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SEARCHThe American Car Rental Association (ACRA) convened its sixth annual Day on the Hill in Washington, D.C. Sept. 23-25. The event consisted of networking, ACRA meetings, guest speakers, an ACRA political action committee reception, and meetings with U.S. representatives and senators on issues affecting the car rental industry.
Photos by Chris Brown.
Eric Rothman of Fast Track Mobility (right) stands with Bill Plamondon of Advantage E-Z at the reception.
Sharky Laguana of Bandago and Greg Scott of Merevir Consulting (center) pose with Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS).
Sharon Faulkner poses with Representative Sam Graves (R-MO6), author of the Graves amendment that eradicated vicarious liability for rented and leased vehicles.
The meetings on Tuesday consisted of ACRA’s annual membership meeting, a board of directors meeting, the 2019 ACRA government affairs conference, guest speakers from industry groups, and associate member presentations. Guest speakers included speakers from P.A.V.E., the Partnership for Autonomous Vehicle Education and SAE, the Society for Automotive Engineers.
Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH1), co-sponsor of the “End Discriminatory State Taxes for Automobile Renters Act” (H.R. 4311) stopped by the Tuesday meeting.
After the Tuesday meeting members took time out for a photo in front of the Capitol.
Alex Newberg, representing Budget Car & Truck Rental of Atlanta, a licensee, is by far the youngest delegate in the history of the event. Newberg stands with K.C. Baack and Jennifer Gelder of Budget Car & Truck Rental of Atlanta, along with Gary Macdonald (right) of Midway Auto Group.
Ian Kusinitz of Empire Car Rental (right) sits with Carlos Bazan of Rent Luso.
Rudy Callegari (left) poses William Harris of Edge Auto Rental.
on Tuesday evening, ACRAPAC held a reception at Sonoma Restaurant that included visits by senators and representatives. Robert Muhs of Avis Budget Group and Bill Wallschlaeger, an Avis and Budget licensee, flank Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).
This year, the Tuesday ACRA meetings took place in the U.S. Capitol in a congressional meeting room. The count of 46 participants was the largest in the event’s six-year history.
On Wednesday, Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL13) received the ACRA Legislator of the Year Award from Jeff Pannozzo of Enterprise Holdings and Sharon Faulkner, executive director of ACRA. Senator Roy Blount (R-MO) garnered the honor in the Senate.
Leslie Pujo of Plave Koch PLC and Leslie Saunders of Leslie Saunders Insurance smile for the camera.
