The New England Livery Association (NELA) welcomed a sold-out crowd of 65 members and guests to Ken's Steak House in Framingham, Mass., on Tuesday, April 2, for their Spring Membership Meeting. Highlights of the meeting included guest speaker CD President Chris Weiss as well as a panel discussion about fleet electrification spearheaded by Tiffany Hinton of MOTEV.
John Bradley of Colonial Cadillac with the Cadillac LYRIQ electric sedan
The evening began with John Bradley from the night’s Platinum Sponsor, Colonial Cadillac in Woburn, Mass., spotlighting the Cadillac LYRIQ electric sedan. During the evening’s cocktail hour, meeting attendees had the opportunity to check it out first-hand and chat with Bradley about the vehicle. During dinner, NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi of Lexian Management welcomed the members, and introduced the evening’s sponsors, which included Gold Sponsor Grech Motors; Bronze Sponsors A&A Metro Transportation, Above All Transportation, Boston Chauffeur, Freedom Assets, Great Bay Limousine, Leros Point to Point, and Park Avenue Limousine; and Raffle Sponsors Anastasi Insurance, Center Insurance Agency, Chauffeur Driven, Pat’s Car Service and WIA Insurance.
CD President Chris Weiss, CD/NLA Executive Retreat pass winner Becky Laramee of All Points Limousine, and NELA/NLA President Brett Barenholtz of Above All/Boston Car
NELA President Brett Barenholtz of Above All/Boston Car, who was recently elected president of the National Limousine Association, was then invited to speak, providing updates of his two associations.
The NELA Board of Directors
Next, Weiss was given the podium. Introduced by Szilagyi as “the rock star of the industry,” Weiss talked about the success of March’s CD/NLA Show in Las Vegas and provided some information about the upcoming CD/NLA Executive Retreat in Miami. He highlighted the event’s Problem-Solving Interactive Roundtables, which will see peer experts on-hand to resolve a specific issue introduced by the operators. Weiss also took the time to compliment NELA as one of the preeminent associations in the industry.
L to R: Anna Vanderspek of Green Energy Consumers Alliance, Hugh Reese of National Grid, Tiffany Hinton of MOTEV, and Joel Barrera of Massport
Szilyagi then thanked board member Alicia Hayes of American Classic Limousine for positing the idea of a special session on devoted to EVs. He offered the historical parallel that the move from horse-drawn vehicles in the early 1900s was a gradual one until there was enough quality technology and infrastructure. Thus, horse-drawn vehicles were still on the streets 25 years after the first car was built, and well after the Model T and the assembly line came into existence. Then, Barenholtz introduced the EV panel members— Joel Barrera of Massport, Hinton, Hugh Reese of National Grid, and Anna Vanderspek of Green Energy Consumers Alliance—and led a lively conversation from the panel members covering topics like infrastructure, incentives on vehicles and charging stations, as well as questions from attendees. Hinton was particularly invaluable to the session, sharing all that she has learned electrifying MOTEV’s fleet.
Andrew Tighe of RMA Worldwide, Michael Callahan of Able Limousine, and Chris Weiss
Before the evening concluded, several items were raffled off, including a pass to the CD/NLA Executive Retreat, which was won by Becky Laramee of All Points Limousine.
The next NELA event is the association’s 21st Chauffeur Appreciation Day on June 6 in the Boston Logan Airport Limo Pool. Each year, NELA honors the “most important people of the industry” by holding a barbeque where chauffeurs can stop by for a free lunch in between runs for the day. Chefs include the NELA Board of Directors along with volunteers from the membership.
Visit nelivery.org for more information.