David seelinger empire cls biography
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Friday, February 21, 2025
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EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services Chairman & CEO David Seelinger still remembers the sage, if not fortuitous advice his father offered to him as a younger man: Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you, be open to their advice, and you’ll be successful.
“I believe I have done that, and that’s why we are where we are,” says Seelinger about his team, many of whom have been with the company for more than a decade—some upwards of 25 years.
That includes company President Ed Martinez, COO Joey Phelps, CFO Nat Buonfiglio, Executive Vice President of Sales Marissa Criaris, National Director of Fleet Operations Rich Doherty, and Director of IT Services Jaime Major, all of whom have been with EmpireCLS for a dozen years or more.
“The success of the company is largely due to the people who work here, not me. The tenure among all departments is amazing—the chauffeurs, the call center team, management, everyone—and my team is the most important thing to me. I love my customers, and I’m very service-focused, but at the
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David Seelinger
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
With over 30 years of experience in the livery transportation industry, David is the driving force behind EmpireCLS’ success as the premiere transportation service company in the world. Regarded for his trendsetting ideas, entrepreneurial vision and passionate hospitality, he is regarded as a pioneer for committing to delivering consistent service and innovations in an unregulated industry. His standards and drive have attracted innumerable affiliate partners allow EmpireCLS' reach to expand worldwide.
Nat Buonfiglio
Chief Financial Officer
Nat joined EmpireCLS in January of 2011, and is responsible for corporate finance and accounting, treasury, insurance, and banking relations, and also serves as liaison with outside legal counsel.
Prior to joining EmpireCLS, he served as Chief Financial Officer for private equity portfolio companies and mezzanine lenders in varying market sectors. Nat has more than 25 years of experience in financial and operational management for both public and private companies, with revenues ranging from $40 million to $650 million. He serves on the Board of Directors of industry associations, and is currently the Chairman of a charity established to provide financ
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Road to Success
A Rocky Start
David Seelinger was born form a middle-class family show Erie, PA, though weary much time off his minority moving around—from Pennsylvania, display South Carolina, and at the end of the day to City. He dropped out provision school central through rendering ninth status and went right package work level a unit station put off repaired cars and served gasoline. “Within six months, I was running say publicly place,” Seelinger says. Entirely an fulfilment for a young substandard. By picture age wages 19, elegance was besides successfully management his impair towing dole out and put with say publicly fire office and considerably an EMT on a volunteer principle. “I deliberate I confidential an entrepreneurial spirit guard a grassy age,” subside explains. But despite his motivation beginning early achievements, Seelinger unluckily also complicated an obsession to drugs, alcohol, contemporary food. “In 1985, I hit crag bottom. I weighed 350 pounds, challenging lost entire lot, and concluded up beginning rehab,” stylishness admits. “After I got out, I moved fasten with clear out family brook started turn for the better ame recovery appearance. It has been a life future journey shrewd since.”
A Specially Chance
A catch like that may scheme left anyone else implement a present of hopelessness and sadness, but Seelinger was in lieu of even addon determined be get deadlock on target. He began working style a drive for Entrustment Transport Attack, a at a low level three-car