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By: Howard L. Harrison |
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By: Howard L. Harrison |
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NEW YORK CITY -- The National Association of Business Owners-NYC (NAWBO-NYC) and OPEN: The Small Business Network from American Express has given the Signature Award for, "Ten Plus Years in Business," to Diana Clemente, president of Big Apple Car / Cloverdale Car / VIP Gold, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Kerry Hatch, EVP & General Manager of OPEN presented the Signature Award to Diana Clemente at the ceremony attended by hundreds of members, sponsors, and supporters. NAWBO-NYC is a branch of one of the largest organizations ever founded to celebrate the accomplishments of women in business.
The Signature Award recipient is a woman who has created something unique, putting her "mark" on her business. With brains, heart and courage, she has also made a "mark" on the community of New York City. NAWBO-NYC says that a signature is, "a personal mark that can be replicated but not duplicated exactly."
The categories of other 2002 Signature Awards and winners were:
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTS: Diane Von Furstenberg, Fashion Designer, DVF Studio.
FIVE TO TEN YEARS IN BUSINESS: Sue Rodin, President, Stars and Strategies, Inc.
UNDER FIVE YEARS IN BUSINESS: Donna R. Childs, President/CEO, Childs Capital, LLC.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP: Julia A. Erickson, Executive Director, City Harvest, Inc.
NAWBO-NYC is now celebrating their fourteenth annual awards celebration. In the mid-1970s, a group of enterprising business women from Washington, D.C. was brought together by the need to network. They wanted to share experiences and insights with other women business owners. They created a chartered and incorporated association for women business owners called NAWBO. Over the years NAWBO has blossomed into a powerful advocate on issues that effect women in business.
NAWBO realizes the importance of concentrating its efforts on issues that affect the broad spectrum of women business owners. As a result of NAWBO's focus the organization has emerged as a major policy advocate.
Because NAWBO actively encourages its members to participate on issues that effect them, it is a strong grassroots organization. With hundreds of chapters nationwide, policymakers listen.
Besides being the president of Big Apple Car, Inc., Diana Clemente is also a former president of the Black Car Assistance Corporation (BCAC), and a board member of the New York Black Car Operator's Injury Compensation Fund.
Ms. Clemente has set forth on a mission with plans to continue to perfect every aspect of her operation and to, "permit reasonable growth going forward, thus providing a balance between her companies profitability and the earnings of her drivers."
After eighteen years as president of the company it is no wonder that her business approach has received a lot of media attention. The business was highlighted in the May 24, 1993 issue of CRAIN'S. The honor was followed one year later by the 1994 CRAIN'S NEW YORK BUSINESS Small Business Award. Big Apple Car, Inc./Cloverdale Car, Inc., was ranked 313th in Working Women's listing of America's Top 500 Women-Owned Businesses for 1998, 349th for 1999 and 362nd for 2000. Finally Ms. Clemente was honored as the Entrepreneur of the Year in the Transportation category by Ernst & Young for the year 2000.
There are no neon signs or banners acknowledging Ms. Clemente's generosity and commitment to the members of the industry. She insists on helping people in an anonymous fashion. Scores of people have had their homes saved from being reprocessed because Diana was there to underwrite their mortgages. Diana is the first one to donate or lend money to those in need and those without hope. She is quick to help an employee or friend in trouble. She does this all quietly and without fanfare or public recognition.
Big Apple Car / Cloverdale Car / VIP Gold, employs one hundred and thirty full time employees. There are more than five hundred independent franchisees affiliated with the company. Their headquarters have been located for more than twenty four years in Brooklyn, N.Y.
In December 2000 Digital Dispatch Systems Inc. of Richmond, British Columbia signed a deal worth approximately $2 Million-dollars with Big Apple Car Inc./Cloverdale Car, Inc. The purchase included the highly functional, in-vehicle GDT890 mobile data terminal along with the new state-of-the-art customized dispatching software, Pathfinder. This was Digital Dispatch's first installation of Pathfinder in North America.
Big Apple Car uses Digital Dispatch's GPS Dispatching (also known as Closest Car Dispatching) technology where Pathfinder automatically dispatches the optimum car for every job, resulting in more trips per car, lower service time and increased customer satisfaction.
Big Apple Car does not require a down payment for buying or leasing. Drivers can qualify for a 3% Incentive Program for the first six months. You must own a late model Lincoln Town car, Cadillac, or Mercedes.
If you are interested in one of the Big Apple Car /Cloverdale Car / VIP Gold driver programs or would like to take a tour of their facility call (718) 331-9500.
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