MLA Looks Ahead to the Future

Members of the MLA board. Back row (L to R): President Gary Day of American Limousines, Vice President Michael Greene of A Platinum Plus Limousines, and Treasurer Anthony Shoats of Xquisite Transportation. Front row (L to R): Joanna Fridinger of The Limo Lady, Secretary & Membership Chair Kimberly Klein of Lasting Impressions Limousine Service, and Kim Little of First Choice Transportation. Baltimore — The Maryland Limousine Association (MLA) hosted a Lunch & Learn meeting June 19 at Jimmy’s Famous Seafood to kick off its reorganizational efforts. More than two dozen members, supporters, and state representatives were present, including CD’s Director of Events Carly Sokoloff and Editor Madeleine Maccar.

The association is undergoing revitalization efforts with many of its previous board members at the helm. The current board includes:

President: Gary Day of American Limousines
Vice President: Mike Greene of A Platinum Plus Limousines Inc.
Secretary & Membership Chair: Kimberly Klein of Lasting Impressions Limousine Service
Treasurer: Anthony Shoats of Xquisite Transportation
Board Members: Joanna Fridinger of The Limo Lady, Bryan Johnson of Martens Johnson Insurance Agency, and Kim Little of First Choice Transportation

Day encouraged those in attendance not only to be vocal about their priorities as members but also to reach out to lapsed members or new operators to strengthen the MLA’s numbers—and its voice.

CD Director of Events Carly Sokoloff (left) and Denise Patterson of DTS Chauffeured Services, who won a pass to the 2018 Chauffeur Driven Show “We’ll have even more credibility with even more members,” Day said. “We can open up doors with larger numbers. We’re working hard to make this the best association for you but we need your help and input.”

Director of Maryland Public Service Commission’s Transportation Division Christopher Koermer (left) and MLA President Gary Day of American Limousines Like operators all over the world, one of Maryland’s key pain points is lack of enforcement cracking down on law-shirking TNcs. Director of Maryland Public Service Commission’s Transportation Division Christopher Koermer spoke about personnel changes within his department and advised members about their new contacts for an array of concerns. He also provided updates about how background checks are conducted and changes in carriers’ insurance—and explained how TNC drivers are frequently chased off by street investigators, only to be seen returning to an area once they believe the coast is clear, much to his department’s frustration.

The MLA board also detailed how it’s been meeting with the Maryland Transportation Association in regard to how enforcement laws are written in terms of handling TNCs.

Before the meeting ended, Sokoloff and Maccar talked about the October 7-10 CD Show that will be calling Maryland’s National Harbor home for a few days. They raffled off a certificate to the show, which was won by Denise Patterson of DTS Chauffeured Services.

Visit mdlimoassoc.org for more information.

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