TLPA
ROBERT MCBRIDE TO LEAD THE TAXICAB, LIMOUSINE & PARATRANSIT ASSOCIATION IN 2011
Robert McBride assumed position on November 1, 2010
Vows to reenergize "Taxis on Patrol" initiative
New York, NY, November 11, 2010.
To a packed house at the 92nd Annual TLPA Convention and Trade Show in Los Angeles, CA, Robert McBride recently assumed the presidency of the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA), the nonprofit trade association of and for the private passenger transportation industry. McBride is currently VP of Park Strategies, LLC (NY, NY) and operator of Metro Taxi, the largest ground transportation company in Denver, CO. He takes over the position of TLPA President from Victor Dizengoff, executive director of New York’s Black Car Assistance Corporation.
As he outlined his goals for 2011, McBride noted, “It is my objective to raise our membership by 20%, advance quality and customer service, and engage our association wholeheartedly in important community related programs. One of the top issues on my agenda is to reenergize the "Taxis on Patrol" initiative, encouraging TLPA operators nationwide to act as an extra set of eyes and ears in their communities.” In this regard, McBride presented a $10,000 donation to the TLPA Public Relations Program toward developing the Taxis on Patrol program. He also announced that former New York City police captain and new member of the TLPA board, Joe Giannetoo, had agreed to chair the program.
McBride also pledged to continue to promote the Pink Ride program in support of finding a cure for breast cancer. “We were all inspired by Vic Dizengoff’s introduction of this program and it was evident that the general public recognized and supported our efforts. I will encourage TLPA membership participation again in 2011,” said McBride.
TLPA advocates transportation solutions that benefit the industry and the consumer, creates a favorable operating environment, and expands business and market knowledge. As an entrepreneur in ground transportation since 1982 in both New York and Colorado, McBride has been in the vanguard of quality standards and customer service. Today, Metro Taxi is recognized for its advanced dispatch system with online booking capacities, Interactive Voice Response, efficient use of GPS systems, and prepaid billing options eliminating the necessity for cash or credit card transactions. McBride has championed and led the charge in going ‘green’ by powering the Metro Taxi headquarters with used motor oil and adding hybrids to the company’s fleet of 500 vehicles serving over 1.5 million passengers in the Denver Metro area each year.
A native New Yorker, Robert McBride at age 21, and while attending college at night invested in a used Cadillac as his first limousine subcontracting his services to area transportation companies. By 23 years of age he had invested in a cab company and began his career as an independent eventually founding All Island Taxi on Long Island, NY. He met the challenges of this highly regulated region growing the business from 26 to a fleet of over 400 town cars, taxicabs, and wheelchair accessible vans at the time he sold the company to a public firm in 2000.
Today, McBride brings his expertise, business acumen and political knowledge to his position as Vice President of Park Strategies, the public policy and business development organization founded by former U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato. He counsels clients across a variety of industries including transportation, real estate, pharmaceuticals, investment banking, waste management and health care.
McBride also serves as the Chairman of Federal Shield Security, a security and surveillance firm based on Long Island, NY.
Active with many charity groups McBride has served on the boards of many non-profits including The Leukemia Society and United Way of Long Island. He also served as Chairman of the Education and Assistance Corporation and has been honored for his community service by the Helen Keller Services for the Blind and the National Center for the Furtherance of Jewish Education.
McBride received the 2010 Citizen of the Year Award from the New York Grand Lodge Foundation Son’s of Italy and the 2010 Favorite Son Award from the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick on Long Island.He and his wife, Marion, have three grown children and live in Dix Hills, New York.
About TLPA
Established in 1917 and headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, TLPA membership spans the globe to include over 1,000 taxicab companies, executive sedan and limousine services, airport shuttle fleets, non-emergency medical transportation companies, and paratransit services. Visit www.tlpa.org.
Hal Morgan, TLPA’s Executive Vice President, provided this article. You may contact him at hmorgan@tlpa.org