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Rick
accepts the award from TLPA
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TLPA
2003
Award
Winner |
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2003
TLPA Taxicab Large Fleet Operator of the Year Richard C.
Hewatt, Checker Cab Company, Atlanta, Ga. |
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The
Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit
Association is pleased to announce that
Richard C. (Rick) Hewatt, president of
Checker Cab Company, Atlanta, Ga.,
has been chosen as the TLPA 2003
Taxicab
Large Fleet Operator of theYear |
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In
his letter nominating Rick Hewatt, James Campolongo,
president of Yellow Cab Pittsburgh, wrote, “Operator of
the Year is an award bestowed upon those operators who
have excelled in management, safety, maintenance and
community service. Rick Hewatt leads the field in all
areas encompassed by this award. I have had the personal
and professional pleasure to know Rick for more than 10
years. He is a pillar of the community; involved in every
level of community service. He has spearheaded such initiatives
as use of alternative-fueled vehicles, the Alert Cab
program and installed the first computerized dispatch
system in Atlanta. Hosting the 2001 TLPA Convention &
Trade Show allowed the entire membership to enjoy his
hospitality and witness his leadership and dedication
to our industry. Rick is most worthy of this esteemed
honor.”
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Rick was born into the
taxicab business. His grandfather, Richard F Hewatt,
Sr., started Checker Cab in 1947 with one car. In the 1
950s, Rick’s father, Richard F. Hewatt, Jr., took over
management of the company and ran it for over 40 years until he partially retired in 2000.
Rick started working for the company in 1973 when he was
14 years old pumping gas and cleaning cars during summers
when he was out of school. |
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Rick continued working
fur the company part time as a mechanic and driver
through 1981. He earned his degree in business
administration from Middle Georgia College, then came to
work full time for Checker Cab Company in 1982. Over the
years he has worked in every facet of the business:
dispatcher, driver, mechanic, public relations, business
promotions and administration. |
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TLPA
asked Rick what makes his company stand apart from others.
He
responded,
“Service. The Hewatt family had always put the service
to our customers as top priority. Checker Cab Company of
Atlanta provides the very best taxi service in Georgia.”
Rick defines his philosophy in running the company in one
word: “Pride. Pride in your company; pride in your
industry; pride in yourself.” His goal for Checker Cab
Company is to “continue to grow with Atlanta and to
maintain the Hewatt family-owned and operated status
through a couple more generations.” |
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For the Hewatts, the
taxicab business is truly a family affair. Rick’s dad is still
very much involved in Checker Cab even though he’s supposed to be
semi-retired in Florida. Rick’s sister Paula runs the compan/s
self-insurance group. His brother Dennis takes care of some of the
company’s legal issues, while. another brother, Tim, runs one of
the famil/s suburban taxicab companies. Rick’s sister Kathy runs
another suburban company along with her husband Scott. |
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Rick
proudly states that Checker Cab Company has been a TLPA member for
more than 35 years. He attended his first meeting about 20 years
ago. He has been on the Board of Directors since 2001 and is
currently on the Taxicab Steering Committee. He is a past co-chair
of the Technology Committee and is looking forward to be even more
involved with
TLPA in the future. He says that the knowledge
and know-how other members and TLPA staff have provided to him are
the best attribute of his TLPA membership. |
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| Rick
says he has learned from operators who run five cars and operators
who run 2,000 cars. He says, “The knowledge and friends that I
have developed over the past 20 years with ThPA truly are the
reasons I have prospered and excelled in this industry; Of course,
having two generations of taxicab operators before me did not hurt
either.”
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| Rick Hewatt spends
much of his spare time with his wife Kathy, daughter Lauren, and his
two sons Calvin and Tristan. He is a musician and has played in a
band called “The Downtown Executives” for the past 20 years. He
also enjoys playing golf and boating when he has the opportunity to
do so. |
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| Rick is also very
involved in community and civic affairs. He attends community
meetings of the Atlanta Conventions & Visitors Bureau, Atlanta
Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta City Council and the Atlanta Taxicab
Technology Committee. He is a board member of Team Georgia, an
anti-drunk driving and driver safety coalition, Clean Cities Atlanta
and the Metro Atlanta Taxicab Industry Association. For 18 years he
has been involved in a free ride home program for patrons of
Atlanta’s bars and restaurants who have had too much to drink.
Under Rick’s leadership, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;
the U.S. Department of Energy and the national Clean Cities program
have recognized Checker Cab for the company’s use of alternative
fuels. |
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could not be any happier with this honor,” Rick says of winning
this award. “To be recognized by your peers is truly a pleasure
and a compliment.”
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In
honor of his dedication to his community; family and this
association, the
Taxicab,
Limousine & Paratransit
Association is very proud to honor Rick
Hewatt as the TLPA 2003 Taxicab Large
Fleet Operator of the Year.
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