December 12, 2023
Steve Ricci
This is it — my final In Your Region newsletter message as your American Rental Association (ARA) Region Eight director. As I approach the three-year mark of being on the ARA Board of Directors, I am taken aback by how fast my term has passed. It seems like only yesterday that I was attending my first ARA board meeting.
My term as regional director began in February 2021. Typically, the baton would have been handed to me by my predecessor in this role, Michael McDaniel of Ideal Rent-All in Mount Vernon, Wash., during that month at The ARA Show™. But we all remember 2021 as a time still wracked by the pandemic. The show, of course, needed to be postponed until October of that year in Las Vegas and even then, some were still unable to attend due to the conditions.
Thankfully, we have moved past all that into some better times for our industry.
When I look back at what has transpired in Region Eight since 2021, I see more involvement and passion than ever before. We have four active ARA state chapters in our region that host dynamic training and social events. We have had industry leaders get engaged legislatively to help bring about changes both locally and nationally that have had a positive impact on the way we do business. We also hosted a Community Impact Program project in our region back in September. That program — a joint initiative between the ARA Foundation and The Toro Company Foundation — involves rental people and equipment making improvements to local nonprofit organizations. The project improved a baseball field here in my neck of the woods (Bigfork, Mont.) where my son plays, so it was extra special for me!
It has been a gift to hold the position of ARA Region Eight director and to develop so many friendships. I feel that I have helped build our region just a little and I know your incoming regional director, Sam Castillo of Tates Rents in Boise, Idaho, will do the same. Please welcome Sam as warmly as you have me.
Speaking of transitions, as we get ready to turn the calendar over to a new year, I invite you to view my take on what rental operators across our region have experienced in 2023 and how things are shaping up for 2024 here.
In addition, I just want to let you know that this regional newsletter will be moving to a quarterly distribution next year. If you don’t want to miss out on any regional news before the next one comes out in March, click here. We’ll make sure you receive the latest in your email feed.
So long, and I hope to run into many of you at The ARA Show in New Orleans — I’d like to thank you face-to-face for the opportunity to serve you these past three years.
Steve Ricci, ARA Region Eight director
Bigfork Rentals
Bigfork, Mont.
406-837-2404
steve@bigforkrentalsinc.com
