Today we’d like to introduce you to Phil Ayers.
Hi Phil, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a Black man who was born and raised in Cincinnati by a mother who was a faithful servant to God and her church. She taught me to serve the Lord with all my heart, mind and soul and do what was right. I, in turn, ended up becoming my churches youngest ever Minister of Music. It was then that I began to use my gifts of singing, teaching, and instrumentation to minister to the masses. I played in concerts, led mass choirs and praised and worship at my church every Sunday; I even eventually met my wife.
During that time, I was also an entrepreneur; ministry is about the calling, not the money. Therefore, I started a lawn care company, a moving company and a cleaning company with no business background or education, just a will and a way. Those businesses did fine, but I felt God pulling me in a different direction, transportation. So, in 2000 I stepped out on faith and started a limousine company with one limo and one van. At that time, I only provided services to Funeral Homes. I eventually ventured out to providing valet services to local clubs and was introduced to celebrity transportation. It was then that I decided to invest time heavily into grassroots networking to increase my network among local promoters. To build my company from the ground up with no capital was nothing but a blessing from God. He put me in the right places, at the right time with the right people, every time! My company began transporting everyone from Babyface to Ricky Dillard to New Edition to Dru Hill. I was the only Black owned transportation company doing this work and dominated the market. It felt amazing and I thought I could conquer the world; but I forgot one thing, to keep God in the midst of it. I decided to, on my own accord, scale the company to yellow school bus service. We had upwards of 40 school buses and 50 drivers along with 3 Motor Coaches, 2 Sprinters, 1 Party Bus, 10 office staff and 2 executives (including myself). I was making more money than I had ever made but lost myself in the midst. Nearly losing it all, I did what God had been leading me to do for some time; change the strategic direction of the company to focus purely on luxury services and relocate to Georgia. Doing this was no small feat. My wife and I had to essentially layoff of all our employees, sell every vehicle and move. And I tell you what, it was the BEST decision of our lives. It saved my marriage, my business and my soul! It is amazing to see what God has done in response to our “yes”!
Now, three years later, Pride Charter Services is stronger than ever. Gaining new investors as well as leveraging the client relationships built over the years, we have six luxury Mercedes Sprinters and 3 SUV’s. These vehicles are used to provide celebrity transportation services across the country including the following;
• Tours (this includes city to city, local travel as well as strategic planning)
• Concerts (this includes local travel for celebrities who come to the city to perform or contract us to come to another city during their concert dates)
• Personal Travel (as a result of the relationships I am able to build as well as the quality service my drivers and I provide, celebrities hire us to do personal travel for their children and other family members if need – unrelated to performances)
• Local Appearances (we travel to other cities for local appearances for churches, conferences, etc.)
In addition to the actual “driving”, I also have provided the following services for more than a decade;
• Transportation Planning – During multi-city concerts, management teams have no idea how to manage transportation city to city or on location. Therefore, I develop comprehensive plans to meet and exceed their needs. Therefore, serving as the Transportation Director (without the title) in most cases. I have don’t this for the Rod Wave Tour, The Millennium Tour, The Cincinnati Music Festival (formally the Jazz Festival), The Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj Tour, the 90’s Block Party Tour and The I Hear Music Festival.
• Security – Oftentimes in providing services, security is necessary. I, as well as my drivers are trained to understand landscapes, assess situations and act accordingly to protect celebrity clients.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to our now has certainly not been smooth. I think the most difficult struggle has been to secure capital as a Black business owner. It is nearly impossible to get funding without substantial business credit or connections to the right people. Don’t get me wrong, I have had a few investors who have been nothing short of a blessing to my business. That said, it hasn’t been nearly as much as I see invested in non-minority businesses. It is a constant fight to prove my product and prove my worth to build trust with financial institutions. As a result, I have invested heavily in my business, nickel and diming it to grow on my own. It has also been a struggle to break into the film industry, which is a high-priority goal of mine. I have spoken with celebrities I know in the industry who have made connections but the right one is still waiting in the wings, so to speak.
We’ve been impressed with Pride Charters Services, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a luxury transportation company that provides services primarily to celebrities across the U.S. and Canada. Our services are provided using luxury Mercedes Sprinters and SUV’s equipped with the latest state of the art technology and amenities. We are specifically known for this as well as our experience servicing concert tours, overall transportation logistics and honoring individual client requests. This latter also sets us apart as we have over ten years of experience providing services to the entertainment elite. We are very proud of the fact that our family-owned business has withstood the test of time, including the Covid epidemic, and able to continue to provide top-notch services across the country.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
My family makes me happy. I have been married for almost ten years and have four children. They motivate me to make the right choices and to be the best man I can be. It’s a blessing to be able to say this because at one time, I would have answered “success” or “notoriety” but during the transition of my life and business in 2019, I realized neither of those things meant anything without my wife, children and my closest family members by my side. Each day, I try to find joy in the little things; whether it be the sun shining, my health or the meditation of my heart. I love to make my wife laugh and try new things. I also love listening to (and singing with) gospel music. It centers me and keeps me grounded. It helps me keep my vocal cords warm in case I ever decide to sing publicly again.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@pridetransportations.com
- Website: www.pridetransportationsllc.com
