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CAREY
LIMO HOPES BUYING ITS COMPETITOR WILL DRIVE SALES. KANSAS CITY BUSINESS JOURNAL AUGUST 18, 2006 Kansas City's
largest limousine service recently acquired a local competitor and hired its owner as COO. Kansas City Transportation Group's Carey Limousine Service completed the acquisition of Sinatra Limousine in late July, expanding the division by about 15 percent to a total
of 54 vehicles, said Bill George, CEO of KCTG. Sales for the Carey Limousine division should exceed $4 million
in 2007, a 50 percent increase from projected 2006 sales, George said. "This was one of those rare deals where
all the pieces fell together," George said. Much of the expected increase in revenue will occur because of new
leadership from Mike Sinatra, the former owner of Sinatra Limousine of Kansas City. Sinatra started Sinatra Limousine in October
2004 after having worked for six years as a vice president at UMB Bank. He started with one limousine, one town car and a handful of corporate business
contacts. By August 2005, Sinatra's fleet had grown to seven vehicles and 11 drivers with more than $250,000 in
sales. After Carey Limousine leased some of Sinatra's vehicles to accommodate demand generated by the Kentucky Derby, Sinatra
and George realized the potential of combining the businesses. "I wasn't really looking to sell, but when the
opportunity came up at Carey, one thing led to another," Sinatra said. Neither Sinatra nor George would disclose
the amount of the acquisition. As COO of Carey, Sinatra said he plans to modernize the vehicle fleet and hire six employees
to expand dispatch and detailing services. Carey will continue to focus on its corporate clientele, he said. Large customers
of Sinatra's, such as Sprint Nextel Corp. and Midwest Air Traffic Control, will be retained, he said. With
a larger company and expanded services, Sinatra said he will be able to capitalize on more of his large corporate contacts.
jshaad@bizjournals.com | 816-421-5900
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BIG BUSINESS DRIVES INCREASING DEMAND FOR SMALL BUSES KANSAS CITY BUSINESS JOURNAL JUNE
8, 2007 When Warren Buffett, one of the world's richest men, visited Kansas City several months
ago, he and his companions declined to be carried in a limousine. His office insisted they be
transported in minicoaches, small buses that seat about 30, Kansas City Transportation Group COO Michael Sinatra said. Buffett isn't the only business guru turning his preferences to minicoaches. The vehicles are increasing in popularity
for many corporate travelers in Kansas City, and Kansas City Transportation Group has shifted into high gear to meet that
demand. The company, which owns Yellow Cab, Carey Worldwide Chauffeured Services and KCI Shuttle, in April
traded in its fleet of nine minicoaches and spent another $500,000 on 13 new and larger ones, which cost about $90,000
each. About twice a week, it has to rent extras to keep pace with demand, Sinatra said. Minicoach
business currently makes up about 10 percent of Kansas City Transportation Group's revenue, which the private company would
not disclose, and is driving toward 30 percent growth this year, Sinatra said. While minicoaches
bring in substantially higher revenue than other chauffeured services, they also come with higher expenses, making profit
margins similar. The benefit of expanding into that niche is adding another mode for increasing revenue, Sinatra said. Dale Vestal, ground transportation manager for transportation company Agenda: Kansas City, said he also has seen
the increased demand. Since 2003, that company has doubled its minicoach fleet to six. "This
business was clearly not around five years ago," Sinatra said. Several factors in the past
couple of years have generated growth in that sector, the men said. Corporate travel finally
caught up with pre-9/11 levels, Sinatra said, with clients that include some of the metro's largest companies, such as Applebee's International Inc., H&R Block Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corp. hosting meetings that require transporting
hundreds, even thousands, of people around the metro.
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Client: Shawn & Kari
We just wanted to thank
you for allowing us to use your beautiful Rolls Royce. We appreciate you being there to pick us up & drop us off. You made
it very special. We loved the car! It looks great in pictures.
-Shawn & Kari
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Dear Mike and Mark,
Thanks again for your
outstanding service. You helped make my husband's 50th birthday very special. I really appreciated your flexibility when
I called to delay your arrival at the house because my husband was running
late. That part of the story will be retold
many times and always be engrained in our memories. The limo was beautiful, and the ride was wonderful. If anyone I know
ever needs a limousine, I will definitely recommend you.
Thanks,
Veronica
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