jason, Barb, and Joe was sort of like looking into a crystal ball and showing their future. It’s nice for them to see that if you build things correctly on a solid foundation, you will grow over time.”
The next Wheels in Motion meeting is scheduled for November 29-December 1 in Miami. Visit drivingresults.org for more information. [CD0917]