The Transportation Alliance announced that Dave Gauer, owner of VIP Taxi in Phoenix, Arizona, has been named Executive of the Year.
Gauer entered the taxicab business in 1977 in the north suburbs of Chicago when he traded a custom motorcycle in exchange for his first taxicab with American Taxi . He grew a single cab into a 30-car operation, beginning his legacy as an innovator in the industry.
In 1993, Gauer was offered a business partnership at 303 Taxi which, at the time, had less than 150 cabs. He knew that by implementing newer technologies the company could be taken to the next level. He was correct: By 1998, the company had grown to over 600 cabs and provided tens of thousands of rides each month to children with special needs. By 2001, Dave and his partners bought Flash Cab, growing that fleet to over 700 vehicles. In 2005, Gauer and his partners piloted Chicago’s accessible taxicab program making the City of Chicago one of the most accessible cities in the nation.
In 2007, Gauer bought a small Arizona cab company, which he renamed VIP Taxi. Gauer eventually gave up his Chicago business interests to focus full-time on the Arizona company. Gauer along with his two sons Brandon & Jason focused on innovation while providing reliable and quality transportation has transformed VIP Taxi into a thriving “Local Family Owned & Operated” business for generations to come.
“Dave is the type of fleet executive who has helped transform this industry,” said Terry O’Toole, President of The Transportation Alliance. “He embraces new technology, and has thrived as one of the executives who knows that innovation is the key to all modern transportation business strategies.”
Gauer will be honored at Mobilize 2019, the 101st annual convention and expo of The Transportation Alliance, held Oct. 16-19 at Bally’s Las Vegas.
