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NELA CEO Rick Szilagyi
Boston — A last-minute push to legalize TNCs in Massachusetts resulted in a New Year’s Eve hearing at the State Transportation Building. Members of the New England Livery Association (NELA)—as well as Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA) President Mike Fogarty of Tristar Worldwide, taxi company representatives, and industry advocates—attended and testified at the hearings in an effort to ensure that the voices of the regulated transportation industry were heard.
Before leaving office January 8, one of the last initiatives that outgoing Massachusetts Governor Davel Patrick ushered in was formally recognizing TNCs as legal modes of transportation in the state, as long as they’re in accordance with new regulations.
The state’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU) will now act as the licensing authority over the likes of Uber and Lyft, who must obtain TNC Certifications to operate and whose drivers are permitted to offer commercial transportation with proof of personal—not commercial—insurance. Drivers also must be at least 21 years old, in possession of a valid driver’s license, and comply with the DPU requirements.
“These regulations validate TNCs to drive on personal license plates but a few months ago, the Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance put out a warning to drivers and passengers that it is illegal in the state for people to conduct commercial ground transportation on personal insurance,” says NELA CEO Rick Szilagyi. “TNCs have been turning their backs on that decision. Insurance companies haven’t changed their minds.”
Szilagyi says that the hearings were “extremely heated,” and many of the area’s taxi drivers delivered emotional testimonies on behalf of their livelihood. With thousands of Uber drivers alone operating in the greater Boston area, the taxicab industry has been hit especially hard by the oncoming wave of TNCs.
“Someone said that, on average, taxi drivers in Boston are bringing home $40 a day,” Szilagyi says. “They’re being destroyed.”
The December 31 hearing also saw a few testimonies from the chauffeured ground transportation industry: Szilagyi spoke on behalf of NELA; Fogarty testified for both TLPA and the Massachusetts-based American headquarters of Tristar Worldwide; and NELA board member Gina Walker of North Shore Shuttle/BeDriven.com represented her companies.
NELA is now seeking to engage lobbyists and joining forces with the Massachusetts Regional Taxi Advisory (MRTA) group, as well as working with The Nolan Group, which is the PR firm that MRTA is currently utilizing. The association currently has two missions for the near future, according to Szilagyi: exploring any options to stop the regulations that have been put in place, and determining its course for the future.
“The real thing that Patrick did is not regulation but rather is essentially deregulation because the result would be, why would a taxi driver want to shoulder the costs and burdens of being a taxi driver when he or she could be a TNC driver?” Szilagyi says. “The regulation lets them do business as they’re currently doing business, which isn’t right. If it stands, it has the potential of deregulating taxi and livery.”
Visit nelivery.org for more information.
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Kristina Bouweiri (center) receives her award
Dulles, Virginia — Reston Limousine & Travel Services CEO Kristina Bouweiri wrapped up a stellar year being recognized by the Washington Business Journal as one of the Most Admired CEOs in the Washington, D.C., area. The award was presented at a black-tie event held at The Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C. on December 11.
Bouweiri, who has been at the helm of Reston Limousine for two decades, is no stranger to kudos by her community. She has been honored by her local D.C. Chamber of Commerce as Business Leader of the Year and named one of Washington SmartCEO’s Top 100 CEOs, to name just a few. In 2014, she oversaw revenue growth of nearly 20 percent by combining major contract awards with a healthy expansion in leisure business such as wine tours, brewery tours, and weddings.
Visit restonlimo.com for more information.
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Gina Amato-Bonelli - Financial Administrator
Burlingame, Calif. — Bay Area-based Gateway Global announced that Gina Amato-Bonelli has joined the company as its financial administrator. Gina is the daughter of Gateway founder and President Sam Amato and sister of Vice President and newly elected Greater California Livery Association (GCLA) board member Joel Amato.
Bonelli joined the company in November to fill the shoes of longtime Gateway Corporate Administrator Rich Azzolino, who is working toward his new career as the owner of a Bay Area restaurant. Azzolino, who is also past president of GCLA, has been with Gateway for over 20 years. Azzolino will officially retire from the industry at the end of his NLA board term in early 2015.
Bonelli brings significant and varied corporate experience to her new role at Gateway. After completing a degree in business from St. Mary's College, Bonelli spent time at Oracle, Franklin Templeton Investments, and, most recently, Levi Strauss. She holds a Master’s Degree in Fashion and has even established her own clothing line. She is transitioning into her role with the enthusiasm and attentiveness which has led to success in all her previous endeavors.
“It’s great to be able to work with family,” she says about her new role. She had previously worked for the company during high school and college. “I am excited to be back in the industry and look forward to continuing to grow Gateway.”
Visit gatewayglobalsf.com for more information.
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