September 5, 2023
Angela Nussel, CERP
Hello American Rental Association (ARA) Region Four members. I don’t know about you, but I am ready for the cooler fall mornings and nights. This summer has been extremely hot, and keeping our crews cool has been difficult. During the past few months, we utilized ARA’s Take 5 for Safety tips on working in the heat at our bi-weekly safety meetings. That is just one of the great resources available to you as an ARA member under the RentalU tab at ARArental.org. If you have not perused the site for educational content, please check it out.
As you well know, there are many conditions and threats that impact our operations. This can be anything from weather and traffic conditions to theft of equipment. Can you imagine coming into your store one morning to find your computers have been hacked and you cannot access emails or software? Cybertheft is a rising crime and can wreak havoc on your daily routine. In 2022, the FBI estimated the cost of cybercrime in the U.S. was more than $10 billion, and it estimates there is an attempted cyberattack every 39 seconds.
This month’s newsletter focuses on cybercrime. Read the story “Give us $10,000 or your data is gone” in this issue for more insight.
Know that cyber hackers try to gain access to your emails, passwords and accounts through phishing emails in addition to malware and ransomware. If you are feeling vulnerable, there are ways to deter cybertheft such as using multi-factor authentication, updating your software, using strong passwords and thinking before you click. Firewalls and antivirus software are also an ally to help in the protection of yourself and your company from a cybertheft attack.
Data backup can help restore your system after an attack and should be completed routinely. If you are covered by ARA Insurance, you can take advantage of its Cyber Suite™ policy, which covers expenses associated with storing data and computer systems, and it protects against third-party liability from an unauthorized intrusion of your computer system. For more information, contact your ARA Insurance preferred agent or go to ARAinsure.com.
On a happier note, I would like to offer congratulations to Houston Tents & Events in Houston, Buffalo Equipment Rental in Weatherford, Texas, (honorable mention) and Tejas Equipment Rental in San Antonio — all rental operations in our region that were named Market Movers by Rental Management in its June/July issue. This is great news. Click here to read more about these rental operations’ achievements.
I know we are all busy, but I also know the value of gathering with your peers to network and learn. I encourage you to attend events in your region. On Oct. 20, the Texas Rental Association and the ARA of Louisiana are teaming up for their first-ever fishing tournament. At the end of the day, there will be a fish fry social. You can’t beat that, so register now. Also, the ARA of Arkansas will offer two Leaders Table events for owners in managers on Sept. 11 and 12. Then this fall, the ARA of Oklahoma will be offering another event you won’t want to miss. Watch the ARA calendar of events as details develop.
I also hope you will offer your vote for the slate of 2024 nominees to the ARA board of directors. It is important that we hear from all eligible voters.
Before I close, I want to share that a dear friend of our region, particularly those in Texas, has died. Daniel Pearson, who served on the Haltom City Police Department for more than 23 years, was a member of the department’s SWAT Team and was the recipient of the first ARA Insurance/National Equipment Register (NER) Award, passed on Aug. 5. He was responsible for the recovery of 48 machines with a value of nearly $1.2 million, much of which was rental equipment. Those recoveries led to the identification of 39 suspects of whom 15 were arrested and charged. Our condolences go out to his family.
To end on a more joyful footing, I hope everyone has a great fall. Remember, The ARA Show™ will be in New Orleans during Feb. 18-21. Registration opens Oct. 17, so be on the lookout.
Angela Nussel, CERP, ARA Region Four director
Premiere Events
Austin, Texas
512-292-3900
angela@premiereeventsonline.com
