The saga of Vital Express in Santa Clarita turned another chapter as Houston based, Diligent Delivery Systems purchased the Vital Express assets for an undisclosed sum of money.

 

Diligent President and CEO Larry Browne confirmed the asset purchase. According to Browne, Diligent purchased the Vital Express customer base. Diligent hired Vital Express customer service rep, Darlene Sharbonow as their Santa Clarita General Manager and one other former Vital Express employee, along with contracting for a few of their drivers. The company renegotiated a new lease with the Vital Express landlord. The company will remain on Avenue Sherman in Valencia on a month-to-month basis (www.diligentusa.com).

A letter was sent to Vital Express customers on September 14, 2007 stating Diligent was now servicing the Vital Express customers in Valencia and connecting areas. The letter was signed by Larry Browne, President and CEO, Diligent Delivery Systems and Dan Boaz, Vital Express. The Vital Express website continues to show their contact information at their former Valencia address on Commerce Drive.

Dan and Lisa Boaz, the owners of Vital Express had moved to North Carolina in 2006. KHTS first reported on problems with Vital Express in July 2006, http://khtsam.wpengine.com/vital-express-falling-like-a-house-of-cards-10.html and again in a more detailed follow up story in August 2006, http://khtsam.wpengine.com/vital-express-the-aftermath-7.html.

 

[view:node_ad=5]Law suits are still pending with several former Vital Express employees, creditors and investors. KHTS is aware of two previous lawsuits that resulted in judgments against the Boaz’s.

Browne says he did not know much about the previous history of Vital Express. He stated, “We did our due diligence as far as the purchase was concerned. We purchased the rights to service the customers of Vital Express. If people are owed money they need to go after the Boaz’s through the legal system.”

KHTS has been informed by several insiders the Vital Express assets were purchased for a fraction of the original asking price. Browne would not confirm a price.   

Two former Vital Express Santa Clarita Managers have landed on their feet. They moved on to form their own delivery companies in Santa Clarita. Tony Demma, along with a number of other Vital Express employees formed Accurate Freight Systems in Valencia. They have been in business for about one year.

J.C. Burnett formed Courier Messenger, Inc., both owners have positive things to say about each other.

 

Demma tried to protect the Vital Express employees as things were unraveling. “I’m pleased we have been able to hire many of the good ones at Accurate Freight Systems (www.shipafs.com). They were the ones hurt most by what happened. We are glad we have been able to secure a job for them.”

 

Larry Browne, Diligent CEO added, “We are glad we were able to hire Darlene Sharbonow and her husband, John.”

 

KHTS is being told The Boaz’s are currently involved in a company called Air Freight Recruiters (www.airfreight.com). Links are on the Air Freight homepage back to Vital Express and Global Logistics, both companies, to the best of our knowledge are still owned and operated by the Boaz’s.