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Steve Rhoads PRLA President
King of Prussia, Pa. — The Philadelphia Regional Limousine Association (PRLA) held is first meeting of 2015 on January 14 at Maggiano’s in King of Prussia, Pa., which most of the association’s 33 members attended.
Newly elected PRLA President Steve Rhoads of Rhoads Limousine opened the meeting by introducing himself and the rest of the 2015 board: Vice President Robert Euler of King Limousine; Secretary Mark Barnet of Best of Times Chauffeured Limousine Service; Treasurer Chris Haines of Michael’s Classic Limousine; Perry Camerlengo of Luxury Limousine; Tony Onorata of Anthony Limousine; and Vendor Member Pete Corelli of Lakeview Custom Coach. Haines then presented the treasurer’s report.
Rhoads announced that the association’s Monte Carlo Night held in December drew 65 guests and said that the evening was “a great success,” as it raised $2,900 for PRLA. He also reported on his participation in the recent NLA Association Presidents’ conference call.
Two guest speakers from the law firm of Reger Rizzo & Darnall offered their insights at the meeting. Margaret Morris discussed issues pertaining to the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) and the state’s Public Utility Commission (PUC), which led to a conversation between her and association members about TNCs, which dominated the remainder of the meeting. Robert Small then spoke on labor law, specifically what distinguishes an employee from an independent operator.
The association has changed how it accepts its annual dues this year, prorating mid-year memberships and allowing members the option of paying in quarterly increments.
PRLA will hold its next meeting on February 11.
Visit prlainc.com for more information.
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LANJ 2015 Board of Directors (L to R): Secretary Karen Gajda of Country Club Transportation, First Vice President Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Chauffeured Services Worldwide, Treasurer Jon Epstein of Royal Coachman Worldwide, President Jeff Shanker of A-1 Limousine, and Past President Jim Moseley of TripTracker (not pictured: Second Vice President David Seelinger of EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services)
Princeton, N.J. — The Limousine Association of New Jersey (LANJ) held its annual membership meeting on January 21, which saw a packed house of 85 members in attendance.
Among the many business matters the association tended to at its first meeting of 2015 was electing its new Board of Directors, which is as follows:
President: Jeff Shanker of A-1 Limousine
First Vice President: Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Chauffeured Services Worldwide
Second Vice President: David Seelinger of EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services
Secretary: Karen Gajda of Country Club Transportation
Treasurer: Jon Epstein of Royal Coachman Worldwide
Outgoing President James Moseley of TripTracker recognized and thanked the association’s many vendors for their support and sponsorships. He also welcomed the newest honorary board member, Philadelphia Regional Limousine Association (PRLA) President Steve Rhoads of Rhoads Limousine, saying that LANJ and PRLA have benefited from an “interactive, cross-border relationship” for a number of years.
Moseley also expressed his gratitude for “the opportunity to work with you all as your LANJ president” and reported on LANJ’s major accomplishments in 2014, which included: achieving a membership of 112 companies, the most in LANJ history; taking the TNC fight full-force to Trenton; installing the LANJ Line to the benefit of operators; establishing the 2015 Sponsor Title Program to benefit vendors; ensuring that the LANJ website is a frequently updated tool to assist members with their needs; upping the LANJ E-News publication frequency from monthly to semimonthly; and establishing the new Membership Committee. LANJ has also formally changed its name to reflect the singular “Association,” indicative of its unified mission as a statewide organization.
Newly elected President Jeff Shanker of A-1 Limousine then spoke of the association’s ambitious plans for 2015, introducing the new lobbying firm that the executive board hired to aid in the fight against TNCs, the Kaufman Zita Group, an established bipartisan organization based in West Trenton.
The TNC bill AB 3401 had been combined into Assembly Committee Substitute (ACS) 3765, which passed through the Transportation Committee in December. “We have to remain focused,” Shanker urged members in attendance. “The fight, to a point, is still in the Assembly but it’s not with the Transportation Committee. It’s now grassroots, boots-on-the-ground: We have to get out to all of our elected officials. That means that we need you.” He added that the association will be looking to its members “for significant input” when it comes to LANJ’s legislative efforts and taking its fight to the Senate.
And LANJ members are already heeding the call for all hands on deck, with more than $5,000 being spontaneously pledged at the meeting to help fund the association’s PAC. Shanker says that the association will need quite a bit more throughout the year to accomplish what they have planned.
Shanker also outlined a number of goals that LANJ has put into place for the upcoming year, which include strengthening its relationship with local and national transportation associations, as well as establishing the likes of social media, marketing, education, and technology committees internally.
Chauffeur Driven’s Editors Susan Rose and Madeleine Maccar both attended the meeting. Maccar offered an update on the upcoming Executive Retreat in Nashville and show in Miami, and raffled off a show pass to the Miami show, which was won by Billy Placier of Music Express Worldwide.
The next LANJ meeting will be March 25.
Visit lanj.org for more information.
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Aurora, Colo. — Members of the Colorado Limousine Association (CLA) elected the association’s 2015 Board of Directors at the January 20 membership meeting. The new board members are as follows:
President: Shane Stickel of Presidential Limousine
Vice President: Adam Paul of Colorado Corporate Car
Treasurer: Mary Norby of Corporate GT Denver/Carey Denver
Sergeant at Arms: Nikko Ouzounis of White Dove Limousine
CLA Executive Director Joseph Carr of the political consulting firm Artist & Associates says that the association will most likely appoint someone to the role of the association’s secretary.
With the onset of the state’s legislative session on January 7, the CLA is eyeing a possible bill to deregulate the state’s taxicab and chauffeured ground transportation industries, “which would be pretty good for us, but there hasn’t been anything introduced and it’s so early on that it’s hard to say if it will be introduced,” says Carr.
CLA is discussing the possibility of moving its meetings from Tuesdays to Wednesdays, and will hold its next meeting on February 18.
Visit cololimo.org for more information.
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