National Limousine Association

The National Limousine Association (NLA) is a voluntary, non-profit, tax-exempt organization founded in 1985, dedicated to representing and furthering the worldwide, national, state and local interests of the luxury chauffeured ground transportation industry.{{Cite web |url=http://www.limo.org/|title=NLA - National Limousine Association |website=www.limo.org |access-date=2016-03-11}} NLA's members include limousine owners and operators, suppliers, manufacturers, and regional and state limousine associations.

Kyle Hammerschmidt, CAE is the association's executive director since May 2019. The NLA is an official partner of UNICEF USA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unicefusa.org/parters/ngo/national-limousine-association|title=National Limousine Association|website=UNICEF USA|access-date=2016-03-14}}

Ride Responsibly

Ride Responsibly is an initiative started in February 2015 by the NLA{{Cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-limousine-association-launches-ride-responsibly-campaign-to-establish-industry-wide-best-practices-for-car-service-passengers--drivers-300034502.html|title=National Limousine Association Launches Ride Responsibly Campaign To Establish Industry Wide Best Practices For Car Service Passengers & Drivers|last=Association|first=National Limousine|website=www.prnewswire.com|access-date=2016-03-14}} to inform the public in an effort to ensure safer ground transportation. The campaign aims to bridge an industry-wide gap between the rights of passengers and the responsibility of service providers. The campaign establishes best safety practices for prearranged car services and transportation network companies (TNCs), which include ride-hailing app car services.{{Cite web|url=http://calsluxurytransp.com/national-limousine-association/|title=About The National Limousine Association|website=Cal's Luxury Transportation|language=en-US|access-date=2016-04-05}}

History

Source:

  • 1985: The National Limousine Association is incorporated on March 15.
  • 1987: NLA hires Wayne Smith & Company as its first management company.
  • 1989: NLA and LCT Magazine agree to co-manage an industry trade show.
  • 1991: NLA and LCT sign first formal written agreement to co-manage trade show and share profits.
  • 1997: The "NLA Charity Fund" changes to the "Harold Berkman Memorial Fund" after a vote from the NLA Board.
  • 1998: Wayne Smith and Company is sold to Host Communications who assumes management role of the NLA.
  • 2001: Bobit Business Media is hired as the management company of the NLA. At this time, the NLA has 500 members and $70,000 in assets.
  • 2011: The NLA reaches over 2,000 members and $1,000,000 in assets.
  • 2014: The NLA Board unanimously approves the hiring of EVINS Communications, the NLA's public relations firm.

Board of Directors

class="wikitable"

!Name{{Cite web|url=https://www.limo.org/page/NLA_Board|title=NLA Board of Directors Page|website=www.limo.org|access-date=2019-03-12}}

!Position

Gary Buffo

|President

Douglas Schwartz

|First Vice President

Joe Ironi

|Second Vice President

Robert Alexander

|Treasurer

Brett Barenholtz

|Secretary

Laura Canady

|Bylaws Committee Co-Chair

Javaid Chaudhry

|

Diane Forgy

|Bylaws Committee Co-Chair

Membership Committee Co-Chair

Jeff Greene

|Congress of Association Leaders Co-Chair

Nominating Committee Co-Chair

Kevin Illingworth

|Scholarship Committee Co-Chair

Jason Kaplan

|Public Relations Committee Co-Chair

Sponsorship Committee Co-Chair

Donald Mahnke

|Nominating Committee Co-Chair

Political Action Committee Co-Chair

Michael Oldenburg

|International Committee Co-Chair

Tracy Raimer

|Show Education Committee Co-Chair

Women's Leadership Council Co-Chair

Erich Reindl

|Scholarship Committee Co-Chair

Rick Versace

|Public Relations Comnmittee Co-Chair

Mark Leddy

|Vendor Director

Committees

class="wikitable"

! Committee

! Mission

! Co-Chair

! Co-Chair

Association Liaison

|Provide support to local groups to strengthen their own memberships; serve as conduit between associations

|Jeff Greene

|Andy Thompson

Bylaw

|Ensure NLA rules are followed; recommend changes as needed; oversee bylaw amendment process

|Kevin Illingworth

|Richard Kane

Charity Fundraising

|Raise funds for NLA philanthropic arm Harold Berkman Memorial Fund

|Robert Alexander

|Ron Stein

Finance

|Ensure sound financial standing and long-term stability of NLA

|Robert Alexander

|

International

|Identify and address issues and concerns of non-U.S. members

|Joe Ironi

|Michael Oldenburg

Legislative

|Foster proactive government relations program; protect members from harmful regulation and legislation; guide lobbyist(s) engaged to represent NLA interests

|Richard Kane

|Scott Solombrino

Management Oversight

|Monitor performance of NLA’s management company; negotiate new agreements with management company and other service providers

|Joe Ironi

|Dawson Rutter

Membership

|Increase NLA membership overall; maximize value of NLA membership

|Laura Canady

|Ron Stein

Nominating

|Recruit qualified candidates to serve on NLA Board of Directors; oversee NLA annual election of board members

|Stephen Qua

|Erich Reindl

Political Action

|Raise funds from membership to support NLA legislative and regulatory goals in the U.S.

|Christopher Quinn

|Dawson Rutter

Public Relations

|

|Robert Alexander

|Scott Solombrino

Scholarship

|Implement program for new operators to attend International LCT Show

|Kevin Illingworth

|Andy Thompson

Show

|Guarantee International LCT Show and other NLA-sponsored programs are highly valuable for attendees

|Diane Forgy

|Douglas Schwartz

Sponsorship

|Cultivate and secure sponsor relationships; ensure highest value return to sponsors and NLA

|Laura Canady

|Erich Reindl

Technology & Social Media

|Stimulate full use of available technology and social media to recruit, retain and inform NLA members

|Michael Campbell

|Stephen Qua

Membership

Members of the National Limousine Association include companies and organizations operating in the limousine rental and transport industry. The association currently has a membership base of over 2,000 organizations,{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/press-release/pr-newswire/business-11dcfbfdb5c4a2e00f831d838364bea8|title=The National Limousine Association Waives Fees For New Members|date=8 April 2020|website=Associated Press|location=New York, USA|via=PRNewswire|access-date=1 July 2023}} which encompasses a diverse range of companies such as EmpireCLS, BlackLimousines, Dav El/BostonCoach, Carey International and Groundlink.

References

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