- Details
- Category: Industry News
Sales Manager Ginette Morales
Orlando, Fla. — VIP Transportation Group is extremely proud to introduce Ginette Morales as their new sales manager. Morales comes from a diverse background in the transportation industry, and will enhance their current sales team. She will dedicate her time renewing, building, and maintaining current and new relationships with world-wide industry partners as VIP enters their 18th year of business.
“It is a true honor and pleasure to have been hired by VIP Transportation Group as their Sales Manager,” says Morales. “One of my goals is to continue supporting current business relationships and build new ones along the way. I am looking forward to meeting with clients, industry partners, attending industry shows and events, and, most of all, sharing the wonderful services available at VIP Transportation Group.”
Visit viptg.com for more information.
[CD1217]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
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.
[CD1217]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
"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.
[CD1217]