# 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. 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.

## Ride Responsibly

Ride Responsibly is an initiative started in February 2015 by the NLA 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.

## 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

| Name | 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

| 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, which encompasses a diverse range of companies such as EmpireCLS, BlackLimousines, Dav El/BostonCoach, Carey International and Groundlink.