WOMEN IN THE LIMOUSINE INDUSTRY

[STACI GARCIA]

If you've been in the limousine industry for any length of time, you know there aren't many women involved in this industry. If you know a woman who owns or operates a limousine company, please pass the word on that we have started a network of women.
Our goal is to work together, help eachother build business and friendship through networking. Our first venue is online at: http://groups.to/womeninlimousineindustry/
Please tell your female operator affiliates and help us spread the word.
Thank you!

[Greg Phillips]

Interesting, but I suppose the lack or presence of female owners differs from region to region.

There are quite a few female owner/operators in the NE. Some of the largest and most profitable operations in the DC-Metro area are owned, or at least partially owned and operated by women.

Women are also very well represented in the Maryland Limousine Association.

At any rate, good luck with your group.

[STACI GARCIA]

Well then send them to me and I'd like to meet them.
[e-mail]
http://groups.to/womeninlimousineindustry/

[Dave M]

You also have Cheryl Berman who owns Music Express

[GeorgeBurgman]

Hi Staci
Your observation is to true. I recently started a chauffeur network on Facebook called 'Limochat' which has a number of female members associated with the industry. Your more than welcome to join and spread the word of your network. At the same time, we would greatly appreciate the knowledge and experience you could bring to our discussion boards.

George Burgman

[STACI GARCIA]

George,
Thank you for the invite and I will be honored to join Limochat on FB.

[Steven Groves]

Welcome Staci! I visited and joined the Facebook group right away. I really like what the group stands for and you can count on our support here at InTheLeftlaneOnline.com! I also added a link to your group on our front page... let's stay connected!

[STACI GARCIA]

Steven,
Thank you for joining and I look forward to your input. And thank you for putting the link on your front page as well.

[Michael D Goodman]

My first wife owned a swimming pool excavation company. Her husband had built it from scratch and she kept it after he died in surgery. It was impressive to see her build this business, with little experience, in an absolute mans world of construction and bidding for jobs. That was a number of years ago.

Today, 45 years after a black man stood in front of a nation and said he had a dream that a man would be judged by the content of his character and not by the color of his skin, we have a legitimate contender for the office of President who is clearly being judged by the content of his character and not by the color of his skin.

Years after the first bra was ever burned in protest of women as objects and not people, years after women were thrown in jail for picketing the White House for the right to vote and years after major political office (Hllary Clinton, Presidential Candidate, Geraldine Ferraro, Vice Presidential nominee) were sought by women, I have to ask a simple question.

What is the value of a woman's network in the Limo industry?

This is meant not as any kind of disrespectful slam, but rather a celebration of equality that recognizes the value of all of us, working jointly to better our industry as a whole.

I am a happy celebrator of the differences between men and women and an absolute recognizer of the identical VALUE of men and women and I am not sure I understand (of course I am a man) what the value proposition of a gender based organization brings the membership.

So help me please understand.

Is there still bias amongst peers? Are customers still devaluing women operators? Is the value based on similarity and understanding within the sorority?

Most importantly, as fellow professionals, how can I support you, whoever you are without regard to race, creed, color, religion, age, gender, etc, etc. But rather as breathing creatures of the creator?

Warmly,
Michael Goodman

[STACI GARCIA]

Michael,
Excellent questions you posed. And I'm glad you asked "What is the value of a woman's network in the Limo industry?"

Here is my answer: First read pages 74-75 in July's LCT magazine. It is an article I wrote about being a woman, wife and mother and running a limousine company and the daily obstacles I have experienced. One story I mention, in case you don't read LCT, is that on a daily basis, I answer the telephone with "Good afternoon. My name is Staci Garcia at Prestige Limousines. How can I help you?" and I am asked "Can I speak to the person who makes important financial (or marketing, or advertising, or purchasing, or whatever it is that day) decisions?"

And my standard response: "You are speaking to her. How can I help you?" And the the person on the other end, always a man, inevitably says, "Oh, I mean can I speak to the owner or president of your company, or someone in charge??" A woman would have already started her pitch.

And once again, if I'm feeling patient that day, I'll say, "You're speaking to her." Otherwise I just hang up the phone because if the person on the other end of the line does not automatically accept that a woman could be "the person in charge of making important decisions," I don't want to do business with them anyway.

So, clearly equality may exist in an ideal world but it doesn't transfer automatically into a person's paradigm so people behave and believe (both men and women) very differently.

When you go to the limousine conventions and the "hot girls" are signing posters of themselves (bikini shots or otherwise) on the show floor, do you think Coachbuilders are devaluing women operators? At the night time venues/cocktail parties, have you ever attended a party where gogo dancers or sexy women in transparent outfits swinging from trapezes or dancing in cages were NOT present??? You don't find that this industry caters to men? Even show organizers, (ironically mostly women), must cater to the show's majority (men) and deliver sex in any way possible to get the attention they need to sell tickets, get a strong attendance and capture the focus of their attendees (once again, mostly men), in order to make sponsors happy...

I have less issues with clients in this regard than with fellow operators, industry vendors, and chauffeurs. So, ask me again if there's a bias amonst peers. I don't know about all women, but I find it hard to believe that any woman would not notice the discrimination. And to address another question: Yes, working with women offers one definite benefit. One female operator rarely has to prove to another female operator that she is what she says she is.
What can you do? Just understand there are issues and actions you might not notice or find offensive and try to eliminate them from your daily routine if a woman brings it to your attention.
And thank you for your understanding and ability to offer support without judging.
Happy Friday,
Staci Garcia
President, Prestige Limousines
Boca Raton, FL

[Michael D Goodman]

Excellent answer. Thank you.

I should share with you that when I am calling into a company where someone stops me from going any further without explaining my purpose in calling, I have found it helpful to explain exactly why I am calling. Whether or not it is the person answering the phone, or whether the person is the President of the company or a staff member, they have the power to hang up on me and if I don't help them help me, they can't. Interestingly enough, if they are trying to screen my call, than pushing past that is kind of stupid, and if they are trying to direct me to the right place than pushing past that is definitely stupid. I try not to be stupid. (though sometimes it seems it can't be helped...)

I have yet to read the article though you know I will. Hopefully get to meet you at the conference too.

Warmest regards,
Michael Goodman

[Dean Schuler]

Female operators are rare in the Deep South. One I would recommend is Jessica Olvera Gudritz of Royal Limousine of Shreveport, LA 318-865-1999. Jessica has been our affliate for years.

[STACI GARCIA]

Well if I don't get a chance, let her know-- the next time you call her-- that it would be great if she joined the Women in the Limousine Industry Face Book Group. We will be having a special event for women at the Digest Show in Atlantic City as well. If any of you speak to any lfemale operators, please spread the word!
Thank you and have a great weekend,
Staci Garcia, President
Prestige Limousines, Inc.
Boca Raton, FL 561-451-2100