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Nearly 80 attendees from across the country celebrated the holidays with NELA December 10
North Reading, Mass. — The New England Livery Association (NELA) returned to Teresa’s December 10 for its annual holiday meeting and party. Nearly 80 attendees came from coast to coast to gather together for a casual, festive evening of networking, industry updates, oodles of raffle prizes, and celebrating the holiday season among the warmth of industry peers. Chauffeur Driven was among the event’s raffle sponsors and was represented by its new Event Coordinator, Britt Kirk of All Points Limousine.
CD Events Coordinator Britt Kirk of All Points Limousine with Lynda Saitta of Momentum Drives, who won a pass to February’s CD/NLA Las Vegas Show
The evening began with an extended cocktail hour so party-goers could grab quick bites between catching up with old friends and making a few new ones. DJ Greg “Gates” Plowman of Entertainment Concepts once again acted as the event’s emcee and set a merry mood by playing tons of holiday classics and plenty of contemporary holiday favorites. Dinner soon followed, after which NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi welcomed and thanked everyone present. He then introduced the evening’s sponsors and NELA President Jason Dornhoffer of United Private Car.
Dornhoffer welcomed Drew Messina of Create-A-Card as the newest vendor member to join the association’s board of directors, all of whom he thanked for the generosity of their time and efforts they dedicate to NELA, its members, and the industry at large throughout the year. Szilagyi then highlighted the NELA’s many accomplishments in 2019, reminding those in attendance about the status of the Transportation Infrastructure Enhancement Fund (TIEF) that NELA had helped usher into Massachusetts legislature three years ago. The fund “essentially creates a nickel from every single TNC run in the state—and it’s a lot of nickels” to benefit both the taxi and chauffeurs ground transportation industries.
Karrine Tessier of Great Bay Limousine and NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi
As guests settled in for after-dinner coffee and dessert, the raffle promised an array of sweets, treats, tech, and more. CD donated a pass to the February 23-26 CD/NLA Las Vegas Show, which was won by Lynda Saitta of Momentum Drives. The $235 50/50 cash prize was won by Kevin Cronin of Above All Transportation/Boston Car Service, which he immediately and generously donated back to NELA.
NELA President Jason Dornhoffer of United Private Car
NELA has also been working to establish a Connecticut Committee these past few months that aims to increase the association’s engagement and membership from operators hailing from The Constitution State. The committee recently elected NELA Director Charles Wisniewski of Teddy's Transportation System as its chairman, with NELA 1st Vice President Joseph Cardillo of AOT Global and NELA Secretary Joseph Puleo of Dav El/BostonCoach serving on its board. The Connecticut Committee will meet in New Haven in January, with a day and location to be determined by operator feedback.
NELA will hold its next meeting March 10.
Visit nelivery.org for more information.
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Zulfi Abbasi of American Executive Transportation, Ron Robinson of Sterling Limousine, and Tracy Salinger of Unique Limousine (Photo by Sam Emam)
Newark, N.J. — It was three times the cheer on Monday, December 9, at Fernandes Steak House for the first joint holiday party of the Limousine Association of New Jersey (LANJ), the Philadelphia Regional Limousine Association (PRLA), and the Long Island Transportation Association (LITA). Ninety members, vendors, and guests attended the festivities, including CD Business Development Manager Jeff Rafkin and Editor Rob Smentek. Special thanks to sponsors Chosen Payments, Complete Fleet Livery Sales, Lakeview Custom Coach, and Nielsen Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram for making the evening possible.
L to R: Rodizio being served to Jay Erlich of Europe Limousine Service and Lauren and Joey Gulino of Gem Limousine (Photo by Sam Emam)
“Any way to bring our industry together is a no brainer in my mind,” says PRLA President Johnny Donohoe of Sterling Limousine. “LANJ President Jason Sharenow had reached out to gauge any interest level from the PRLA and without hesitation I had said that we would absolutely jump up at the opportunity.”
Though the weather was cold and a steady rainstorm pounded the Garden State, attendees, who came from as far as Virginia, were in the holiday spirit during the cocktail and networking reception that started the evening. After the members of the three associations got to mingle and meet some new faces, they were encouraged to take their seats at the dinner tables.
L to R: LANJ President Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Worldwide, CD Editor Rob Smentek, and LITA Secretary Nancy Vargas of DH2 Transporation, who won a pass to the CD/NLA Show in Las Vegas (Photo by Sam Emam)
Sharenow of Broadway Elite Worldwide served as the de facto MC for the night, and thanked everyone for attending the party. He discussed the importance of the work that associations do for the industry, and expressed his gratitude for the time volunteered by the various board members. Event co-sponsor Barry Trabb of Complete Fleet Livery Sales then took the mic and thanked everyone for coming and participating in their associations. Next, the floor was briefly given to Smentek, who reinforced CD’s ongoing support for state associations before raffling a pass to the 2020 CD/NLA Show in Las Vegas. The pass was won by Nancy Vargas of DH2 Transportation, who also serves as secretary for LITA.
"I want to thank Jason Sharenow and the sponsors for organizing a lovely holiday party,” says Vargas. “It was great to connect with local operators as well as welcome those affiliates that travelled to be with us. There was a great energy among fellow affiliates and I walked away happy to win the show pass.”
Les Meyer and Barry Trabb of Complete Fleet Livery Sales, Joe Gulino of Gem Limousine, and Dino Alivares of Complete Fleet Livery Sales (Photo by Sam Emam)
The dinner service proved to be a unique and belly-filling experience for everyone. Rodizio servers deftly wandered from table to table, slicing of choice cuts of beef, poultry, and pork from roaster skewers. Decadent entrees like bacon-wrapped turkey followed choice cuts of steak. Moreover, a massive appetizer, salad, and dessert bar were included on the menu—not to mention homemade sangria.
“The food just kept showing up, and I tossed my napkin in after one plate,” says PRLA Secretary Tracy Salinger of Unique Limousine. “The variety was almost overwhelming, and everyone had the opportunity to enjoy whatever they liked. One of the things I love most about industry holiday parties is that they have a festive, holiday atmosphere where everyone is happy and ‘in the spirit.’ For me, there were many familiar faces as well as some new ones. I made sure to introduce myself quickly to my new friends.”
Visit lanj.org, prlainc.com, or longislandta.com for more information.
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The December 10 GOLA holiday party brought together more than 50 attendees
Orlando, Fla. —More than 50 members, friends, and supporters of the Greater Orlando Limousine Association (GOLA) came together in a festively decked-out Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa December 10, and warmly welcomed CD Editor Madeleine Maccar to the year-end celebration.
The seasonal social event allowed regional operators to come together for a night of friendly company, plenty of food and drinks, and a raffle that ensured every attendee left with a present. As the night rolled on, the energy filing the event space rose to meet the holiday music and year-round staples that set a merry mood as each packed table added to the buzz of animated chatter.
Chris Norlin of Midwest Transit Equipment (left), which was an event sponsor, and GOLA President Cliff Wright of Royal Coach Transportation Group
Once dinner was finished, GOLA President Cliff Wright of Royal Coach Transportation Group took to the mic to thank everyone for their support of the association and dedication to the industry, and spoke a little bit about the differences many in the room have made with the experience and knowledge they bring to the association. He also highlighted the association’s members of the month, Glenn Cook of NONA Transportation and Debbie Madiedo of Professional Insurance Center, and shared some of the ways they’ve given back to GOLA, especially in terms of Cook’s “wisdom in helping us better understand the future of autonomous cars.”
L to R: CD Editor Madeleine Maccar, GOLA President Cliff Wright of Royal Coach Transportation Group, Debbie Madiedo and Joseph Madiedo of Professional Insurance Center, and Albert Castagna of Quick Transportation
Everyone had a chance to introduce themselves before the evening’s raffles began, and Maccar spoke about the benefits that the rapidly approaching February 23-26 CD/NLA Las Vegas Show has in store for operators of all sizes, as well as how the 2020 CD/NLA Trade Show & Conference will be right in many attendees’ backyard when it returns to the Gaylord Palms in October. The raffle then led off with a pass to the Vegas Show, which was won by Madiedo. The raffle continued as party-goers won and array of gizmos, gadgets, and goodies until no one was empty-handed.
The nearly four-hour event concluded with Wright once again addressing the night’s guests to thank them for a successful 2019 and well-wishings to make “2020 a successful year for everyone” as he thanked and toasted the packed room.
GOLA’s 2020 schedule will remain the second Tuesday of the month, with its next meeting slated for January 14.
Visit getaroundorlando.com for more information.
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