The 2022 NELA Board of Directors
On Tuesday, December 6, the New England Livery Association (NELA) held its annual holiday quarterly meeting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Woburn, Mass. The event attracted 75 members and guests for a dinner and entertainment, courtesy of renowned mentalist Jon Stetson.
Sponsors for the event included meeting sponsors Lancer Insurance and Research Underwriters; entertainment sponsor American Classic Limousine; cocktail sponsors Great Bay Limousine and EngineIQ; and raffle sponsors Alternative Claims Management, Center Insurance, Cross Insurance, DavEl BostonCoach, Four Star Limousine, Prevost, Sullivan Tire, TIB Insurance, and Town Fair Tire.
Following a cocktail hour and registration, NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi of Lexian Management kicked off the meeting by thanking everyone for turning out to make the event a success.
Sunny Shah of Engine IQ
NELA President Joe Cardillo also thanked everyone for attending, and gave a shout-out to sponsors—including Mitch Guralnick representing Prevost and the New England Bus Association. He also cited important programs which the NELA continues to offer and wished everyone a nice holiday.
Next, Bob Crescenzo of Lancer and Steve Crispo of Research Underwriters presented. Crescenzo stated that there are training modules online for all operators to use, and Crispo emphasized the importance of supporting vendors that support the organization.
Szilagyi then welcomed Mitch Guralnick of Prevost and the New England Bus Association (NEBA), who presented information about Prevost, and provided details for the upcoming annual NEBA meeting in the summer of 2023, along with recent discussions with the NELA relative to participation in the event.
Mentalist Jon Stetson (center) with Brion and Amela Svenson of Four Star Limousine
Before welcoming Stetson, the evening’s entertainment, Szilagyi stated that “sometimes people do things that benefit us, and we may not even know who they are.” He then thanked Carl Varney of LA Limousine for his help in securing Andrew Card, who served as Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush during 9/11, as a speaker at a NELA meeting in 2019.
Stetson—who was the basis of the hit CBS show The Mentalist—then took the spotlight. For nearly an hour, the real-life mentalist mystified the crowd, culminating in a trick that left the attendees wondering “how did he do that?”
Following the entertainment, it was time for the always popular NELA raffles. Kevin Cronin of Above All Transportation won the 50/50 raffle, and donated his $400+ share back to the association, winning a round of applause. Mitch Guralnick of Prevost and NEBA won $200 worth of scratch tickets, while Teale Smith of Maine Limousine Service won the basket of holiday cheer provided by Dav El/BostonCoach. Debbie Sickles of A-1 Limousine won the large Yeti cooler and Kato Murray of The LMC Groups won a gigantic Lindt Chocolates basket, compliments of Amela and Brion Svenson of Four Star Limousine.
Visit nelivery.org for more information.
[12.12.22]