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Hundreds of students learn about the industry at The ARA Show

By Lauren Watts

February 19, 2023

Workforce Development attendees at The ARA ShowTo put an exclamation point on The ARA Show™ 2023, the American Rental Association (ARA) hosted a workforce development event, bringing in hundreds of technical school students and high school students to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando to learn about the equipment rental industry.  

Students were ushered into the day with short presentations from Herc Rentals, Sunbelt Rentals, Caterpillar, Sunstate Equipment and United Rentals. The presentations centered on the opportunities available in the rental industry — including apprenticeships, jobs, tuition reimbursements and more.  

“To have 250 students here to learn about careers in rental is so exciting,” says James Auerbach, ARA vice president, event segment and rental industry workforce development. “We have the support of some of the largest rental companies and exhibiting manufacturers and it’s truly awesome. The students seeing the equipment on the show floor really brings it home.”  

Workforce Development attendees at The ARA Show

Then, ARA members and staff led guided tours of The ARA Show trade show floor where students were able to see equipment and learn from manufacturers about emerging technologies built into new equipment and how their education is applicable. The excitement was palpable as this group of students saw their potential futures in rental.  

“I learned that a lot of these rental companies do work internationally and that’s something I’m very interested in,” says Emma, a high school student attending the event. “I’m interested in everything that I saw today and I hope that I can get a job with one of these companies.” 

The energy reached critical mass after the tours as the students finished their day with lunch and prizes.  

“The equipment is so cool and I’ve never seen so much of it up close,” says Joseph, a local technical school student. “There are a lot of different companies here that came together to give us a great experience and that was really nice. I’m trying to see how their service technicians work because I want to get a job as a service tech.”