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Jim LuffMoorpark, Calif. — Jim Luff has recently been appointed marketing manager of Chosen Payments and its sister company, The Chosen Technology Group.
Luff is well known in the ground transportation industry as an operator, writer, and consultant to many small operators across the nation. He joined the industry in 1990 as a private chauffeur and, in 1993, began a 23-year career as the CEO of The Limousine Scene in Bakersfield, Calif. Luff also serves as a facilitator for Driving Results, an organization dedicated to assisting ground transportation companies grow through educational meetings held throughout the nation.
Luff will be responsible for marketing management, public relations, corporate communications, and the continued partnership between Chosen Payments and the limousine industry for both credit card processing and VoIP services. He will also develop additional vertical markets throughout the United States and represent the company at regional and national events and meetings.
Luff has been the recipient of many awards such as Humanitarian of the Year and Lancer’s Outstanding Safety Award. He recently retired from the daily operations of The Limousine Scene but remains involved with the company as an advisor. As a longtime client of Chosen Payments, Luff got to see the ins and outs of the company and had his eye on Chosen for his next venture. Upon retiring, Luff reached out to Jeff Brodsly, CEO of Chosen Payments, to discuss opportunities. Luff and Brodsly determined they were a perfect match.
“We are extremely excited to add Jim to our team. It is no secret Jim has built an amazing business and reputation for his hard work, dedication, and passion for everything he does. To transfer these great traits to our suite of companies is another move we have made to ensure Chosen continues to be a leader in all we do,” said Brodsly.
“After retiring there are many things one can do, but I wanted to do something I was very passionate about. As a Chosen Payments client, I experienced how they helped our company become more profitable and I wanted to go out and do that for others. There are not many jobs where you get to make money while saving your clients money, but I found that diamond, and am looking forward to many years to come with the Chosen companies,” said Luff.
Visit chosenpayments.com for more information.
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Members of the GALA board include (L to R): Treasurer Fred Rich of Olympus Worldwide, Directors Deidre Sublet of Classic Bus Sales and Hoss Oskouie of Atlantic Limousine, President Jeff Greene of Greene Worldwide Transportation, Directors Dennis DeLoatch of Carey Executive Limousine and William Devine of Blue Bird Global Chauffeured Transportation, and Vice President Chad Casey of Casey Corporate TransportationAtlanta — Nearly 30 members of the Greater Atlanta Limousine Association (GALA) gathered at Pittypat’s Porch on February 23. CD Editor Madeleine Maccar was in attendance for the packed-agenda meeting.
After President Jeff Greene of Greene Worldwide Transportation kicked off the meeting by welcoming and thanking all in attendance, Treasurer Fred Rich of Olympus Worldwide delivered the treasurer’s report. Included in his financial statement was an update about the bid to legalize gambling in Georgia, as a referendum allowing residents to vote on the proposal had recently passed. If successful, five jurisdictions within the state, including Atlanta, would be allowed to gamble—with the addition of a casino to the city’s landscape “greatly affecting the limo business” and bringing an uptick in job creation.
Further association business included the introduction of new members, and Greene acknowledged the contributions to GALA that Immediate Past President and current Director Dennis DeLoatch of made to the association during his two years as president. Director Hoss Oskouie of Atlantic Limousine and Greene also spoke about the GALA website and their plans for it to become an indispensable resource for members by the end of June; as email updates can get lost in high-volume inboxes, the site will become an networking-friendly repository for meeting minutes, airport updates, and general association news.
A handful of new members were also introduced at the meeting, including Maria Priestly of Empress Elite Limousine, Jacob Shivers of J & J Limo Service, and Joe Wilson of J&A Transportation and Limousine Service.
The meeting’s guest speaker was Les Schneider, an attorney and GALA lobbyist who also works with Georgia Committee for Transportation Compliance (GCTC), a council organized by local taxi and chauffeured ground transportation leaders—including Greene and DeLoatch—and assisted in the crafting of two house bills last year. Schneider gave a thorough overview of the local industry’s pursuit of a level playing field, as well as updates about HB-805, a bill introduced in late January that aims to clarify limousine inspections and “revise provisions relating to the regulation of transportation for hire.”
L to R: Ryan Floyd of American Employer Group, Jacob Shivers of J & J Limo Service, and Eric Alimena of Alimena Limousine Schneider noted that one of the bill’s six primary sponsors, representative Alan Powell, “is fighting hard for the industry and grabbed onto this issue as Chairman of Public Safety and Homeland Security in the House.” He implored members to continue fighting for their industry rather than “waiting for people to do the right thing.”
“You must appeal to legislators constantly, not just once or twice,” he advised. “The people supporting the casinos are out there every day because it is the most important issue to them. Bills have the potential to improve things: How often you’re lobbying for your cause can be the difference between thwarting an unwanted bill or getting the right one to pass.”
Maccar also spoke to the group, discussing how Chauffeur Driven relies on industry input to its magazine and shows can continue giving operators the tools they need to succeed, as well as offering an overview of the upcoming May 1-3 Executive Retreat in New Orleans. She also raffled off a pass to the Retreat, which was won by Hashim Abdi of Mint Life Limousine.
Rich, who is also a co-chair for GALA’s annual golf tournament, then spoke about the fundraising event, which will return to the Country Club of Roswell September 13 and is currently seeking sponsors.
Greene—who, along with DeLoatch, is a stakeholder representative at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)—reported on TNC operations on the airport property, as well as getting the airport’s new Ground Transportation Director up to speed in regard to their concerns. How airport construction will affect chauffeured transportation vehicles, clearance-height adjustments for high-occupancy vehicles, and operational and decal details surrounding the legal usage of rented or borrowed vehicles were all among additional topics of conversation, as was the writing of new ordinances for TNC operations at the airport.
Hashim Abdi of Mint Life Limousine, who won a pass to the 2016 Chauffeur Driven Show in Washington, D.C., with CD Editor Madeleine MaccarWhile TNCs are not allowed to perform pickups at ATL, they are permitted to drop of passengers. GALA members have appealed to airport officials on their industry’s behalf, and a geofencing pilot program will be enacted to observe TNC vehicles on ATL property; if they rack up a certain number of violations, their permits can be revoked. Greene advised members to keep an eye out for TNC activity at the airport, as it would be beneficial to have a collection of photographs and reports detailing their infractions.
“We’re being as proactive as we can be,” Greene said of GALA’s efforts to work with ATL. “The key to our survival will be communication and involvement. It takes a lot of time to send these emails and to go to these meetings: We need everyone’s help, we want everyone—not just the board—to be involved with our committees.”
Greene closed out the meeting by reminding those in attendance that the association will continue to fight for its members and their industry.
“We will fight for you until there’s nothing left to fight for,” he promised.
The next GALA meeting will be March 10. Mentorship meetings will be held regularly at past board member Eric Alimena’s facility, Alimena Limousine & Worldwide Transportation, and the association will host two DOT seminars in May.
Visit galalimo.org for more information.
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We’re a little less than two months away from our second Executive Retreat, which lands in New Orleans May 1-3, and the excitement is palpable!
Just like our inaugural event in Nashville last year, we blend education and networking with the local culture to deliver an experience like no other. In fact, the distinctive New Orleans’ flavor is integrated into everything we have planned for you during the three-day event, sponsored by Turtle Top and The Tenney Group (a full list of sponsors is available on our website at neworleansretreat.com). Operators—again, limited to 200—have an opportunity to casually network between world-class sessions during the day, and drink in the sounds of the city’s vibrant live music scene at night.
Spots are filling up fast, as we already have 100 operators registered. And with our early-bird rate of $699 expiring on March 15—just one week from today—you’ll want to secure your spot now to save $100 ($799 after 3/15)! Don’t forget to book your room at our host venue, the JW Marriott on Canal Street, by April 8 to guarantee your rate of only $199 per night Sunday through Wednesday. If you’re planning on coming a little early to catch the final weekend of Jazz Fest, we have an extremely limited number of rooms available for Friday and Saturday nights, which you can book by calling Director of Events Jess Pavlow directly at 856.452.0323.
NOLA is more than just a thrilling destination: The city has a rich history of French and Spanish roots, too. On Monday night, we’ll take you on the last operating steamboat on the Mighty Mississippi, the Steamboat Natchez, for a Dixieland Dinner Cruise. After touring the vessel, we’ll settle in for a Cajun dinner that includes local favorites like bayou gumbo, Gulf shrimp, and crawfish etouffee. Try your hand at some of the gaming tables on board, and relax to the sounds of the Dixieland band as you take in some of the best views of the city skyline.
On Tuesday, after our education sessions and a hearty lunch, slow it down a bit with our French Quarter carriage tours. Enjoy the historic district in a leisurely way as we board carriages built for up to eight people in Jackson Square. Experienced, licensed tour guides will share anecdotes and true tales of the Quarter’s colorful past that will entertain as much as they will enlighten. You’ll have a few hours to explore on your own to grab some dinner at one of the many world-class restaurants or do some shopping. We’ll meet back at the hotel at 9 p.m. for our Second Line to Maison Bourbon—another uniquely N’awlins tradition.
Ready to register? Visit neworleansretreat.com to get all the details. We’ll see you in the Crescent City this May!
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