BOCA RATON, FL (JULY 29, 2007)--Apollo Transportation Services celebrated its most recent accomplishments and most importantly its employees at a Chauffeur and Staff Appreciation dinner on Sunday, July 29.

“There is so much to appreciate about this company”, said Rebekah Urbina, President. “I am so proud of the successful implementation of the strategic objectives we set for our first ninety days and am even more proud of the quality and caliber of our chauffeurs and staff”.

Having purchased the company in March 2007 with her husband, Mauricio, the Urbinas knew that they were embarking on an exciting yet challenging adventure.

“It was the industry convention in Las Vegas that convinced me we could really set the standard if we put our minds to it”, said Mauricio Urbina, Owner and Vice President of Operations. “When I saw the potential that a company like Apollo Transportation Services could have with a solid business and marketing plan something just lit up inside of me. I knew we already had the foundation and the vision. I knew we had great chauffeurs and office staff. It was exciting to realize then, that by implementing the latest technology and being relentless about delivering superior customer service that we would be able to create a transportation company that would be an industry leader”.

Russ Winters, the assistant manager and winner of the “Excellence in Management Award” couldn’t agree more.

“Rebekah and Mauricio are visionaries”, he said. “As owners they have provided a good working atmosphere and have invested substantially in new technology which has made everyone’s job easier. The most impressive thing to me though, is that they ‘dream big enough’. I see endless opportunities for this company and its employees”.

Doug Oliver, Office Manager and winner of the “Certificate of Leadership” echoes that sentiment.

Responsible for handling the day to day operations in an industry fraught with deadlines, uncontrollable elements and clients who notice the smallest details, Oliver knows the importance of defining excellence.

“With Rebekah and Mauricio the emphasis and focus are on results. Effort is important but what really matters are the final results”.

This all starts with the reservation according to Oliver.

“The perception that clients have about us starts from the very moment we take their reservation. Fortunately we have the technology to book clients quickly and efficiently with a twenty-four hour service and an online tracking system that gives us updates on flight times. Accuracy on booking details as well as ensuring that we have provided adequate “cushion time” for flight changes allows us to begin providing excellent customer service immediately. From there, we provide the thoughtful details that set us apart”.

Ask Bob Beineke and Rui Carniero, two of Apollo’s most tenured chauffeurs and winners of the “Outstanding Attitude Award” how much those thoughtful details set them apart and smiles and knowing nods come from both.

“It’s definitely the attention to the little details that most impresses our clients”, Carniero said. “Cold bottled water on hand, candies, opening the car door all show our customers that we really want to connect with them”. Carniero often has repeat customers for airport pickups and meets them in person with a warm handshake, no sign with the last name required.

Beineke, who was once a driver for the Ritz-Carlton understands the attention to details from the client’s perspective is what matters most.

“I do a lot of early morning runs and make an effort to remember how each person likes to function in the morning. For some people, conversation is just a natural way to start their day. For others, they need that time to themselves. I strive to be a chauffeur that my clients can always count on and being respectful of how they want to start their day can set the tone for their entire day”.

Add to that their commitment to immaculate cars that smell fresh, genuine smiles and the smart attire of dark business suits complete with white shirts and ties, and it’s easy to see how dedicated Apollo’s chauffeurs are to truly defining excellence.

The terms, “availability”, “reliability” and “responsiveness” were often mentioned during the evening. More than buzz words, however, Apollo Transportation Services is committed to consistently delivering all three.

“The first ninety days were so critical for us and I’m happy to report that we were successful in achieving our chief objectives”, stated Rebekah Urbina. “We brought in state of the art technology. We created a new company image in exacting standards for providing excellence. We specifically and measurably reassessed customer service, kept what was working and eliminated what wasn’t. All of this not only fostered an environment of greater teamwork, it provided many benefits for our clients and the satisfaction of our clients is always our number one goal”.

So what’s next for Apollo Transportation Services? What do these visionaries see for the future of the company?

Growth can certainly be expected. Apollo Transportation Services is ready to proudly announce affiliate partnerships allowing for nationwide service.

“I can’t think of anything more exciting than our customers knowing that they will experience the same level of service and attention to detail that they receive in south Florida anywhere else in the country”, Rebekah said.

The securing of corporate accounts is also in the works so that regular travelers will have a consistent and reliable transportation experience.

Finally, there is the dedication to defining excellence.

“If there is one element of Apollo Transportation Services that I hope people really understand about us it would be that we have the mentality of a big company in that we are serious about moving forward, expanding and providing everything clients would expect from a twenty-first century company. The heart and soul of the company however, remains firmly grounded in a time where the client was everything and nothing was more important than customer service”.

Judging by the smiles, camaraderie and excited expectation of the chauffeurs and staff who attended the Appreciation Dinner it isn’t hard to imagine that the “visionaries” will see their vision come true.

For more information, contact:

Rebekah Urbina
President
Apollo Transportation Services
Rebekah@apollotransportation.com

For more information, contact:

Rebekah Urbina
President
Apollo Transportation Services
Rebekah@apollotransportation.com