CLA Elects Its 2018 Board

CLA President Jason Ramsey Aurora, Colo. — The Colorado Limousine Association (CLA) kicked off its 2018 meeting schedule by coming together January 16 at the Ecotech Institute.

The meeting was Outgoing President Mary Norby’s final responsibility in the position she held for the past year, as the 2018 board was formally announced:

President: Jason Ramsey of Prestige Worldwide Transportation
Vice President: Youssef Marrakchi of Centennial Transportation
Sergeant At Arms: Marcos Contreras of A Advantage Limo
Treasurer: Nikko Ouzounis of White Dove Limousine
Chairwoman: Mary Norby of Carey Denver

The conversations held throughout the evening meetings covered association-specific matters, regional goings-on, and wider industry-related topics.

Newly installed president Ramsey discussed CLA’s PR efforts, which include a new website template courtesy of DriveProfit. The association’s website will expedite internal business, like dues payments, while also serving as a repository of information to help current members while also attracting new ones. The new site template is expected to go live in a matter of days. Treasurer Ouzounis also reported that the association’s coffers are “healthy” thanks to minimal 2017 spending, while membership not only is holding steady but also benefited from several December and January renewals.

Regionally, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) was a significant topic of conversation, as the association’s comments about the PUC’s proposed 2018 changes were due January 12. Many Colorado operators, with help from both the NLA and other regional industry associations, had submitted their feedback, especially in regard to a proposed ruling that would affect executive vans with bench seating.

There will be a 10 a.m. February 21 meeting about the PUC’s proposed changes that livery operators will be welcome to attend, held at the commission’s hearing room in Denver. CLA will be issuing a Call to Action for its members and statewide operators both through email and on social media. 

Regarding the proposed PUC changes, CLA attorney Doug Pooley advised that the focus should be on three key issues that will impact national affiliate business: Rule 6309 in the PUC’s rules regulating for-hire ground transportation (the conditions of charter orders), the PUC’s interest in having bench seats removed from vehicles like Sprinters and Transits, and broker’s definition.

Familiar industry face Jeremy Lee of Wells Fargo Equipment Finance was the meeting’s guest speaker, discussed the ins and outs of financing livery vehicles. Lee zeroed in on general underwriting guidelines, fixed-rate term loans, lines of credit, and terminal rental adjustment clause (TRAC) leases—which combines the advantages of leasing with the option to purchase a vehicle at the end of the lease term at a pre-determined agreement.

The next CLA membership meeting will be held March 20, though all members are welcome to attend the March 6 board meeting.

Visit cololimo.org for more information.

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