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Christy Nunes Chief Operations Officer of Freedman Seating
Freedman Seating, producers of commercial transportation seating options, announced the promotion of Christy Nunes and Sam Cardone to chief operations officers, respectively, effective immediately. Nunes previously held the position of director of business operations and Cardone the position of director of strategy.
“Over the years, Christy and Sam have both grown in responsibility and authority at Freedman Seating and Freedman Mobility Seating (FMS),” said President Dan Cohen. “Because of their leadership, business acumen, and management skills, we have grown and weathered some tough storms. They have shown themselves to be exemplary and capable leaders.”
Sam Cardone Chief Operations Officer of Freedman Seating
Having joined the company in 1996, Nunes exemplifies internal growth and opportunity. Her introduction to manufacturing was that of many young adults at the time: it was simply a job. As she moved through the company from receptionist to customer service, Nunes realized the long-term opportunities available in manufacturing despite being primarily a male-dominated industry, and gained respect from her colleagues across the industry. As Freedman’s director of customer service, she continued to advance the company’s long history of impeccable service. Nunes was then named managing director of the rebranded Freedman Mobility Seating (FMS) following the acquisition of Braun Seating in 2011. Under her leadership, FMS developed a new line of luxury seating products for the growing executive shuttle market. New solutions such as Passenger Protective Equipment have shown the versatility of her leadership, and the ability to meet the industry’s evolving needs while maintaining record sales year-over-year. In her new role, Nunes will oversee manufacturing, customer service, and supply chain operations including purchasing, sourcing, inventory, shipping, and receiving.
Cardone joined Freedman Seating’s engineering team in 2008 as an intern, where he worked his way up to engineering manager. In these roles, he notably worked to improve ESR on-time completion rates, executed product line cost saving initiatives, led multiple projects on Federal Motor Safety Standards, enhanced existing products, and developed new solutions with cross-functional teams.
Cardone was promoted to director of strategy in 2016, a company first. His focus on strategic planning and advancing key success metrics have resulted in measurable strategic objectives and standardized protocols throughout the production process. In his new role, he will oversee engineering, manufacturing engineering, metals production, quality control and testing/compliance, information technology, accounting, and maintenance.
Cardone and Nunes have worked in tandem as directors within production and are key players as the company looks ahead to further invest in advanced manufacturing and its greatest asset, people.
Visit freedmanseating.com for more information.
[02.26.21]
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Are you up to date on your National Limousine Association (NLA) livestreams? The NLA hosted two Facebook Live sessions last week that are valuable to your business and are available on the association’s Facebook page here.
NLA President Robert Alexander
Bill Faeth of Limo University
First, NLA President Robert Alexander of RMA Worldwide and Bill Faeth of Limo University explored The Future of the Industry by looking back at the past 12 months and prognosticating the next 12. Alexander reflected on the first year of his presidency, but also his time in the association and the advocacy they have fought for (you can see a list of NLA’s accomplishments in 2020 here). Over the past few years, NLA devoted many of its resources to fighting TNCs, but Alexander said he’d proud, with the endorsement of the Board and the various committees, that the focus has pivoted to celebrating and promoting the chauffeured transportation industry rather than challenging the TNCs. The full session can be heard here.
On the same day, the association held a Board of Directors meeting where executive officers were elected for another term. They are:
President: Robert Alexander of RMA Worldwide
First Vice President: Douglas Schwartz of Executive Ground Transportation
Second Vice President: Tracy Raimer of Windy City Limousine & Bus
Treasurer: Rick Versace of A1A Airport & Limousine Service
Secretary: Brett Barenholtz of Above All Transportation/Boston Car Service/ETS
Catch up on all the latest NLA news from the board meeting here.
The next NLA livestream will be a health insurance session on March 2 at 2:00 p.m. ET. Offering access to health insurance is a groundbreaking benefit for NLA member companies this year, and Alexander will host Terry Gorman of World Insurance Associates to discuss the progress of the program so far and answer any questions about enrollment. Some early quotes have reportedly saved members 30 percent or more. Tune in on the NLA’s Facebook page to listen live.
Visit limo.org for more information.
[02.24.21]
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Transportation operators have long been enmeshed in fabric of their communities, and are often silent heroes that help shuttle residents away from dangerous situations like hurricanes, floods, fires, and earthquakes—but also smaller, localized emergencies.
Shawn Glasgow of Peak Limousine donated three minibuses and several drivers to help transport the residents of a homeless encampment
Tonight, more than 200 individuals will enjoy a safe, clean, and comfortable place to lay their head after facing inhumane living conditions in their “tent city,” a homeless encampment in the North Carolina city of Charlotte. Last week, Charlotte-based Peak Limousine came to the rescue by partnering with local officials to move those residents. Faced with COVID as well as bone-chilling temperatures, a rodent infestation was the final straw for the county of Mecklenburg to issue an order to clear the encampment so it could be cleaned.
Peak President & CEO Shawn Glasgow donated three minibuses and several drivers to help transport the residents—and all their belongings—to temporary shelters and hotels that the county has secured for them, with the intent of connecting the homeless individuals with a more permanent housing situation. COVID testing (all residents were negative), meals, counseling, and laundry services were also provided.
It was Mohammad Jenatian, president of the Greater Charlotte Hospitality & Tourism Alliance (HTA), who reached out to Glasgow after infighting between the city and county on how to move the residents ended in a stalemate. Traditional and public transportation options, including the Charlotte Area Transit Services, were unable to accommodate the move.
The catch? It had to happen in mere hours, after most of the original three-day deadline was squandered by finger-pointing between governmental agencies. Eh, that’s no sweat for our industry.
"When an opportunity to help our community falls within our wheelhouse, we take pride in being able to give back,” said Glasgow. “The homeless are human and have feelings like the rest of us. We handled them with care, and they were truly grateful and shared respect for us being there.”
Jenatian also expressed his gratitude to Glasgow after the successful move: “I want to thank you for taking this matter into your own hands and personally showing up at the site to coordinate the transportation of these individuals. I am grateful for your help and I am letting the HTA’s Board Members and community leaders know about Peak Limo and you doing your part to make a positive difference in our community,” he wrote.
Visit peaklimo.com for more information.
[02.23.21]