The CFLA executive board (L to R): Board member Ash Elmahdi of Noble Transportation & Limousines, Vice President Gregg Moulton of Orlando Select Transportation, Secretary Brandy Ollie of Go Platinum Transportation, President Wendy Kleefisch of Brevard Executive Limousine, and board members Sheri Boesch of Network Limousines and Mechelle Wowas-Cappel of Elite Limousine Services (Not pictured: Treasurer Barbara White of VIP Transportation Group and board member Greg Pallie of GNS Transportation Group)
Central Florida — The newly formed Central Florida Livery Association (CFLA) board of directors met for the first time April 14 and are gearing up for the association’s first membership meeting, scheduled for May 10 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at VIP Transportation Group’s facility in Orlando.
The board comprises:
President: Wendy Kleefisch of Brevard Executive Limousine
Vice President: Gregg Moulton of Orlando Select Transportation
Secretary: Brandy Ollie of Go Platinum Transportation
Treasurer: Barbara White of VIP Transportation Group
Board members: Sheri Boesch of Network Limousines, Ash Elmahdi of Noble Transportation & Limousines, Greg Pallie of GNS Transportation Group, and Mechelle Wowas-Cappel of Elite Limousine Services
“I’m so excited and determined and ready to make this happen,” Kleefisch said. “Key players in our market and the industry have been reaching out and supporting us.” She added that AJ Thurber of Grech Motors offered to sponsor the association, with Jeff Brodsly of Chosen Payments, Matthew Clements of PIC, Philip Jagiela of Chauffeur Driven and PALM, and Jennifer Wong of Solutions Marketing as all volunteering their services and assistance to help get the new association up and running. Arthur Messina of Create-A-Card has also donated a logo design and branding efforts to the association.
Kleefisch said that the association premiered at a trade show in Las Vegas this past March, with the NLA also accepting CFLA’s bylaws at that time.
Unlike the rest of Florida’s industry associations, CFLA does not operate under the auspices of Florida Limousine Association, though it certainly has received other members’ support; Kleefisch wanted CFLA to remain open to transportation operations beyond the luxury market so medical transportation, members of the TLPA, and other similar services could benefit from membership—“it’s not just about limos.”
“We invite anyone who is interested in making our industry even better,” Kleefisch said—and has already bolstered association growth by getting Orlando-region transportation giant Mears Global to join.
CFLA was born of a frustration with deregulation in Brevard County, as well as the continued threat of TNCs impeding upon legitimate transportation services.
“We put out a survey that shows 98 percent of Central Florida thinks Uber is a transportation company—even though they keep saying they aren’t—it’s time they’re regulated like we are,” Kleefisch said. “We don’t want deregulation. We are standing untied and will continue banging on legislators’ doors to make our voices heard.”
CFLA will meet the second Tuesday of each month, rotating meeting locales among members’ facilities. For more information about the association, email cfla2016@gmail.com or call 321.360.6090.
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