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TLPA President Mike Fogarty
Rockville, Md. — The results of an online survey put out by the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA) have been announced recently, and they demonstrate just how deeply entrenched ground transportation companies are in the communities they serve.
According to the TLPA Community Connections Program, the association’s members have donated nearly $1.7 million to charities of all kinds over a yearlong period ending April 30, 2015. Members’ generosity benefited not only organizations (such as hospitals, children’s wish campaigns, food banks, youth groups, and educational funds) but also an array of awareness-raising causes, including breast cancer, kidney disease, and wounded veterans. The TLPA Community Connections Program itself encourages members to participate in charitable endeavors of their choosing.
While the TLPA boasts more than 1,100 members around the world, President Mike Fogarty said that less than 10 percent of them responded to the survey—suggesting that the survey’s final tally is really only a small percent of what the licensed for-hire industry has actually contributed to international communities.
And with TNCs unable to claim the same homegrown ties as regionally established transportation companies can, it is especially important for TLPA members to make a positive impact on their local communities.
“What these figures tell me is that, while we may not have the billions of dollars from Wall Street that some of our competitors have, we do everything we can to take care of our communities,” Fogarty said in a press release. “We’re a part of our cities and towns, not some giant corporation based in another state or another country. We’re part of the fabric of our cities and we believe in helping our neighbors.”
TLPA will be holding its Mid-Year International Leadership Conference July 15-18 in Lahaina, Hawaii.
Visit tlpa.org for more information.
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L to R: Steve Ward of Above All Transportation, Brett Barenholtz of Boston Car Service, and Tami Saccoccio and Dawson Rutter of Commonwealth Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation
Saugus, Mass. — When the New England Livery Association (NELA) met on June 16, about 80 people were in attendance—a turnout that CEO Rick Szilagyi of Lexian Management said was in line with 2008-2009 numbers, indicating that the industry is returning to its pre-recession health. Chauffeur Driven Publisher Chris Weiss was among those present for the annual meeting, both as a speaker and as a newly announced member of the association’s board of directors.
A return to membership involvement not seen since the Great Recession hit means that the association can better serve its membership, especially as regional TNC battles continue.
“Trade associations do three things: They provide advocacy, community, and education,” Szilagyi said. “As far as advocacy goes, that’s what we’re doing legislatively in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.”
The annual meeting also saw the announcement of NELA’s 2015/2016 board of directors. With changes in association bylaws now allowing for up to three affiliate directors, the board is as follows:
President: Mike Callahan of Able Limousines
1st Vice President: David Lathbury of Black Tie Limousine (also co-chair of the Golf Committee)
2nd Vice President: Tina Benson of L.A. Limousine Service (also chair of Chauffeur Appreciation Day)
Secretary: Andrew Tighe of Tristar Worldwide (also chair of the membership meetings)
Treasurer: Teale Smith of Maine Limousine Service (also chair of the Education Committee)
CEO: Rick Szilagyi of Lexian Management (also co-chair of the Legislative Committee)
Directors: Don Libby of Feliciano Limousine Service, Anthony “Corky” Renzi of Transport the People, Lynda Saitta of Momentum Drive, Richard Saks of Liberty Limousine, Tom Shiels of Met Boston Limo, and Gina Walker of North Shore Shuttle/BeDriven.com
Affiliate Directors: Jeff Brodsly of Chosen Payments, Stephen Crispo of Research Underwriters, and Chris Weiss of Chauffeur Driven
The New England Livery Association’s 2015/2016 Board of Directors
Weiss was the meeting’s keynote speaker, offering a national perspective on the industry gained through attending other regional associations’ meetings across the country, as well as meeting with the industry’s 20 groups and speaking with operators. While profit margins are still tight, nearly 90 percent of chauffeured ground transportation companies are on the upswing, acquisitions are on the rise, and companies are finding more work by branching out into services that TNCs can’t provide, such as wine tours and government contracts. He also discussed Chauffeur Driven’s upcoming events, with Kevin Cronin of Above All Transportation winning a pass to CD’s Miami show this October.
Kristen Carroll of The LMC Group was on hand to speak about hiring chauffeurs, offering points to improve the industry’s image to make it a more attractive employment option than TNCs. She reminded the audience that while one company can’t take on a giant empire like Uber, hundreds of smaller companies that band together certainly can. Carroll also advised those in attendance on ways they can embrace branding to improve each company’s image.
With NLA’s Day on the Hill preceding the meeting by less than a week, Scott Solombrino of Boston Coach/Dav El spoke on behalf of the national association about the event and the industry overall, addressing the ongoing challenges of operating above-board in a post-TNC environment. He called the recent legislative day in Washington, D.C. “the most productive week in the history of the NLA,” as speaking to elected officials and their staff members about workers’ rights in an independent-contractor economy resonated well with lawmakers.
Brodsly and Weiss both pledged money to the association to assist with the additional costs it has shouldered while fighting back against TNCs, with Brodsly also giving $2,500 to NELA for its ongoing working relationship with Chosen Payments.
A number of raffles ended the evening, with Lee Sickles of A-Executive Limousine donating his winnings back to the association’s legislative fund.
NELA’s next event is its 16th annual George Colarullo Memorial Golf Tournament, which will be held at Marlboro Country Club on August 18.
Visit nelivery.org for more information.
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Tony Simon of Reston Limousine and Chauffeur Driven Editor Madeleine Maccar
Washington, D.C. —The National Limousine Association’s (NLA’s) Day on the Hill added another successful event to its long history this June 9-11, as more than 80 operators and industry professionals from all over the country participated in the annual legislative days. CD’s Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela and Editor Madeleine Maccar both attended the event.
The event gives the industry a chance to speak to elected officials, thanks to the NLA’s efforts and those of Cornerstone Government Affairs, who arranged the meetings on Capitol Hill. This year, participants came ready to discuss two key issues: an extension of Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code, which is a recently expired expense provision that allows small businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment during the tax year in which it was purchased, and workers’ rights in an independent-contractor (or 1099) economy.
On Tuesday, a meeting of the NLA Board of Directors kicked off the event, which was promptly followed by several educational sessions. Presented by representatives from the likes of Cornerstone, the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, and attorney Manesh Rath, the half-hour sessions prepped participants for working with and speaking to politicians and their staff alike.
L to R: Greg McDonald of Cornerstone Government Affairs, CD Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela, and Louie Perry of Cornerstone Government Affairs
“We had speakers come in and review different angles—like how the taxi industry is dealing with TNCs,” Buffo said. “It was a day of speakers who were educating us on where other industries are at compared to where we’re at, and helping us for the next day for when we did the walk on the Hill.”
Tuesday evening saw a fundraising reception at Cornerstone’s headquarters and the NLA Board dinner/PAC fundraiser at Old Ebbitt Grill before Wednesday brought the actual walk on Capitol Hill—which Buffo said was one of the most successful in the event’s history.
“We were 100 percent absolutely positive across the board,” Buffo said. “Every single meeting was positive. It was the most positive Day on the Hill we’ve had, from what I’ve heard from people who have been to many of them during the history of our association. That was incredible to hear.”
Citing a mix of variables working in members’ favor, Buffo said that going into the legislative day with a straightforward message was much to everyone’s benefit.
“We made it real simple this year: We certainly have other fights to fight but nothing is as big as the two issues we went there to discuss,” said NLA President Gary Buffo of Pure Luxury Transportation. “The message that we were trying to get across on Day on the Hill is that we need to protect the American worker. There is no protection in that 1099 economy.”
Dinner, drinks, and mingling at Catch 15 were punctuated by a celebratory mood befitting the day’s successful meetings, and Buffo addressed all in attendance by thanking them for being a part of “the most successful Day on the Hill I’ve ever been involved in.” Many kudos were also extended to those who helped make the event a possibility, including Cornerstone, Scott Solombrino of Boston Coach/Dav El, the NLA board of directors, Grech Motors, Don Brown Bus Sales, Chosen Payments, Kia Motors, and all the operators and industry supporters who participated in the legislative days.
Thursday closed out the three-day event with a full slate of speakers, with Louie Perry and Greg McDonald of Cornerstone Government Affairs discussing how to effect change in a local market and Mathew Evins, Matthew Berritt, and David Harrison of Evins Communications, the NLA’s PR firm, speaking on the present and future of the Ride Responsibly campaign. The day closed out with association leaders sounding off about their regions’ specific challenges and concerns.
Appropriately, following close on Day on the Hill’s heels was the ruling from California that an Uber driver was to be considered an employee rather than an independent contractor—a ruling that hit close to home with Buffo, who operates in the state.
“I think it’s way overdue for them to finally look at whether or not an Uber driver should be classified as an employee,” he said. “I think it’s great that they did that but we can’t get too excited. It’s a huge step in the right direction; however, it’s only one driver. And I think it will be a good six months to a year before we get a final ruling. But it is something positive.”
Visit
limo.orgfor more information.
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