Bud Williams of Wheelchair Transport Service of

Clearwater has been named the 2013 Paratransit and

Contracting Operator of the

Year.

The award comes from the

Taxicab, Limousine &

Paratransit Association,

which said in a press release

that Williams' "com-mitment

to helping his community,

especially during natural

disasters," was among the

reasons he won the award.

"Serving our community is

part of the job description,"

Williams said. "When FEMA

gives us a call about a need,

we act immediately. During

Hurricane Ike in Texas,

FEMA called and within 24

hours we had 10 taxicabs on

the road, all driven by volunteer drivers." Alfred

LaGasse, CEO of the association, said Williams was

the obvious choice for this year's award because of

his dedication to the industry.

"This family-owned business is truly one to be

emulated," LaGasse said. "Not many owners can say

they serve as an integral part in natural disaster relief

efforts."

The award was presented to Williams last week

before nearly 1,000 industry leaders at the

association's 95th annual convention in Boston. The

convention is the world's largest gathering of for-hire

fleet executives, according to the association.

Williams has spent nearly his

entire professional life in the

transportation industry, beginning

in the emissions testing department

of Ford Motor Co. After he moved

to Florida to work with his father at

his wheelchair-accessible taxicab

company, Williams realized he had

found his passion. He and his

brothers now run Wheelchair

Transport Service. Williams' wife,

Lisa, did payroll and benefits

administration in the company for

many years, and his daughter,

Claire, works in the company's

billing department. Williams said

the company recently purchased a

Jacksonville taxicab company that

operates 60 vehicles. He said they

plan to expand the availability of

wheelchair-accessible vehicles in that area.

The Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association,

which was established in 1917, includes 1,100

taxicab companies, executive sedan and limousine

services, airport shuttle fleets, nonemergency

medical transportation companies and paratransit

services.

Florida Man Named Paratransit

Operator of the year The Tampa Bay Times

October 31, 2013

It turns out that one of the best taxicab drivers

in the country is no longer driving a cab.

Jeremy Oliver, of Yellow Cab Taxi in Coos

Bay, is in Boston this week to be honored by

the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit

Association as their 2013 Taxicab Driver of

the Year. When he returns, however, he goes

back to being the

new general man-

ager in the office at

the Coos Bay

Yellow Cab.

Overall, though, it

is a good way to

end what started as

a difficult year for

Oliver, who first

began driving a cab

in 2006. Well-liked and respected, by peers

and customers alike, he was injured earlier

this year after his cab was rear-ended while at

a stop. That accident led to two fractured

vertebrae and a painful recovery from back

surgery.

He was still recovering from surgery when

his boss nominated him for cab driver of the

year.

Dick Leshley has owned Yellow Cab for 27

years and has been a part of the TLPA for

about 15 years, but until this year he had

never nominated another driver for this

honor.

“There are a few drivers that get it. The first

thing that any driver needs to understand is

that this is a business; no more or no less a

retail business than

Macy’s, Penny’s or

McDonald’s, and your

car is your store.”

Leshley said Oliver

not only got it, he took

it up a notch. “He

worked very, very

hard to bring the other

drivers up, to raise the

level of service, to

raise the level of knowledge — that’s

probably most important — so they could go

out and make a living.”

Oliver, who also served as president of the

drivers association for four years, had

became a much sought-after cabbie over the

years. Which, Leshley said, was easy to

understand once you met him.

“He looks professional,” (Continued)

Cabbie’s one-of-a-kind drive to help October 28, 2013

Tim Novotny, The World

2

2

Leshley added. “He was happy when he came

to work. He was happy when he went home

and he enjoyed all of his customers; the

dynamic between each customer that he had

in the cab.”

Oliver says that comes from his core business

belief that without customers there is no

business.

“I treated everyone who hopped in my cab as

if they were family, they were friends; and I

got to see them

everyday,” he said.

“I got to share

stories, got to help

them move, help

them be involved in

their lives every-

day. It was exciting

to me.” That positive outlook would stay strong, even when greeted by those customers that did not share the same outlook.

“It was a challenge,” Oliver added. “I like

challenges and so it gave me the opportunity

... ’cause I knew they weren’t upset with

me...so it gave me five to 10 minutes to try to

change their day and how the outcome of

their day turned. If they were happy when

they left my cab, I knew I’d made a

difference.”

Alfred LaGasse, chief executive officer of the

TLPA, said Oliver exemplifies what it means

to be a taxicab driver by consistently going

above and beyond the call for service.

“Jeremy has made himself known as the

driver people can rely on during any

situation.”

He has also made himself known as someone

the community can rely on when it comes to

helping those in need.

“The Cabbies for Christmas program was his

idea,” Leshley said, about the program

entering its fourth year. “He carried it to the

drivers, and he had to sell the drivers into

giving up a buck per trip for each can of food

that was donated. Which is no easy feat to do

for 40-plus

drivers, (yet) he

had unanimous

consent and the

first year they

filled up a van

and turned a-

round and

donated the van

to a church. That

was all his idea.”

“I thought it would be a good opportunity for

us to give back to the community that we

serve,” Oliver said. “A lot of the community

that we serve is on a very low income, or a

fixed income, and especially around the

holiday season we know that money’s tight,

and so it was an opportunity for us as drivers

to give back.”

Even as he prepares to be honored by fellow

cab drivers and owners, from around the

country, he remains well-grounded and

seems genuinely humbled to even be talking

about his own humility.

“I wasn’t going for someone noticing what I

was doing. I was just doing what I thought I

should do, and someone noticed.”

“I treated everyone who hopped

in my cab as if they were family,

they were friends; and I got to

see them everyday… It was

exciting to me”

The Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit

Association (TLPA) has named Ron

Trujillo the 2013 Paratransit and

Contracting Driver of the Year.

According to the

TLPA, Trujillo,

who drives for

Golden Chariot

Specialty Trans-

port Service of

Vancouver, was

recognized due to

his focus on cus-

tomer service and

care coupled with

his willingness to

go above and

beyond expectations.

“Ron is one of those individuals who

truly loves what he does,” said Alfred

LaGasse, TLPA CEO. “The level of

care and passion he provides to each

and every passenger on a daily basis is

truly something to emulate.”

After spending most of his career

driving a forklift in the tile and stone

industry, Trujillo switched gears in

2010 and started

working as a driver for

Golden Chariot Spe-

cialty Transport. Outside

of his work as a

paratransit driver, he

enjoys fishing and

spending time with his

family and pets. He and

his wife of 38 years, who

was his high school

sweetheart, have one

son.

Trujillo will accept the award on

October 29 at the TLPA’s annual

convention, held this year at the

Sheraton Boston/ John B. Hynes

Veterans Memorial Convention Center

in Boston, MA.

Vancouver resident named best

paratransit driver in America

Vancouver Business Journal

October 25, 2013

Coos Bay is home to many things, and you

can now call them the home of the taxicab

driver of the year!The Taxicab, Limousine

and Paratransit Association represents over

200,000 drivers a-

round the nation, and

they have named Coos

Bay's Jeremy Oliver

the driver of the year.

Jeremy sums up how

it makes him feel in

one word: "Proud. I

would say, you know,

that someone would

think I deserve some-

thing like this when I

just thought I was

doing my everyday

thing.”

Perhaps what took Oliver to the top is his

philosophy on what is most important in the

taxi business."I am a firm believer that

without the customer there is no need for the

driver, so I take that everyday, I take it very

serious," he said. "Every person that hops in

my cab is a friend of mine, and they became

a friend of mine for life.

"Oliver has made the transition from behind

the wheel to behind the desk as he takes over

the day to day tasks which used to be handled

by owner Dick Leshley. "When you see

quality you grab a hold of it and don't let it

get away,"

Dick said.

The move

has Oliver

missing his

daily inter-

action with

his riders. "I

do miss the

conversations

we have in

the ride,

because we

could talk a

little bit long-

er, I miss the people that even if they were

having a bad day, I had 10 to 15 minutes to

turn that around and make it a good day,"

Oliver said. After brightening the day for his

passengers over the years, Oliver now gets to

have his day on Tuesday, October 29. That's

when he will receive his award at a

conference in Boston

Coos Bay home to

taxi driver of the year

Sky Muller

October 24, 2013

Richard Stockwell expressed surprise when he

learned he was named the Taxicab, Limousine

and Paratransit Association's Limousine and

Sedan Chauffeur of the Year.

Apparently,

many of his

clients

wouldn't have

raised an eye-

brow.

The city re-

sident said he

was called into

the office at

Transport The

People Inc.,

where he has

worked for the

past 18

months, not knowing his company had

nominated him for the international honor.

"I said, why me?" Stockwell said. "I told them

we have a lot of good drivers. They said it was

because of the feedback they'd received from

people."

In fact, the company reported receiving letters of

appreciation about Stockwell on a regular basis.

One recent client wrote, "I hope your company

realizes what a valuable asset you have to your

organization."

Alfred LaGasse, chief executive officer of the

association, said

in a press release

that Stockwell

"stood out in this

year's field of

applicants

because of the

noticeable and

loyal following

he creates with

nearly every one

of his clients."

Stockwell, 70, is

a Marine Corps

veteran of the

Vietnam War and

a former Massachusetts state trooper. After

developing health complications from exposure

to Agent Orange defoliant in Vietnam, he said he

left the state police and worked for nine years

with the American Red Cross's former medical

transportation service in Berkshire County.

After a brief retirement, "I couldn't just do

Pittsfield limo driver

Richard Stockwell

named Chauffeur of the Year

Jim Therrien, The Berkshire Eagle

October 21, 2013

2

2

nothing," he said, which led to his accepting a job

with Transport The People in Pittsfield.

"I truly enjoy providing a service that makes

passengers feel like I am just an old friend giving

them a ride," Stockwell said.

He said his job includes a wide variety of clients,

some from the business world, many headed to

and from airports, others being transported for

medical reasons, and others to social events like

weddings.

"The best part is meeting all kinds of different

people," he said,

from celebrities

to newlyweds to

the seriously ill.

"It is up to me to

make sure the

transportation

side goes right."

Some ask for

Stockwell when-

ever they need

trans-portation,

including one

man being treat-

ed for cancer

who became ill

during a ride to have treatment and was

comforted by his driver. There are quite a few

regular clients, Stockwell said, adding, "It makes

me feel good when people ask for me."

Among his recent clients, he said, were an

international banker based in New York City

coming to the Berkshires for a vacation, and "a

girls' night out that turned out to be very

interesting.

Stockwell said he makes a point of asking if there

is anything he should pick up for someone or if

they need to make a stop, and he tries to

determine whether they like to talk or not.

"Some like to talk, some don't like to talk," he

said. "You have to pick up on that."

He also tries to remember if a repeat client likes

to find a Wall Street Journal in the vehicle or

some other amenity for the ride.

While he primarily drives stretch limousines and

Lincoln Town Cars, Stockton also has driven his

share of vans. Within its fleet, Transport The

People has four limos, five Town Cars and

numerous 14-passenger

vans and a fleet of

smaller vans.

When Stockwell isn't

behind the wheel, he

enjoys spending time

with family members,

watching sports and

traveling. He's also a

member of the Pittsfield

Licensing Commission

and volunteers with the

Civitan Club, the

Salvation Army and the

Christian Center.

As the 2013 award

recipient, Stockwell will receive an all-expenses

paid trip to Boston next weekend for the

association's 95th annual conference and trade

show.

According to its website (www.tlpa.org), the

Taxicab, Limousine and Paratransit Association

spans the globe and its membership includes

1,100 taxi, executive sedan and limousine

companies.

Richard Stockwell expressed surprise when he

learned he was named the Taxicab, Limousine

and Paratransit Association's Limousine and

Sedan Chauffeur of the Year.

Apparently,

many of his

clients

wouldn't have

raised an eye-

brow.

The city re-

sident said he

was called into

the office at

Transport The

People Inc.,

where he has

worked for the

past 18

months, not knowing his company had

nominated him for the international honor.

"I said, why me?" Stockwell said. "I told them

we have a lot of good drivers. They said it was

because of the feedback they'd received from

people."

In fact, the company reported receiving letters of

appreciation about Stockwell on a regular basis.

One recent client wrote, "I hope your company

realizes what a valuable asset you have to your

organization."

Alfred LaGasse, chief executive officer of the

association, said

in a press release

that Stockwell

"stood out in this

year's field of

applicants

because of the

noticeable and

loyal following

he creates with

nearly every one

of his clients."

Stockwell, 70, is

a Marine Corps

veteran of the

Vietnam War and

a former Massachusetts state trooper. After

developing health complications from exposure

to Agent Orange defoliant in Vietnam, he said he

left the state police and worked for nine years

with the American Red Cross's former medical

transportation service in Berkshire County.

After a brief retirement, "I couldn't (Continued)

Pittsfield limo driver

Richard Stockwell

named Chauffeur of the Year

Jim Therrien, The Berkshire Eagle

October 21, 2013

2

2

just do nothing," he said, which led to his

accepting a job with Transport The People in

Pittsfield.

"I truly enjoy providing a service that makes

passengers feel like I am just an old friend giving

them a ride," Stockwell said.

He said his job includes a wide variety of clients,

some from the business world, many headed to

and from airports, others being transported for

medical reasons, and others to social events like

weddings.

"The best part is meeting all kinds of different

people," he said,

from celebrities

to newlyweds to

the seriously ill.

"It is up to me to

make sure the

transportation

side goes right."

Some ask for

Stockwell when-

ever they need

trans-portation,

including one

man being treat-

ed for cancer

who became ill

during a ride to have treatment and was

comforted by his driver. There are quite a few

regular clients, Stockwell said, adding, "It makes

me feel good when people ask for me."

Among his recent clients, he said, were an

international banker based in New York City

coming to the Berkshires for a vacation, and "a

girls' night out that turned out to be very

interesting.

Stockwell said he makes a point of asking if there

is anything he should pick up for someone or if

they need to make a stop, and he tries to

determine whether they like to talk or not.

"Some like to talk, some don't like to talk," he

said. "You have to pick up on that."

He also tries to remember if a repeat client likes

to find a Wall Street Journal in the vehicle or

some other amenity for the ride.

While he primarily drives stretch limousines and

Lincoln Town Cars, Stockton also has driven his

share of vans. Within its fleet, Transport The

People has four limos, five Town Cars and

numerous 14-passenger

vans and a fleet of

smaller vans.

When Stockwell isn't

behind the wheel, he

enjoys spending time

with family members,

watching sports and

traveling. He's also a

member of the Pittsfield

Licensing Commission

and volunteers with the

Civitan Club, the

Salvation Army and the

Christian Center.

As the 2013 award

recipient, Stockwell will receive an all-expenses

paid trip to Boston next weekend for the

association's 95th annual conference and trade

show.

According to its website (www.tlpa.org), the

Taxicab, Limousine and Paratransit Association

spans the globe and its membership includes

1,100 taxi, executive sedan and limousine

companies.

Metro Taxi Vice President Isabelle Scalzi has won a

national transportation industry award.

The Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association

has named Scalzi its 2013 Outstanding Contributor

to Women in

Transportation

award recipient

and will pre-

sent the award

to her Monday

in front of

nearly 1,000

industry

leaders at the

group’s annual

convention in

Boston at the

Sheraton

Boston/ John

B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center.

According to a TLPA press release, Scalzi’s

trademark has been as a business leader and social

innovator.

“Her goal is to use business as a catalyst to ease some

of society’s most pressing issues, including under-

age drinking, mobility challenges and employment

for veterans and those with disabilities,” the

Maryland-based group said.

Scalzi, who helps manage the company with her

founder husband, William, said, “I believe

community involvement and social entrepreneurism

have helped our business and have changed it

forever.”

Alfred LaGasse, CEO of the taxi trade association,

said Scalzi was selected for the award because of her

innovation, creativity and ability

to inspire others.

“From the time she entered this

industry, Isabelle demonstrated

an incredible drive to always do

things better,” LaGasse said.

“Not only does she inspire both

women and men in this industry,

she seems to inspire everyone

she meets.”

Scalzi, who oversees business

development and community

relations, created Metro Taxi’s

Veteran Heroes for Hire, a program to recruit retired

armed forces personnel to the transportation

business. She created the University Ride Safe Card

pro­gram that helps keep college students safe via a

pre-loaded taxi debit card for rides home. She also

oversees the company’s websites, daily blogs and

social media platforms.

This year marks the TLPA’s 95th annual convention

and trade show, the world’s largest gathering of for-

hire fleet executives at 1,100 taxi companies, limo

services, airport shuttles, non-emergency companies

and paratransit services.

Greater New Haven’s Metro Taxi VP to

receive transit group award

The New Haven Register

October 21, 2013

The national Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit

Association, based in Rockville, Md. announced it

has named Brock F. Rosayn of Palm Beach County,

Fla., as the 2013 Taxicab Small Fleet Operator of the

Year.

Rosayn has spent his

entire career in the

transportation industry,

acrding to the release from

the association. He and his

wife, JoAnne, owners of

Metro Taxi of Palm Beach

County, said the business

is a family effort. Their

children work for the

company, focusing on

fuel-efficient vehicles.

“My goals for this

company are to continue

to implement more fuel-

efficient vehicles into our

fleet,” Rosayn said. “The

community showed so

much support when we

introduced our first Prius

hybrid to our fleet, and we

want to continue to grow in that direction.”

Alfred LaGasse, Chief Executive Officer of the

association, said in the statement that Rosayn was a

clear choice for the honor, in part because of his

focus on innovation and fuel-efficiency.

“Brock is a true leader in the transportation

industry,” LaGasse said. “Not only has he been one

of the frontrunners in fuel-efficiency, but he has also

managed to incorporate his entire family into the

business. His company has thrived through

innovation, and what a joy it must be to do so as a

family

According to the release:

“Rosayn will accept the award on

October 30th in front of nearly

1,000 industry leaders at the

TLPA’s annual convention, held

this year at the Sheraton

Boston/John B. Hynes Veterans

Memorial Convention Center in

Boston, MA. This year marks the

Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit

Association’s 95th Annual

Convention & Trade Show, the

world’s largest gathering of for-

hire fleet executives.

Established in 1917, the Taxicab,

Limousine & Paratransit

Association (TLPA) is a non-profit

trade association of and for the

private passenger transportation

industry. Its extensive membership

spans the globe to include 1,100

taxicab companies, executive sedan

and limousine services, airport shuttle fleets, non-

emergency medical transportation companies, and

paratransit services. For more information, please

visit www.tlpa.org.”

Florida taxi cab owner honored by

national transportation association

The BizPac Review

October 19, 2013

The president of a Norfolk-based taxi company

and Stihl Inc.’s power-tool manufacturing plant

in Virginia Beach have won industrywide

awards for excellence.

Judy Swystun, president of Hampton Roads

Transportation Inc., was

named the 2013 Taxicab

Large-Fleet Operator of

the Year by the Taxicab,

Limousine & Paratransit

Association. Swystun’s

company includes Black

and White Cabs of

Norfolk; Black and

White Cabs of Virginia

Beach; Yellow Cab of

Hampton; Norfolk

Checker Taxi; Yellow

Cab of Norfolk; and

Yellow Cab of Newport

News.

In a news release, the TLPA said Swystun

“focuses on technology and keeping up with the

times, as evidenced by her company’s mobile

accessible websites and soon-to-be-unveiled

mobile app. Swystun also keeps a strong focus

on the needs of drivers, providing ongoing

education and training courses. Her companies

are the only in the area that offer wheelchair-

credit card machines in all vehicles.” Hampton

Roads Transportation has 283 taxicabs.

Meanwhile, the Association for Manufacturing

Excellence announced that Stihl was a winner of

its 2013 Manufacturing Excellence Award.

The group said in a

news release that the

manufacturer of

chain saws and other

power tools has

established a “con-

tinuous improvement

system” that makes

use of advanced

technology and auto-

mation, among other

things. Christian

Koestler, Stihl’s vice

president of op-

erations, said in a statement that “Fos-tering a

culture of innovation and excellence is fun-

damental to American manufacturing success,

and encouraging employees to embrace

automation and rewarding them for their ideas

establishes this culture from the ground up.”

Stihl Inc is part of the German conglomerate

Stihl Group and has 1,900 employees in Virginia

Beach.

Taxicab operator, chain-saw

plant win industry awards

Dave Mayfield, The Virginia-Pilot

October 17, 2013