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Broadfoot inducted into the Rental Hall of Fame

By Connie Lannan

March 14, 2023

Doron Broadfoot

Doron Broadfoot

At the American Rental Association (ARA) Industry Awards Lunch, held Feb. 12 during The ARA Show™ in Orlando, longtime rental veteran Doron Broadfoot, president, The Rent-It Store in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, was inducted into the Rental Hall of Fame — ARA’s most prestigious award.

While Broadfoot was unable to be present in person on Feb. 12 for his Hall of Fame induction due to flight delays — his son, Mike, was on hand to accept the recognition on his behalf at the event. He did arrive in time to be saluted at the show’s Keynote Session the next day.

When Broadfoot was told he would be a recipient of this award, he was totally surprised. “It took a while to sink in. It was kind of surreal. This is something that I never ever expected. I am certainly honored, but at the same time humbled,” he says. “When you think about all the previous recipients, well, they have done such great things. I never thought I would be in that company.”

Broadfoot has been a member of the rental industry for more than 50 years. It all began in 1972 when he started working for his father at The Rent-It Store in Saskatoon. In 1974, he invested in a business owned by Acklands-Grainger. When the company decided to close — leaving the employees out of work — Broadfoot and his business partner, Doug Mitchell, decided to postpone their retirement and purchased the business in 2005.

Throughout his career, Broadfoot always has encouraged both employees and business partners to get involved with ARA and the Canadian Rental Association (CRA). He is being recognized for his leadership and long-term dedication and service to ARA, CRA and the ARA Foundation.

Broadfoot was CRA president from 1989-1990 and then served as the ARA Region 10 director from 2000-2003. He is a huge supporter of the ARA Foundation both as a volunteer and a donor. He served on the ARA Foundation board of trustees for two terms from 2009-2014 and sat as the board’s chair in 2011 and 2012. He established the Region 10 Doug Mitchell Scholarship in 2014 in honor of his late business partner. In recognition of his philanthropic efforts, he has received the ARA Foundation’s James Keenan Award five times and the 1976 Club Award 10 times.

Broadfoot also received the ARA Distinguished Service Award in 2015 in recognition of his exemplary leadership with long-term service to the association at the national, state, local and provincial levels. These are just some of the examples of Broadfoot donating his time and vast experience to help current and future rental owners. Even when not actively sitting on an association board, Broadfoot is happy to act as an advisor. He never hesitates to help and support others just starting in the rental industry.

In addition to Broadfoot, James “Jim” Ziegler, retired owner of Rental City in Boulder, Colo., was inducted to the Rental Hall of Fame on Feb. 12.