The Golden Touch

The sounds of heavy footsteps and panting are getting closer.

"We're about to have company," Sean Duval says. "Hey you big rat," he yells out to a waddling, thick black Labrador Retriever, and pats the dog on the back as it enters. "This is Murphy, he was outside with the cars."

Since Golden Limousine International is very much a family business, the only question remains is whether Murphy pulls double duty as a mascot or security. Maybe he's a little of both.

"You know, I spend $5,000 on gas a week," Duval says shaking his head with a smirk, though it seems like he should be saying that with a shriek. Maybe the Freon in the air-conditioner has had a calming affect on him, because he seems to take that five grand in stride. It's the price of business for a company that ues 800 to 1200 gallons of gas a week, transporting business executives and area visitors.

Duval is owner and chief executive officer of Golden Limos, running the business with the help of his high school sweetheart-turned-wife, Donna. Together the two have managed to weather rising fuel costs and the loss of their biggest client to make their Ann Arbor-based company into one of the state's fastest growing limo services.

Locally, the Duval's have 31 in-house vehicles at their disposal with countless other options through their affiliates that span the state, country, and even cross the Atlantic. In fact, Sean says, they have access to a jet, if need be. And really, nothing says class like a private jet.

"We pride ourselves in our ability to say yes," he says. "If you need a jet, we can get you a jet."

People hate to hear the word "No," so, it's really no wonder Sean has turned Golden Limos into, well, somewhat of a goldmine.

The first incarnation of Sean's limo company started 21 years and was originally owned by Golden Chain Jewelry store on Washtenaw Avenue, in the Southeast part of the city. When it was founded, back in 1987, it was called Golden Chain's Limousine Service, headquartered out of a small space inside Weber's Inn Hotel. Gas was between 80 cents and a dollar and the hated Minnesota Twins were on their way to a pennant win (after bumping off the Tigers).

By 1992's recession the limo company was put on the market. The jewelers realized they were jewelers and wanted out, Sean says.

"I was a manager at McDonald's and I heard that this company was for sale," he explains. "I thought it was a great idea and a great way to make money." 

He had been working for McDonald's since he was a teenager behind the counter and saw it as a way out of the fast food grind and into a business of his own.

When he seized the reins in 1992 gas had risen a bit, somewhere between 90 cents and $1.10, but his optimism was high. Duval bought two outdated sedans and rented a van from what was left of the Golden Chain fleet and for four months worked full time at McDonald's and part time with the limos as a driver in his own company.

He soon found a better paying day job at the Federal Correctional Facility in Milan as a food supervisor, but still put in hours at the limo company. Finally, in 1994, things started looking up for Golden Limousine and the Duvals. When they parted ways with their only manager, Donna stepped in while Sean worked full time at the prison. She quickly discovered she had knack for the business.

"When Donna came in that's when things really started to take off," Sean explains. "At first she didn't even know where the cars were parked, though. She started driving the cars. But she's shy. It was very traumatic for her at first but she got the hang of it and we grew."

It wasn't until 1998 that the both Duvals were able to commit full time (gas, by the way, was about $1.30 then) to Golden Limousine, making it the family's sole source of income. And with that commitment came a deeper dedication to professionalism and service. The very next year they were expanding service outside the state.

Today Golden Limousine works through affiliates in places like Kentucky, Ohio, and Chicago, and provide services to clients in London, Sweden, and Copenhagen. Except for the year Pfizer left, the company has grown every year since 2001. Last year revenues reached $4 million. 

"Being perfect is hard," Sean says. "But we stay on top of it here. We do a lot of handholding. If we're on time, we're late. We want to be waiting on you, not you waiting on us."

Sean's father, a retired colonel in the army, helped instill this philosophy into Sean who has, in turn, pumped it into his business. And it seems to be working.

Now, with 31 vehicles at his direct disposal – everything from sedans to SUVs to Hummers to party coaches that seat 56 (not to mention that jet) – the Duvals have established a company with a sterling reputation.

Of course, it hasn't always been an air-conditioned luxury sedan for the company, so to speak.

"We took a hit when Pfizer left, that's for sure," he said.

At its peak with Pfizer as its biggest custoner, Golden Limousine acquired another limo company (and its Pfizer contract), bringing the company to a hundred trips a day. They've dipped since the pharmaceutical company's departure but are still running between 30 and 60 trips a day.

Needless to say, the Michigan economy has also changed quite a bit since those heady 100-trips-day years.

"The corporate client will, for the most part, always be there," he says. "It's the entertainment aspect that has disappeared. With all the layoffs and job cuts and the reality of the auto industry setting in, we have been affected. The number of people at work and the benefits that come along with their work – those huge bonuses and the end of the year – those are gone. People aren't going out on the town like they used to."

But Sean believes there are better days ahead, especially since his company is still growing (despite the Pfizer hit). In particular, he sees a lot of potential business with the sudden influx of film productions in Michigan (courtesy of the recent film incentive package).

"We believe in Michigan, it's our home, and Ann Arbor will always be our headquarters," he says. "But we need to grow and there are hot beds of growth waiting for us out of state."

Still, Sean and his wife stay connected to the community by giving generously to local charities. He donates dozens of limo packages for local high schools events, sponsors a golf outing for the Washtenaw Community College Culinary Arts program, and lends support to hometown Milan high school athletic groups.

Duval is also committed to buying local. "I believe in supporting the community you live and work in," he says . "You might be able to find it cheaper at Home Depot, or something like that, but they aren't giving money to the local high school. I believe in building your own community."

Golden Limo currenlty employs more than 40 people locally in Ann Arbor, with most of its staff as drivers. On average, the vehicles put about 75,000 miles a year on the odometer. A car's life usually lasts three years at the company, retiring with, usually, more than 200,000 miles on its odometer.

Given those numbers, Duval is all-too aware of fuel-efficiency trends and is keeping a vigilant eye out for a hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle that will fit into his fleet and cut the gas costs. Unfortunatley, he says, he can't pull up to Ford headquarters (a major client) in a Toyota Prius. Not only isn't it big enough to cart people around, for his executive clientele "it's not conducive for business," he explains. "There just isn't anything that works for (Golden Limousine) right now."

Though he hasn't been able to add a new hybrid or electric car to his fleet, he has recently added something outside the fleet's normal requirements: A puppy.
One quarter Rottweiler, three-quarters Golden Retriever and all dog.

"I wanted to name him Bentley," Duval said. "But my son said Stuckey (named after Pistons emerging point guard Rodney Stuckey) and… it stuck so-to-speak."

Murphy plops himself behind Sean, panting, filling the room with the smell of dog breath, grass, and summer. "I guess it got too hot for him," Sean says, with a smile.

Either that, or he can't believe you spend five grand a week on gas.