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Naples, Fla. — Moved by the recent rash of shootings of police officers throughout the country, Ron Ziemba felt compelled to do his part to show his appreciation for the danger they face every day. Over the last six months, the American Comfort Limousines founder worked to create FirstRespondersLivesMatter.org, a charity dedicated to helping the families of police officers, EMS professionals, and firefighters in Collier, Lee, and Charlotte counties in Florida.
In a letter announcing the launch of the charity, Ziemba explained: “Their job has become so dangerous. Could you imagine calling 911 and there is no one to help? We can start with support and appreciation for all of them.”
“If you just read the story from October when two police officers were killed in California, you will see the importance of this message. The officers killed were a 35-year veteran who was planning to retire in December, and a young mother just returning to the force from maternity leave. There is now a baby that will grow up without a mom,” says Jon Ziemba, president of American Comfort.
He says that his father has given up most daily functions of the transportation company (and placed in the trusted hands of his family and office staff) to dedicate nearly 100 percent of his time—unpaid—to the charity, of which he is president. “Our company founder—our dad--always believed in giving back: Our transportation business over the past six years has given tens of thousands of dollars to the Lighthouse of Collier here in Naples, Florida, a charity for the blind, many of whom are small children. He has a mission and will not stop till our world is just a little safer.”
According to the charity’s website, roughly 10 percent of donations will be used in local schools to promote the appreciation and respect of first responders as leaders in their community, 40 percent will be used to purchase equipment and services to enhance the safety of first responders such as protective vests, and the remaining 50 percent dedicated to fund that will help injured first responders or the family of the fallen with immediate needs such as funeral expenses
Visit FirstRespondersLivesMatter.org for more information on how to donate or get involved.
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Founder of Aristocat Transportation Sue Jarvis
Warren, Mich — Aristocat Transportation recently celebrated its 29th anniversary of business. Founded by Sue Jarvis as single-vehicle operation run from her house, the company has grown into a well-respected company serving corporate, retail, and special events clients in the Detroit area.
Jarvis first entered the chauffeured ground transportation industry in October 1987 when she purchased an eight-passenger 1982 Cadillac limousine, and immediately started marketing her nascent business by purchasing a Yellow Pages ad, networking with hotels and local vendors, and pitching her service to friends. Because of her hustle and dedication, within one year the company was able to add a sedan to her fleet. In just five years, with help from a strong network, a business degree from Oakland University, and a “business-savvy husband,” Jarvis quickly expanded to a 22-vehicle operation. Later, Aristocat acquired the assets of two companies, Peerless Executive Limousine in 1992 and Exotic Transportation in 1995, and then a third, All Class Transportation in 2008.
In addition to running an active and expanding company, Jarvis has been active in industry associations, including sitting on the NLA board for 3 years. She and Aristocat have also received several industry awards, and she was a finalist for operator of the year.
Jarvis attributed Aristrocat’s success to her love of taking care of her clients, ensuring people are being safely and professionally chauffeured to their destinations, and being an active member in the community. In the future, Jarvis plans to continue to stay the company’s core values, and focus on their clients as well as the local community.
Visit aristocattransportation.com for more information.
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Chicago — Signature Transportation Group (STG) recently announced that they will be merging operations with Orlando Select Transportation effective December 1, 2016.
STG and Orlando Select, which will now operate as Signature Transportation Group Orlando, have partnered together to better serve the expanding convention and tourism markets in Chicago and Orlando.
Because both cities are emerging convention markets with opposing busy seasons, the newly-reformed STG and STG Orlando will share staff, vehicles, chauffeurs and best practices to accommodate peak seasons in Chicago and Orlando throughout the year. The partnership will bring uniformity to each of the two markets, the existing client base of both companies and the ground transportation industry as a whole.
Identical service in both Orlando and Chicago will give current affiliates, customers, DMCs, and event planners peace of mind, knowing that they will not have to worry about service in those two markets.
“We are creating a unique model in our industry, one that I’m not sure has ever existed,” said STG Chicago CEO Sal Milazzo. “We’re not expanding into other markets in hopes of soliciting national accounts but rather to create uniform service for those companies servicing global travelers and in need of reliable providers with the very highest service standards."
In preparation for Orlando’s impending high-traffic convention season, new vehicles are already en route to the new STG Orlando facility. The updated fleet includes new Cadillac Escalade SUVs and XTS sedans, Grech Executive Buses, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinters.
STG Orlando has also invested in new reservations software, a mobile passenger app, and a brand new 10,000-square-foot facility to prepare for the expected revenue increase and demand.
“We’ve created a 'customer first’ mentality at Signature Transportation Group, and our customers love it,” Milazzo said.
To maintain this customer-focused mentality, and share best practices and resources across both cities, STG has tapped Kevin Duff to lead the operations as president of STG Chicago and Orlando, while Orlando Select CEO Gregg Moulton will transition to serve as CEO of STG Orlando.
Moulton expressed his excitement by saying, “[As STG Orlando] now we have the opportunity to better serve our clients with more resources, a larger fleet and increased service capabilities. We’ll still be the same Orlando Select our clients know and love, just with a different name, and we’ll have increased efficiencies that will result in better rates and services for everyone.”
Visit signaturetg.com or orlandosselect.com for more information.
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