March 14, 2024
This is a glimpse of just one section of the show floor at The ARA Show™ 2024 in New Orleans.
The six-year hiatus from the Big Easy came to an end in February when The ARA Show™ 2024 kicked off at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.
The 67th edition of the American Rental Association’s (ARA) premier event — which is the world’s largest equipment and event rental industry-specific convention and trade show — offered attendees plenty of opportunities to network and learn from peers, industry experts and vendors.
Saturday, Feb. 17, featured the return of EventsU, a full-day program designed exclusively for those in event rental with plenty of rental-specific education and networking.
The education continued Sunday with presentations delivered by engaging expert speakers and rental industry panel discussions covering tracks grouped into four themes: “Learn & Lead,” “Connect & Collaborate,” “Empower & Engage” and “Plan & Strategize.”
Robert Garrett, owner, Colorado’s Rental Team, Granby, Colo., gained a lot from the session, “Smart Strategies to Keep Your Top Talent from Becoming Someone’s Else’s.”
“A lot of employees don’t know where they land in their organization. This seminar put it together that when we’re coming out of this pandemic, you need to appreciate your employees. It’s about giving them meaning. When we do get an employee, we have to encourage them,” Garrett says.
Derek Dause, Aspen Events & Tents, Grand Junction, Colo., left, joins his fellow rental operators in listening intently to a session at the show.
First-time show attendee Katey Naylor, CEM, CERP, event director, Bright Event Rentals, Phoenix, who is the new ARA of Arizona president, said the educational session that stood out for her was “‘The FUNdamentals of Meaningful Leadership.”
“The speaker’s message was to pull yourself out of your comfort zone, shake up the norm, give something customers aren’t expecting and make it memorable. That was my favorite session,” she says.
Tricia Steinbock, owner, Best Event Rentals, Fort Collins, Colo., who serves on the ARA of Colorado board, went to the show with her husband and one of her employees. They attended the educational sessions that centered on employee engagement “because finding and keeping employees is huge on our list,” she says. “Getting the knowledge and understanding best practices of what to do was a top priority for me. The sessions I went to offered good information and tips that will help us.”
Then on Monday, the Keynote Session with Jon Taffer of the hit TV show “Bar Rescue” seemed to strike all the right notes.
“He had such great takeaways, such as ‘If you can blame someone else for your failure, you have no reason to change,’ and ‘If you don’t own failure, you keep failing.’ He also highlighted the five types of excuses people use — fear, lack of knowledge, time, circumstances and scarcity,” Naylor says.
Steinbock agrees. “He had a good message. He highlighted that there are no excuses. The economy doesn’t matter, the political climate doesn’t matter, etc. You just have to make decisions and get things done,” she says.
Jeff Jackson, owner, All Purpose Rental & Sales, Greeley, Colo., who serves as ARA of Colorado president, also thought it was an impactful message. “His message of no excuses, don’t wait, don’t procrastinate and just do it was great,” he says.
The opening of the trade show on Monday, which featured more than 650 exhibitors, was an impressive sight to behold, attendees say.
Beth Hoff Blackmer, Aspen Rent-All, Basalt, Colo., far right in the second row, joins other rental operators at the Women in Rental Breakfast.
“It was great to connect with our current vendors to see what is new and upcoming,” Naylor says.
“We did a little bit of buying,” Steinbock says, adding that she is looking at what direction her business should expand into. “We were looking at restroom trailers, seeing whether we want to get into that aspect of the business. That is one of the big decisions we will be making, so we are waiting for some quotes,” she adds.
Jackson bought pressure washers. “I got a good deal on those. I also received quotes for skid steers, scaffolding and some other little things. Besides that, the value is in the networking with vendors and your peers. If you don’t walk away with a couple of new ideas for how to make changes or implement a new strategy, you are doing an injustice. You must not have talked with any vendors or your peers about product innovations, new products and information on what your peers are purchasing,” he says.
Like Naylor and Jackson, Steinbock felt the show was “very valuable for that one-on-one connection with vendors. “This is especially true if you can meet your rep for your area. I was able to do that. It was nice to put a face with a name,” she says.
There were plenty of favorite events to take advantage of during the show — the Young Professionals Network (YPN) Reception, Regional Receptions, Women in Rental Breakfast, ARAPAC Reception for members of ARA’s political action committee, and the ARA Foundation Charity Auction and Reception.
Naylor went to the Women in Rental Breakfast. “I loved the speaker [Dr. Michelle Rozen, aka The Change Doctor] and how she spoke about making incremental changes that add up to big changes and also her 20-minute rule of if you feel yourself reacting to take 20 minutes away and then come back to the issue at hand. I felt inspired when I left,” she says.
New Region Seven Director Maureen Harkness, CERP, Design Mode, Phoenix, right, converses with other members during the Region Seven Reception.
Steinbock also was impressed with Rozen’s presentation. “She was fantastic. She drew you in to what she was saying. She was a very dynamic speaker. I really liked what she said about taking the small, incremental steps when you are having an issue or you need to change a habit. Instead of trying to change the entire situation all at once, by taking the small steps it doesn’t seem so insurmountable,” Steinbock says, adding she was impressed that the speaker gave away copies of one of her books to all attendees and even autographed them at the end. “That was amazing. I am excited to read it.”
Naylor also went to the YPN Reception. “That was fantastic — a great way to break out of your comfort zone and meet others from all over, connecting with them on their businesses and what challenges they are facing. This event was inspiring, too,” she says.
The Regional Receptions allowed Steinbock to connect with other rental operators from her area. “I loved that we went back to the format of just your region meeting. I wasn’t able to go the show the previous year, the first one I have missed in years. It was nice to come this year and network, especially with other members who are close by. Just seeing everyone again was great. It also was nice to see Herb White [president, Continental Divide Marketing, Golden, Colo., who serves as the associate member director on the ARA of Colorado board] receive the Leadership Impact Award for our region,” she says. For details on White and why he was recognized, see the story in this issue.
Jackson had the same sentiments. “It’s always a good party, seeing people you haven’t seen for a while, being able to network and have a good time. I liked that it was just our region. It made it more quaint and easier to talk with everyone. It also was nice to see Herb receive the award. He is a longtime ARA member, a great salesperson and so dedicated to his clients,” he says.
Aaron Nebelsick, Best Rental, Fort Collins, Colo., left, converses with ARA Insurance Preferred Agent Catalina Avila at the Region Seven Reception.
Just before the wrap-up of the show, many attendees shared an unforgettable evening with chart-topping country singer Mitchell Tenpenny at the sold-out Tuesday Night Event at the House of Blues New Orleans.
“It was great and the concert was fantastic,” Steinbock says.
Jackson also enjoyed the event. “It was great. The concert was really good. The venue was nice and spread out, which made it good for socializing. They also had headphones available to grab so you could listen to the concert without being in the concert area,” he says.
Show attendees from Region Seven had such a phenomenal time they can’t wait to do it all again next year.
“The show really did weave together the education, trade show and networking so seamlessly. I had so many great takeaways from the show. Lots of new connections were made, too. I can’t wait to do it all again next year in Las Vegas,” Naylor says.
Steinbock couldn’t agree more. “Oh yes, we will be there. The show energizes you for your season. When you go and have the chance to talk with everyone, see the new products, purchase items and then have the items come in, it is like Christmas. It just gets you pumped up for the coming year,” she says.
Jackson has the same sentiment. “I attend the show every year. The interaction with your peers and the people in your industry is so valuable. You don’t have the opportunity to sit and rub elbows with everyone, share your trials and tribulations, and learn something new if you don’t go to the show,” he says.
Click here to view the show wrap-up video from Rental Management.
