2010 Christmas Party Highlights

Jan ua r y - Fe brua ry 2011 Vo lu me 1 5
Issue 1
2010 Christmas Party Highlights
At noon on December 17 the tent had been decked, Santa was in place and Jimbo Mears invited everyone
to join in and celebrate at our annual Christmas party. With the sounds of “Jingle Bell Rock” playing, the
guests were ready for a fun-filled day for all City Cab, Mears, and Hello Florida! families. The adults lined
up for Christmas turkey and all the fixings, while the kids were eager to see Santa, play video games and
have their faces painted by Candy the Clown. Others enjoyed receiving crazy balloon hats or personalizing
their own Santa hat at the arts & crafts table.
The festivities included autographs and photos with favorite characters, and lots of holiday music to keep
things merry and bright. In the blink of an eye (and with a little encouragement from the DJ), the kids were
in a circle putting their “right arms in” to the Hokey Pokey, while the young-at-heart finished the set by
dancing to “The Electric Slide.”
With more than 100 prizes to give away, raffle tickets were drawn every 30 minutes and more winning
names were announced. Shuttle Van Driver Priscilla Dekema won the grand prize package from The Hilton
Orlando, which includes a three-night stay for two, breakfast each morning, dinner on two evenings, a
one-day cabana rental and a one-hour couples’ massage, all worth more than $1,000. Thanks to all who
purchased tickets and helped raise more than $3,900. This year, with an additional contribution from Mears
Transportation Group, the Russell Home received a much-needed check for $5,000!
2010 Christmas
Party Highlights
The 2010 Christmas Party Planning Committee (Jim Meade, David Dease, Ron Jones, Michele
McNaughton, Rodney Posey, Andrea Hall, Amanda Rhoades, Danielle Bennett, Cathy Larson
and Joy Fleming) would like to extend many thanks to all who helped make this event happen
by volunteering, contributing prizes, selling tickets, making deliveries, running errands and
setting up the event, and our apologies if we have forgotten anyone.
Special Thanks To:
ABC Bus Companies
Advanced Branding Solutions
Anne Laxson
Aquatica
Atlantic Automotive
Balloon Connection: Steve
Battery USA
BB King Blues Club: K. Krupinkski
Big Fin Seafood Kitchen: Tricia Jenkins
BP
Bret Voisin
Bridgestone Tires
Cari Rubin
Caroll’s Catering: Caroll & Joe
Carolyn DeFreitas
CCC Operations Managers: Wayne Nassis, Mike
McGrath, Lenny LaGrange, Brian Roy
Chris Earl
Crispers
David Taitano
Disney Cruise Line: Anna Fries and DCL/DME Team
Donnie Dieterle and the Hello FL! Event Staff
Dubsdread
Fairfield Inn & Suites: Melissa B. Jean
Florida Tire Supply
Frank Lawrence
Fritzner Montauban
Fun Planners: Luna Tolunay
Gatorland: Mark B. McHugh
Hard Rock Café
Heather Thompson
Hello FL! Staffing Operations: Lisa Langdon &
Karen Favorite
Hertz
Home Depot
Hugh Dowling
Ian Kaufman
Jennifer Campbell
Jim Ungvary
Julie James
Justin Moore
Kerri Ludwig Kriner
Kraige Jean
Larry Duniho
Linda and Murray Collins
Lisa Heron
Longhorn Steakhouse
Lydia Cortez
Marcy Lapetina
Margaritaville
Mark Scalzo
Max King
MDS Operations Managers: Michelle Engram &
Marcel Enoch
Mike Cone
Mike Lalikos
Motor Coach Operations Managers: Sandy
Esteves & Cynthia Morris
Napa of Orlando
Nyberg, Fletcher & White: Michael Winslow
Orange Lake Country Club
Orlando Hilton: Juan Garcia
Orlando Magic
Orlando World Center Marriott:
Christine Peters
Party Guys
Planet Hollywood: Peter Maggio
Prater Radiator
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MEARS IN MOTION NEWSLETTER • January - February 2011
Print Shop Staff: Jose Pujals,
Eric Ramos & Bill Langbein
Ritz Carlton Grand Lakes: Kelsey Alholm
Rivership Romance
Robert Aquino
Ron Fulton
Rosemary Gates
SeaWorld
Snack Time Vending
Specialty Vehicle Company
Spirit Airlines
Standard Coffee: Bob Cootz
T. Skorman Productions
The Maintenance Team: Robert Phelps, Harry Brickey,
Angel Rodriquez, Alex Oliveras & Carlos Collazo
Tommy Bahama: Crystal Carr
Tonya Dease
Trish Kanner
Truck Pro of Orlando
Unisource
Vehicle Spa: Chris Plaisance
Waldorf Astoria
Walt Disney World
Congratulations To These
Raffle Prize Winners:
Ali Syed
Amanda Rhoades
Andrew Mackhrandilal
Angel Crespo
Angie Gomez
Anne Laxson
Avis Richardson
Cari Rubin
Carrie Horton
Cathy Larson
Chris Earl
Chris Esposito
Cindy Ard
Daniel Baran
David Dease
David Rose
Debra Jones
Donald Burgess
Donnie Dieterle
Drew Kovarik
Eric Babenzein
Fay Allen
Felix Quinones
Gary Merone
Jean Brannon
Gerald Norrington
Ginny Hayen
Guillermo Rodriguez
Harold Bailey
Janie Bascom
Jason Meadows
Jeff Miller
Jennifer Campbell
Joe Vasas
John Hebert
Jorge Sanchez
Jose Ramos
Julie James
June Johannessen
Kevin Wason
Kimberly Bryant
Luis Garcia
Mallory Young
Marilyn Perez
Maritza Marciaga
Mark Bankston
Mark Farley
Max Mayarchuk
Michael Wright
Mike Connery
Mike Hewitt
Mike Lalikos
Miriam Thomas
Pat Wahl
Patrick Schroeder
Paula Ferris
Peggy Nance
Phil Bradstreet
Pierre Pierre
Priscilla Dekema
Ramon Jorge
Ray Berard
Renee Mayo
Ricardo Hugh
Richard Granberg
Robbie Bowman
Robert McGinty
Rodney Posey
Roy Richardson
Sadrac Pierre
Salah Elkheir
Sarah German
Sheldon Whittenstein
Teresa Haviland
Terri Corrao
Tim Baker
Ulrike Throneburg
Wayne Nassis
Wilbur Reynolds
Yaritza Ponce
A Generous Gift
In memory of Paul Mears, Sr. who passed away in 2007, Mears Transportation Group recently donated a $1 million
gift to Valencia Community College in support of educational opportunities through the “Take Stock in Children”
program. In honor of Mears, the college has renamed its West Campus Student Services Building the “Paul Mears
Sr. Student Services Building.”
Paul Mears, Jr. and his wife, Deb, a Valencia Foundation board member, believe the Take Stock program reflects
the values his father embraced by offering a mentoring relationship, a hand-up and a guaranteed college education
based on academic and personal successes through junior high and high school. “My father always believed that a
good education and hard work were the great equalizers in our society,” said Paul Jr. “In today’s world, that’s still
true, but sometimes it helps if the pathway ahead is a little clearer. We are pleased to help clear that path for those
students participating in this program.”
Since 1995, Take Stock has positively affected the lives of more than 17,600 Florida youngsters, providing 9,000
high school graduates with full college scholarships. Administered by Valencia in collaboration with Orange County
Public Schools, the statewide initiative helps provide low-income children with early intervention, volunteer mentors,
long-term support and college scholarships. High standards, parental involvement and community support are crucial.
As part of the program, each student receives an individual timeline and success plan that spans from seventh grade
through high school graduation. Students and their parents sign a covenant to maintain solid grades and remain drugfree and crime-free.
Interested Mears employees may choose to mentor a student by meeting at the child’s school weekly or every other
week for an entire school year, with the option of mentoring that same student through high school graduation. Every
mentor receives orientation and support before being matched with a student. See the sidebar on this page for a firsthand story about what it’s like to be a mentor with the Take Stock in Children program.
Paul Jr. recently explained: “The most important advantage an employer can have in today’s marketplace is the
availability of an educated workforce. That’s why I believe, and my father believed, that our busness community in
Central Florida has such a high stake in the education of our young people. We are so fortunate to have Valencia
Community College in our backyard and the talented and dedicated staff of teachers and administrators leading the
way.” He added, “But most of all, we are proud of the students who work hard every day, many in the face of adversity,
who know and are committed that the pathway to a brighter future is education.”
Valencia president, Sanford C. Shugart, recently said that “there is nothing that works like a real opportunity,”
referring both to the Take Stock program and to Mears Transportation, a company that has provided employment
opportunities to many in the community for 71 years. “This generous gift from Mears will provide meaningful
support to financially disadvantaged children who dream of attending college,” Shugart said.
For more information on the Take Stock in Children program or the Paul Mears, Sr. Student Services Building at
Valencia’s West Campus, go to: www.valenciacc.edu.
Among the local dignitaries attending the donation ceremony
with the Mears family members at Valancia’s West Campus
were Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Mayor-Elect Teresa Jacobs,
Orlando City commissioners Daisy Lynum and Samuel Ings,
and Orange County Commissioner Bill Segal. Also pictured are
Lucas Boyce, TSIC mentor and Community Relations, Multicultural Insights and Government Affairs director for the Orlando
Magic; Eric Hollinhead, principal of Lockhart Middle School;
Marshall Vermillion, FCSports Foundation President; Bradley
Demosthene, a student at Wekiva High School; Ron Blocker,
Superintendent for Orange County Public Schools; Sanford C.
Shugart, President of Valencia Community College.
Mentors Matter
Mears accounting team member Patty
Soto has been a “Take Stock” mentor
since October of 2010. She meets with
an eighth-grade student from Howard
Middle School at least twice a month to
help her stay focused on school. “I see a
lot of myself in my student, and I want her
to be successful,” says Patty. “My main
concern is that I point her in the right
direction and my reward will be to know
that I made a difference.”
Patty started working at Hello Florida! in
2007 and transitioned to Mears in May
of 2009. She is currently attending UCF,
pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Finance
and Accounting.
When asked if she will volunteer again,
Patty says, “Yes, and I would definitely
encourage others to mentor, as it does
enhance your life!”
M EARS IN M OTIO N N EW SLETTER • January - Fe brua ry 2011
3
25 Years
Geraldine Hartfield
CCC Dispatch Supervisor
ANNIVERSARIES
15 Years
Jean Fleming
HF! Field Staff
Ron Grazzini
MDS Airport Customer
Service
Daniel Oberley
CCC Mechanic
Bill Reardon
Motor Coach Operator
Felix Rodriguez
Motor Coach Operator
Catalina Rullan HF! Accounting / Human
Resources Supervisor
20 Years
Bill Matson
M4 Cashier 10 Years
Karen Favorite
HF! Staffing Supervisor
Kem Harold
Shuttle Van Driver
Valerie Matalon Reiter
HF! Senior Account
Executive
William Warren
CCC Customer Service
Agent
5 Years
Theresa Perry
MDS Customer Service
Representative
4
Gerardo Alaniz
Motor Coach Operator
MEARS IN M OTION NEWSLETTER • January - February 2011
Elsa Ayala
DME Lead
Ronnie Bostick Motor Coach Cleaner
5 Years
Brendan Earl
CCC Customer Service
Amy Gibson
HF! Field Staff
(continued)
Gary Merone Shuttle Van Driver
Randolph Peterson Freddy Roman Motor Coach Operator Motor Coach Mechanic
1 Year
Ruben Valentin Ortiz
Motor Coach Operator
Grace Villines
MDS Airport Customer
Service
Adam Zakaria
Motor Coach Cleaner
Welcome Aboard
We welcome Amie Garrett as Account Manager (AM) with Hello Florida!
Amie returned to us as a Program Manager a couple of months ago and we are
very happy that at the beginning of November she accepted a full-time AM
position. She has been in the destination management/décor business for
several years and knows the ins and outs. Amie is not one to shy away from
a challenge and she is always willing to help out wherever she can.
Hello Florida! is pleased to welcome Jenna Fadely as Sales Coordinator
on Amanda Harris’ and Randa Richter’s Teams. Jenna is a graduate from the
University of Central Florida’s Rosen College with a degree in Event Management. She had numerous internships while in school, including the
Busch Entertainment College Internship Program.
Kari Sewell has joined Hello Florida! as Account Manager (AM). Kari
started with us as a Program Manager, spent some time working in the field
and trained with several AMs before accepting a full-time position. Kari
graduated from FSU and was teaching before switching to the hospitality
industry. We are very happy now to have her as part of our team.
Hello Florida! welcomes new Sales Coordinator Katrina Tauzon as she joins
Chris Esposito’s Orlando World Center Marriott team. Katrina is a graduate
from UCF’s Rosen College with a degree in Event Management. Her education was supplemented by valuable event and hospitality experience, including
positions with a wedding venue, beach club, resort, recreation center and the
Filipino Independence Day Parade in New York City. Katrina’s most unique
professional experience to-date has been as Sales and Operations Assistant
at an exotic car gallery, where the décor was a multi-million-dollar collection of supercars!
Hello Florida! Ft. Lauderdale is pleased to welcome Tracy Vogt as Sales
Coordinator. Tracy is a graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor
of Science in Advertising. Most recently, she was a Personal Cruise
Consultant for Norwegian Cruise Line where she established relationships
with clients to develop a pattern of repeat sales and client loyalty. This
experience will transfer well to building relationships with our vendors
and providing the best customer service. We look forward to Tracy’s
many successes with Hello Florida!
Deon Adderley......................................MDS
Richard Anderson, Jr...........................MDS
Carl Anglesea........................................MDS
Danny Arms..........................................MDS
Jay Asher...............................................MDS
Zachary Ballard....................................CCC
Jon Beaty...............................................MDS
Danielle Bennett....................................HF!
Cheryl Booker.......................................MDS
Charles Brown......................................MDS
Sally Brown...........................................MDS
Nabil Chentoufi.....................................MDS
Dominic De Pofe...................................MDS
Ramysh Douglas...................................MDS
Celine Gasco..........................................CCC
Steven Grossman..................................MDS
Vincent Hawkins..................................MDS
Antonio Henry......................................MDS
Marcelino Hoyo....................................MDS
Eddie Jackson.......................................MDS
Mohamed Kazim..................................MDS
Kelly Kruszewski..................................HF!
Russell Laner........................................MDS
Clifford Main III..................................MDS
Paula Minorczyk..................................MDS
Karla Morris.........................................MDS
Paul Perrino..........................................MDS
Booker Perry, Jr....................................MDS
Chrystal Robinson................................MDS
Maria Silva............................................MDS
Jay Suever.............................................MDS
David Young, Jr.....................................CCC
In the November/December 2010 issue of Mears In Motion,
it was incorrectly reported that MDS Porter Phil
Bradstreet has been with the company for 16 years.
Phil actually has 26 years of service with Mears.
We welcome new Hello Florida! Sales Coordinator Liana
Lipkowitz to the Orlando team. Liana is a graduate from
the University of Central Florida’s Rosen
College with a Bachelor of Science
degree in Hospitality Management. She
started at SeaWorld as a marketing intern
in January 2008, became a trainer for the
internship program from October 2008 to
January 2010, and then served on their
Event Services team from February
through August of this year.
M EARS IN M OTIO N N EW SLETTER • January - Fe brua ry 2010
5
Before
g
Durin
re
Befo
Dur
ing
After
Vineland Office Now Open
Our new Vineland Rd. office opened in December, transformed from a barebones warehouse into a beautiful, highly functional and creative workspace.
Purchased several years ago, renovations on the original warehouse
property began early in 2010, with the finishing touches completed
just before Christmas.
Located at 3840 Vineland Rd., the new office houses Hello
Florida!’s Orlando Sales and Operations teams, as well as the
Mears Sales team, Guest Services department and our in-house
Print Shop. Because the two companies often serve common customers, it makes sense to share common resources under one roof,
such as the Print Shop and Field Staffing departments.
Reception Area
Hallway
Outside Patio
Main Hallway
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MEARS IN M OTION NEWSLETTER • January - February 2011
Designed to encourage efficient communication, the free-flowing space employs
glass dividers instead of hard walls, with
very few doors. President Paul Mears III
explains, “We chose a contemporary style
because it fit well with the existing shell
of the warehouse space we had to work
with. Because our people work in teams,
we wanted them to be able to have constant
New “Think Tank” Area
communication with each other, without
necessarily having to leave their desks.”
Colorful décor, strategically placed lighting and sleek furnishings add to the
appeal, with ample room to work, meet and present creative event concepts to
clients.
The Vineland space presents Mears and Hello Florida! in a way that reflects the
Hello USA! mission: To be recognized as the best in the business by our
customers; to maintain a positive and professionally rewarding environment for
our employees and to increase the company’s value for our owners. Achieving all
three is the key to our success.
On The Move
Congratulations to Rosa
Salgado on her promotion from MDS Customer
Service to Special Accounts
Coordinator. In August of
2009 Rosa came to us from
AT&T Lucent Technologies
in Orlando, where she had
worked for 14 years. Prior
to that, she was with AT&T
Communications for 20 years
in New York. Rosa will be
a great asset to the Special
Accounts Department.
We are pleased to announce
the promotion of Sandra
Barnes to Special Accounts
Coordinator. Sandra was
hired in April of 2009 as a
Customer Service Agent.
Prior to joining us, she was
with AT&T for 31 years.
She has an extensive call
center background and has
performed many duties in
that environment. Sandra’s
knowledge and calm
demeanor make her a perfect
fit for Special Accounts.
Condolences
Our heartfelt condolences to family,
friends and co-workers of William
Collett, who passed away unexpectedly
on December 13, 2010. William joined
Mears as a Motor Coach Operator in
November of 2010.
Births
Please join in congratulating
Stephanie Sipe on her recent
promotion to Hello Florida!
Account Executive for the
Gaylord Palms team. We are
excited to add the Gaylord to
our list of hotel partners and
thrilled to have Stephanie leading the team. She has been with
Hello Florida! for more than
four years as an Account Manager and has displayed our core
values from day one. Stephanie
is a pleasure to work with, and
clients love her work ethic,
professionalism and attention to
detail. We are confident of her
talents moving forward in this
sales role.
Congratulations to PC LAN Technician
Nicholas Marshall and his wife Barbara, who
welcomed a
baby boy on
December
8. Simon
Redman
Marshall
weighed 8
lbs., 10 oz.
Hello Florida! Senior Account Executive
Shannon Orme and her husband Chuck welcomed
a baby
boy on
October
2. Grant
Charles
Orme
weighed
9 lbs., 4
oz. and
measured 21 1/2 inches. Congratulations to mom, dad,
big brother Maxwell and big sister Audrey.
Arizona Momentum
This past summer and fall has brought renewed energy, talent and momentum to the Hello Arizona! office. In the past six months we have
added four new members to the dedicated team of Katie Titcomb, Jennifer Swanson, Rachel Schaefer, and Heather Husom. Each new team
member has brought great skills and a fun dynamic to the office.
In June Rachel Bell joined the team as Sales Coordinator. Right away, Rachel started and ended
each day with a smile as she learned about our business, stepping up to the plate for everyone. She
quickly proved herself to be the person to count on in the office, and in
December she was promoted to Account Manager. In Rachel’s first
comprehensive program operation, the travel staff thought she was a seasoned professional who handled everything with grace. What a great start!
Rachel Bell
In September, Kathleen Glenn started as Director of Business
Development. Kathleen has more than twenty-five years
of destination management experience and she brings
new techniques and strategies for developing sales and
operational skills in our competitive marketplace. Her
high energy, humor and attitude had an immediate positive impact on the office. We are excited by the new
opportunities she’ll create to enhance and
Kathleen Glenn
expand our client base.
Then, in October we
welcomed Sarah
Kernen as Account
Manager for the
Sheraton Wild Horse
Pass, and in November
Alleson Liebling as Sales
Coordinator in Scottsdale.
Both Sarah and Alleson have
been enthusiastically taking on
their new roles and looking
forward to greater challenges.
Sarah Kernen
Alleson Liebling
For 2011 and beyond, the Arizona office is poised to have extraordinary accomplishments as
we continue the ongoing positive momentum within Hello USA!.
M EA RS IN M OTIO N N EW SLETTER • Januar y - Fe brua ry 2011
7
Motor Coach Operators Bill Murphy, Daryll Andrews, David Molnar, Gregory Moore, Jack Henkle, James Phillips, Moise Maxime and Nick Colton have
served thousands of customers during their tenure with Mears. Recently, our “Mystery Shoppers” observed them aboard Disney’s Magical Express (DME).
Congratulations to all eight of these drivers for earning a Perfect Shopper Report and courtesy award! Here’s what the shoppers had to say about their great
service:
Bill Murphy
“When the coach arrived at the resort, Bill announced
Disney’s Magical Express to the airport as he smiled and
greeted the first guest in line. He also greeted the guests
individually as he requested their vouchers. Once
Bill boarded the coach, he welcomed the guests
to Disney’s Magical Express, introduced himself, and explained the luggage process and the stops the coach was making.
He commented to the guests sitting closest to him that there was a golf
tournament at the resort property and answered all their questions about
the subject. He also gave them the information they requested about other
Disney resorts. Bill mentioned a few alligator sightings and kept the guests
entertained by looking for them in the ponds. The guests seemed very excited and got to see a few of them. Bill kept the conversation to a minimum
while the video was playing. When approaching the airport, he informed the
guests about the stops, explained the luggage process in detail, helped the
guests politely as they exited the coach and assisted with their luggage.”
Gregory Moore
“When picking up guests at the resort, Gregory announced Disney’s Magical Express to the airport. He
greeted the guests individually as he requested vouchers
and helped with luggage. En route to the airport,
Gregory welcomed us to Disney’s Magical
Express, stated the estimated travel time to
each stop and verified the guests’ airlines. Before the video started playing,
Gregory made a few jokes to lift our spirits and answered a few questions
about the weather; he then proceeded to present the video and let everyone
enjoy it. He kept conversation to a minimum until arriving at the airport,
then gave us all the information about the luggage process and offered to
help as we exited the coach. Gregory seemed very professional and helped
passengers with a smile. He did a great job and made the guests feel at
home.”
David Molnar
“At the resort, David got out of the coach with a smile
and said, ‘Disney’s Magical Express to the Airport!’
When a guest approached, David smiled and asked for
their voucher and the name of the airline they would be
flying. He then allowed the guest to board the
coach. After he welcomed everyone aboard and
introduced himself, David announced the stops
and gave very clear information about each
stop. The was fun for all of the guests and David interacted with the kids
and parents when the video was not playing. When the coach approached
the airport, he explained the luggage process, thanked everyone for using
Disney’s Magical Express, wished us a good trip and proceeded to help
everyone off the coach and with their luggage. David did a good job with all
of the guests and provided excellent guest service.”
Moise Maxime
“Moise greeted us as we entered the coach. Once
everyone was on board, he welcomed us aboard
Disney’s Magical Express and told us the approximate
drive time to Disney. As we entered Disney property he
welcomed us to Walt Disney World. He was upbeat and
positive, drove safely and obeyed all traffic laws.
He also announced each stop and did a good job
describing the luggage process. Moise wished us a Happy New Year and
thanked us for riding Disney’s Magical Express.”
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MEARS IN M OTION NEWSLETTER • January - February 2011
Jack Henkle
“When the coach arrived at the resort, Jack announced
‘Disney’s Magical Express to the airport at 3:20!’ He
asked for the vouchers and helped the guests with luggage. After leaving the last stop at the resorts, he said
‘Good afternoon, I’m Jack. We are leaving Walt
Disney World and heading to the airport
taking the 417.’ Jack said that the estimated
drive time to the airport was about 25 minutes, and explained that there would be a video playing shortly. He kept the
conversation to a minimum while the video was playing. When the coach
arrived at the airport, Jack reminded guests to gather their belongings,
explained the luggage process in detail, gave an orientation about the layout
of the airport and thanked us for using Disney’s Magical Express. Jack got
the luggage out first and then invited guests to exit the coach. He seemed very
professional.”
James Phillips
“ James was at the coach waiting for guests and helping with
their luggage. Once on board, he thanked the guests for using
DME and gave them information about the stops that the
coach would be making. James interacted well with the
guests and had them cheer when their hotel was
mentioned, which the guests seemed to enjoy. On
the way to the resorts, he maintained a professional attitude and allowed guests to watch the
video. James kept the conversation to a minimum and operated the coach in a
safe manner. When approaching each resort, he thanked the guests for using
the DME, reviewed the luggage process in detail, and wished the guests a great
vacation.”
Daryll Andrews
“Daryll thanked the guests for using Disney’s
Magical Express and gave a very nice welcome. He gave
the guests all of the information he thought they needed
for this vacation including a weather forecast for the
week, then informed the passengers how long the
drive was to the first stop and how long from one
stop to the next one. After the video, Daryll
wished the guests a great stay and a magical celebration. When entering
Disney, he welcomed us one more time and gave information about Disney
and the counties in which it is located. He then asked if there was anyone celebrating a birthday and wished them a very good one. When approaching the
resorts, Daryll thanked everyone for riding Disney’s Magical Express.”
Nick Colton
“Nick smiled as he assisted guests with their luggage and
interacted with the children to make them laugh. When he
got on the coach, he welcomed us aboard Disney’s
Magical Express, explained the drive time to the resort
area, talked about the video that would be playing,
and thanked us for using Disney’s Magical
Express. On the way to the resorts, Nick kept
the conversation to a minimum and allowed the guests to enjoy the video. When
the coach was on Disney property, he got on the microphone and welcomed
the guests to Disney World, which made the guests cheer. When approaching
each resort, Nick reviewed the luggage process in detail, thanked us for using
Disney’s Magical Express, and said he hoped to see us again soon. Nick did a
great job!”
Disney Dream to Sail on January 26
After 20 months of construction, the Disney Dream cruise
ship floated out of the Meyer
Werft shipyard in Germany
several weeks ago, completing
a significant construction milestone. The ship was greeted by
thousands of visitors lining the
shore to see the newest Disney
Cruise Line ship, which
features the first water coaster
at sea and other innovations.
“Today begins the first of the
finishing touches for the
Disney Dream as we prepare
to welcome guests aboard our newest ship,” said Karl Holz, president of Disney Cruise
Line. The Disney Dream is scheduled to embark on its maiden voyage on January 26, 2011
from Port Canaveral and will sail alternating three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas
and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. During summer months, the ship will alternate
four- and five-night itineraries with two stops at Castaway Cay.
In The Driver’s Seat
The Doubletree Castle (location code #889) is now
Holiday Inn Castle Resort
8629 S. International Drive
Orlando, FL 32819
407-345-1511
Shuttle Zone 3
Luxury Vehicle Zone 131
Taxi Zone 800
AquaDuck Water Coaster
Guests aboard the new Disney
Dream can get swept away on a
high-speed flume ride with twists,
turns, drops, uphill acceleration
and river rapids – all while traversing the upper decks of the ship.
• AquaDuck stretches 765 feet in length –
more than two and a half times the length of
a football field – and spans four decks in
height.
• Riders slide 13 feet over the side of the ship
in a translucent “swing out” loop allowing them to look down on the ocean 150 feet below.
• High-powered water jets push riders upwards and forwards at 20 feet per second.
• 335-foot stretch of river rapids.
A Virtual Porthole for
Inside Staterooms
All inside staterooms on the Disney
Dream feature a Virtual Porthole
that offers guests a real-time view
outside the ship. High-definition
cameras placed on the exterior of
the ship feed live video to each
Virtual Porthole. As guests observe
the impressive outside views, they
may glimpse a magical surprise:
animated characters may pop by the
Virtual Porthole.
Fun Facts About The Dream
• 40% Larger Than Sister Ships Disney Magic/Disney Wonder
• 14 Decks (2 decks taller than Disney Magic/Disney Wonder)
• 3 pools
• 1,250 staterooms
• 1,115 ft long
• 1,458 crew members
• 125 ft wide
• 128,000 tons
• 4,000 passengers
The Holiday Inn Select OIA (location code #116) is now
Holiday Inn Airport
5750 T. G. Lee Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32822
407-851-6400
Shuttle Zone 1
Luxury Vehicle Zone 303
Taxi Zone 720
The Masters Inn Maingate West
(location code #1258) is now
Quality Inn and Suites
2945 Entry Point Blvd.
Kissimmee FL 34747
407-396-7743
Shuttle Zone 4
Luxury Vehicle Zone 163
Taxi Zone 354
The Regal Sun (location code #1024) is now
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort
1850 Hotel Plaza Boulevard
Orlando, FL 32830
407-828-4444
Shuttle Zone 4
Luxury Vehicle Zone 142
Taxi Zone 401
M EARS IN M OTIO N N EW SLETTER • January - Fe brua ry 2011
9
MDS Sales Coordinator Janie Bascom and Motor Coach
Operator Vonetta Brooks received this note of thanks:
KUDOS
Motor Coach Operator Lois Turco sends KUDOS to
Motor Coach Operator Tammy Shaw:
“Tammy coordinated the drivers at Busch Gardens
after the breakdown of a motor coach. She reassigned guests to the remaining coaches to get
everyone back to Orlando. Great job, Tammy. She
shows great leadership and camaraderie.”
Core Values: Efficiency & Enthusiasm
...................................................................................
Hello Florida! Account Executive Amanda
Harris sends KUDOS to Sales Coordinator Regina
Batcher:
“Regina once again played a great part with the
team. The client needed last-minute changes;
Regina got pricing and confirmation and was able
to put a quick proposal together for our client to
sign off on. She did all of this in less than 2 hours.
One of Regina’s great attributes is being a part of a
team and contributing to the process as whole. She
takes ownership for a program and understands
how to make a positive impact.”
Core Values: Enthusiasm & Efficiency
...................................................................................
Motor Coach Driver Manager Sandy Esteves
sends KUDOS to Motor Coach Operator and Field
Trainer Tim Baker:
“I thought I should give recognition when it is
due. One of our new driver trainees was ‘Mystery
Shopped’ on Disney’s Magical Express on his fifth
day alone and got a perfect score. I give credit to
Tim for doing an outstanding job with Nicholas
Colton. The fruits of his labor are really showing.”
Core Values: Respect, Enthusiasm &
Efficiency
...................................................................................
Motor Coach Operator James Phillips sends
KUDOS to everyone who rallied around him:
”Recently a vehicle hit my coach and I was rushed
to the hospital. Within a short time I was getting
calls from people at work. I would like to thank the
many people at Mears who showed real concern for
my well-being. This is what I really like about working for Mears. We are one big, closely-knit family,
and I’m glad to be a part of it.
“I’m very thankful to dispatchers like Emilio Matos
and Angie Rivera for their quick response; Rick
Furtado for assuring me that the coach would be
taken care of; Randolph Peterson for getting my
personal items back to Motor Coach Operations;
Lydia Cortez in Human Resources and Bob
Rutherford in Safety. To everyone, thanks again.”
Core Values: Integrity, Respect & Safety
..............................................................................
Hello Florida! Program Manager Amie Garrett
sends KUDOS to Motor Coach Operator and Field
Trainer Wally Richardson:
“Wally drove DCL 2115 for my program recently,
and I wanted to thank him. He was so professional
with my client and he did a great job. They were
doing a tour of GM car dealerships throughout
the metro area and Wally really went above and
beyond! Thanks again. Having drivers like Wally
really makes our job [at Hello Florida!] much
easier.”
“Thank you again for providing us such great service for
our church event. Everyone had such a great time and
our driver, Vonetta, was wonderful! Thank you again for
everything!”
Core Values: Efficiency & Enthusiasm
..............................................................................................
This happy customer appreciated the great service
provided by Hello Florida! Field Staffer Lance George:
“Amazing job with our transportation. You couldn’t have
placed a better fit than Lance with our team. He was a
breath of fresh air. Not only was he in tune with our needs,
his punctuality and availability any time we called made
us feel secure that we would be taken care of. He was a
wonderful coordinator and we were impressed with his
professionalism and how he assured that our group transportation was flawless.”
Core Values: Efficiency & Enthusiasm
..............................................................................................
Sentry Insurance commended Hello Arizona!’s General
Manager Heather Husom and Account Executive Katie
Titcomb:
“Thank you for taking the time to host our recent Phoenix
trip. And on such short notice! It was so nice for us to become familiar with what your company has to offer and to
see all the different venue options. Most of all we enjoyed
your hospitality. You are both such professionals with a
true gift of creativity and your expertise showcases this.
This is what sets you apart from all the others! Thanks
again for the best site inspection ever! We look forward to
a successful program together and we are so grateful for
your partnership.”
Core Values: Efficiency & Enthusiasm
..............................................................................................
Mr. and Mrs. Hebert from Jacksonville appreciated the
assistance they received from Luxury Vehicle Chauffeur
Ralph Cuevas:
“Thank you for driving us to Arnold Palmer Hospital
while our son was transported by helicopter because of a
near-drowning. You did a great job!”
Core Values: Safety & Respect
..............................................................................................
Sales Manager Ortancis Gaines and Motor Coach
Operators Traci Fitzpatrick and Jerry Haley received
high marks from the Director of Afterschool Programs at
Lake Mary Preparatory School:
“Thank you so much for all of your help. The trip was a
success and our team won! I look forward to working with
you again for our next ‘road adventure.’”
“Thank you so much for all your help. The transportation
went very smoothly and everyone loved Norm. Please
make sure that he knows that he helped make the wedding
a success.”
Core Values: Enthusiasm, Efficiency & Respect
..............................................................................................
Sales Coordinator Linda Kauffman received this note of
gratitude:
“Thanks for all your help in regard to the recent Trade
Mission we planned for the Irish Government – Tourism
Ireland department. The organizers along with the delegates attending were very impressed by the arrangements
you provided and I appreciate the attention you gave me.”
Core Values: Respect & Enthusiasm ..............................................................................................
Luxury Van Chauffeurs Hector Flores, Hugo Ramirez
and Taoufik Dika were complimented by Bruce McHenry
with the Department of Veterans Affairs:
“On behalf of the Director, may I extend our sincerest
appreciation for the absolutely outstanding service Mears
Transportation provided to our office. Our requirements
included three separate transportation events. We were
overwhelmingly impressed with the promptness, appearance, and courtesy exhibited by each of your drivers. Your
reservations personnel were extremely helpful as well as
exceptionally congenial. This experience only reinforces
Mears’ reputation as a leader in the transportation service
industry.”
Core Values: Respect, Efficiency & Enthusiasm
..............................................................................................
City Cab Driver Jose Soto earned the appreciation of two
customers with Phelps County Regional Medical Center:
“This note is to recognize the outstanding service we
received from Jose Soto. We used his services on day 2 of
our visit to Orlando, then throughout the rest of the stay.
His friendliness, attitude, and knowledge of the city made
a business trip much more enjoyable.
“Part of our job here in the Education Services department is to coordinate training dealing in Customer
Service. Jose exemplifies the type of person we’d like to
have working here at Phelps County Regional Medical
Center. Please pass along our thanks for a job well done.”
Core Values: Enthusiasm & Respect
..............................................................................................
Shuttle Van Driver Vinny Alami received this note of
thanks:
“Thanks again for your assistance in setting everything
up. It all went perfectly. The drivers were right on time, the
vehicles were nice, clean and modern, and above all, cool!
We will certainly recommend Mears to anyone looking for
transportation in central Florida.”
“My husband and I used your roundtrip shuttle transportation. We have done this several times and have had
a different driver each time. On our last trip, we had an
exceptional driver, Vinny Alami. He was very personable
and efficient. He let us know he had some other stops
to make before the airport. He told us how long he has
worked for you. He related a funny story about something
that happened on our route one time. He let us know
which airport desk he would be stopping at next. We really
enjoyed riding with him. It was nice to be informed and
feel like the person who is driving really likes his job.
Vinny Alami is a real asset to your company.”
Core Values: Efficiency & Enthusiasm
Core Values: Efficiency & Enthusiasm
Core Value: Enthusiasm
..............................................................................................
A customer had this to say about Sales Coordinator Peggy
Nance, Motor Coach Operator Bruce Bauer and Luxury
Van Chauffeur Elanes Alexis:
Core Value: Enthusiasm
10
Senior Sales Coordinator Rachel Bustamante and
Motor Coach Operator Norman Fein were thanked by
this customer:
MEARS IN M OTION NEWSLETTER • January - February 2011
MDS Sales Coordinator Janie Bascom, Limousine
Chauffeur Victor Ruiz and Hello Florida! Field Staffer
Jean Fleming were thanked by this customer:
“Everything ran like clockwork thanks to Jean, Victor and
Janie in the office who was just great to work with. All of
you worked together to give our family memories to last a
lifetime and we are forever grateful. Thank you all so very
much!”
Core Values: Enthusiasm & Efficiency ..............................................................................................
Sales Coordinator Teneisha Nance and Luxury Vehicle
Chauffeur Ralph Cuevas received this glowing report
from Tameka Scotton, Executive Administrator with
Allconnect, Inc.:
Sales Manager Ortancis Gaines and Motor Coach
Operators Bruce Bauer, James Shutt, Lois Turco and
Mark Miller were thanked by Brenda Haskin with the
Family Christian Center:
“Thank you so much for your help with our event transportation! The motor coaches were wonderful - we had
many compliments on them! The drivers were great as well
(especially our driver ‘Lois Lane’ - she was awesome)!
We’ll definitely use your company next year!”
Core Value: Enthusiasm
..............................................................................................
Luxury Vehicle Chauffeurs Maneesh Bhola and William
Simpson earned this compliment from Sharon Saunders
with IBM Maintenance and Technology Services:
“Our event took place in Florida and the Bahamas, with
Mears handling all our needs in Florida. Teneisha was
my sales contact from beginning to end. She made sure all
transportation was organized according to my requests.
Although there were multiple changes, Teneisha was there
for me the entire time. We encountered a couple of critical
moments in our itinerary, but she did everything possible
to make sure everything came together, always accommodating my requests. Her diligence and dedication was a
true blessing to me and contributed greatly to the success
of our event. “The service was excellent. We loved our ‘Men in
Black’ (as we nicknamed them), Will and Manny. They
were personally engaged with all the attendees and took
good care of us. I would not hesitate to contact Mears for
any future transportation requirements.” “I was the first to arrive in Florida for our Diamond Club
event, and I had a superb driver. Ralph greeted me with
such professionalism and made me feel comfortable during the drive to the hotel. I had such a wonderful time that
I requested Ralph for all of my individual transports. He
took such great care of me. I cannot speak highly enough
of his very pleasant demeanor and personality. “We want to compliment you on Mario Fernandes’s and
Simon Sumerlin’s exemplary service. We had many sedan
rides and these two gentlemen stood out above the rest!
“I have Teneisha, Ralph, and Mears Transportation in my
phone for the next time we come to Florida! With every
opportunity I have, I will be sure to send business your
way. Your kindness and professionalism spoke volumes to
me.”
Core Values: Respect, Enthusiasm & Efficiency
..............................................................................................
Rosemary Kilcoyne with Halma had great things to say
about Hello Florida! Account Executive Anne Laxson:
“Thank you so much for a truly great few days with you
in Orlando. I can honestly say that your service was firstclass and you need to get over here to the UK to show
everyone how it can be done! Apart from making us feel
like we were your only clients, you made it great fun too,
and we loved the places you took us to. We are looking
forward to telling the ‘decision makers’ here all about
them.”
Core Values: Respect & Enthusiasm
..............................................................................................
City Cab Operations Manager Brian Roy passed along this
compliment from one of City Cab Driver Evelyn
Coleman’s happy customers:
“I received a compliment for one of our drivers from
David Chavez, who was here on business. He wanted us
to recognize a cab driver for her excellent service. He
said that Evelyn was knowledgeable, friendly, and very
professional.”
Brian Roy adds:
“Evelyn has been on the job for less than one month, and
is already receiving compliments! She deserves kudos!”
Core Values: Respect & Enthusiasm.
Core Values: Enthusiasm & Respect
..............................................................................................
Lex and Joyce Camany with The Salad Farm were pleased
with the great service they received from Luxury Vehicle
Chauffeurs Mario Fernandes and Simon Sumerlin:
“Mario was so helpful and attentive to our needs and
schedules and did this with such professionalism. His
personality was wonderful and it was a pleasure to do
business with him.
“We would also like to recognize Simon for a job well
done. Simon was so respectful, friendly and accommodating that he made us feel right at home in Orlando.
With representatives like Simon, Mears Transportation is a
step above the rest. “Much success to both of these individuals and to your
company!”
Core Values: Respect & Enthusiasm
..............................................................................................
A happy customer complimented Sales Coordinator Jose
Ulmos and Motor Coach Operator Dan Smith:
“Our charter went perfectly. The coach was clean and
comfortable. Our driver was outstanding. He was very
professional and truly a pleasant person. He was on top
of everything and took care of it all. I know that’s his job,
but I work in a customer service field also. There are
people who do their job, and then there are people who
are terrific at their job. Dan was terrific. Next year we will
be doing a charter to Jacksonville. We will definitely use
Mears again and request Dan as our driver.”
Core Values: Enthusiasm & Respect
Flexible people never
get bent out of shape.
- Anonymous
Katie Finnegan, the American Dental
Association’s (ADA) Director of Conference
Services and Meeting Planning writes this
glowing review:
“I want to thank the entire Hello Florida!/Mears
staff for your efforts and hard work to make the
ADA’s 2010 Annual Season a great success. Our
shuttle program ran better than ever in Orlando,
even with the added complexity of using the
Convention Center’s North and South buildings.
Mears worked with us to identify budget cuts
and to stretch the equipment for a highly efficient
transportation plan. Our event at Universal’s
Islands of Adventure broke records! It was the
first buy-out of the park since the opening of the
Wizarding World of Harry Potter and it took place
during Halloween Horror Nights. Both factors
created some unique challenges but we all worked
together to ensure that the event was executed
with ease.
“Hello Florida! managed the Presidential Gala
on the final night. Your attention to detail and experienced planning resulted in a beautiful event.
Our president could not have been more pleased
and felt it was the perfect end to a long year.
“Last, but not least, I must mention the talent,
professionalism and endless energy of Kathy
Turns. She is absolutely fabulous! Kathy is
reliable and hands-on like no other director of
operations that I’ve worked with. Any organization that has the opportunity to work with the
team at Mears/Hello Florida! and Kathy Turns
should jump at it.”
Kathy Turns, Hello Florida!’s Director of
Operations, adds these comments:
“Our (ADA) successes represent incredible
teamwork from both Mears and Hello Florida!
Here are just a few of the people who touched this
program:
“From Hello Florida!: Erin Considine and
Cendy Knight who worked on the Presidential
Gala for more than a year; Lynn Naylor, our
Ticket Manager, who sent out thousands of park
tickets and took hundreds of phone calls; Product
Development for putting all the quotes, tours and
contracts together; Accounting for helping with
all the billing and payroll; all the other Account/
Program Managers who assisted during the Universal event; Karen Favorite and Lisa Langdon
with Staffing – going in many different directions;
and Greg Kaul and Paul Perrino in the initial
sales and continuous support before and during
the program.
“From Mears: Motor Coach Operations for
scheduling hundreds of motor coach hours; Client
Services Managers Rusty, Rick and Karren, assisting on-site each day; Tonya Dease and David
Dease helping with taxi and luxury fleet vouchers;
Special Accounts assigning chauffeurs for the
VIPs; Cathy Hughey helping to reconcile the 135page invoice, and of course ALL the chauffeurs
and motor coach operators who participated.
“Field Staff worked long hours to make the
shuttles and tours operate smoothly. Leads Terry
Androls and Krystal Lahey kept everything moving plus more than 80 other Field Staff members
who worked this 5-day program.”
M EA RS IN M OTIO N N EW SLETTER • January - Fe brua ry 2011
11
This customer had great things to say about MDS Sales
Coordinator Janie Bascom and Motor Coach Operator
David Rosado:
“First let me compliment Janie for her professionalism
and knowledge. I really enjoyed working with her. She is
truly a pleasure and an asset to your company.
“I don’t have enough words to express the professionalism
that David displayed during the entire trip. His people
skills were outstanding, his professionalism was superb,
and his knowledge of the area was precise. Your staff was
the best I have ever encountered in Orlando.”
Core Values: Respect, Enthusiasm & Efficiency ..............................................................................................
Vice-President, Sales & Marketing Bret Voisin, Director
of Field Operations/Taxi Division Ron Jones and the
Mears team received the appreciation of Hameed Jasat,
Guest Services Manager, The Peabody Orlando:
“I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and your
team for a job well done with the Deloitte departures. Ron
and his team did a fantastic job coordinating the volume of
taxis needed as well as monitoring the flow of all cabs for
this departure. The client was extremely pleased and we
could not have pulled this off so flawlessly without these
gentlemen.”
Core Values: Efficiency & Enthusiasm ..............................................................................................
MDS Sales Coordinator Janie Bascom and Motor Coach
Operator Jeanne Pagliocca provided great service to this
customer:
“Temple Israel Sisterhood had a trip to South Florida
on one of your coaches, which was very comfortable and
convenient. Everyone had such a good time! One of the
main reasons was our motor coach driver, Jeanne. She
went above and beyond the call of duty. She was sweet
and accommodating. She anticipated our every wish, did
everything she could to help us, and made everything run
smoothly. She is an excellent driver and maneuvered the
coach through trying traffic at a backup on I-4 through
downtown Orlando.
Mears Sales Manager Jack Henry received these words of
praise about Gartner Symposium 2010:
“Thank you for your flexibility and help last week. It was
very busy and you were so helpful in adjusting transportation to accommodate our growing numbers at the very last
minute.
“We honestly couldn’t have done it with out you and your
team. Thank you so much for making Symposium a success
and for taking all our last minute changes. Another one
done!”
Core Values: Respect & Enthusiasm
..............................................................................................
These people also received customer compliments
recently:
James Clayton, Motor Coach Operator
Charlie Kauffman, Motor Coach Operator
Laszlo Dala, Shuttle Van Driver
Dan Lawler, Motor Coach Operator
David Crawford, Motor Coach Operator
Mark Miller, Motor Coach Operator
Roberto Lahens, Motor Coach Operator
Kathleen Glenn, Hello Arizona! Director of Business
Development
Joseph Strickland, Motor Coach Operator
Roberto Lahens, Motor Coach Operator
Mark Hite, Luxury Vehicle Chauffeur
Demetrius Sparkman, Luxury Vehicle Chauffeur
JC Ceballos, Luxury Vehicle Chauffeur
Shoby Lodhi, Luxury Vehicle Chauffeur
Ed Barrie, Luxury Vehicle Chauffeur
Michael Alexander, Luxury Vehicle Chauffeur
Joe Esparra, Luxury Vehicle Chauffeur
Rachel Bell, Hello Arizona! Sales Coordinator
Kathryn Hughes, Hello Florida! Account Executive
Andrea Hall, Hello Florida! Account Manager
Brittany Willis, Hello Florida! Sales Coordinator
Mark Wells, Hello Florida! V.P., Creative Services
Lorraine Hunter, Hello Florida! Account Executive
Stephanie Sipe, Hello Florida! Account Manager
“Janie, I want to thank you for being so nice to work with.
Dealing with you was a pleasure! We had such a successful trip that we may try to duplicate it every year or two
with Mears Transportation.”
Core Values: Respect, Safety, Efficiency & Enthusiasm
..............................................................................................
Randev Senanayake, Coordinator with Disney Service
Center Office had this to say about Senior Sales
Coordinator Rachel Bustamante, Motor Coach Operators Bobby Love, Mark Miller, Nelson Monsanto and
Joseph Thompson and Program Manager Trish Kanner: “Your team did a fabulous job of picking up and dropping
off 130+ cast members from OIA to Patterson Court. All
four drivers were very courteous, professional and wellbriefed. Trish (who met us on level 2) was on top of her
game as well. [We commented on] how well coordinated
this piece of the puzzle was. Thanks for the follow-up,
great communication and wonderful partnering.”
Core Values: Respect, Efficiency & Enthusiasm
12
MEARS IN M OTION NEWSLETTER • January - February 2011
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Paul Duncan
New Motor Coach Trainee Paul Duncan had
a mystery shopper observing him aboard a
Disney’s Magical Express coach while he was
still in training, and he earned a perfect DME
report in his first week on the job! Special
KUDOS to Paul and his Field Trainer Darrell
Myles for their outstanding teamwork. Each
of them received the full $150 courtesy award
for demonstrating all elements of operational
excellence. Here’s what the mystery shopper
had to say:
“When Paul boarded the coach, he smiled
at the guests and welcomed them to Disney’s
Magical Express. He also announced the stops
that the coach was making. At some points,
Paul seemed like he was receiving instructions
from the other driver [Darrell] who was in
the first row of seats. En route, Paul kept the
conversation to a minimum and let the guests
enjoy the video. When approaching Disney’s
welcome sign he said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen,
boys and girls, welcome to the magical world
of Disney! Our first stop is...’ and then announced the stops. Before arriving at the first
resort, he thanked everyone for using
Disney’s Magical Express, asked us to make
sure we gathered all belongings and wished us
a good stay and lots of fun. While at the resort,
Paul helped the guests as they exited the coach
and he assisted with luggage. He achieved all
service points.”