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L to R: NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi, Aleja Seabron of The LMC Group, and Lee Sickles of A-Executive Limo Malden, Mass. — The New England Livery Association (NELA) welcomed 84 members and supporters to its winter quarterly meeting and holiday party held at Anthony’s of Malden December 12. Chauffeur Driven editor Madeleine Maccar was among those in attendance for the festive event.
The meeting began with plenty of networking and mingling during a cocktail hour that kicked off the evening before NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi began the meeting portion of the winter quarterly event. He recognized President Mike Callahan of Able Limousine—one of only three presents the association has operated under during its storied history—for his work to keep NELA an effective voice and advocate for chauffeured ground transportation, as well as the evening’s sponsors who made the “night that’s more about having a good time together than doing business” possible.
L to R: Dawson Rutter of Commonwealth Worldwide, Pam Simms Spitzer and Karen Kelly of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Tami Saccoccio of Commonwealth Worldwide, and NELA President Mike Callahan of Able Limousine Szilagyi also called out the especially active members whose support has yielded the successes that NELA has helped bring about for New England operators: “You need to know that a few companies and members have been carrying this association: Scott Solombrino, Dawson Rutter, Mark Mollica, Andy Tighe, Tami Saccoccio, Brett Barenholtz, and Kevin Cronin have all done so much to support NELA.”
Solombrino then took to the podium to discuss the National Limousine Association’s (NLA’s) biggest victory since the passage of the Ride Act nearly 10 years ago: Striking down a proposed tax measure that would create a haven of sorts for TNCs at the exclusion of more rule-abiding livery operators, further titling the playing field in TNCs’ favor. He went on to explain how the next 12 months’ biggest fight will actually not be against the same enemy but rather driverless vehicles.
“Autonomous cars could put 20 million people out of work,” Solombrino said. “We have the high ground, and we are prepared to go to every district with displaced workers and fight. We need to prove that workers come first and technology comes second.”
CD Editor Madeleine Maccar (left) with Tami Saccoccio of Commonwealth Worldwide, who won a pass to the 2018 Chauffeur Driven Executive Retreat For nearly two decades, NELA hosts its annual George Colarullo Memorial Golf Tournament, a fundraiser co-chaired by both Callahan and that benefits both the association and a number of charities that hold personal significance to various members. This past August, the yearly golf outing raised $6,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, while Rutter donated an additional $5,000 on behalf of Commonwealth Worldwide. Rutter, Saccoccio, and Callahan presented the two checks totaling $11,000 to the foundation’s Executive Director Pam Simms Spitzer and Senior Development Director Karen Kelly.
“Your donations are helping people with cystic fibrosis,” Simms told those in attendance. “And your generosity is helping so many children breathe easier.”
Scott Solombrino of Dav El/BostonCoach There were plenty of chances for attendees to walk away with a little extra holiday spirit, and an array of gift baskets and prizes were given away during the meeting. Maccar raffled off a pass to the 2018 Chauffeur Driven Executive Retreat in San Diego, which was won by Commonwealth Worldwide’s Saccoccio.
A performance by comedian and impressionist Joey Voices capped off the evening, treating meeting-goers to a little audience participation and decades’ worth of musical hits in a medley of well-known hits performed in the likes of the artists who popularized them.
The next NELA meeting will be March 6.
Visit nelivery.org for more information.
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"Papa John" Campbell
Michael John Campbell of Goffstown, N.H., passed away on December 9 at the age of 91. Affectionately known to family and friends as “Papa John,” the Grace Limousine employee gained admiration in and out of the industry, especially once he went viral via an online video.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, on November 8, 1926, he served in the Scottish Highland Regiment, and was a veteran who saw duty in Palestine during World War II. After the war, he also worked as a coal miner in Stoke on Trent, England, for many years. After coming to the U.S., he had been employed by St. Johnsbury Trucking in New England.
After his retirement, he became a constant fixture at Grace Limousine, a company founded by his son, Ian, and later taken over by grandson, Michael. There, he put in a staggering seven-day work week, assisting with Grace’s day-to-day facility operations.
At age 89, Campbell took part in the #22KILL online campaign to raise awareness of veteran suicide. He was captured on film performing 22 push-ups for the promotion, which was seen by roughly 40,000 Facebook viewers.
Campbell was devoted to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as Grace Limousine, where he managed the facility six days a week right up until his death. He is survived by daughters-in-law, Annie Campbell-St. Jean and Holly Barros; grandchildren Andrea Collins, Geoff Campbell, Heather Campbell, Michael Campbell, Shaunna Campbell, Collin Campbell, Isaac Campbell, Joseph Campbell, and Vanessa Barros; and several great-grandchildren.
“Papa John was one of a kind, and the most generous, grateful person you could ever hope to meet,” said grandson Michael Campbell, current owner of Grace. “He will be deeply missed by his Grace family, and by the many industry friends who have also come to know and love him. The Campbell family would like to extend our gratitude to all our friends and colleagues who have reached out with words and gifts of condolence, and who took the time to attend his service. We appreciate it more than you know.”
Chauffeur Driven would like to extend their deepest sympathies to the Campbell family and the employees at Grace Limousine.
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HALCA President Ismail Abed of LaBresse Limousine Houston — The Houston Area Livery & Charter Association (HALCA) held its annual year-end holiday party December 10 at the Marriott Westchase, where nearly 135 guests came out for a night full of merriment and cheer.
HALCA President Ismail Abed of LaBresse Limousine said that he knew the event would be influenced by the lingering effects of the late-summer ravages of Hurricane Harvey, so the association went the extra mile to buy more than 50 gifts—as well as accept a few donated items—to ensure that nearly half of all party-goers walked away with some extra goodies.
“We had a lot of presents—and expensive ones, too, like a case of wine and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label that I wished I could have won,” Abed said with a laugh. “HALCA bought most of it, with two or three items donated by board members and vendors. We wanted to make sure lots of members got something.”
HALCA members enjoyed each other’s company during the December 10 holiday party Among the donated items was a pass to the 2018 Chauffeur Driven Executive Retreat in San Diego, which was won by Richard Mishriky of CTI Transportation.
The holiday party is HALCA’s biggest event of the year, and the association goes all out accordingly. The evening included a buffet dinner, desserts, various casino tables that offered some generous winnings, the ever-popular photo booth where attendees snapped more than 1,000 photos in just a few hours, a belly dancer, a DJ, and dancing.
“There was something for everyone, and we made sure that everybody left happy,” Abed said. “It was an awesome event, and everybody was in a great mood. Nobody forgot what happened during Harvey and what is happening in our industry, but we’re all fighters. This was a night to focus on the good, and everyone was in good spirits and had a great time together.”
A belly dancer was among the evening’s entertainment offerings A fundraising component is always included in HALCA’s festive end-of-the-year soirees. While this year’s final total is still being tabulated, Abed estimates that the evening raised at least $4,000 for the association—plus a donation from Jeff Brodsly of Chosen Payments.
Abed is already planning next year’s holiday party, and the association is currently planning its 2018 meeting schedule.
Visit houstonlimos.info for more information.
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