Team

East Coast Transportation is an upscale full service chauffeured and limousine services company that focuses on the distinct needs surrounding the Corporate / Leisure clientele and the Resort / Hotel industry. Owners, Mike Sobol and Greg Franks, possess over 35-years combined experience in the Northeast Florida limousine services and chauffeured services market. Their commitment to excellence and reliable service has earned East Coast a sterling reputation, in addition to exclusive contacts with many resort properties and corporate accounts.

Charles Gregory (Greg) Franks, Original owner of East Coast Transportation, has more than 20 years of experience owning, operating and managing transportation companies.  Greg’s experience includes working for Carey International, investing and managing a real estate firm, East Coast Land Investments, and founding a performance car company, Driveline Performance Cars, which has grossed more than $1 million in sales.  Greg is a native of Jacksonville Beach, and was honored by INC. magazine as owning one of the fastest growing private companies in America, awarded the JAX Chamber’s Business Person of the Year, and Florida Governor’s Sterling Award of Quality.

Robert Michael (Mike) Sobol, co-owner of East Coast Transportation, has more than 20 years of experience owning, operating and managing transportation companies.  Mike’s experience includes working for Carey International as the South Regional Vice President of Operations, where he oversaw five offices in the southeast.  Mike is from Hawaii and has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Florida in Finance.  He is a board member with the National Limousine Association and the 1999 Winner of the Florida Governor’s Sterling Award of Quality.

Greg previously owned East Coast Transportation from 1990 to 2000 when he sold the business to Carey.  Greg and Mike joined forces in 2008 to resurrect East Coast Transportation, which is the leading chauffeured transportation provider in Northeast Florida servicing all of the major resorts and several corporate clients.

Kerry Clark, with more than 30 years of hospitality management experience, has the core expertise to contribute towards any successful program. Kerry has served in leadership roles on hospitality programs for CBS, Gillett, BAYER, and the Hartford Company. Through her high-level experience with these prominent companies, Kerry has excelled in continually raising the standard for excellence in service.  She believes that the key ingredients of success are attitude, passion, persistence, and teamwork.  These ideals are infused in everything she does.  Kerry was born in Michigan, raised in Georgia, and presently resides in Jacksonville, Florida.  She enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and the wonders of nature.

Candace Van Kalleveen joined East Coast Transportation in the Fall of 2011 as Operations Specialist. However, her talents are many, and her 14 years of experience in the industry has helped in her current position, where she is responsible for working as a sort of “concierge” to provide a liaison with hotels, airlines, clients and many other organizations.  From Transportation Coordinator, to driving executives, to running the transportation needs for groups from multi-million dollar companies, Ms. Van Kalleveen has truly participated in every side of the transportation and hospitality industry.  Candace has proved that she is great at getting clients from A to B and making sure they enjoy their experience.

Tim Merrell‘s experience in the transportation industry (livery services) began in 1998 as a Chauffeur with East Coast Transportation in Jacksonville, Florida. In the years that followed, he has served in several positions with another company, to include: Dispatcher, Reservations, Group and Charter Sales, Director of Operations and General Manager. In October 2007, Tim rejoined The East Coast Transportation Team where he continues to utilizes his vast experience in daily operations.

Debbie White -Executive Assistant to Mike Sobol and Greg Franks
Debbie has been in office management and Executive Assistant for 25 years. She takes great pride in making sure that everyone has what they need to make their job go as smooth as possible, while maintaining a positive attitude in and out of the office. A native of Jacksonville Beach, she Graduated from Duncan U Fletcher High School, attended Lee College and graduated Logos Bible College with a bachelor’s degree. Her pride and joy is her two grown sons, 1 daughter-n-love and 3 grandsons. She enjoys anything that has to do with being on or near the water, dancing, bike riding, traveling, spending time with family and friends, but most of all she loves laughter.