March - April 2012 Volume 16 Issue 2 - Mears Transportation

March - April 2012 Volume 16 Issue 2

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EMPLOYEE NEWS 

WELCOME ABOARD ON THE MOVE 

Please join in welcoming Thomas Harris as Hello Florida!’s 

newest Sales Coordinator. Thomas is a graduate of the 

Dedman School of Hospitality at Florida State University. 

He worked at the Killearn Country Club in Tallahassee and 

was quickly promoted to a Management Internship based on 

excellent feedback from co-workers and club members. We 

look forward to Thomas’s many successes! 

Tiffany Beuzelin joins Hello Florida!’s South Florida team as 

a Sales Coordinator. Tiffany attended the Dedman School of 

Hospitality at Florida State University, and she was an intern 

for Klassic Katering before moving into a sales position with 

UniversityLyfe. Most recently, she has been a Graduate 

Assistant to two Professors at Florida Atlantic University, 

where she is also attending to obtain her Master’s Degree. 

Welcome, Tiffany. 

It is our pleasure to announce and welcome our newest 

Account Executive to the Hello Arizona! office, Brianna 

Moody. Brianna represents our office servicing the Sheraton 

Wild Horse Pass Resort in Phoenix. She comes to us with four 

years’ experience in Destination Management and we look 

forward to her enthusiasm and new perspective to enhance 

this position. 

Hello Arizona! welcomes Sales Coordinator Maddie Shields. 

Maddie joins us from the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado 

where she spent two years getting to know the hospitality 

industry. She hit the ground running in mid-December and 

has not stopped since. She’s a great addition to our Arizona 

team. 

Account Executive Susan Smirnow joins Hello Washington, 

D.C.! with a degree in Business Management and more than 

seven years of experience with a boutique catering company. 

Susan brings expert knowledge of the local market and a 

reputation for outstanding customer service and events. Her 

active membership in industry associations has allowed her 

to build strong relationships with some of the best vendors in 

the area. From intimate dinner parties to large corporate galas, she has managed 

events of all types, in locations all around our nation’s capital. We welcome 

Susan and look forward to her contributions. 

CONDOLENCES 

Airport Customer Service Representative Jim 

Basham passed on January 4, 2012. He joined 

Mears in December 2003. We extend our 

heartfelt condolences to Jim’s family, friends and 

co-workers. 

MEARS IN MOTION NEWSLETTER • March - April 2012 

Congratulations to Krista Estepa on her promotion to 

Senior Meetings Manager. Krista began her career with 

Mears in 1999 as a field staff member and quickly moved 

into the role of Lead. She then took on the responsibility of 

operating programs as Program Manager, and also filled in 

as Sales Coordinator as needed. When a new position 

became available in Sales, she was the best choice to 

assume the role of Senior Meetings Manager for Mears Destination Services. 

Her primary responsibilities include the coordination and day-to-day 

management of transportation/staff on larger programs booked through the 

Mears Sales team. Krista’s experience in the field and her reputation with 

our clients make her a perfect fit for this new role. 

20 YEARS 

15 YEARS 

Luis Castro 

Motor Coach Operator 

David Dease 

Director of Operations, Taxi Division 

Jonathan Mills 


Ozzie Del Rio 

Motor Coach Mechanic 

Jack Henry 

Sales Manager 

Lynn Pool 

Director, Training & Development

10 YEARS 

Janice Danzy 

Taxi Starter 

Javier Palacio 


1 YEAR 

Dave Clark 

Hello Florida! Field Staffer 

George Weger 

Shuttle Van Driver 

Louis Alerte, MDS 

Melanie Armstrong, MDS 

Will Baker, MDS 

Harold Buchanan, Jr., MDS 

John Burkart, Jr., MDS 

Edwin Colon, MDS 

Randy Colon, MDS 

Marcela Demarquez 


Pierre Point Dujour 


Jason Fisher, CCC 

Diantha Harris, HF! 

Conora Howard, HLV! 

Shawn Howard, MDS 

Carlos Lucas, MDS 

Roberto Marquez, MDS 

James Mason, MDS 

EMPLOYEE NEWS 

5 YEARS 

Dominique Alexander 


Thomas Bucki 

Motor Coach Mechanic 

Lead 

Anson Jean-Gilles 


Max Plaza 

MDS Deadline / 

Service Mechanic 

Maurice Armistead 


Jean Charlier 


Jon Lee 

Director, Motor Coach 

Maintenance 

Felix Santana, Jr. 

Motor Coach Radio 

Technician 

Maritza Onwudiwe, MDS 

Gerald Reigle, MDS 

Randy Sams, MDS 

Scott Sehnert, MDS 

Daniel Steward, MDS 

Kenneth Stokes, MDS 

Raycho Thomas, CCC 

Bill Bigelow 

Hello Florida! Field Staffer 

Christopher Cuevas 


Stephen Otto, Jr. 

Motor Coach 

Mechanic 

Robert Ventresca 

Hello Florida! 

Accountant 


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COMPANY NEWS 

Building Arts for Every Life 

The arts are flourishing in downtown Orlando as construction at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts progresses. Even 

something as simple as a chain link fence can be transformed. Recently the Dr. Phillips Center, the City of Orlando and Mears 

Transportation Group teamed up for the unveiling of the Center’s construction fence designed by students throughout the region. 

Mears is a proud sponsor of the project. 

Ronald McDonald House 

Celebrates 15 Years 

Hello Florida! Sales Associate Michelle Brooks, Account Manager 

Erica Avila and Account Executive Kathryn Hughes cooked up a delicious 

Italian lunch on the 15th Anniversary of the Ronald McDonald 

House on Princeton St. Many families travel far from home to get 

treatment at Florida Hospital for their seriously ill or injured children. 

Kathryn says, “The least we could do was whip up some of Michelle’s 

famous ziti, a tasty grilled chicken Caesar salad and the garlickiest 

garlic bread you’ve ever had - thanks Erica!” For a yummy finish, these 

ladies brought freshly baked brownies and cookies for those with a 

sweet tooth. The families at the house were very appreciative. 

For little or no cost, The Ronald McDonald House provides a homeaway-from-home 

for family members during a child’s hospital stay. 

These grateful folks can stay as long as necessary and are only required 

to clean up after themselves. 

Angels Among Us 

For years we have partnered with the International 

Drive Improvement District to bring holiday joy 

to needy kids in our community. This past season 

we donated $1,000 towards the Salvation Army’s 

Angel Tree program, bringing the I-Drive District’s 

total number of gift recipients to a record-setting 

561 children! 


Numerous I-Ride trolleys were needed to 

transport hundreds of Angel gifts from generous 

donors. Pictured here is Denise Tucker, 

I-Ride Trolley Hospitality manager (front, in 

red) with employees of various I-Drive District 

Partners who also participated in the program. 

Pictured L – R: Kathryn Hughes, Michelle Brooks, Erica Avila 

Director of Mears Motor Coach Contract 

Services and I-Ride Trolley Project Manager 

Kraige Jean presented a $1,000 check to 

Major Andrew Kelly of the Salvation Army 

Orlando Area Command.

Mentors Patty Soto and Shannon Gravitte with their students Brook 

(far left) and Alexyz (far right). 

COMPANY NEWS 

Local Students Benefit from Caring Mentors 

Recently, Take Stock in Children of Orange County announced that 22 

seventh-grade students from Orange County have been inducted into the 

program, which provides mentors and college scholarships to at-risk 

children. 

At a ceremony held at Valencia College more than 450 community leaders, 

volunteers, corporate sponsors and mentors appeared to welcome the new 

and returning students and their families. Among the mentors present were 

our very own Patty Soto and Shannon Gravitte. 

Take Stock in Children (TSIC) is a statewide initiative that helps underserved 

children succeed, starting at age 12, by providing college scholarships, 

volunteer mentors, early intervention and long-term support. The 

total number of Orange County students currently participating in the 

program is 130, two of whom are mentored by Patty and Shannon. High 

standards, parental involvement and community support are crucial to the 

program’s success. Since 1995, TSIC has influenced the lives of more than 17,600 deserving students in the state of Florida, providing 

more than 9,000 high school graduates with full college scholarships. 

To volunteer as a mentor, provide a tax-deductible contribution or to learn more about Take Stock in Children of Orange County, 

please contact 407-582-3336, takestockinchildren@valenciacollege.edu or visit http://valenciacollege.edu/tsic. 

You Can Help the Environment 

99% of the total material flow in the US becomes 

garbage within 6 months. That’s a lot of waste! 

Non-recyclable materials are sent to either a landfill 

or incinerators, where they release carbon emissions 

that have a negative impact on the environment. 

Landfilled garbage also takes up limited space on 

the earth and produces other side effects. 

By sending garbage to TerraCycle, the waste is not 

landfilled or incinerated. Instead, new products are 

made with the collected garbage, reducing the need 

to extract new materials from the planet and 

subsequent environmental impact. 

TerraCycle’s goal is to help eliminate waste by 

creating collection and solution programs for all 

kinds of typically non-recyclable waste, such as 

candy wrappers and pens. To do this, TerraCycle 

has created waste collection programs called 

“brigades.” Each brigade consists of volunteers who 

collect and ship specific items to TerraCycle, where 

they are turned into new products ranging from park 

benches to backpacks. 

Mears is currently a member of TerraCycle’s Tape Dispenser / Core brigade and Grooming / Beauty Supplies brigade (which collects 

items such as empty shampoo bottles, lipstick cases and mascara tubes). The collected items are shipped to TerraCycle prepaid, at 

no cost to us. 

For more information about our mission to “Grow Greener” or to volunteer as your building’s Collection Captain, contact Julie James 

in the Mears Training Department at 407-254-0656, or Shannon Gravitte at Hello Florida! at 407-425-5300. 

Visit www.TerraCycle.net for more details. 


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COMPANY NEWS 

EXAMPLES OF EXCELLENCE 

Motor Coach Operators Gerardo Alaniz and Javier Palacio have served thousands of 

customers during their tenure with Mears. Recently, our “Mystery Shoppers” observed 

them aboard Disney’s Magical Express (DME). Congratulations to Gerardo and Javier for 

earning a Perfect Shopper Report and courtesy award! Here’s what the shoppers had to 

say about their great service: 

GERARDO ALANIZ 

“The coach was clean, the 

temperature was comfortable 

and volume was good 

on the video. Gerardo said, 

‘Welcome on board. I am 

Gerardo, your driver today.’ 

He then announced the stops. He also said, 

‘In approximately 5 minutes we will be on 

the 417 and approximately 35 minutes we 

will be inside Walt Disney World property.’ 

Gerardo then explained luggage procedures. 

He asked, ‘Everybody have a good 

flight? Ready to take a good vacation? One 

more thing, make sure you keep your blue 

voucher. You will use it when you return to 

airport. Welcome on board everyone.’ As 

we approached Disney property, Gerardo 

announced, ‘Look everyone! You can see 

Mickey, Minnie and Goofy. Ladies and 

gentlemen, girls and boys, welcome to Disney 

World!’ It was a very enthusiastic announcement. 

Gerardo announced our first 

stop, then explained the exit procedure and 

added, ‘Thank you for riding with Disney’s 

Magical Express and enjoy your vacation.’ 

Gerardo was very enthusiastic with all 

announcements. He laughed and joked 

with guests as they got on and off the 

coach. He was very friendly and made 

everyone feel good to be here.” 


JAVIER PALACIO 

“Javier assisted guests with 

luggage and gave friendly 

greetings to everyone. He 

boarded the coach and 

said, ‘Hello, welcome to 

Orlando. Ready for a great 

vacation? Good! Welcome on board 

Disney’s Magical Express. My name is 

Javier. I will be your driver today. Feel free 

to ask me anything. If you need any help let 

me know. The drive time to Disney property 

will be 35 minutes.’ Javier talked about 

safety, the beautiful day, the resort stops 

and the video. He asked if the temperature 

was good for everybody and invited everyone 

to enjoy the ride. He made good announcements 

that were easy to understand. 

As we entered Disney property, Javier made 

some informational announcements, told 

everyone to say hi to Mickey and explained 

the resort stops and luggage process. He 

said, ‘Thanks for riding Disney’s Magical 

Express. Enjoy your vacation.’ Javier then 

gave park closing times. As we arrived at 

each stop, he said, ‘Have a nice vacation 

and I will see everyone in a few days or 

a couple of weeks.’ As the guests exited, 

Javier said, ‘Bye! Have a nice day! Have a 

wonderful day.’ Javier made very good 

announcements.” 

KUDOS 

Motor Coach Manager on Duty Frank 

Minaglia sends KUDOS to Dispatcher 

Angie Rivera and Motor Coach Operator 

Wally Richardson: 

“Motor Coach 4208 had a mechanical issue 

on the 417 while taking a charter group 

back to St. Mary School. Within minutes 

after the call came into me, Angie Rivera 

got on the radio and did an ‘all call.’ She 

found Wally Richardson coming back from 

the Port. He rescued the kids and teachers 

and took them back to the school to end the 

all-day charter. In all, only 10 minutes were 

lost after the vehicle breakdown happened. 

Kudos to the quick reactions of Dispatcher 

Angie Rivera and Motor Coach Operator 

Wally Richardson.” 

Core Values: Efficiency, Safety & Enthusiasm 

Hello Florida! Account Executive Anne 

Laxson sends KUDOS to MDS Sales Coordinator 

Teneisha Nance: 

“I have to say there has not been a time in 

my 2 years with Hello Florida! that Teneisha 

has been anything but fabulous. The hotel 

loves her, the clients love her and I love her. 

She is such a pleasure to work with - always 

has a can-do, positive attitude. I wish everyone 

was as easy to work with as she is.” 

Core Values: Efficiency & Enthusiasm 

Now in Bloom at Epcot: Flower and Garden Festival 

Guests will want to mark their calendars for this annual springtime event, scheduled from 

March 7 – May 20, 2012. Highlights include appearances by HGTV stars, the return of the 

beautiful butterfly house, more than 75 Disney character topiaries, and the sweet sounds of 

the Flower Power Concert Series, featuring live performances by popular musicians of the 

’60s and ’70s.

Partnership Will Create New Magic at Epcot’s Test Track 

Disney and General Motors have renewed their long-term business relationship with a new multi-year 

corporate alliance. As part of the new agreement, GM will be actively involved with Walt Disney Imagineering 

in the development of a re-imagined, design-centric Test Track experience. The refurbished Test Track will 

be presented by one of GM’s most famous brands, Chevrolet. As Chevrolet marks its 100th anniversary, the 

new agreement enables General Motors to tell its story in new and exciting ways to millions of Guests from 

around the world and continue as the official vehicle sponsor of Walt Disney World Resort. 

Plans call for closing the current GM Test Track in April 2012, with an anticipated re-opening of Test Track 

Presented by Chevrolet scheduled for fall 2012. As part of the re-imagining, the Future World attraction will 

feature a sleek new “Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot” immersing Guests in the fascinating world of 

automotive design. Amid upbeat music, engaging media, dramatic lighting and a collection of Chevrolet 

concept cars and model vehicles, guests themselves will become automotive designers – and peer into the 

future of personal transportation in the process. 

At interactive design and styling workstations, Guests will be able to create their own custom concept 

vehicles. The adventure will then shift into high gear as Guests buckle into their 6-person “SimCar” ride 

vehicle and put their design through its paces on the exhilarating hills, switchbacks and straight-aways of 

the Test Track circuit. 

LOCAL NEWS 

Their performance testing complete, Guests will move into a post-show area filled with special effects and be 

scored on how well their custom concept vehicle did. And of course, Guests will be able see the very latest Chevrolet vehicles in an all-new stateof-the-art 

showroom. 

Source: MouseMail 

Guests Begin Casting Spells at Magic Kingdom 

Once again, cutting-edge technology has found a home right here in Central Florida. Guests are already 

testing Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, an innovative, role-playing experience at Walt Disney World 

Resort, which will officially open by early March. Created by Walt Disney Imagineers, the trading card 

game gives Guests unprecedented interaction with animated Disney characters and leads them off the 

beaten path within Magic Kingdom. The new experience uses sophisticated visual recognition technology 

that is virtually indistinguishable from magic, and is played with collectible “spell casting” cards 

featuring richly drawn, original Disney character art. 


Disney Fantasy Poised for Maiden Voyage 

The newest Disney Cruise Line ship, Disney Fantasy, floated out of the enclosed building dock at the 

Meyer Werft shipyard recently as fireworks filled the sky. This symbolizes one of the final stages of 

this ship’s construction and marks a significant milestone towards her March 31, 2012 maiden 

voyage. 

The Disney Fantasy features many of the innovations found on her sister ship, Disney Dream, with 

several new guest experiences exclusive to the ship. New features include a dining experience at 

Animator’s Palate where guests’ own drawings magically come to life, an interactive adventure quest 

starring the Muppets, a splashtacular water play area called AquaLab, and a sophisticated nighttime 

entertainment area for adults inspired by European travel. 

The Fantasy will sail seven-night alternating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries. All voyages 

will depart from Port Canaveral and include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. 



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MORE LOCAL NEWS 

Florida’s Wild Side: Unique Adventures in our Own Backyard 

Wild Florida 

Wild Florida airboat tours are widely 

known as the most beautiful because 

of their untouched 4,200-acre nature 

preserve, free of any development 

or signs of human life. Just a short 

drive from Orlando, Wild Florida 

offers some of Central Florida’s most 

sought-after activities: Airboat rides, 

alligators and local wildlife. They guarantee 100% pure Florida 

wilderness at its finest, inviting visitors to “come see for yourself how 

good it feels to be in the middle of nowhere.” 

Other highlights include a tropical bird aviary, gift shop and 500-ft 

sightseeing dock. Wild Florida is owned and operated by one of 

Florida’s pioneer families, and they know the meaning of southern 

hospitality. Day or night, they are prepared to offer unforgettable 

individual, family, group and corporate experiences. 

Zipline Safari – Florida EcoSafaris 

Prepare yourself for a brand new tree-top nature 

tour like none other. This thrilling Zipline 

experience, the first and only of its kind in 

Florida, allows you the perfect aerial vantage 

point to learn about Florida’s diverse ecosystems 

on a one-of-a-kind adventure. Along 

the two-and-a-half-hour journey, you’ll soar 

through the tree tops, 55 feet off the ground, 

and make your way across skybridges while 

learning about Florida’s natural flora and fauna from your expert 

guide. Brace yourself for the sensation of flight as you Zipline 

smoothly through Pine Flatwoods and over wetlands and prairie, 

home to native Florida wildlife including alligators, black bears, white 

tail deer and the endangered Florida Panther, all at speeds up to 25 

miles per hour! Safari consists of 7 “zips” and 2 sky-bridges over 

3 different ecosystems. 30% of all Safari revenues and a significant 

portion of food & beverage revenues are donated to conservation 

efforts, with the goal of acquiring additional lands to be preserved. 

Cypress SkyCycle - Florida EcoSafaris 

The Cypress SkyCycle takes guests on 

a fun and relaxing cycle ride through 

the treetops of the 4700 acre Forever 

Florida Wildlife Conservation Area in 

St. Cloud, Florida. Yes you read that 

right, cycling through the treetops. 

This innovative new attraction is the 

first of its kind in the United States. 

Guests set off on a one-hour journey as they pedal along on specially-designed 

SkyCycles; think of them as reclining bicycles suspended 

from a network of high tension steel cables. The course takes guests 

on a winding journey over the pine flatwoods and through Turkey 

Slough, a beautiful area of forested wetland. Guests also pass over 

a pond housing George, a popular thirteen-foot alligator who has 

called Florida home for the last sixty-plus years. 


ZOOm Air Adventure Park 

Enjoy an arboreal adventure at ZOOm Air 

Adventure Park Orlando, up in the trees of the 

Central Florida Zoo! ZOOm Air’s games courses 

and ziplines are deftly woven into the forest 

of the Blackwater River floodplain swamp that 

is home to the Zoo. The design of the courses 

intentionally blends with the natural environment, 

inspired by the trees and the natural flow 

of the terrain and flora. 

The Upland Adventure Course includes 30 elements, 4 of which 

are zip lines. Higher and more difficult than Upland, with 5 zip 

lines among the 28 game elements, the Rainforest’s high point is 

a 500-foot zip line ride starting from nearly 50 feet in the air! This 

entertaining and educational attraction allows nature lovers and 

challenge seekers alike the opportunity to enjoy the thrill of 

adventure in Central Florida. 

Revolution – The Off-Road 

Experience 

Revolution is a unique motor 

and water sport experience, 

offering an affordable and 

exciting adventure in an informal 

setting, but with maximum 

regard for safety. You don’t have 

to be an expert – professionals 

will guide you through your day at a pace to suit you. 

Revolution features 220 acres of some of the most picturesque land 

in Florida, a lake for water sports, plus purpose-built tracks and 

trails to give visitors the thrill of a lifetime. When you add in modern 

boats, bikes, cars and an assortment of 4x4s (all kept in perfect working 

order), plus a team of qualified instructors whose priority is to 

ensure that guests have a great time while staying safe, then you have 

the unique ingredients for this Off-Road Experience. 

Screamin’ Gator Zipline at 

Gatorland 

Clip in and “zip” off on an exciting 

outdoor adventure with the allnew 

Screamin’ Gator Zip Line at 

Gatorland. Your journey will take 

you along 1,200 feet of high-flying, 

heart pounding adventure from 

some of the finest zip line towers 

in the world. Standing more than 

seven stories tall, these amazing towers feature multilevel launch 

pads and breathtaking views from high above the treetops. 

Soar through the air and defy gravity over some of the theme park’s 

star attractions--including Cuban and Nile crocodiles--before 

heading over the Alligator Breeding Marsh, complete with one 

hundred and thirty giant alligators watching from below!

401(k) Open Enrollment & Quarterly Change 

HR NEWS 

Quarterly updates for the 401(k) Savings Plan for the period April 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012 will begin on March 1, 2012. Participants 

may modify their payroll contributions by completing a new “Salary Deferral” form by March 30, 2012. The new contributions will begin 

with your first paycheck in April 2012. If you do not complete a new Salary Deferral form, your contributions will remain in effect as per 

your last election. 

To complete a new Salary Deferral form: 

n Mears Destination Services, City Cab Company and Hello Florida! Orlando participants should stop by the Human Resources 

Department in building M-8 located at 1017 S. Division Ave. 

n Hello Florida! Ft. Lauderdale, Hello Arizona!, Hello Las Vegas! and Hello Washington, D.C.! participants should contact Marcy 

Lapetina at (407) 254-0542 or email her at mlapetina@mearstransportation.com, or Cari Rubin at (407) 254-0544 or email her at 

crubin@mearstransportation.com. 

Annual Open Enrollment for Insurance Benefits 

TO ALL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES 

Annual Open Enrollment for Insurance Benefits 

Open enrollment (or re-enrollment) for all Cafeteria Plan products will be held during the month of March 2012. These benefits include: 

Health Insurance, Life Insurance and Disability Insurance, Dental Plans, a Vision Care Plan, Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending 

Accounts, and products through Colonial Life Insurance Company such as Short-Term Disability, Cancer, Accident Plan, Universal Life, and 

Critical Illness. If you miss this March annual open enrollment period, you will not be able to enter the plan or make changes until April 01, 

2013, unless you have a qualifying event under the Internal Revenue Code Section 125 “Change in Family” status. 

HEALTH INSURANCE 

There will be some changes to the benefits and the premium amounts for your health insurance plans. You will receive information via email 

or inter-office mail about these changes. If you would like to add, cancel or change a health insurance policy, you must complete the online 

enrollment/change in the month of March 2012. If you do not make any changes, your existing coverage will roll over to the new coverage 

and rates as of April 1, 2012. 

LINCOLN FINANCIAL LIFE AND DISABILITY INSURANCE 

If you would like to add, cancel or change any benefits under Lincoln Financial, you must complete new paperwork online in the month of 

March 2012. These changes can include life insurance for yourself, your spouse and/or your children, as well as changes to short-term 

disability and long-term disability insurance. 

DENTAL / VISION 

If you would like to add, cancel, or change a dental or vision policy, you must complete new online options in 

the month of March 2012. If you already have any of these policies they will remain in effect unless you 

elect to change them. 

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS 

If you had a Medical Flexible Spending Account (“FSA”) or a Dependent Childcare Flexible 

Spending Account (“DCCA”) in the 2011-2012 plan year and wish to continue in the next plan 

year, you must re-enroll online for the plan year 2012-2013. If you have not participated in the 

past and would like to, you will also need to enroll online. If you fail to enroll or re-enroll during 

March 2012 you will not be able to use the FSA or DCCA plans during the 2011-2012 plan 

year. The 2012-2013 plan year begins on April 01, 2012 and ends on March 31, 2013. We are 

using a new vendor, Discovery Benefits, Inc. to oversee our Flexible Spending Accounts this 

year. If you enroll/reenroll, you will receive new debit cards during the month of April 2012. 

COLONIAL LIFE POLICIES 

If you would like to add, cancel or change any Colonial Life policies, please call Human 

Resources at 407-254-0550 for the available scheduled meeting dates and times in March 

2012with a Colonial Life Representative. 

ONLINE INSURANCE BENEFIT WEB PORTAL 

To access the online benefit web portal, please go to https://mearshellobenefits.hrintouch.com. 

If you do not remember your user id and/or password, please contact Human 

Resources at 407-254-0550. 


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CUSTOMER COMMENTS 

EXAMPLES OF 

EXCELLENCE 

Alleshia Samson with Good Samaritan 

Society Travel Club Group 

praised Luxury Vehicle Chauffeur 

Ricardo Rodriguez: 

“Our special needs travel club 

group arrived in Orlando for our 

vacation. When travelling with 

individuals with special needs, most of the companies 

we deal with talk to the staff members only. In 

this case, Ricardo introduced himself to everyone 

and spoke with everyone (not just staff). Our clients 

wasted no time and started talking with Ricardo about 

what they would be doing on their vacation. We were 

transported to the WorldQuest Resort, where Ricardo 

was great in getting us unloaded and he waited until 

we were checked in before leaving, at which time he 

said goodbye to all our clients. 

“On departure day we were booked to be picked up 

at noon. Ricardo arrived at 11:30, which turned out to 

be great because our check-out time was 11:00. When 

he pulled up our clients greeted him with cheers and 

waves. He immediately talked with our clients and 

asked them how their vacation went. When we arrived 

at the airport Ricardo parked us close to a service 

where we could check our bags curbside; we were not 

aware of this option, and it proved to make our checkin 

process so much more convenient. Ricardo took the 

time to wish our clients well and safe travels. 

“We were very happy with the Mears service. We will 

be using Mears in the future and we will be requesting 

Ricardo as our driver! Thanks again for playing a role 

in the success of our trip.” 

Core Values: Respect, Efficiency & Enthusiasm 

Motor Coach Dispatcher Jay 

Del-Gado received the gratitude 

of Lynda Whetstone from 

Baltimore, Ohio: 

“Thank you for saving our Disney 

vacation. On our way to the 

Animal Kingdom Resort from the 

airport on the first day of our vacation, I dropped my 

cell phone and discovered the loss after check-in. I 

counted it as a loss and was prepared to deal with 

the headache of replacing it upon return. I was so 

blessed when you found my phone and continued to 

call contacts until you reached someone who could 

direct you to me. I had my phone later that same 

night. Thank you so much! You are part of what makes 

Disney so magical for all of my family – especially my 

two-year-old daughter who didn’t have a stressed out 

mommy, thanks to you!” 

Core Values: Integrity & Enthusiasm 


City Cab customer Rose Stanley recently contacted us to 

compliment her driver, William James. She greatly 

appreciated the service William provided, and she shared 

the following story: 

“He was kind and considerate. I am an elderly woman, 

and he provided the best service as he helped me with my 

groceries from and to my destination. I handed William the 

money for the fare and a gratuity, and he gave me change 

in return. I was trying to give him a tip and he selflessly 

returned it to me. I asked if he had taken enough money 

and he said, ‘Yes.’ I wanted to express my gratitude.” 

Core Values: Respect & Integrity 

Luxury Vehicle Chauffeur Mohammed Navaid Janjua 

received these words of thanks: 

“During our stay at Waldorf Astoria Orlando, my husband 

and I met Mr. Janjua on the first day. His behavior and 

service were excellent. He was very polite, very friendly, 

always punctual and drove safely. During our one-week 

stay we chose Mr. Janjua to drive for us; we will surely 

choose him for a future stay but also recommend him to 

our family and friends who will be visiting Orlando.” 

Core Values: Respect, Safety & Enthusiasm 

Mary Brandon, Vice President of Marketing for SoftServe, 

commended the wonderful service provided by Hello 

Florida! Account Executive Stephanie Sipe and Account 

Manager Amie Garrett: 

“I recently held an event for my company at Discovery 

Cove and I cannot tell you how much everyone enjoyed 

the evening. The food was delicious, the entertainment 

was spectacular, but the positive attitudes and exemplary 

customer service of Stephanie and Amie made the night 

perfect. 

“They made sure our every need was taken care of and 

they did it all with a smile. I have been running events most 

of my 25-year career and I can honestly say I have never 

enjoyed an event more. Most of the time I worry about 

everyone having a good time, so I never get the chance to 

enjoy myself. Stephanie and Amie made me so comfortable 

in their attention to detail it allowed me to join the group, 

sit back and relax, and for that I will be eternally grateful.” 

Core Values: Efficiency & Enthusiasm 

Hello Las Vegas! Director of Business Development Craig 

Bullock, Director of Creative Services Michael Brown, 

Account Manager Kelly Hanson and Sales Coordinator 

Krista England provided great service to GOJO Industries: 

“From the entire GOJO team I would like to offer you our 

sincerest gratitude. The event went off perfectly and it had 

to do with the impeccable planning and execution of your 

entire team. Your team was both cordial and accommodating 

the entire day and it made our job that much easier. We 

received rave reviews from attendees and leadership alike. 

We will definitely be in contact with you for any further Las 

Vegas events.” 


Sales Coordinator Erin Leonhardt and Motor Coach 

Operators Russell Hickson, Mark Miller and Bill Reardon 

were thanked by Marley Lanson with Tulane University: 

“Thank you again for all our help with Tulane Volleyball’s 

trip to Orlando! Assistant Coach Kallie Noble told me the 

team was very well taken care of and we really appreciate 

all of your help in the planning process. I so enjoyed 

working with you and look forward to working with you 

again.” 

Core Values: Respect & Enthusiasm 

Michelle Gortemoller with the Gaylord Palms thanked 

Sales and Operations Manager Joni Evans and Luxury 

Vehicle Chauffeur Marc Michaud: 

“First off, I would like to thank you for ALL you do to 

accommodate all of our clients and put up with us! 

Secondly, I wanted to thank Marc Michaud, our Chauffeur 

to and from Universal Studios. I unfortunately got sick and 

he was so extremely kind regarding my well-being. He 

didn’t leave Universal Studios until he knew that I was in 

my car and okay to drive home.” 


Laura Buck, Senior Event Planner with Visit Orlando, 

praised Sales Coordinator Peggy Nance and Luxury Van 

Chauffeur Ricardo Medina: 

“I wanted to share some wonderful words that Public 

Relations shared with me. We recapped the trip and they 

had nothing but great things to say about Ricardo and his 

exceptional service. He was very accommodating and the 

journalists loved him. Please pass along our gratitude and 

thanks for being a wonderful part of their trip!” 

Core Values: Enthusiasm & Respect 

Hello Arizona! Account Executive Katie Titcomb and Sales 

Coordinator Alleson Liebling received this note of thanks 

from Tina Denson, Corporate Events Planner: 

“Everyone had a fabulous time and I attribute that to 

the work we did with you, so thank you very much! You 

deserve to know how great our experience was. I hope 

to have the chance to work with you and Hello Arizona! 

again in the future!” 

Core Values: Enthusiasm & Efficiency 

Nick Papatheodorakos with Dreams Take Flight 

complimented Senior Sales Coordinator Rachel 

Bustamante and Motor Coach Operators Josue Feliz, 

Sam Knechel, Abdelhadi Lakhal, Bobby Love, Max Mena, 

Guillermo Molina Guitierez and Nelson Monsanto: 

“Wanted to let you know that again this year, the service 

we received from Mears was excellent. Thank you and look 

forward to dealing with you again next year.” 

Core Values: Enthusiasm & Safety

Sales Manager Ortancis Gaines and Hello Florida! Field 

Staffers Renee Mayo and Terry Gwinn made a great 

impression: 

“I wanted to congratulate your company and the 

employees I dealt with for the Carter Lumber Yard Rewards 

held in Orlando. Ortancis is wonderful. Always received a 

courteous and very quick response to the umpteen-million 

emails I sent to her with changes and cancellations. Renee, 

our hotel onsite greeter on arrival day, was wonderful as 

well. On departure day, we had Terry Gwinn. Wow, what a 

great guy – again, great with the customers and really put 

me at ease. I truly felt that ‘no one would get left behind.’ I 

would utilize Mears again in a heartbeat and I look forward 

to our next event in November 2012.” 


Hello Florida! Account Executive Sarah German, Senior 

Account Manager Charlene Whyte and Field Staffers Dave 

Clark and Cindy Turner made a great impression with 

Siemens Professional Services Planning Team: 

“We want to thank you and everyone at Hello Florida! for 

all of the support for our meeting. Our event was a huge 

success. Part of that success was the experience our 

attendees had when they arrived in Orlando. Your staff 

greeted attendees with smiles and an eagerness to help. 

We heard several comments that at the airport they felt so 

special. Everything went smoothly, including our transfers 

to Epcot. 

“We also have to extend our sincerest thanks to Cindy. She 

was a fantastic partner; she jumped right in and was there 

supporting us every step of the way. For any future events 

in Orlando, Cindy will absolutely be a member of our 

on-site team. 

“Again, a huge thanks to you, your meet-and-greet staff, 

Cindy and all the Mears drivers. We look forward to 

working with you and the team in the future.” 


Michelle Engram, Operations Manager, Luxury Vehicle 

Division passed along these words of thanks from a 

grateful customer for Luxury Vehicle Chauffeur Douglas 

Rousseau: 

“Douglas transported a guest from Hyatt Grand Cypress 

to the airport. The Cabmate credit card system was not 

working at the time and her payment was not processing 

properly. The guest had little cash with her and could not 

pay the full the amount of the transfer. She gave Douglas 

what she had and he advised her not to worry about the 

balance. She was very impressed with the professionalism 

and patience that Douglas showed with the situation. She 

provided Mears with her correct credit card number to 

pay Douglas and she wanted him to keep the cash she had 

given him as a thank you from her. Douglas has driven only 

17 times and has already shown the way to gain a good 

reputation as a Mears Chauffeur.” 

Core Values: Respect, Integrity & Enthusiasm 


Tony Viggiano, Vice-President of Operations for 

WorkStrategies expressed his gratitude to Sales Coordinator 

Peggy Nance and Motor Coach Operator Edward Porter: 

“Thank you for the great service. Your driver was courteous 

and professional.” 


Pamela C. Kancher, Executive Director with the Holocaust 

Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida writes: 

“I love seeing multiple coaches in the Holocaust Center’s 

parking lot! It means that we are doing our job of 

educating Central Florida’s students about the history and 

lessons of the Holocaust and the impact of those lessons 

on current events and issues. 

“When I arrived recently, there were three Mears coaches 

that brought almost 200 students from Neptune Middle 

School in Osceola County. I am thrilled that we were able 

to partner with Mears to bring students to the Holocaust 

Center for a field trip prior to the launch of our UpStanders 

initiative in the Osceola schools. Thank you again for your 

continued support.” 

Core Values: Enthusiasm & Integrity 

A happy client had this to say about Hello Arizona! 

Account Manager Rachel Bell: 

“Thank you again for all your hard work with the Bennett 

Jones Program. We all felt that arrival and departures went 

better than any other year. Your assistance and patience 

with all the changes helped it make it so.” 

Core Value: Enthusiasm 

MDS Sales Coordinator Janie Bascom and Motor Coach 

Operators Darryll Andrews, George Blum, Robert 

Bowman, Matthew Difiore, Jane Martin and Alvaro 

Rudinger received this note of commendation: 

“Everything worked out great! In fact, I just finished adding 

Mears Transportation into our after-action report for Port 

Canaveral for the outstanding service; that was ALL you, 

and the USS PONCE thanks you for your time and effort.” 


Erin Orr with Warner Brothers thanked Hello Florida! 

Director of Operations Kathy Turns, Director of 

Operations, Small Vehicle Division Tonya Dease, and 

Operations Manager of Luxury Vehicles Michelle Engram: 

“I cannot thank you enough for your tireless efforts, 

organization and management of such a wonderful 

company. The drivers are incredible, cars impeccable and 

you handle it all with such grace. It was truly a pleasure 

and I hope my travels bring me here again in the future.” 


EXAMPLES OF 

EXCELLENCE 

A happy customer 

commended the service 

provided by MDS Sales 

Coordinator Janie Bascom 

and Motor Coach Operator 

Sam Knechel: 

“Thank you for the great 

service and motor coach 

ride for the Crew Team’s 

trip to ‘Hooch’ (an annual 

race on the Chatahoochee 

River). Sam, our driver, was 

outstanding. We cannot say 

enough wonderful things 

about him. He was courteous, knowledgeable, 

helpful, dependable and went out of his 

way to accommodate us. For example, when 

his cell phone broke, he secured a temporary 

phone so that I could maintain access with 

him. Wonderful. 

“Many thanks to Mears, Sam, and you. When 

we travel with Mears in the future, we would 

really like to request Sam as our driver. Job 

well done!” 


Shuttle Van Driver Wesner 

Jean Baptiste earned this 

note of appreciation from 

Rich Estrem-Fuller of 

Chippewa Falls,Wisconsin: 

“You need to know Wesner 

went beyond the call of duty. He took our 

group to a day at Universal. My daughter lost 

her new Apple phone. She called Mears and 

in a little while Wesner called me saying he 

had her phone. Needless to say, we were all 

relieved. He said he would meet me at the 

drop-off at Universal. He called me twice 

afterwards advising he was on his way. 

He met us and we were grateful to get the 

phone. He said, ‘I always check my vehicle 

after dropping someone off.’ Nice guy for 

sure; positive, patient and courteous. 

“I must say this is a tribute to your large company. 

We were all impressed and will use and 

speak highly of your service, clean vehicles 

and great staff.” 

Core Values: Respect, Integrity & Enthusiasm 


11

12 


Director of Travel Industry Sales Karen Pitcherello, 

Senior Sales Coordinator Rachel Bustamante, Limousine 

Chauffeur Sam Masieh and Luxury Vehicle Chauffeur 

Domingo Gomez received the appreciation of this 

customer from Thomas Cook Holidays: 

“Thank you for all your help sorting out Manny’s holiday. 

Manny and his family had an absolutely brilliant time in 

Florida and it all went without a hitch. Manny’s wife Lesley 

rang in and said it was the best family holiday they have 

experienced. 

“I would like to add that the drivers of the limos and luxury 

van (for luggage) were absolutely brilliant. They were so 

helpful getting everything in the vehicles for the limos 

prior to their arrival. They were professional and friendly 

throughout the service.” 


Luxury Vehicle Chauffeur Ernst 

Nelson received a five-star review 

from Jason Kreisman from Cherry 

Hill, New Jersey: 

“In all the years I’ve been travelling 

around the world, I have 

never come across a Chauffeur 

as accommodating, polite and professional as I 

experienced when I met Mr. Nelson. My wife and 

I, along with our four children, visited Disney for 

the first time and someone in my area network had 

suggested we use Mears as our transportation service 

from the airport to the Dolphin and vice-versa; I am 

absolutely pleased to say I am happy I did. 

“Upon our arrival, we were greeted promptly at the 

airport baggage claim by Mr. Nelson who immediately 

realized that I was a father of four young children 

who’d never travelled via plane before and all of 

which are under 8. He jumped in with grabbing bags 

and asking what we needed help with. He shuttled 

us safely to our destination and helped us unload, 

thus making the second leg of our trip painless. I 

asked for his services for our return flight. Again, 

without fail, he stepped in with getting us to MCO. 

“In closing, I wanted to make sure you know that he 

is an asset to your organization and should be recognized 

for his professional and polite demeanor.” 



Hello Arizona! Account Manager Rachel Schaefer was 

praised by Teresa Moore with BI Worldwide: 

“Rachel Schaefer did an absolutely fabulous job! She is 

professional, pays great attention to detail and is so 

pleasant to work with. I look forward to working with this 

team again in the future!” 


EXAMPLES OF EXCELLENCE 

Shuttle Van Driver Ariel 

Rodriguez received the 

appreciation of Georgianna 

Duarte, Professor in Early 

Childhood Education with the 

University of Texas at 

Brownsville: 

“This letter is to commend the excellent service 

demonstrated by Mr. Ariel Rodriguez on a shuttle 

from Orlando Airport to my hotel. Not only was 

his attitude contagiously positive, he was helpful, 

attentive and kind. 

“Mr. Rodriguez was conscientious, professional, 

and frankly a breath of fresh air! He was an 

excellent driver, informative, and patient with 

all customers. He helped everyone (above and 

beyond with their luggage), was responsive to the 

needs of one of the passengers whose motorized 

vehicle wasn’t working properly, and literally lifted 

it off the vehicle (safely). His skill and kindness 

truly need to be recognized, if they haven’t been 

already...WOW. I only wish I had more drivers like 

him. Thank you again.” 


NEWSLETTER CREDITS 

Published bimonthly through the teamwork of: 

Emily Nicolas, Hello Florida! Ft. Lauderdale 

Chris Earl, Safety 

Joy Fleming, Employment 

Rosemary Gates, Sales 

Shannon Gravitte, Gov’t & Community Relations 

Heather Husom, Hello Arizona! 

Julie James, Training & Development 

Kraige Jean, Motor Coach Operations 

Bill Langbein, Print & Graphic Services 

Michele McNaughton, Sales 

Julie Mezzina, Hello Florida! Orlando 

Lynn Pool, Training & Development 

Jose Pujals, Print & Graphic Services 

Cari Rubin, Human Resources 

David Taitano, Taxi Training 

Jim Ungvary, Human Resources 

Melissa Zorko, Hello Las Vegas! 

Luxury Vehicle Chauffeurs Hance 

Felix and Luis Orrego provided 

great service to James Hoehne 

from La Porte, Indiana: 

“It has become too common 

for people to complain about 

anything that does not go just as 

planned or expected. However, 

unfortunately, all too often we 

forget to let companies know 

when something goes right. We 

were driven by Mr. Hance Felix 

and Mr. Luis Orrego. Both of 

these gentlemen were on time, professional in 

their manner and very personable. They made the 

beginning and end of our trip both worry free and 

enjoyable. 

“My wife and I make two to three trips to Disney 

World every year and I can assure you that 

because of the actions and professionalism of Mr. 

Felix and Mr. Orrego, we will make Mears our 

transportation provider of choice. If at all possible, 

we will be requesting these gentlemen as our 

drivers in the future and you should consider 

them a valuable asset. 

“It is not often that we write a letter like this; but, 

in this instance these two gentlemen deserve our 

recognition.” 

Core Values: Respect & Enthusiasm

March - April 2012 Volume 16 Issue 2 - Mears Transportation

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