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Terry Cox, Director of Global Services of Worldwide Transportation
Miami — Industry veteran, Terry Cox, has joined the team of Worldwide Transportation as the director of global services. Cox will manage the company’s global partners while growing outbound farm-out accounts.
Cox has extensive experience in the chauffeured transportation space and is well known to his industry peers. He has managed large affiliate networks and held positions managing customer service and operations. He has also served as general manager of operations for an investment group and is an Ordained Minister with his church, bringing much value and dedication with his diverse background.
"Terry's experience will add depth to our team while assisting in operations and building our global network. He will add stability and professionalism as we expand our brand nationally and worldwide," says Alex Malek, founder and president of Worldwide Transportation. “Our business has grown over 20 percent annually. We are now the largest privately owned transportation fleet in Southeast region. We need management of Terry’s caliber to not only sustain that business, but to continue to grow it into the future.”
Worldwide Transportation has provided luxury transportation services to corporate, leisure, and hotel clients in South Florida for the last 15 years. Its fleet of over 100 vehicles includes luxury sedans, SUVs, Sprinters, minicoaches, and limousines.
"I am delighted to be working with such a distinguished and prominent company and look forward to the rapid expansion of global clientele," says Cox. “I plan to hit the ground running and be an immediate plug-in with this outstanding organization. I know that those who have worked with me before will want to continue to work with me at Worldwide, and I am excited to be able to rekindle those relationships.”
Visit worldwidetransportation.com for more information.
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L to R: Chauffeur Driven Editor Madeleine Maccar, PRLA Immediate Past President Jim Salinger of Unique Limousine, and Chauffeur Driven Director of Events Lori Battista
King of Prussia, Pa. — The Philadelphia Regional Limousine Association (PRLA) met up on March 11 to discuss a wide scope of news and updates. Lakeview Custom Coach sponsored the meeting, which took place at Maggiano’s Little Italy.
PRLA Vice President Robert Euler of King Limousine ran the meeting, which began with a treasury report before Vendor Member Pete Corelli of Lakeview Custom Coach reported on issues as they pertain to those operating in New Jersey, as Corelli also serves as the PAC Chair for Limousine Association of New Jersey.
Corelli was among those who traveled to the New Jersey state capital of Trenton a week after the meeting to oppose the current form of Assembly Bill 3765, a bill that passed March 19 and will impose restriction on TNCs—but not to a degree that satisfies much of the livery industry. At the meeting, he warned that the then-proposed bill “might not be exactly what we want but it might just be a happy medium.” Corelli also noted that “it’s amazing how many of the legislators” to whom he and others had been speaking on behalf of the industry “aren’t aware of the safety issues” posed by unregulated transportation companies, adding his voice to the many who, throughout the meeting, would emphasize the importance of speaking to elected officials as a unified force.
Jim Schantz, a legislative assistant from Pennsylvania Senator Lisa Boscala’s office who has worked with the industry before, also spoke at the meeting. Schantz expressed his regret that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if state operators soon found themselves paying a new state tax, as well as his surprise that the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission granted any TNC operations in Philadelphia. He implored state operators to meet with elected officials, saying that “sometimes, the government doesn’t know how bad a situation is until they’re told about it.” Schantz also spoke of what a diverse state Pennsylvania is, and that its rural areas often don’t know about the more urban issues that accompany TNC operations.
Chauffeur Driven’s Industry and Brand Ambassador (left) Philip Jagiela and PRLA Vendor Member Steve Edelmann of Royale Limousine
Schantz recalled his previous experience with the PRLA, saying that he was “heartbroken” when a bill in the industry’s favor failed to pass in 2006. Before ending his address to the PRLA members and supporters in attendance, Schantz vowed that he was backing the association all the way. “I’ll pledge my support to get you back to that first step, to help get you those meetings in Harrisburg and City Hall,” he said. “Their disregard for Uber and Lyft is disrespect to the consumer. I’m here to help present your side of the story and your concerns.”
Mike Barreto of Flyte Tyme Worldwide Transportation introduced the seven-year issue of credit card acceptance at the Philadelphia airport, which has recently been resolved. “We’ve religiously been going to airport meetings,” he said. “We’ve had such a dynamic relationship with them over the years, and it’s good to see the light at the end of the tunnel here.”
After going through the final testing phases throughout March, it is anticipated that the airport will begin accepting credit card payments on April 1—and to encourage using credit cards as much as possible, business checks will no longer be acceptable methods of payment.
According to Charles Newkirk, the director of operations for Parkway Corporation, which manages the airport’s limousine lot, this is the last step in a server upgrade to the Airport AVI program, which will also allow account holders to: view their account balances; fund their AVI accounts online via credit or debit cards on computers, smartphones, and tablets; upload their required credentials; and manage their fleets, so long as they can provide proper documentation.
Barreto emphasized that, in its role as the airport’s gatekeeper, Parkway’s job “is to keep the riffraff away,” and has worked well with regulated ground transportation companies in the past.
“We work hard for the people we work with,” Newkirk added.
Chauffeur Driven’s Director of Events Lori Battista, Industry and Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela, and Editor Madeleine Maccar represented the CD team at the meeting. A pass to October’s Miami show was raffled off, which PRLA’s Immediate Past President Jim Salinger of Unique Limousine won.
The next PRLA meeting is scheduled for April 8.
Visit prlainc.com for more information.
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FLA President Rick Versace of A1A Limousine & Airport Service
Tallahassee, Fla. — The Florida Limousine Association (FLA) is gearing up for its Florida Ground Transportation Day on March 25. The legislative event—affectionately dubbed “Rally in Tally”—will draw upon statewide representation, as livery, taxicab, and other ground transportation operators from throughout the state are expected to come together in its capital of Tallahassee to act as a unified voice for the industry.
“The most important thing is to get people up there,” FLA President Rick Versace of A1A Limousine & Airport Service wrote in an email. “Every company should bring three people to this event.”
More than 100 participants are expected to bolster the day-long event, which will occur with five weeks left of the current legislative session and aims to educate elected officials on strategies for effectively regulating TNCs—with public safety being the top priority.
FLA and its supporters are seeking safety-minded regulation by stressing that TNCs need: 24-hour commercial liability insurance; more stringent driver background checks, which would include fingerprinting; thorough vehicle inspections conducted by qualified third-party inspectors; established minimum fares; mandatory drug screenings; and privacy safeguards for TNC passengers.
Florida Ground Transportation Day will begin with 8 a.m. meetings. FLA’s public relations firm Sachs Media Group will be scheduling an 11 a.m. media availability event, where leaders from the various industries participating in the legislative day can be interviewed by reporters.
Visit floridalimousine.com for more information.
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