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Winston-Salem, N.C. — Black Tie Transportation has purchased the assets of Raleigh-based Blue Diamond Worldwide Transportation, a chauffeured limousine and sedan service founded by Carrie Peele. The sale was facilitated by The Tenney Group, a 40-year-old firm specializing in sales, acquisitions, and valuations of transportation businesses across the U.S.
Gray Hill, owner of 25-year-old Black Tie Transportation, had been looking to expand bus business and approached The Tenney Group about available opportunities. “Communication between all the parties involved was critical for me in this purchase,” he says. “The Tenney Group worked hard and met my expectation. I think it is a great company and would recommend it to anyone who is looking to buy or sell a transportation company.”
Blue Diamond Worldwide was founded in 1990 with $15,000 and one midnight blue limousine. Over the last 24 years, Peele turned that small beginning into the largest woman-owned limousine company in North and South Carolina. Because of her outstanding dedication and perseverance, she was able to solidify contracts with large corporations, international clientele, and state agencies throughout the county. The purchase provided Gray with a fleet consisting of 12 small to midsize luxury vehicles.
“Carrie is a well-recognized business leader in the Raleigh-Durham area and throughout the chauffeured transportation industry,” says Charles Tenney, managing partner of The Tenney Group. “It has been a privilege to help her. Early on, Gray saw the potential synergies; he is a natural fit for Blue Diamond Worldwide, and this is a great deal for everyone involved.”
Visit www.blacktietransportation.net for more information about the merger.
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L to R: WFLA President Dave Shaw of Olympus Limo & Sedan Service, FLA President Rick Versace of A1A Airport & Limousine Service, GOLA President Cliff Wright of Royal Transportation Group, and SFLA President Neil Goodman of Aventura Worldwide Transportation Service
Atlantic City, N.J. — The Florida Limousine Association (FLA) meeting held at the Chauffeur Driven Show on November 3 saw an audience composed of neighboring and far-ranging regional organizations’ members alike, demonstrating the ground transportation industry’s readiness to band together in the face of TNCs’ continued encroachment. Members from the Greater Orlando Limousine Association (GOLA), South Florida Limousine Association (SFLA), and West Florida Livery Association (WFLA) attended the meeting, as did representatives from the Illinois Limousine Association (ILA), Long Island Limousine Association (LILA), and Minority Limousine Operators of America (MLOA).
The meeting kicked off with a few words from the newly installed Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA) President Mike Fogarty of Tristar Worldwide. He described the ongoing war against TNCs as “the battle of our lives,” promising that “we’re going to win some battles, we’re going to lose some battles, but we’re going to fight,” and encouraging all in attendance to take comfort in the increasingly negative media coverage about unregulated transportation services.
Barry Lefkowitz, industry lobbyist and former executive director of the Limousine Association of New Jersey (LANJ), continued the call for a unified front. “We’re competitors but everyone has to come together,” he said. “The battle isn’t just about limousines, the battle is not just about taxicabs. It’s a battle that affects everybody in commercial ground transportation.” He emphasized that the fight against TNCs is a fight for increased public safety.
Lefkowitz also addressed the seemingly bottomless pockets that TNCs have on their side, saying that the legally operating companies have something in their favor that money can’t buy. “They have all the money in the world but one thing that they don’t have is the grassroots support that we can create when everybody is working together,” he said. “There are phenomenal resources available to you. You’ve got all the resources that you need to be able to take the TNCs on.”
Lobbyist Barry Lefkowitz, who spoke at the FLA meeting, with Chauffeur Driven Editor Madeleine MaccarFLA President Rick Versace of A1A Airport & Limousine Service reported on how the statewide and regional Florida organizations have been seeking out every possible avenue to slow down the rising tide of illegal operators while the associations combine forces as well as financial resources. One of the fruits of these labors is a public-service commercial that the organizations will be airing on local public access stations to educate the public about the dangers of TNCs, which Versace encouraged other associations to use, too.
SFLA President Neil Goodman of Aventura Worldwide Transportation Service described his organization’s fight against TNCs, and how his association is considering rehiring a lobbyist to assist in its battle at Tallahassee. “What I’ve heard lately, as recently as a week ago, is that they’re thinking about legislating the insurance and the background checks, and leaving everything else to the local counties and the local cities,” Goodman reported.
Cliff Wright of Royal Transportation Group and GOLA president spoke about his association’s recent electronic billboard campaign to inform the public about the dangers of TNCs, as well as GOLA’s unanimous decision to join forces with the FLA and its ongoing fight at the state capital.
WFLA president Dave Shaw of Olympus Limo & Sedan Service discussed how his county of Hillsborough is unique in its operations, as it’s governed by the only Special Act in Florida’s 67 counties. “Every role change in our county has to go through Tallahassee, so if anyone’s going to be attacked first, it’s Hillsborough County, and that’s what they did last year,” Shaw said. He explained how the county’s new director of the Public Transportation Commission (PTC) is a “by-the-book guy” who enforces for-hire transportation rules and regulations to the letter, much to the benefit of legally operating livery companies. He said that the WFLA is continuing to work in tandem with the PTC to keep an eye on TNC activity and establishing requirements for insurance, drivers, and vehicles.
Visit floridalimousine.com for more information. See the FLA public advisory video here.
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The Minority Limousine Operators of America’s breakfast meeting quickly became a standing-room-only event.
Atlantic City, N.J. — The Minority Limousine Operators of America (MLOA) hosted a standing-room only breakfast meeting November 3 at the Chauffeur Driven Show.
MLOA President Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation began the meeting by emphasizing the importance of networking. “There’s huge value in getting to know the guy who’s sitting to the left of you or the woman sitting to the right of you,” he said. “We are all CEOs, we are all decision-makers, we can make a decision on who we do business with. The beauty of these shows is to be able to network.”
Brewster also reaffirmed the MLOA’s 2015 goal of making membership within the association a substantive endeavor from a monetary and contract perspective. “That idea came from you: Last year, you were absolutely clear that you wanted help in getting contracts and in getting certified,” he told those in attendance.
To better meet those and members’ other needs, the MLOA had hired Dr. Yvonne LaMar as its executive director earlier in the year. LaMar discussed the possibilities for small businesses landing private-industry contracts and how she’s available to help guide members through the certification process, which can take up to 90 days but comes with “tremendous benefits.”
The Chauffeur Driven Show’s Keynote Speaker Jim Donald, CEO of Extended Stay America, made a guest appearance at the Minority Limousine Operators of America’s meeting.
After a question-and-answer session with the MLOA board members came a panel with representatives from companies who, according to Brewster, have “given their time and their talents to help you help yourselves”: Bill Battisti from Battisti Customs, Jeff Brodsly from Chosen Payments, Michael Kaplan from Advantage Funding, and Arthur Messina from Create-A-Card. Those in attendance were invited to ask the panelists questions, most of which pertained to small businesses’ images, growth, legal obligations, and benefits.
Brewster closed out the meeting by announcing that the MLOA will begin looking for new board members and committee members, and that anyone interested in getting involved is encouraged to do so.
Visit mlooa.org for more information.
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