The Publications You Receive with NLA Membership

The CEO of Grech Motors, Ed Grech, commits to providing quality and innovation in the coachbuilding industry. Beyond this, Ed Grech is a member of the National Limousine Association (NLA), while Grech Motors is a key NLA sponsor. Upon attaining membership to the NLA, members receive the following industry publications:

1. LCT Magazine – Created with business executives at charter bus and chauffeured transportation firms in mind, LCT Magazine provides industry information. Individuals must opt-in to a subscription during the application process to receive the magazine.

2. NLA Voice – A quarterly newsletter, NLA Voice covers the latest news in the ground transportation industry, placing particular focus on legislative issues.

3. NLA E-News – A twice-monthly online publication, NLA E-News covers industry happenings and offers insights from professionals.

4. The NLA Directory of Members. Featuring a comprehensive list of NLA Members, the directory is a key business resource.

5. NLA’s President’s Message – Published every Friday, the President’s Letter provides NLA updates on what the organization is doing to benefit its members.

Frequently Asked Questions about the NLA’s PAC

Ed Grech draws on more than 30 years of experience in luxury coachbuilding manufacturing industry in his work as the CEO of Grech Motors. Finding continued success through a desire to educate himself and others in the industry, Ed Grech maintains membership to the National Limousine Association (NLA), which operates a Political Action Committee (PAC). Here are some frequently asked questions about the NLA’s PAC.

Q. What is a PAC?
A. A PAC is a special fund that collects contributions from an organization’s members to fund political campaigns in support of candidates, legislation, and ballot initiatives that will benefit the organization’s members.

Q. What is the NLA PAC’s goal?
A. The NLA’s PAC backs political candidates who understand, support, and protect the luxury ground transportation sector. The PAC offers the NLA and its members a stronger voice in Washington.

Q. Who can contribute to the PAC?
A. Anybody in the United States may contribute to the NLA’s PAC, regardless of membership status with the NLA. All contributions are voluntary and cannot exceed $5,000 annually. Further, contributions must come from personal funds, paid via check or credit card, and are not tax-deductible.

NLA and NSVRC Raise Awareness of Sexual Assault By Hired Drivers

The responsibilities of Ed Grech, CEO of Grech Motors, includes managing the daily operations and the marketing aspects of the company. Their company manufactures and sells high-end buses and Sprinter vans. Ed Grech also gives back to the automotive community by being a sponsor for organizations like the National Limousine Association (NLA).

In response to an increase of alleged sexual assaults involving ride-hailing apps, National Limousine Association’s Ride Responsibly initiative and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) are collaborating to help spread awareness. This campaign debuts with an educational video, which will star activist and actress Pamela Anderson.

“The Driving Game!” is a video that aims to educate passengers who use vehicle-hailing apps to be more vigilant, as well as to improve their overall safety. Lighthearted in tone, the Public Service Announcement (PSA) emphasizes one crucial point: Passengers cannot always vet their drivers, but the application’s owners should be able to.

According to Gary Buffo, president of the NLA, their partnership with the NSVRC is crucial in bringing awareness to this problem. Part of their goal is to establish a better nationwide standard when it comes to background checks, including collecting finger prints and requiring drug tests.

The NSRVC produces and distributes resources that advocate stricter regulations to increase rider safety. It collaborates with various associations such as NLA, working to create various awareness campaigns in order to bring these issues to light.

The Benefits of Using a Shuttle Bus Service

 


Ed Grech is the founder and CEO of Grech Motors, a manufacturer in the ground transportation industry. With more than 30 years of experience, Ed Grech and his team focus on manufacturing luxury minicoaches for companies who provide shuttle services to clients.

The benefits of using a shuttle bus service are numerous and include the following:

1. Safety. Because shuttle bus drivers are professionals, shuttle service eliminates the risk associated with carpooling.

2. Convenience. A shuttle bus also ensures that all passengers arrive at their destination at the same time. Additionally, reserving a single shuttle saves time that would have otherwise been spent booking multiple vehicles.

3. Amenities. In many cases, hiring a shuttle bus will also give the traveling party access to a number of amenities that can’t be found in cars or public transport. These can include more comfortable seats, power outlets to charge mobile devices, additional storage space, and temperature controls to make long journeys more enjoyable.

4. Affordability. Costs will also be reduced as you are hiring only one vehicle, as opposed to three or four.

Three Lessons Business Owners Can Draw from Pilots

Grech Motors founder Ed Grech was recently featured in Chauffer Driven, the ground transportation industry’s most widely circulated publication. The article pointed out some of the lessons Ed Grech has drawn from his 10 years of experience as a pilot. Below are a few ways in which flying an aircraft corresponds to running a successful business. 

Just like making business decisions, flying is both an art and a science. Objectivity and quantitative research are vital, but the final choice often comes down to a leader’s carefully honed insight and instinct. 

Keeping calm under pressure is essential in both exercises. Minor miscalculations in flight can result in serious consequences, perhaps even life-threatening ones, yet pilots must stay cool and clear-headed in order to execute their missions successfully. Likewise, a personal career and the livelihood of employees rest on the shoulders of many business owners. They need to navigate investments and major company decisions with keen focus during those demanding moments. 

Trust is a must. It often takes a whole crew to get a plane off the ground. The pilot puts his or her life in the hands of a copilot, air traffic controllers, mechanics, and others. Similarly, as a business grows, it is often essential for an executive to have staff whom he or she trusts implicitly to execute decisions on a day-to-day basis.

NLA Launches the Ride Responsibly Campaign

Ed Grech is the founder and CEO of Grech Motors, a California-based vehicle manufacturer. To support the luxury ground transportation industry, Ed Grech is also involved with the National Limousine Association (NLA).

The NLA exists as a nonprofit association dedicated to empowering limousine operators, manufacturers, and other small associations. To protect and pursue the interests of the high-end ground transportation industry, NLA gathers educational resources produced by operators from different parts of the globe. Members of the organization are also committed to professional, responsible, safe, and reliable services, to ensure client confidence.

In line with its dedication to professionalizing the luxury chauffeured vehicle industry, NLA created and launched its Ride Responsibly campaign. Established in 2015, the Ride Responsibly campaign focuses on enlightening members of the public on their rights as passengers and what they should expect from service providers. NLA was also able to create ground transportation standards, such as the Passenger Bill of Rights and Driver Duty of Care, through the Ride Responsibly campaign.

Chauffeur Driven Magazine Showcases International Perspectives

Ed Grech of Grech Motors is a national leader in luxury bus manufacturing. In addition to creating some of the most in-demand minicoaches in the nation, Ed Grech regularly sponsors the Chauffeur Driven Show, produced by Chauffeur Driven Magazine, an industry favorite. 

Since 2012, Chauffeur Driven Magazine has been the chauffeured ground transportation industry's most popular publication. It brings the latest developments from the transportation sector straight to readers, striving to arm them with information and help their business thrive. Chauffeur Driven recently interviewed transportation-industry operators from 15 different nations to gauge international conditions and see how the United States fits in. 

Fuel cost stood out as an area of disparity across different nations. Many foreign companies routinely pay more than $5 USD per gallon of fuel, which is often compounded by taxes approaching 50 percent. Operators in Holland and Hong Kong regularly pay more than $7 per gallon. 

The influence of the Euro has been profound in some countries. Most transportation industry operators are pleased by the changes the Euro has brought, such as improved ease of billing in international markets. Using the same currency decreases banking and transactional costs, another factor foreign operators appreciate.

Ford’s Qualified Vehicle Modifier Program - Ensuring Coach Quality

 



As head of Grech Motors in Riverside, California, Ed Grech leads the premier manufacturer of high-end bus and coaches, including Sprinter vans. Committed to quality and innovation, Ed Grech maintains his company as one that has consistently achieved certification through Ford’s Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) program since its launch 25 years ago.

The QVM program fills a critical industry role by ensuring Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards compliance. Involving annual facility reviews and inspections, it also ensures that vehicles meet internal conversion guidelines set by Lincoln and Ford. With continuous improvement a foundational value, QVM program participation assures customers that finished high-end products are reliable and rigorously tested.

Coachbuilders that maintain QVM program certification design their offerings with the whole vehicle in mind and well integrated capabilities and features. Grech Motors incorporates a number of innovative standard features into its models, including panoramic front-viewing windows and electric plug entry doors.

33rd Annual International LCT Show to Take Place in March 2017

 

Drawing on more than three decades of experience in the design and manufacture of high-end coaches and buses, Ed Grech leads Grech Motors in delivering innovative vehicles of the highest quality. Ed Grech’s company also sponsors Limousine, Charter, and Tour (LCT) Magazine, which will partner with the National Limousine Association (NLA) to host the 33rd International LCT Show in March 2017.

The International LCT Show serves as the largest convention worldwide for luxury vehicle, charter, and tour operations and provides guests with a variety of networking and education opportunities. The exhibitor hall also features a selection of products and solutions to help professionals in the industry grow their business. For the 2017 event, the LCT Show will focus on the theme of Embrace the New and will highlight the latest technologies and vehicles in the changing industry. Furthermore, educational sessions will follow incorporated topics from current best practices.

In addition to panels and concurrent sessions, the show will include a number of special events that include networking parties, keynote addresses, and an evening innovations theater. Innovations theaters enable guests to participate in focus groups and witness product demos and new product launches. The show will also host an NLA Charity Night and the LCT Magazine Operator of the Year Awards.

Registration fees vary according to several pass options, such as full show, singe day pass, and non-exhibitor supplier. Guests may also purchase tickets to the LCT Awards Banquet and the First Timers’ Orientation. Discounted tickets are available until February 10, 2017.

The International LCT Show will take place on March 13 through March 15, 2017 at the Venetian and Palazzo Resort Hotel Casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Harold Berkman Memorial Fund Benefits Charities Nationwide

Grech Motors founder Ed Grech leads the California-based company in the design and production of luxury buses and Sprinter vans with a focus on first-class quality and attention to detail. Ed Grech also sponsors the National Limousine Association (NLA), which manages a philanthropic arm through the Harold Berkman Memorial Fund.

Established in 1996 as the NLA Charity Fund, the fund donates to a variety of charities nationwide and supports a broad assortment of causes for cancer research, veteran services, and domestic violence support, among others. Along with many other professionals in the luxury transportation industry, former NLA president Harold Berkman played a key role in the fund’s initial start-up. Berkman’s passing in 1997 prompted the NLA Board of Directors to rename the fund in his honor.

In addition to donations from the public and its members, the NLA raises financial support for the fund through events such as its Annual Wine Tasting Fundraiser. The 2017 Annual Wine Tasting will take place in January with future details to be announced. Since its creation, the fund has contributed more than $670,000 in donations, and gift recipients have included the Alliance for Lupus Research, the Fisher House Foundation, Angel Flight Central, and When Georgia Smiled.

National Limousine Association Calls for Presenters for Trade Shows

The founder of Grech Motors in Riverside, California, Ed Grech maintains a reputation for building high-quality vehicles that highlight innovation and close attention to detail. An ardent supporter of the luxury ground transportation industry, Ed Grech has sponsored trade shows held by the National Limousine Association (NLA) and Limousine, Charter, and Tour (LCT) Magazine.

Trade shows hosted by the NLA and the LCT focus on providing attendees with an assortment of informational materials and timely educational sessions designed to help grow their business. To provide attendees with the most comprehensive programming, the NLA upholds an ongoing call for presentations from luxury transportation professionals with authority or knowledge on beneficial industry topics. Selected speakers receive the opportunity to present their session at a future LCT-NLA Show East or International LCT Show.

A current membership with the NLA is required to submit a session for consideration. Non-members may apply for a membership at the time of submission, although submission does not guarantee selection for a future show or event. The NLA also reserves the right to make modifications to selected presentations if necessary.                            

NLA Membership Benefits

Ed Grech leads all business activities at Grech Motors in Riverside, California, as founder and chief executive officer. In addition to his executive responsibilities, Ed Grech maintains memberships with industry organizations such as the National Limousine Association.

For more than three decades the National Limousine Association (NLA) has acted in the interests of luxury chauffeured ground transportation professionals at the local, state, national, and global levels. NLA members enjoy a number of benefits, including the generation of new leads through the annually updated NLA director of members, access to www.NLARide.com, and special announcements and publications made available only to NLA members. It is also not uncommon for NLA members to partner exclusively with fellow NLA members in business transactions.

Exclusive NLA member updates are not relegated to new business opportunities. Members are kept up to date on a variety of industry developments, ranging from legislative happenings to advances in ground transportation technology. Additional benefits for NLA members include educational resources, opportunities to engage in important lobbying efforts, and membership discounts for numerous NLA programs.