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L to R: Former GCLA President Mark Stewart of CLI Worldwide, incoming GCLA President Kevin Illingworth of Classique Limousines, and outgoing GCLA President Rich Azzolino of Gateway Global Los Angeles — More than 150 Greater California Livery Association (GCLA) members and supporters from across the country‚ including Chauffeur Driven’s Publisher Chris Weiss‚ attended the association’s annual holiday party at The Proud Bird on December 10.
“It was nice that there were a bunch of people who came from all over to celebrate with us at our holiday party‚” said Kevin Illingworth of Classique Limousines‚ the GCLA’s newly elected president.
The evening’s holiday spirit kept the atmosphere festively light‚ though much association business was handled during the event. Members who were recently elected to either leadership or board positions were presented for the first time at the party‚ and are as follows:
President: Kevin Illingworth of Classique Limousines
First Vice President: John Rafferty of Executive Limousine & Coach
Second Vice President: Perry Barin of Music Express Worldwide
Treasurer: David Kinney of API Global Transportation
Secretary: Anne Daniells of Torrey Pines Transportation
Regional directors: Joel Amato of Gateway Global; Gary Buffo of Pure Luxury Transportation; Alex Darbahani of KLS Worldwide; Christopher Quinn of Corporate Transportation Solutions; Ryan Silva of Epic Limousine; Brandan Stein of Exclusive Sedan Service; and Matt Strack of Strack Chauffeured Transportation
The GCLA’s new Board of Directors Outgoing GCLA President Rich Azzolino of Gateway Limousines will be retiring from the GCLA‚ the National Limousine Association board‚ and his company‚ and was honored for his contributions to the industry. Outgoing GCLA Treasurer Jack Nissim of Integrated Transportation Services‚ Cheryl Berkman of Music Express Worldwide‚ Mark Stewart of CLI Worldwide Transportation‚ and Vendor Director Lee Martinez of TransCap Insurance were also honored with awards and the association’s gratitude.
“We recognized a lot of hardworking people‚ we gave out some gifts‚ everyone had a chance to network‚ and we talked about what we accomplished during the year in regard to legislation and fighting TNCs‚” Illingworth said.
L to R: Joey Phelps of EmpireCLS Worldwide, Chauffeur Driven Publisher Chris Weiss, and Perry Barin of Music Express Worldwide As the incoming GCLA president‚ Illingworth hopes that Uber will continue to be prevented from doing pickups at Los Angeles International Airport‚ and also will work to alter bills like SB 109 and SB 611‚ which focus on modifying vehicles’ emergency exits and safety requirements‚ respectively‚ to be more mindful of the costs they demand from operators without comprising passenger safety. He estimates that the cost of modifying some vehicles according to the bills’ requirements would average more than $20‚000 per vehicle‚ which risks putting some smaller operators out of business.
Issues relating to the bills as well as TNCs will be among those addressed during the GCLA’s Day on the Hill in Sacramento on January 15‚ which will be the second time the association has participated in the legislative day.
“It’s about making our representatives aware of what’s going on in our industry and vocalizing it from different areas‚ from San Diego all the way up to Northern California‚” Illingworth said. “We saw what a difference it made when we went last year. Our lobbyists were reacting to the power of the people.”
GCLA’s Day on the Hill will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.
The next GCLA membership meeting will be February 10.
Visit gcla.org for more information.
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LILA Board of Directors
Holbrook, N.Y. — Even the sting of a heavy fall rainstorm couldn’t dampen the spirits of the Long Island Limousine Association’s (LILA) holiday party, held December 9 at the elegant Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook. N.Y. Nary a corner of the beautiful venue was missed—twinkle lights, balloons, poinsettias, and holiday accoutrements covered every surface inside and out and set the mood for the party-goers. Chauffeur Driven Managing Editor Susan Rose attended and the event was sponsored by The Whitmore Group.
Uber, regulatory agencies, and other frequent topics on the LILA agenda were far from their minds as attendees relaxed during the business-free evening. Over 120 people attended the festivities, which began with a buffet dinner and music from a live DJ. The association, according to 2nd Vice President Matt Silver of Ultimate Class Limousines, is made up of many smaller companies that normally wouldn’t be able to host a party at the venue, so the event was designed so that those companies could sponsor a table and bring their whole staff to enjoy the holiday party.
2015 CD Show pass winner Benjamin Rakhmanov of Big Ben Transportation
“We really encourage the companies to make it their own so that their staff can celebrate the holidays, plus they get to mingle with other like-minded [operators] in the area. It’s a great chance for everyone to network while still having a good time. We had a really great turnout this year,” he says.
In addition to dancing and a photo booth, the evening featured two comedians where no topics were off-limits, including marriage, religion, the holidays, and even some good natured ribbing of the limousine industry. The association even recognized two birthday girls in attendance, including our own Susan Rose, by singing Happy Birthday.
LILA 2nd VP Matt Silver calls the winning numbers during the chance auction
Toward the end of the evening, Silver took the microphone and added his own comic relief while calling out the winning tickets of the chance auction, which included everything from gourmet teas and decadent chocolate to tool kits and special car accessories. Chauffeur Driven donated a pass to 2015 show to be held in Miami Beach this October 11-14, which was won by Benjamin Rakhmanov of Big Ben Transportation in Rego Park, N.Y.
It’s back to business in January when LILA will hold its next meeting on January 27.
Visit nslali.com for more information.
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Houston —
Incoming HALCA President Wes Hart of American Corporate Transportation (left), Chauffeur Driven Editor Madeleine Maccar, and outgoing HALCA President Erich Reindl of Avanti Transportation
150 members and supporters of the Houston Area Livery & Charter Association (HALCA) and their families were on hand to make the association’s December 14 holiday party at the Crown Plaza Northwest a very merry occasion.
Chauffeur Driven editor Madeleine Maccar attended the festive event, which included plenty of time for local operators to enjoy each other’s company as well as a buffet dinner, an auction and raffle, entertainment offered by a fan dancer and a magician, and a handful of casino games for those who wanted to try their luck.
Mary Vaught of Vaught Insurance (left), Wes Hart of American Corporate Transportation, Ismael Abed of LaBresse Limousines, and Erich Reindl of Avanti Transportation
Outgoing HALCA President Erich Reindl of Avanti Transportation assumed the roles of both emcee and auctioneer, first introducing the night’s speakers and expressing his own gratitude to the association and its many supporters, and later raffling off the numerous donated items available to be won, which included four show passes to the Chauffeur Driven 2015 Show in Miami, two of which were accompanied by round-trip airline tickets.
Reindl introduced HALCA’s three new board members, who will be assuming their roles in January: Lauren Barrash of The Wave; Kevin Claypool of Atlas Limousines; and Rony Dieudonne of Global Transportation. Reindl, along with Richard Mishriky of CTI Transportation and Mary Vaught of Vaught Insurance, will be stepping down from the board. Current board member Wes Hart of American Corporate Transportation will be HALCA’s president in 2015.
“It was time to let a smaller operator run the show,” said Reindl, who has served as HALCA’s president for three years. “We don’t want to foster the feeling that it’s the operators of bigger companies who always get to have a say about everything.”
HALCA’s next membership meeting will be January 21.
Visit houstonlimos.info for more information.
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