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Derek Maxwell, Chosen Payments Chief Technical Officer
Moorpark, Calif. — Chosen Payments, a leading provider of credit card and payment processing to the ground transportation industry, recently announced that Derek Maxwell has joined the firm as their new chief technology officer. The Chosen Technology Group—a sister company of Chosen Payments—will now provide and maintain quality services to existing Maxwell Unified Services customers. This merging of resources between the companies is mutually beneficial, with many common clients previously utilizing both firms for their business needs. Chosen Technology looks forward to continuing Maxell Unified Service’s mission of providing innovative solutions and building cutting-edge systems and architectures that meet their customers’ unique requirements.
Prior to joining Chosen Payments, Maxwell founded Maxwell Unified Networks in 2012, which specialized in business continuity, disaster recovery, hosted services, and VoIP solutions for the country’s leading ground transportation providers. Furthermore, he has more than decade of experience in the transportation industry, with an extensive background that includes technology and operations roles with emergency medical, paratransit, and chauffeured services providers. Since 2005, Maxwell has also worked closely with Livery Coach Solutions, a premier ground transportation management software solution, which allowed him to make industry connections and gain insight into the operations of limousine services throughout the country.
“Having worked closely with Jeff Brodsly at Chosen Payments for the last 18 months, I was overwhelmingly excited when presented the opportunity to join Chosen as chief technology officer,” said Maxwell. “I look forward to leveraging the sterling reputation, resources, and industry alliances of Chosen Payments to build a technology-centric payments brand.”
Brodsly, CEO of Chosen Payments, added, “I have known and worked with Derek for the last two years, and have been impressed with his innovative thinking and problem-solving relating to technology issues. When the opportunity presented itself to have Derek join the Chosen Payments team, I was thrilled. We look forward to continuing to provide the best in the business to all our clients, in all services throughout of the Chosen Group of companies, as we continue to grow our brand.”
Visit chosenpayments.com for additional information.
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TLPA President Mike Fogarty of Tristar Worldwide was among the featured speakers at the GCLA Expo
Costa Mesa, Calif. — It was another successful year for the Greater California Livery Association (GCLA) Expo & Trade Show, which was held September 24 at the Turnip Rose Promenade & Gardens. Nearly 250 members and supporters of the association came from all over the U.S. and Canada to attend the fifth-annual event, including Chauffeur Driven Publisher Chris Weiss. CD was also among the event’s Platinum Sponsors.
This year’s expo, the main sponsor of which was Ford Lincoln Limousine and Livery Vehicles, boasted a Ride the Wave theme and had expo-goers decked out in their most tubular tropical attire to celebrate the association’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
“Some of us were on our way to a meeting when I had mentioned that the ups and downs of our fight against TNCs were like riding a wave, which is where the theme came from,” says GCLA President Kevin Illingworth of Classique Worldwide Transportation.
GCLA President Kevin Illingworth of Classique Worldwide Transportation (left) presents Ron Stein of Exclusive Sedan Service with the association’s first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award
The event kicked off with vendor exhibits featuring an array of vehicles, supplies, and services. Guest speakers also addressed the crowd, including TLPA President Mike Fogarty of Tristar Worldwide and Weiss, who provided an update about the state of the industry. Fire dancers and a cigar roller also added to the festive flavor of the expo, where Illingworth said that a good time was had by all.
“Overall, the expo was great,” he says. “Everyone enjoyed it, the information was tremendous, and the affiliates got to spend time together and talk to one another.”
Some special recognition was on the agenda, too, as Craig Hall of The Lincoln Motor Company was honored for his 10 years of loyal support, and Ron Stein of Exclusive Sedan Service received the GCLA’s first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Ron works so hard for our industry, for the GCLA, for the NLA, and to raise money for the Harold Berkman Memorial Fund, and he’s passed that torch onto his son Brandan,” Illingworth says. “It was nice to recognize someone who is dedicated to making sure that the future’s secure for their children and also for our industry.”
GCLA members and supporters from all over North America were in attendance at the evening Expo
In other recent news, the GCLA hired Executive Director Tom Garrett of Garrett & Associates on September 1 to both manage the goings-on of the association and make sure that it is “available 24/7 to the membership base.”
“It was getting difficult to manage the association while also managing our companies, so the board voted to bring in an executive director,” says Illingworth. “Part of the deal is for him to build membership and come up with new ideas for us to show the members what we’re doing for them. We’re going to make sure that our minutes and everything else we do are transparent.”
Next up for the GCLA are its northern California meeting, which will be held December 8 in Napa, and its annual meeting and holiday party on December 15 in Los Angeles.
Visit the association’s newly redesigned site at gcla.org for more information.
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WFLA President Dave Shaw
Oldsmar, Fla. — The West Florida Livery Association (WFLA) returned to Flamestone Grill for its monthly meeting on September 16. More than 20 members and supporters were present for the meeting, with CD’s Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela among them.
WFLA President Dave Shaw of Network Limousine opened the meeting by discussing the NLA’s upcoming elections to fill five expiring seats, as well as its recent board meeting in Washington, D.C. His president’s report also included an announcement that the association will not only have its own booth at the Chauffeur Driven Show in Miami but also participate in the Florida Limousine Association meeting on the show’s second day.
Members of the Network Limousines team (L to R): Partner/General Manager Dave Shaw, Managing Directors Heather Allen and Sheri Boesch, and Tyler Scarborough
Jagiela then spoke about Chauffeur Driven’s involvement in and dedication to the industry. He also provided industry-wide updates, elaborating on variations in TNC regulations throughout the country and talking about why certain states have become more receptive to ride-hailing services.
Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission (HCPTC) Executive Director Kyle Cockream was also on hand to discuss a number of ongoing issues specific to the West Florida region. As Hillsborough County is locked in its own battle with ride-sharing companies, the fight has begun affecting local sectors beyond ground transportation: The Tampa International Airport alone has spent $500,000 on an injunction against TNCs.
Cockream assured the WFLA that the HCPTC “will not selectively enforce” ticketing, allaying concerns that traditional operators would be penalized when TNCs are not—though TNCs are still being ticketed at the airport and their drivers can be arrested for trespassing. He outlined the number of bills that have been introduced and explained the approval process, adding that Senator Jeff Brandes has been their biggest proponent. In an effort to make WFLA members aware of who is supporting either their industry or TNCs, Cockream suggested requesting transcriptions from any relevant meeting through the Open Public Records Act.
The next WFLA meeting is November 18, though the association may schedule a conference call for October if members feel there’s a need for it.
Visit wflatampa.com for more information.
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