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- Category: Industry News
Marlton, N.J. —Leading B2B publication, Chauffeur Driven Magazine, is proud to announce their membership in three illustrious, transportation industry associations: The National Limousine Association (NLA), the United Motorcoach Association (UMA), and the Taxicab, Limousine, and Paratransit Association (TLPA).
"We are very pleased to welcome Chauffeur Driven as a member of the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association,” says Al LaGasse, CEO of the TLPA. “With all that is facing our industry at the moment--especially with unlicensed, underinsured and dangerous transportation companies such as so-called 'ridesharing' services swarming city streets--our more than 1,100 members worldwide can present a united call to action. Chauffeur Driven can play an important role in galvanizing and educating our industry and municipal officials in this extremely important fight."
Vic Parra, president and CEO of the UMA, echoes those sentiments: “We are pleased to welcome Chauffeur Driven as a member of UMA. Clearly, we’re seeing convergence between the motorcoach and chauffeured ground transportation industries. This development has resulted in a growing need to share information and knowledge about the unique elements of each industry. Chauffeur Driven is a leader and innovator in their industry; their decision to join UMA and pursue another resource for their readers is indicative of that.”
Chauffeur Driven magazine reaches well over 20,000 print and digital subscribers each month. The CD shows in both Toronto and Atlantic City are primed to break attendance records and set industry standards in 2014.
Visit chauffeurdriven.com for more information.
5/14
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(L to R): Sandy Dizengoff; Ira Goldstien, COO of BCAC; Mrs. Elias Arout; Victor Dizengoff, executive director of BCAC; Elias Arout, TLC Commissioner; and Vincent Sapone, retired executive director of LOMTO New Hyde Park, N.Y. — The Black Car Assistance Corporation (BCAC) held its first Industry Appreciation Event this May to honor the men and women who serve in New York City’s black car industry. All BCACs members were invited and nearly 400 attended the elegant evening affair held at the Inn at New Hyde Park, which featured a sit-down dinner, awards, and a silent auction. Chauffeur Driven Publisher Chris Weiss and Managing Editor Susan Rose also attended.
During the opening cocktail reception, guests were able to network with other black car operators as well as BCAC board members, including President Berj Haroutunian, COO Ira Goldstein, Secretary/Treasurer Roberta Pike, and Executive Director Victor Dizengoff. Commissioner of the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission, Meera Joshi, and Ydanis Rodriguez, council member for the 10 th district (Manhattan), were on hand and spoke to attendees about their commitment to the industry. Joshi also presented two of the 19 awards given to drivers during the evening’s festivities. Joshi was recently appointed as commissioner, following the election of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. BCAC board members expressed optimism about the current political leadership and the open communication they enjoy about issues affecting black car operators.
Also honored were Diana Clemente of Big Apple Car (and BCAC board member) as Operator of the Year, Michael Psarros of UTOG Corporate Car as Operator of the Year, Jon Del Giorno of Pitta Bishop Del Giorno & Giblin as Business Person of the Year, and Gene Brody of Bay Ridge Federal Credit Union with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
BCAC was founded in 1991 to help unify the industry in supporting legislation that retained independent contractor status, a model that overwhelmingly dominated the black car industry. Since then, BCAC has gone on to assist in the creation of the New York Black Car Fund, which provides workers’ compensation for those drivers. BCAC also fosters a working relationship with city officials and regulators.
Visit nybcac.org for more information.
(L to R): Chris Weiss, publisher of Chauffeur Driven; Nora Marino, attorney; Sergio Sanchez, general manager of Henry Limousine; Matt Daus, president of COTA; and Tim Rose, CEO of Flyte Time Worldwide Transportation 
(L to R): Neil Weiss, publisher of Black Car News; Diana Clemente of Big Apple Car; Gene Brody of Bay Ridge Federal Credit Union, and Anthony Grigos, executive vice president of Bay Ridge FCU 
Berj Haroutunian, president of Vital Transportation and Apurva Patel, CEO of GroundWidgets
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Moe Hosaini of Deluxe Limousine & Transportation and CD's Lauren D'AmbraHouston, Texas—The most recent meeting of the Houston Area Livery and Charter Association (HALCA) was held at the palatial Crowne Plaza hotel in downtown Houston.
The meeting saw a nice turnout of members, and they were joined by Chauffeur Driven Show Manager Lauren D’Ambra. She also raffled off passes to the upcoming CD shows in Atlantic City and Toronto, which were won, respectively, by Ayman Aljazzazi of HAS Limousine and Moe Hosaini of Deluxe Limousine & Transportation.
The looming specter of Uber dominated the meeting, as all three speakers—Davis Dillon, president of Carey Worldwide Chauffeured Services, Joe Jordan, owner of Jordan Limousines and editor of Limo Insider Report, and Erich Reindl, president/CEO of Avanti Transportation and president of HALCA—all spoke on the ways and means to combat the pervasive, rogue app’s influence.
Dillon spoke at length on the legal methods that HALCA is employing to keep Uber out of Houston. Jordan, a well-known cage-rattler with his blistering Limo Insider reports on all things Uber, preached on the importance of attending the Houston City Council meetings in support of those representing the association on this important issue. Reindl rounded out the discussion by trying to get a feel of what members would be interested in contributing to a dedicated “HALCA app” that would be used to combat Uber (and the other ridesharing apps) in the greater Houston area.
The next HALCA meeting will be held on August 5.
Visit houstonlimos.info for more information.
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