Bus One Driven to Serve Customers and Community
African-American Women , Please Step Up Because We Need You
BB10 AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO THE MIAMI HERALD FRIDAY , DECEMBER 8 , 2017
By Zach Rinkins
Bus One Diamond
Denise Cotman Albritton
For Denise Cotman-Albritton and her husband , Thomas “ Mike ” Albritton , serving the South Florida community is both business and pleasure .
“ Transportation was our subject matter expertise ,” Cotman-Albritton said . “ We realized that people still needed to move groups of people around .”
For 20 years , her husband owned Limo Limo , a rental and transport company that enabled customers to travel in a cost-effective way .
“ With the emergence of Uber and
Bus One Driven to Serve Customers and Community
Lyft , it was not in our best interest to continue to press forward in the limo space ,” Cotman-Albritton explained .
In 2007 , the Albrittons sold the nearly 20-year-old company and challenged themselves to find a new venture that would allow them to capitalize on their background and experience . The couple then started Bus One , a bus charter company .
The Palm Beach-bred businesswoman says adaptation and dedication to growing their enterprise are necessary for achievement .
“ We took some concepts from the limousine company and started our bus charter company ,” Cotman-Albritton explained . “ My husband and I used to drive our clients from here to wherever they needed to go . We had one bus . I ’ d ride in the jump seat and serve as tour guide .”
Bus One has evolved into the largest minority , women-owned charter bus company in South Florida . It is licensed to transport riders from all South Florida seaports and airports . It also offers charter services including shuttles and tours . It transports students to field trips and summer camps , and counts Palm Beach schools , private and corporate vendors , and local conferences among its clients .
The couple was able to expand Bus One after receiving a tip about a local university needing transportation services . With three coaches , they applied for the opportunity and were awarded the contract over a much larger competitor that had a fleet with a few hundred coaches .
“ After working with the university ’ s athletic department , we built our business from there ,” Cotman-Albrittons shared .
She advises entrepreneurs to make customers a priority and to maintain a quality company brand . “ All of our buses have a diamond on them . When you see that diamond , you know it ’ s Bus One .”
For the Albrittons , it is important for a company to understand its business model and employ prudent financial practices . “ Transportation businesses are run very differently from other businesses ,” she explained . “ You have to be able to carry your business . A broken transmission could cost us $ 9,000 , which may not be a budgeted expense . But , you have to manage that and pay your employees and subcontractors .”
Maintaining government licenses and industry protocol is also critical .
“ Our industry is highly regulated ,” she revealed . “ It is important to us that we meet Department of Transportation requirements and standards . We make sure all of our drivers and anything connected to our business is up to code and standard .”
THE BAUGH REPORT
African-American Women , Please Step Up Because We Need You
By Dr . Germaine Smith-Baugh
We need to create more opportunities for African-American women to lead in our community , especially now in wake of Hurricane Irma . Here ’ s why .
First , African-American women are the most educated segment of the United States population , according to the National Association of Education Statistics .
Secondly , we are six times more likely than other groups to start our own businesses . In fact , the number of businesses owned by African-American women has grown by more than 300 percent since 1997 , making African-American women one of the fastest-growing groups of entrepreneurs in the U . S ., according to Fortune magazine .
Given the chance , African-American women can be a driving force in leading our community in solving our biggest challenges . Right now , one of those challenges is helping local families who were left with significant property damage and economic hardships when Hurricane Irma swept through South Florida in September .
I am proud that some African-American women have become deeply involved in community restoration work . I know this personally . I worked with Broward County School Board Member Dr . Rosalind Osgood , and Dillard High School Principal Casandra Robinson to help launch the “ Restore 954 ” initiative that has focused on response , recovery and relief services for those most impacted by the hurricane .
It all started with a few phone conversations and resulted in food giveaways for thousands of people . In addition , “ Restore 954 ” has provided hundreds of individuals and families with access to disaster relief programs , financial education , employment services , and public benefits screening .
As part of the initiative , the Urban League of Broward County canceled our 2017 “ Agents of the Future Red Gala ” and redirected the event ’ s budgeted funds to support “ Restore 954 .”
Yet , in order to continue the assistance , we need more involvement from the community , particularly from businesses . This is where African-American businesswomen can make a huge difference .
I invite our women to help us with providing housing , healthcare , education , employment , and other essential services to people who continue to suffer from the wreckage caused by Hurricane Irma . We need your expertise and leadership .
And yes , there are resources available to help African-American women grow their businesses so they can contribute further to our community . For one , the Urban League of Broward County ’ s Entrepreneurship Center offers a wide range of business development services , including capital .
Learn more about our center by calling 954-584-0777 or visit us at : www . ulbroward . org / smallbiz .
When we consider how far we as women , especially African-American women , have come , we should all be extremely proud of our accomplishments as well as our extraordinary impact on society .