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CD President Chris Weiss (left) with Andrew Tighe of RMA Worldwide
The New England Livery Association (NELA) held their spring quarterly meeting on March 26 at the Sheraton Hotel in Needham, Mass. More than 85 members and guests from across the region (and beyond) attended the dinner, including CD President Chris Weiss.
NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi of Lexian Management kicked off the meeting by thanking sponsors, followed by a review of upcoming changes at Logan Airport. Tops on the agenda was the much-publicized fee increase for all ground transportation groups, with TNCs jumping from $3.25 each way to $5.50 each way, and livery rising to $3.25 to $5.50 for pickups only. The latter is the first increase since 2007. Late in July, operators can also expect to have their parking area at Terminal E relocated.
L to R: Ken Lucci of Driving Transactions, Arturo Catapang of Coastline Risk, Steve Crispo of Research Underwriters, and Jim King of Waverley Insurance
Then NELA & National Limousine Association President Brett Barenholtz of Above All/Maine Limousine thanked everyone for coming and called attention to the NELA Events Committee, singling out the leaders of that group, including Larry White of Maine Limousine Service, Alicia Hayes of American Classic Limousine, and Brittni Kirk of All Points Limousine Service. Barenholtz then brought Terry Murtaugh of United Private Car up to the podium to thank him for all he does, including leading the Finance Committee.
L to R: CD Full-Page Ad Winner Moe Osman of Fleetwood Limousine, Chris Weiss, Keith Ali of Dav El/BostonCoach, NELA & NLA President Brett Barenholtz of Above All/Maine Limousine, CD/NLA Executive Retreat Pass Winner Tami Rutter of Commonwealth Worldwide, Alicia Hayes of American Classic Limousine, and Affiliate Central ad winner Jason Dornhoffer of United Private Car
Barenholtz then shared a series of slides and videos depicting how we are unique as an industry and as entrepreneurs. Included in his presentation were video statements from legendary investor Warren Buffett, UFC’s Dana White, Elon Musk’s ex-wife, and comedian Bill Burr, with the last clip bringing roars of laughter. Barenholtz continued with an NLA study relative to insurance, an overview of the GBTA meeting, and information about assisting Georgia with tort-reform legislation.
L to R: Brett Barenholtz, Keith Ali, Brittni Kirk of All Points Limousine, and Alicia Hayes
Next, Ken Lucci of Driving Transactions announced his upcoming NELA program, “Pricing to Profit and Prosper” which will be presented at the next meeting on May 14 at the Boston Winery.
Lucci was then joined by Steve Crispo of Research Underwriters, Jim King of Waverley Insurance, and Arturo Catapang of Coastline Risk for an in-depth insurance panel, who reviewed current challenges and offered suggestions to operators on how to proactively help their companies with these challenges.
More than 85 guests attended NELA’s spring quarterly meeting
Before concluding for the evening, Barenholtz led a lively auction of several exciting prizes, including several donated by Chauffeur Driven. In addition to a full pass to June’s CD/NLA Executive Retreat, Weiss brought two CD-branded “swag bags” that included either a full-page ad for CD magazine or an ad in the popular Affiliate Central. Ultimately, the winners were Tami Rutter of Commonwealth Worldwide (CD/NLA Executive Retreat pass), Moe Osman of Fleetwood Limousine (full-page CD ad), and Jason Dornhoffer of United Private Car (Affiliate Central ad).
NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi of Lexian Management (left) and Chris Weiss
Other notable raffle prizes included Red Sox tickets won by Rose Sariol of Center Insurance; a six-pack of wine won by David Blain of Maine Limousine; $200 in scratch-offs won by Brittany Russo of A Plus Coach, two $50 Best Buy gift cards won by Jeff Steele of Great Bay Limousine and Mark Kini of Boston Chauffeur; and the 50/50, which was won by Brian Van Amburgh of Risk Strategies and donated back to the association.
Visit nelivery.org for more information.
[04.01.25]
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In anticipation of the upcoming NLA Day on the Hill in Washington, D.C., the NLA/CD Women’s Leadership Council has scheduled a webinar on April 3 at 1:00 p.m. about advocacy for the women in our industry.
Sponsored by Ford Pro, the online session — From Awareness to Action: Expanding Women's Influence in Advocacy — features speaker Rosina Rubin, CFO of Attitude New York and co-chair of the No Labels Women’s Coalition.
This powerful discussion will focus on why advocacy matters and how women can take a more active role in shaping industry policies. This webinar will provide practical strategies for engaging in political conversations, influencing change, and making your voice heard. Plus, get insights on the NLA’s upcoming Day on the Hill on April 28-29 and learn how you can be part of the industry's collective efforts in Washington, D.C. Don’t miss this opportunity to turn awareness into action!
Click here to register for the webinar.
[03.30.25]
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L to R: ABC Companies COO Jay Oakman, Congressman Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), and CEO Roman Cornell
ABC Companies, a family-owned motorcoach and transit equipment sales and service company, recently welcomed Congressman Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), a strong advocate for transportation innovation and sustainability, to discuss public transit accessibility and fleet electrification in Central Florida.Through his leadership on key congressional committees, Frost is working to advance transportation infrastructure, energy policy, and environmental initiatives—efforts closely align with ABC Companies’ commitment from low emissions to zero-emission strategies, and transit solutions.
During the visit, Frost emphasized the importance of collaboration between businesses, public agencies, and elected officials to enhance transit accessibility and sustainability.
“Expanding access to reliable, sustainable public transportation is critical for the future of Orlando and beyond,” said Frost. “It’s encouraging to see companies like ABC leading the charge in low emissions to zero-emission strategies and working closely with transit agencies to drive innovation.”
ABC’s leadership provided insight into its commitment to fleet electrification, its partnerships with public transit providers, and its role in helping agencies navigate the transition to zero-emission transportation. The discussion reinforced ABC’s dedication to delivering innovative solutions that support transit expansion and sustainability efforts across the industry. As part of this commitment, ABC Companies offers a range of zero-emission vehicles, including the Van Hool TDX25E electric double-decker and the Optimal-EV low-floor electric shuttle bus, which provide scalable and sustainable transit solutions for modern fleets.
“At ABC, we believe in working collaboratively with industry leaders and policymakers to advance transportation solutions that enhance accessibility and sustainability,” said ABC Companies COO Jay Oakman. “We appreciate Congressman Frost taking the time to visit, and we look forward to continuing these important conversations to support the transportation industry and the communities we serve.”
Visit abc-companies.com for more information.
[03.25.25]