AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2013 - 96

PARTNERSHIPS

Strategic partner built on
aviation heritage
More than just car rental, a history of aviation

ENTERPRISE

founder Jack
Taylor was a
World War II
Hellcat pilot.

ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR has a rich and distinctive heritage. It’s a remarkable story of
how entrepreneurship, hard work, and a
big dream can turn a tiny start-up into a
world-class company.
The story begins with founder Jack
Taylor. Born in the company’s hometown of St. Louis in 1922, Taylor heeded
his country’s call after the attack on Pearl
Harbor drew the United States into World
War II. In 1942, he enlisted and served
as a decorated Navy Hellcat pilot in the
skies over the South Pacific. Then, like so
many others of the Greatest Generation,
he returned home to raise his family and
start a business. Lessons learned in the
Navy—including the values of integrity,
hard work, team spirit, and simply doing
the right thing—helped shape his personality. They also made their mark on the
company he founded in 1957, and that his
family owns to this day.
In a tiny lower-level office in a St. Louis
Cadillac dealership, Taylor started out
with a fleet of seven cars, one employee,
and a commitment to provide a uniquely
personal brand of customer service. Taylor

developed a simple but enduring business philosophy that still guides company
efforts as the largest rental car operation
in the world: “Take care of your customers
and your employees first, and the profits
will follow.”
As his company grew, the Navy veteran
expanded operations into new markets and
named the company after an aircraft carrier
on which he had served, the USS Enterprise.
The ship was the most decorated vessel in
the U.S. Navy with the 2012 retirement of
the latest Enterprise. The Secretary of the
Navy announced that the Enterprise name
will live on, passed to CVN-80—the next
nuclear aircraft carrier to be constructed.
This marks the ninth time the U.S. Navy
will have a ship called Enterprise in its fleet.
ON THE

WEB

AS AN AOPA STRATEGIC PARTNER, Enterprise

proudly supports general aviation. Members
who book online (www.aopa.org/cars) or
call 866-315-9155 can take advantage of a
discount on everyday low rates and help
support AOPA.

AOPA STRATEGIC PARTNER SPOTLIGHT:
ALAMO, ENTERPRISE, AND NATIONAL CAR RENTAL

Alamo, Enterprise, and National offer AOPA members car rental discounts of up to 25
percent. These partners also support AOPA through sponsorship of AOPA Aviation Summit, AOPA Airports, and the “Fly-Outs” feature in AOPA Pilot, along with financial support that helps AOPA promote, protect, and defend GA (www.aopa.org/cars).

96 | AOPA PILOT August 2013

INSURANCE FILE

NEWS & NOTES

Picking the
perfect partner
BY BRENDA J. JENNINGS

Senior Vice President,
AOPA Insurance Agency

THERE’S really only one reason to buy aircraft insurance:
payment of claims. Hence, you
have to judge an insurance company’s ability to pay them. Look
for companies with higher AM
Best and S&P financial ratings. These insurers can, and
typically do, charge a higher
premium for their policies. This
is only because they provide
more responsive claims service.
The best insurance brokers
deal with underwriting companies on multiple aviation risks
and have large books of business with each, giving them
more buying power. Plus, they’ll
know which underwriter at
each insurance company is the
most reasonable to deal with for
a specific type of aircraft, what
a competitive rate should be
on a particular account, what
coverages are available at no
additional charge, and how
hard to negotiate. Here are a few
questions to consider:
• Do they have a thorough
understanding of aviation insurance, the marketplace, policies,
and coverages?
• Do they have strong relationships within the market?
• How well do they understand
the type of flying you do?
• Are they willing and able to
handle all of your aviation insurance needs?
• Do they take the time to
explain the process and coverages as well as how they relate
to you?
• Do they have sufficient office
support to properly service your
account?

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AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2013

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