May 8, 2017

Meet Rebecca Schmuck of Going Green Limousine in Northwest Side

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Schmuck.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My husband, Jesse, and I created this company together out of an “Ah Ha” moment. In 2009, I was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix (cancer). This news shocked me more than anything because I have always led a clean life with healthy eating habits and exercise and all I could think about was the potential hazards of our environment. So one day we were sitting around discussing why limo companies weren’t using hybrids since the technology for a greener and cleaner car already existed, and it was one of those, “Yeah, why aren’t they doing that? Wait, why don’t we do it?” And in that instant, Going Green Limousine was born. Jesse had 20 years’ experience as a chauffeur and I had 20 years’ experience managing various aspects of a business, so it seemed like a sensible venture to take. I was literally forming my company while recovering from my total hysterectomy! We bought our first hybrid, the Ford Escape SUV, and Jesse drove our clients while I drove the desk. Now, 8 years and 10 cars later, we both still drive the company, but with help from a great team of chauffeurs and admin. We have always treated our clients the way we wanted to be treated, giving them peace of mind on reliability and safety, and I believe that personal service is why we continue to grow.

Has it been a smooth road?
There are few smooth roads when driving a limo company! Since there is no easy road map of the rules and regulations required to own a limo company, especially in the city of Chicago, there was quite an administrative learning curve getting established. Then, as we grew, we needed to find staff with the same cares and concerns as ours to assure our clients would continue to receive the same service we intended. This is a 24/7/365 industry, and since we are still very involved, it means we work 24/7/365, so it’s still hard to balance work and family life. Also, because we do truly care about each of our rides, we need to constantly work to assure logistics run without a hitch, which is a continuous struggle in a dynamic and unpredictable field. Fortunately, our clients make our journey worth it.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Going Green Limousine story. Tell us more about the business.
Going Green Limousine offers private car service throughout Chicagoland and beyond. There are no limits as to where we will drive our clients. We have sedans, SUVs (both small and large to cater to different party sizes), vans, stretch limos, and a shuttle bus. Airport transportation, point to point transfers, and charter services are all available, so we can handle any type of event you need.

Obviously, the environment is a key factor in how we run our business, so we offer hybrids and flex-fuel options. We also carbon offset our larger vehicles by donating to environmental causes.

Since we have children, we understand the difficulty that can be involved in family travel, so we offer family friendly car service with on-board digital entertainment and optional pre-installed car seats. We offer the full gamut of child car seats: rear facing infant seat with base, rear facing convertible seat, forward facing toddler seat, high back booster, and backless booster. Many of our clients have been with us for years, and it’s been fun for me to see their children grow as they modify the seats needed.

We are frequently rated as one of the top companies in Chicago, and that really makes me proud. I look at our company, and I think about how we started it so that we could do our part to make a difference, and when I see how loved we are by our clients, I know we are making a difference. That makes my heart happy more than anything else in this business.

I think because we do truly care about our clients and the services we offer, it sets us apart from other limo companies. We don’t just see names on a grid and dispatch cars to accomplish a task. We see people on a schedule that need us to help them and we are there for them.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
This industry has definitely had several shifts in the past, and I think there are some bigger ones on the horizon, especially as the laws change. Limo service used to be about the stretch limos, and then they were about the black cars, and now they are more about the party bus than the stretch. However, party buses are starting to undergo stricter regulations, so shuttle buses may become more of the large party norm. I think stretch limos will be low key in the picture for a while longer, but they will come back around when the party buses die down and people still want the option of having a bar on board instead of a shuttle vehicle. Motor coaches are also increasing in popularity, so I see limo companies incorporating motor coaches into their fleet. Whatever the shifts are, our industry will adapt, even with changes brought by self-driving cars and TNCs.

Self-driving cars cannot help you with your luggage, drop you off at the curbside, assist you in and out of the vehicle, or install your child car seat. And paying to park at the airport will most likely always be expensive. So, while I do believe self-driving cars will eventually become a more common reality, I do not think they will cause any ripples.

TNCs have clearly disrupted our industry since they have bypassed so many regulations, and it may be a few more years before it all settles down. However, unless the laws change, I think more people will become aware of how TNCs are really a form of electronic hitchhiking and offer no true Duty of Care, and our industry will therefore continue to lead in providing true black car service.

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