Part II: Collette Employee Celebrates Milestone Anniversary
L-R: Betty Sullivan, Denise Orlik
In a post last month, I told you about two Collette employees whose combined years of service totaled a whopping 75 years! In that write up I focused on Denise Orlik, a 30-year Collette veteran who began her career before computers were around and airline tickets were hand written.
Today, the spotlight is on Betty Sullivan, who inconceivably (at least to me) celebrated 45 years with Collette. Now granted we are a family-owned and operated company and Betty is part of that family. She is the sister of the late Dan Sullivan, Sr., and aunt of current President and CEO Dan Sullivan, Jr. Even so; wouldn’t you agree that 45 years is still a long time with one company?
Betty started at Collette in 1965 as a tour guide for the New York’s World Fair. At the time she started there were only two people in Collette’s main office. Today there are 275 employees working in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Collette’s headquarters.
Her career in the 60’s and 70’s mainly involved tour guiding. “We did a lot of cruises back then – every week back and forth to Bermuda from New York,” she recalled. “The cost for the one week cruise was $149.”
She also took groups to Ireland and Mexico before being asked to manage the company’s Quincy/Braintree office in the late 70’s until it closed in 1991. Today, Betty works in the air department at the headquarters in a quality control role.
Betty has traveled extensively throughout her career, citing Italy as one of her favorite destinations. She has, in fact, been to all 7 continents! As part of her recognition award, Betty received a two-week vacation for two on any of Collette Vacations’ 125 tours.
She told me she is considering a Russian River cruise. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate!
posted by Melissa McKee
Collette Vacations
Tags: Collette, Collette Vacations, Italy
