MLA President Len Joseph of On The Town Limousines (left) with VLA President Bill Kerr of Camryn Executive Transportation
The Maryland Livery Association (MLA) and Virginia Limousine Association (VLA) held a joint meeting on October 15 in the ballroom at the CD/NLA Show at the Gaylord National. Sponsored by Advantage Remarketing Solutions and HILB Group, the meeting featured a packed house of operators and vendors from the Beltway Area and beyond. Under the theme of “the Importance of Local Associations,” MLA President Len Joseph of On The Town Limousines and VLA President Bill Kerr of Camryn Executive Transportation presented as a tag team and welcomed several high-profile guest speakers.
First, NLA and New England Livery Association President Brett Barenholtz of Above All/Maine Limousine was introduced to talk about the NLA and associations as a whole. He said that being part of regional/national organizations presents operators with a “unified voice,” particularly in times of crisis. Barenholtz also spoke of the importance of lobbyists to local associations, as they give the group a powerful voice with legislators. Lastly, the NLA president said that being part of regional associations is “like having a 20-group” as you can share ideas and issues with fellow operators.
Next, Kerr introduced representatives from the meeting’s sponsors. Eric Coolbaugh of Advantage Remarketing Solutions spoke briefly about his company’s services as dealer and financer of vehicles, and he was followed by Bryan Johnson of insurance provider the HILB Group. Joseph then took the opportunity to thank Chris Weiss and Rob Smentek of Chauffeur Driven for supporting local associations in the magazine and at meetings. A representative from Limo Anywhere also spoke, offering 50 percent off set up fees to the meeting’s attendees.
NLA Treasurer/Florida Limousine Association President Rick Versace of A1A Global Group was next to take the podium. He reinforced Barenholtz’s sentiment about the strength of lobbyists and then spoke a bit about the insurance crisis facing the industry. Versace cited tort abuse as the primary cause of the exceptionally high rates that operators are seeing. He also discussed the importance of operators and chauffeurs having access to the curb at airports.
Then, Jennifer Matthews and Andrea Bickley of the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority were introduced. The pair was on hand to perform on-site permitting for operators who operate at Dulles and Regan International Airports.
Kerr and Joseph then offered tips and advice to build stronger local associations. Joseph advised leaders to “always think about takeaways and bring education to every meeting.” He shared that the MLA member attendance has grown substantially at their meetings and credits the education and guests that they offer at their lunchtime meetings. He also suggested that organizations need to build a board of directors the way one would build a business. Joseph encouraged the associations to get good vendors involved on the board level. Kerr discussed the recent revamping of the VLA with a new board and emphasized the importance of joining other regional associations as an affiliate member.
Visit marylandliveryassociation.org or virginialimousineassociation.org for more information.
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