(Los Angeles, CA—December 15, 2008): Los Angeles City Council President Pro Tempore Wendy Greuel honored Joseph A. Czyzyk, Chairman & CEO of Mercury Air Group, on Friday, December 12, 2008 for his ten years of service as a Los Angeles City Commissioner, spanning three Mayoral Administrations and setting one of the highest records for continual commission service to the City. Czyzyk stepped down as President of the City of Los Angeles Board of Taxicab Commissioners in September 2008, having served on the Commission since its inception in 1998.

During his service on the Commission, Czyzyk helped lead the complicated taxicab refranchising effort, worked with the Department of Transportation and the Los Angeles Police Department on the issue of bandit cabs as well as helped launch the new “Hail-a-Taxi” (HAT) program in the City of Los Angeles.

In addressing the Los Angeles City Council and Czyzyk, Greuel said: “There’s no doubt Joe has left his mark on the transportation system of Los Angeles. And as a City we are extremely grateful for the ten years you gave us as a Commissioner…he has given a lot to this City.”

Greuel presented Czyzyk with a formal City Resolution which read, in part, “that by the adoption of this resolution, the Mayor, City Attorney, City Controller and the Los Angeles City Council commends Joseph Czyzyk on all of his achievements and gives thanks for his committed service to the Taxicab Commission and the greater community of Los Angeles.” The Resolution was signed by the entire Los Angeles City Council, the Mayor, City Attorney and City Controller.

“It was my honor to serve and my sense of duty to serve this City. The City has been good to me, my family and my business. That’s the least people can do is find a way to serve,” Czyzyk told the City Council and he also commended the fine Department of Transportation employees he worked with while serving on the Taxicab Commission.

In addition to his past service to the City, Czyzyk is a current member of the Board of Directors and a Vice-Chairman of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, he was recently appointed to the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) and he also serves on the Board of Governors of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation and the Board of Visitors, Graduate School of Public Policy, Pepperdine University.

Czyzyk is a graduate of California State University at Los Angeles and a decorated U.S. Veteran, having served with the U.S. Navy Amphibious Construction Forces (Seabees) from 1966 through 1969, in the U.S. and the Republic of Vietnam and he currently serves as a Board Member of the U.S. Navy Seabees Foundation.