December 12, 2023
Angela Nussel, CERP
Hello, American Rental Association (ARA) Region Four members. Angela Nussel, CERP, your regional director, here. I hope you are enjoying the cooler weather and looking forward to embracing the holidays that will be upon us in the next few weeks.
During this time of year, event rental companies are busy helping with holiday celebrations and homeowners might have started a few home improvement projects before family comes for a visit. It can be a busy season for all of us in rental. I hope 2023 has been a productive and successful year for all of you.
This is also a great time to reflect on what our businesses have accomplished this past year and look at what we want to change or strengthen in the coming year. Taking stock is a valuable process that can offer inspiration and excitement for the coming year.
Speaking of the coming year, check out my 2024 outlook and those of all the other regional directors in this month’s issue of Rental Management.
As part of my reflection, I would like to highlight just a few recent exciting events offered at the state and national levels.
The Women in Rental Conference and the Young Professional Conference in Clearwater Beach, Fla. I had the pleasure of attending the Women in Rental Conference and the opportunity to network with amazing ladies from across the U.S. and Canada in our industry. Our speaker, Sara Ross, spent the day addressing the necessity to “Recharge Your Leadership and Refuel Your Life.” Sara was so engaging. Her presentation encouraged and inspired attendees to practice self-care in relation to family and work. That really hit home. Learn other Region Four members’ experiences about these conferences in this month’s regional newsletter. They all can’t wait to go next year. That says a lot.
ARA of Oklahoma’s Chicken N Pickle social and the ARA of Louisiana/Texas Rental Association fishing tournament at Toledo Bend. It was great to see how Region Four members took advantage of these fun social events. Each offered a way for members to come together and network in a casual and relaxing atmosphere. That is awesome.
I can’t wait to see what will be offered in 2024 by our state chapters. If you haven’t had the opportunity to attend these events, I strongly encourage you to do so. I know you will get so much out of them. Stay in the know by checking your email and looking at the ARA Calendar of Events.
On the national front, The ARA Show™ will be here before you know it. Make sure you take part. It’s all happening Feb. 18-21, with EventsU taking place Feb. 17, in New Orleans. I am excited to go back to such a historic city and eat some exquisite food. With this one-of-a-kind industry event happening right in our backyard, I hope to see many of you there. I know it will be worth your while.
For instance, nowhere else can you receive all the education, the keynote address, the trade show, the networking and special events, including the Region Four Reception. I promise you won’t leave without taking home valuable information that will benefit you and your business. The connections alone are worth the price of admission. If you haven’t done so already, register today by clicking here.
Speaking of the Region Four Reception, it will be held Monday, Feb. 19. We are going back to having each reception hosted as a separate event. Please consider joining members from our region. Be sure to purchase your ticket when you register for your full registration to the show. Don’t forget the ARAPAC Reception, which will follow our regional reception. Then, Tuesday night’s special event will feature country star Mitchell Tenpenny. You won’t want to miss any of the excitement.
Also at the show, you will be learning about all of ARA’s new initiatives, including the new ARA Certified Forklift Train-the-Trainer and Operator Training offerings, which will be available early next year. This will be a great program that you have been asking for, so attend and learn all about that and other ARA services that can benefit your business.
Please know that you don’t have to wait until the show to jumpstart your education. RentalU, ARA’s educational platform, offers learning resources year-round. Check it out so you can take advantage of the variety of topics available — all developed with you in mind. And if you need help paying for upcoming training, apply for a grant from the ARA Foundation Employee Training Assistance Program.
In addition, I just want to let you know that our regional newsletters 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.
Before I close, I want to wish everyone a joyous holiday and a toast to 2024. Take time to spend with your loved ones. Yes, there have been challenges this past year but also exciting opportunities for growth. We all have so much to be grateful for.
I look forward to seeing you in New Orleans.
Angela Nussel, CERP, ARA Region Four director
Premiere Events
Austin, Texas
512-292-3900
angela@premiereeventsonline.com
