- Details
- Category: Industry News
Ken Southard, Director of Organizational Development at Kings Worldwide Transportation
Oklahoma City, O.K. — Kings Worldwide Transportation recently announced that Ken Southard has joined the company as director of organizational development. He has an extensive background in operations, training, and development, having led training teams in the U.S., U.K., and throughout the world. Most recently, he ran his own training consultancy firm and served as director of training for Shergroup Limited.
Southard was brought on to continue Kings’ commitment to raise the bar in customer care and service, develop staff and chauffeur skills, and increase sales to existing clients. Greg Pruitt, president, says, “Ken was an early mentor and educator to me. I was able to do my student teaching with him as I was graduating college. The level of expertise he has at teaching is one I have rarely run across. He is able to create pathways of learning for any type of situation or student. To say that I am excited to work with him again some 20 years later is an understatement, another pleasant surprise from life! Ken is keen to make everything he does end with impeccable results. He will be key in the next level of the growth and development of Kings.”
Joey Allen, COO, says, “I believe the level of expertise in the customer service and management arena that Ken brings to the table not only catapults us to the next level in exceeding our customers’ needs, but speaks to the commitment we have to continue to be the leading provider of chauffeured transportation in the region.”
Visit kingsworldwidetrans.com for more information.
[CD0315]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
Al LaGasse TLPA CEO
Rockville, Md. — Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA) recently released a new positon paper, which is entitled “TNCs: Summary of Top Public Safety & Licensing Concerns.”
According to an email from TLPA CEO Al LaGasse, the document is the product of concerted efforts among the association’s App/TNC Committee, its attorneys, and its public-relations representatives. The paper will be updated as new information becomes available or as TLPA policy changes are adopted.
The nine-page document comprises two section: The first two pages include talking points relating to each major issue, while the subsequent seven pages address each concern in greater detail and outline the TLPA’s position regarding each of them.
Issues addressed include: public safety, especially customer privacy, driver screening, insurance coverage, and vehicle safety; customer-service issues, with a focus on cost of fares and service hours/areas; and overall public interest, particularly as it pertains to licensing and inspection fees and taxes, as well as limiting the number of vehicles to balance permits with demand.
The paper has been made available to all TLPA members but copies can be requested by sending an email to alagasse@tlpa.org.
Visit tlpa.org for more information.
[CD0315]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
Boca Raton, Fla. — The Florida Limousine Association (FLA) has made some recent personnel additions, and has also set a legislative event into motion that will take place later this month.
At the beginning of March, FLA hired former NLA Executive Director, longtime chauffeured transportation company operator, and founder of PALM Association Management and Consulting Philip Jagiela as its new executive director.
“The FLA’s in the middle of this huge fight now with the TNCs and trying to change the legislation in Tallahassee, and we needed an executive director,” said FLA President Rick Versace of A1A Limousine & Airport Service. “We figured with Philip’s years of experience and contacts in the industry, he could really get our organization set up properly and get new members.”
According to Versace, Jagiela will be involved in FLA’s day-to-day operations, primarily in regard to building membership and helping the organization grow.
Jagiela, who was also recently named as Chauffeur Driven’s new Industry and Brand Ambassador, is not the only member of the CD team to partner with the Florida association: President and Publisher Chris Weiss has also joined the FLA board of directors.
“We know Chris has been involved in LANJ and some of the other associations across the United States,” Versace said. “Our organization needs his kind of perspective from a more national level to help us see what people are doing in other parts of the country, and I think that will be an invaluable help to our board of directors.”
FLA will hold an association meeting in Las Vegas on March 16, which will precede Florida For Hire Vehicle Day on March 25. The legislative day, which Versace describes as “a massive show of strength in the Capitol of Tallahassee,” aims to have more than 100 operators from throughout the state converge and meet with their elected officials about TNCs.
“Companies from all over the state will come to Tallahassee for an intense day of lobbying and meeting,” he said. “We’d really like to show that we’re here and we’re concerned—and that we’re not going away. We welcome competition. We don’t have a problem with them as long as they do everything we have to do. That’s the message we’re trying to send.”
Versace sees Florida For Hire Vehicle Day becoming an annual event, though the Florida limousine and car-service associations—all of which are now under the FLA banner—have been sending small delegations of members to Tallahassee every other week and will continue to do so until May 1, which is the end of the current legislative session.
The FLA is also currently planning to hold a Miami meeting in April.
Visit floridalimousine.com for more information.
[CD0315]