Wisconsin Woman Named President of Major International Transportation Association

TLPA President
Mary Smarelli

Smarelli owns Transit Express in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a company with a fleet of 150 vehicles including paratransit vans, buses, trolleys, limousines, executive cars and several riverboats. Since starting her company with just two wheelchair accessible vans over 30 years ago, her company has risen to become one of the most respected leaders in the for-hire transportation industry. Smarelli believes her company's focus on the dynamic transportation needs of consumers along with providing exceptional service levels has been the reason for their success.

Smarelli was voted into office at the TLPA's 93rd Annual Convention & Trade Show held Oct. 26-30 in San Francisco. The TLPA has a rotating presidency, and Smarelli now begins serving her 2011-2012 term. She is the fourth woman ever to hold the presidency of the nearly 100-year-old trade association that was founded by taxicab and rental car industry icon John Hertz.

Outlining her priorities for the coming year, Smarelli said that she would:

• Ask members to increase their involvement in important industry legislative and regulatory issues expected to arise over the next year;
• Reconvene a Strategic Planning Committee to review and update the TLPA's strategic plan in order to continue to meet members' needs and address industry issues well into the future;
• Support and grow the industry's annual "Pink Ride" efforts to raise money and awareness in the fight against breast cancer;
• Promote involvement in the popular "Transportation On Patrol" program in which drivers observe and report accidents, fires and suspicious activities to local law enforcement;
• Further strengthen the TLPA through new member recruitment and retention efforts.

"The TLPA and its membership have really helped me grow my business over these many years, and this is a great honor to give back to it and to serve as its president," Smarelli said. "The TLPA represents the absolute best of our industry through our collective legislative voice, our professional training, our focus on customer service and safety, our community involvement, and our charitable giving."

About TLPA
Established in 1917 and headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association (TLPA) is a non-profit trade association of and for the private passenger transportation industry. Its extensive 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. For more information, visit www.tlpa.org.