Fisk focuses on growth

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Since settling into his new location in July, J. Howard Fisk has been focusing on the business at hand: managing and operating two different companies J. Howard Fisk Limousines Inc. and Martin Rental & Leasing. |ret||ret||tab|

Twenty-five years in the limousine business has allowed Fisk to corner the local transportation market, expanding his services in the last few years. In 1998 he purchased Martin Rental & Leasing, adding to his services long-term vehicle leases to limousine companies across the nation.|ret||ret||tab|

"We began putting vehicles with limousine services within the region at first, and then as demand increased, we expanded to serve limousine companies throughout the United States," Fisk said.|ret||ret||tab|

He has affiliations with other limousine services in such cities as Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Chicago, Dallas, and Atlantic City, N.J., as well as in Washington, California and North Carolina. These affiliations allow placement of revenue-generating vehicles in other markets, he said.|ret||ret||tab|

Fisk added that most of these partnerships occur when outside limousine companies, looking to add to their fleets, visit local manufacturers like Springfield Coach Builders. Martin Rental & Leasing purchases the vehicle for them to put into service. |ret||ret||tab|

"We have become a fairly large company as a result of that," he said. "Martin Rental & Leasing is going to match the activity of Fisk this year. It has really grown very well."|ret||ret||tab|

J. Howard Fisk Limousine Inc. has grown as well. So much so, in fact, that it was forced to relocate from the space it occupied at University Plaza Hotel for the past 15 years. After a two-year search, the limousine company moved to the former MFA building at 2001 E. Trafficway in July.|ret||ret||tab|

"We had some specific requirements," Fisk said. "We needed large interior storage space, paved areas with parking for over 100 vehicles and a secure environment. It's just hard to find all that in one site."|ret||ret||tab|

The company's new storage building is 20,000 square feet and sits on almost eight acres of land. |ret||ret||tab|

There were a few alternatives to the MFA site, Fisk said, but none that met the limousine company's needs like this one did.|ret||ret||tab|

"We really felt that buying (the former MFA site) would be a good investment for the future not just for the property, but because of the location and the visibility," he said.|ret||ret||tab|

Fisk said customer satisfaction was one of the main concerns in the extensive site search.|ret||ret||tab|

"Our customers come first, and with this new location it's very easy for our customers to come and conduct business," he said. "Customers like to park at the door, and this location gives us this additional benefit. This property just had a lot of things going for it."|ret||ret||tab|

It also allows Fisk to keep his whole fleet on one lot, something that University Plaza, could not accommodate.|ret||ret||tab|

"We have an awful lot of vehicles, and that requirement ... pushed us out of the space over there," Fisk said. "As time went on, it required more and more space, which was not as convenient for the hotel or the trade center."|ret||ret||tab|

Fisk said that customers will often need service from both Fisk Limousines Inc. and Martin Rental & Leasing, which was ideally what he had in mind.|ret||ret||tab|

"By owning both companies we can cross-sell and really give superior service to the community," Fisk said. "No other transportation company can provide our broad range of service, because we have both ends of the market. What we accomplish requires multiple licenses, state registrations and insurance coverages. Most companies can't put together the various management tools required to master the intricacies of our combined business endeavors."|ret||ret||tab|

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