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- Category: Industry News
Plaza Limousine Co-owner Michael "Mike" Gay died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family after a long period of declining health, on Saturday, December 23, 2023. He was 69.
Gay cofounded Plaza Limousine (Lowell, Mass.) back in the early 1980s and grew a very successful business. He served as a board member of the New England Livery Association for many years, during which he became a well-known and respected member in his industry. He grew and cultivated many relationships through the years with colleagues in the industry as well as many prominent New England firms, business owners, CEOs, and private clients from Boston to New York, California, and Washington.
Gay is survived by his two brothers, Robert and his wife Susan, Richard Gay and his wife Sandra; his sister, Mary Noftle; and his nieces and nephews, Kristin Gay, Robert Gay, Scott Noftle, Kimberly Bettencourt, and Richard Gay. He also leaves his longtime friend and business partner of Plaza Limousine, Scott Regan, his wife, Alexandria, and their sons, Maxwell and Harrison, and his lifelong friend and attorney, Andrew Zaroulis.
He was predeceased by his mother, Dorothy Gay, his brother Dennis Gay, and his dog, Milo.
Donations in his memory may be made to Lowell Humane Society, 951 Broadway Street, Lowell, Mass., 01854.
Thank you to the New England Livery Association for sharing additional information.
[01.09.24]
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- Category: Industry News
Last year, Peter Pantuso, the longtime president & CEO of the American Bus Association (ABA) and president of its research arm, the ABA Foundation, shared his intention to retire from his position in September 2024. To prepare for the transition, the association recently announced that they had formed a search committee to begin finding a replacement for Pantuso, which includes retaining the services of Heidrick & Struggles, one of the nation’s leading executive search firms, to conduct the search through their offices in Washington, D.C.
Pantuso joined ABA in 1996 as president & CEO, presiding over some of the toughest periods in history for the industry, including 9/11 and the 2008 recession. Among his listed accomplishments: ABA’s membership nearly tripled in size and its annual convention, ABA’s Marketplace, grew to be the leading domestic packaged travel event in the industry during his tenure. He also created the Bus Industry Safety Council and the Bus Maintenance and Repair Council to highlight and promote the highest ethical standards in the bus industry and to increase industry safety, and was instrumental in forming the African American Motorcoach Council, Women in Buses Council, Hispanic Motorcoach Council, Entertainer Motorcoach Council, and the School Bus Council. Pantuso also founded the ABA Foundation, which parses and publishes research and data on the industry and grants scholarships “to promote academic excellence and diversity” in the industry.
ABA is also days away from their 2024 Marketplace, which is being held in Nashville, Tenn., starting this Sunday through January 16. They have also announced their dates and locations for the next few years: Philadelphia, Pa. in February 2025, Reno, Nev. in January 2026, Calgary (Alberta, Canada) in February 2027, and Charlotte, N.C. in January 2028.
Visit buses.org for more information.
[01.09.24]
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- Category: Industry News
The Limo Patriot Ride is proud to be celebrating its 10th anniversary of supporting the Marine Semper Fi & America’s Fund. On March 7—the day after the CD/NLA Vegas Show concludes—the charity event will return to the road for a motorcycle ride through the Valley of Fire and Lake Mead in Nevada, just an hour outside of Las Vegas.
The Marine Semper Fi & America’s Fund charity provides immediate financial assistance and lifetime support to American combat-wounded and critically ill service personnel during recovery while transitioning back to their communities. The charity is run by the wives and daughters who volunteer to help. This allows for 97 percent of all donations to go directly to helping our veterans and not administration fees.
To accommodate participants, LPR organizers have also arranged for discounted motorcycle rentals through Eagle Riders for those who won’t be riding their personal hog to Las Vegas. More than a dozen different models are currently available at a 30 percent discount, ranging in price from $80.50 to $161.00/day.
Not a fan of the wind on your face and prefer the comfy cabin of your vehicle as you take in the stunning landscape? A bus, graciously donated by sponsor Earth Limousine, has been secured to follow the group. All are welcome!
There is a minimum contribution of $100 to join the procession, although organizer David Eckstein of Valera Global says, “we are strongly recommending donation as much as your heart and wallet permits.”
To secure your reservation for a discounted motorcycle rental, reach out to Tracy Salinger of Unique Limousine at 717.645.3500 or tracy@uniquelimousine.com. Salinger can also reserve your seat on the bus that is being provided.
If you can’t join the event, you can still support LPR in its fundraising efforts through these designated links: Semper Fi or Facebook.
Visit limopatriotride.org for more information or contact the event organizers/volunteers below.
Tracy Salinger: tracy@uniquelimousine.com (Registration)
Bill Kerr: wkerr@camryn-limo.com (Logistics)
David Eckstein: david.eckstein@valeraglobal.com (Sponsorship)
[01.08.24]