2017 kicked off with this fun story about TLPA members Rick Hewatt, Jamie Campolongo and John Lazar. This trio started as peers in the transportation industry, and their venture into the barbeque world began at a TLPA meeting in Napa Valley some eight years ago. Now, Hewatt, Campolongo and Lazar are the faces behind the 3 Taxi Guys BBQ sauce.
Right now, we are dreaming of sunshine and the beach, so reflecting on the 2017 Spring Conference & Expo / TPAC Annual Meeting transports us to that warmer place — Palm Springs, to be exact.
This year, TLPA celebrated its 100th anniversary marking a century of exceptional service to the transportation industry. A lot can happen in 100 years. In this blog we shared five things you might not have known about TLPA.
It’s been a year full of political drama, and TLPA members flew from across the country to Washington, D.C. to participate in the 2017 Legislative Fly-In. We spoke with members of Congress on the importance of national fingerprint based background checks and pushed for a level playing field for transportation companies operating at airports across the U.S.
If you prefer the cold weather, let’s think back to the 2017 Mid-Year International Leadership Conference where members met in Anchorage, Alaska. The sunny July weather made for an excellent backdrop for meetings and a glacier expedition!
Fun fact: Paul Stanley (yes, from KISS) actually spent time as a taxi driver. And he’s not the only famous face you might have seen behind the wheel over the years. In this blog, we looked at some more surprising names.
How many Annual Conventions have you been to? If you’re Ham Smythe III of Yellow Cab of Memphis the answer is almost 60. He and his son (who is himself on his 40th convention) have a lot of pointers for the newbies.
The 99th Annual Convention & Trade Show is probably still fresh in our minds, but it’s always good to remember the key takeaways.
We know just how resilient our members are. But those in Houston and Florida faced unprecedented challenges this year when hurricanes hit, impacting operations and life at home. Here’s what members told us about lessons other members should keep in mind if they find themselves in a similar situation.
Last, but not least, our new TLPA president was sworn in during the 99th Annual Convention & Trade Show Mike Pinckard is a long time TLPA member and the head of Total Transit in Glendale, Arizona. Here’s a fun fact: Before he began his career in transportation Mike was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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The statement is attributable to John Boit, Spokesperson for the Taxicab, Limousine and Paratransit Association.
photo credit: melwoodglobal.comJanuary 10, 2018
Today, the District Court of Appeal of the State of Florida decided that Uber and Broward County cannot keep secret the number of trips by Uber drivers to the Fort Lauderdale Airport and the fees paid to the county. As the court said in its decision “the right to examine public records belongs to the public.” We agree. The public deserves to know the impact of ride-hails to the community, especially as it relates to congestion at the airport. A level playing field is critical for the success of local taxi companies competing with TNCs, and today’s decision is a step in the right direction.
You can view today’s decision here:
http://www.whosdrivingyou.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/FL20Appeal_20Order20dated201_10_18.pdf
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Happy New Year TLPA Vendor,
You are invited to exhibit at TLPA’s Spring Conference &
Expo in Oklahoma City, April 10-12, 2018.
This highly anticipated event will be held at the Renaissance Convention Center Hotel & Spa. The convention center is more like an extension of the hotel than a convention center, with a short walkway connecting the hotel directly to our meeting space. There is no union and the bellhops are permitted to help you get your goods into the Expo Hall.
Approximately 250 people will join us in Oklahoma City. Our attendees will be the owners and high level managers of for-hire passenger transportation fleets. We expect about 35 companies to exhibit and we hope you choose to include yourself in that group.
Our expo has 10’ x 10’ booth spaces available as well as a few 6’ x 30” table top exhibits. Our online exhibit contract is ready for you to view and select your display space.
If you would like to save $1,150 on your display space by becoming an associate member, please visit www.tlpa.org/Associate-Membership and complete the membership application before you contract to exhibit.
After you have your username and password, please remember to log in before you click on “Reserve a Booth” to ensure you automatically receive the member rate. The large, black-and-white “MEMBER LOGIN” button is at the top of the page. Click here to contract for your space.
As always, the Expo Hall will be the focal point of the conference and the location of all food and beverage functions. The Grand Opening Cocktail Reception will take place on Tuesday, April 10. A hot buffet breakfast and hot buffet luncheon will be held on Wednesday, April 11. The hall will close at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
We also have many great sponsorship opportunities available to help you increase the impact of your participation. If you would like to sponsor an event/item, please email your sponsorship form to me and we will issue an invoice that you can pay online.
Click the following for the preliminary agenda and other information on the conference.
https://www.tlpa.org/Spring-Conference-and-Expo-2018
Join the conversation at #FleetForward.
If you have any questions, please contact me at
dlagasse@tlpa.org or (301) 984-5700.
Sincerely,
Debra LaGasse
Meetings Manager
Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association
3200 Tower Oaks Blvd., Suite 220,
Rockville, MD 20852
301-984-5700; (f) 301-984-5703;
info@tlpa.org; www.tlpa.org
