ARA Announces 2014 Member Recognitions

MOLINE, Ill. (Nov. 10, 2014)—The American Rental Association (ARA) recognizes individuals each year for outstanding service to the association and the rental industry. Here are those who will be honored at The Rental Show 2015 in New Orleans.

Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes continuing service to the rental industry at the international, national, state and local levels, and is the highest volunteer recognition award given by ARA after the Rental Hall of Fame. Doron Broadfoot of The Rent-It Store in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, receives this year’s award in recognition of his longtime service to ARA, of which he’s been a member since 1975, the ARA Foundation and the Canadian Rental Association (CRA). He continues to be an instrumental part of all three associations with his long-term service.

Meritorious Service Award
The Meritorious Service Award recognizes exemplary leadership in a defined area of service, such as work on a national committee, special project or service activity. ARA of Virginia is this year’s recipient.

In 2014, the ARA of Virginia board of directors orchestrated an effort to make theft of services, previously a civil matter, into a crime in the state. Three of the state association directors – Doug Jones, Joel Theros and Bruce Goodson – worked with their local chambers of commerce and connected with key legislative members in Virginia, which enabled them to successfully get a theft of services bill passed and signed by the governor of Virginia. As of July 1, 2014, theft of services is a criminal offense in the state. The law provides that a person found guilty of fraudulent conversion of leased property can be required to pay restitution, including any reasonable loss in revenue due to the inability to rent the equipment while it was out of inventory.

Special Service Award
The Special Service Award honors a rental industry supplier who has made an outstanding contribution to the industry and ARA. This year’s recipient is John Fuchs, general manager of Anchor Industries in Evansville, Indiana.

Fuchs is a 25-year veteran of Anchor Industries, which has been an ARA associate member since 1974 and will be exhibiting at The Rental Show for the 41st year in 2015. He has been actively involved in ARA on many committees and task forces, including the ARA Insurance and Exhibitor Advisory committees and the Party and Event Services Shared Interest Group. He’s also been involved at the state level, participating in the reorganization of ARA of Indiana.

Outstanding Leadership Award
The Outstanding Leadership Award recognizes an individual who has provided an example of superlative leadership at the grassroots level. This year’s recipient is Paul Kenyon of Absolute Support Services, Toronto. Kenyon is being recognized for his exemplary leadership demonstrated during the past year to strengthen the coordination and communication of benefits to the members of ARA who reside in Canada and similarly are members of the Canadian Rental Association (CRA).

Regional Persons of the Year Awards
These awards honor members who have made outstanding contributions to the association and the rental industry on the regional, state, provincial or local levels.

Region 1: Eugene LaPierre, B.C. Tent and Awning Co., Avon, Massachusetts
Region 2: Joel Theros, Theros Equipment, Gainesville, Virginia
Region 3: Josh Nickell, Nickell Equipment Rental and Sales, Fayetteville, Georgia
Region 4: Randy Caldwell, Southern Equipment Rental, Benton, Arkansas
Region 5: Andy Zatik, ABC Rental Center, Parma Heights, Ohio
Region 6: Ashley Pouche, Platte Rental and Supply, Parkville, Missouri
Region 7: Barb Bowen Wyatt, Butler Rents, Glendale, Colorado
Region 8: Greg Nelson, Pro Rentals and Sales, Boise, Idaho
Region 9: Tom Hughes, Hometown Rentals, Pomona, California
Region 10: Paul Ravary, Location Ravary, Laval, Quebec, Canada

President’s Image Awards
This is a business facility or store award celebrating a commitment to improving the rental industry image through a remodeling, rebuilding or renovation project.

Region 1: Shaughnessy Rental, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Region 3: First Source Rentals, Burlington, North Carolina
Region 4: Rental World, Harlingen, Texas
Region 5: Steffen’s Tool Crib, Covington, Kentucky
Region 6: Crown Rental, Burnsville, Minnesota