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“I’m happy and excited for the opportunity because Grech Motors is the best built bus in the industry, by far,” said Restivo. "The quality is second to none. I’ve sold almost every bus manufacturer out there, and when it comes to Grech’s after-sale support and warranty, there’s no one like them, it’s just top notch. And Grech supports the industry more than any other manufacturer. In addition to sponsoring the major industry trade shows, they also support regional associations and always give back to the industry, and that’s important to my clients."
“I’m looking forward to supporting Grech Motors, along with Carl,” said Duffy. “Grech is far and away the best quality, best design, and best value for operators. There’s nobody that’s even close, in my opinion. Nobody else puts in the time, money, and effort to design and build what Grech Motors does, so it was pretty easy for me to jump on this opportunity. The way Grech supports the industry—from the regional to the national level —is unmatched. Grech Motors buses have proven to be dependable, reliable, and have a great total cost of ownership. If you’re getting something other than a Grech, you’re making a mistake."
Duffy and Restivo join sales veterans Marty Vitelli, Rene Martinez, Kaye Marseilles, Larry Olivarez, Tina Clark, John MacKinney, and Michael Campos, under the leadership of CEO Ed Grech, Vice President of Operations John Beck, and Vice President of Sales & Marketing AJ Thurber.
“With the addition of Carl Restivo and Scott Duffy to the Grech Motors executive sales team, we are positioning our company to continue providing the best sales experience and after-sale support to the entire industry,” said Grech. “What sets our sales executives apart from those of other manufacturers are their relationship within the industry and the understanding of industry trends and operator needs. Carl and Scott, with their experience in the busy Northeast region, will bring new insights to help improve Grech Motors products and the customer experience."
“Grech Motors has a high standard of excellence not only when it comes to product but also when it comes to service and after-sale support, and this is enhanced by the addition of Carl and Scott to the executive sales team,” said Thurber. “Their skills and experience will be helpful as we continue to grow our footprint in the industry as the highest quality bus manufacturer."
Restivo and Duffy will be based out of New York.
Visit grechmotors.com for more information.
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The meeting saw a passing of the presidential torch, with Robert Cunningham of Platinum Limousines ending his four-year tenure and former LILA Director Bill Goerl of Clique Limousines accepting the association’s head leadership role—and while serving in his new position as Immediate Past President, Cunningham is adamant about remaining an active supporter and advisor for LILA.
“Even though I’m no longer president, I’m not going anywhere,” Cunningham promised. With his positions on the Suffolk County Taxi & Limousine Commission board as well as the Long Island Wine Council, Cunningham vowed to continue fighting for the industry.
The 2016-2017 LILA Board is as follows:
President: Bill Goerl of Clique Limousines
1st Vice President: Paul Cannella of Concord Limousine/Krystal Bus Tours
2nd Vice President: Matt Silver of Ultimate Class Limousines
Treasurer: Michael Fargnoli of Precious Moment Limousine
Sergeant at Arm: Steve Showtime of Showtime Limousine
Immediate Past President: Robert Cunningham of Platinum Limousines
Secretary: Loren Denning of Class A Limousine
East End Advisory Board: George Monsour of Sunny Limousine
2-Year Director: Charles Gandolfo of Dynasty Limousine
1-Year Director: Doug Schwartz of Executive Limousine
In his first speech as the association’s president, Goerl thanked both Cunningham and previous Immediate Past President Schwartz for all the work they’ve done to LILA’s benefit, and promised to continue on the upward trajectory they’ve initiated.
Given the operational and insurance challenges Long Island has been facing over the past year, Goerl recognized the challenges ahead but plans to meet them head-on.
“We're looking to elevate the image of chauffeured transportation through continued education of our chauffeurs and re-establishing public awareness of how our chauffeurs are saving lives every day,” he said. “We keep drunk drivers off the road. We take people out and bring them home safely—that’s what we do. We're focused on getting through the entire year without any insurance claims.”
Goerl added that “Long Island Limousine Association has long been a leader, and will continue to set the example on what an association is all about: Building relationships and keeping current within our industry.”
The meeting also featured a presentation from sponsor Dashride’s CEO Nadav Ullman, which highlighted the software platform’s back-office system and app components, as well as its Dashboard Connect component, which is an affiliate offering that’s scheduled to debut June 15. Bird Bus Sales President Rick Reichenbach later addressed the crowd, inviting all in attendance to take a tour of the facility at the end of the meeting.
LILA’s next meeting will be July 26. It has a number of events planned throughout the rest of the year, including summer trips and parties, as well as an Associate Members Appreciation Day and a black-tie awards banquet to cap off the year.
Visit nslali.com for more information.
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The day is one of NELA’s most popular events of the year, with the association’s board and general members rallying together to grill up the hot dogs, burgers, and sausages that would feed about 1,000 hungry chauffeurs—with nearly 20 NELA members working during the event’s peak hours, making sure that the vegetables are sliced, the grills are running, and everyone gets a hot lunch.
“It’s a great event,” Benson said. “It’s all volunteers who are there working, setting up, and cooking non-stop for the entire time that we’re there.”
What started with smoky barbecues and often-depleted food supplies has become “a well-oiled machine” that boasts commercial grills and even a concession-stand counter, according to NELA 2nd Vice President Tina Benson of L.A. Limousine. Benson has been involved with the event for much of its history—to the extent that her brother Carl Varney and sister Cindy Crisp often step up to help out, too—and keeps coming back every year because of the camaraderie.
In a truly cooperative effort, Benson said that Massachusetts Port Authority, which owns and operates Logan Airport, is “very helpful, setting up chairs and tables for everyone,” and that the event’s many Gold, Silver, and Bronze sponsors helped make the whole day possible—including donated prizes, like the 10 free oil changes that sponsor Sullivan Tire & Auto Service provided. Other prizes included two sets of Red Sox tickets and a lottery tree.
The event also serves as an opportunity for NELA to let chauffeurs know that it’s supporting them and their livelihoods with its ongoing legislative, educational, and lobbying efforts in pursuit of better safety and a more level playing field for ground transportation companies as the TNC fight continues.
“It’s about thanking the chauffeurs and letting them know that the New England Livery Association is in their corner, to help make their jobs and lives easier by fighting Uber,” Benson said. “It’s a very successful, well-organized event, and just a really great day.”
The next NELA meeting will be June 14, while its next social event will be the 17th Annual George Colarullo Memorial Golf Tournament on August 16.
Visit nelivery.org for more information.
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