Mr. Angel Odzhakov is the WINNER OF CHICAGO’S TOP CABBIE CONTEST
CITY ANNOUNCES WINNER OF ‘CHICAGO’S TOP CABBIE’ CONTEST
Winner to receive Free Taxicab Medallion
October 14, 2016
CONTACT
Mika Stambaugh
Director of Public Information
The City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) today announced the winner of the citywide competition to find ‘Chicago’s Top Cabbie’. Mr. Angel Odzhakov has been selected as the winner from among the twelve finalists.
Mr. Odzhakov received nearly 30-percent of the vote to capture the title of Chicago’s Top Cabbie. Odzhakov is originally from Bulgaria and currently lives in Evanston. He says he “likes driving and helping people [get] from point A to point B”. One customer who nominated Odzhakov wrote: “Multiple pickups. Always arrives early. He is courteous and the cab is very clean. Drives safely and smoothly. Exemplary driver.” Nominations received for Odzhakov overwhelmingly praised his professionalism, great customer service and “exceptionally clean car”.
“This prize will put Angel Odzhakov on a path of success and financial freedom” said BACP Commissioner Maria Guerra Lapacek. “Mr. Odzhakov’s nominations spoke of his hard work and top customer service. The public clearly agreed and chose him as Chicago’s Top Cabbie. This contest is a win for all of the hard working taxi drivers in the city whose work and dedication were recognized by their customers.”
BACP Commissioner Maria Guerra Lapacek presented the free medallion to Mr. Odzhakov at the Public Vehicle Licensing Facility on Ogden Avenue Friday, October 14th at 1:30p.m.
The Chicago Top Cabbie contest was open for nominations from May to July. The public was encouraged to nominate their choice for “Top Cabbie” from among the 12,000 licensed taxi chauffeurs in the city. A nominating committee comprised of BACP employees; Judith Frydland, Commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Buildings; George Lutfallah, Editor of Chicago Dispatcher; Efrat Stein of Self Help Home and Bill Kurtis reviewed, evaluated and narrowed the nominees down to twelve finalists.
The final voting period was open from September 16th to September 30th when more than 12-thousand voted in the finals. The chitopcabbie.com website received more than 18-thousand page views from 43 countries.
The competition, with the prize of a free taxicab medallion, was created earlier this year through an ordinance introduced in City Council. The contest was designed to build upon the success of the Taxicab Driver Excellence Award, which recognizes taxicab drivers who serve the disabled community.
BACP oversees the licensing of Chicago’s public chauffeurs and public vehicles including taxicabs, transportation network providers, liveries, charter and site seeing buses, horse drawn carriages, ambulances, water taxis and tour boats. The department oversees the purchasing of taxicab medallions, vehicle inspections and rates of fare. Learn more about BACP’s Public Vehicle Operations at www.cityofchicago.org/BACP.
ANGEL HAWTHORNE | INFORMATION COORDINATOR
City of Chicago | Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP)
