NES Adds Two More Companies

April 1, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill.- National Equipment Services acquired two companies in the Northeast last month, CEO Kevin Rodgers told RER.The largest of the two is Cassidy
EVANSTON, Ill.- National Equipment Services acquired two companies in the Northeast last month, CEO Kevin Rodgers told RER.

The largest of the two is Cassidy & Lee, a heavy dirt equipment rental company in Canton, Mass. C&L was founded in 1961 and had revenue of about $8 million. The purchase of C&L - which rents primarily in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire - marks NES' first entry into the earthmoving sector in New England.

C&L will do business as part of Shaughnessy Crane Service. Former owners Gary and Lee Oldenburg will stay on to run the business.

NES also bought Providence, R.I.-based Road Light Inc., its 13th acquisition in the traffic safety rental industry. Road Light, with revenue of about $2.5 million, joins Boston-based L&C Flashing Barricades in providing NES with a strong traffic-safety platform on the East Coast. Owner Tom Coyne will stay on to operate the business.

NES now has nearly 190 locations.

Irish to Retire from ARA MOLINE, Ill.- Jim Irish, executive vice president of the American Rental Association, announced that he will leave the ARA when he completes his current term at the end of this year.

Irish said he based his decision on the desire to achieve a number of personal goals and because of his belief that the ARA is in a good position to make a smooth transition to new administrative leadership.

ARA president Frank Wilson will form a search committee to find a successor to Irish, who joined the ARA in January 1972 as editor of Rental Management magazine. He was promoted to assistant executive director in 1983 and became the association's top administrator in 1987.

Irish told RER that he hopes to spend more time at home with his family in the coming years. "The executive vice president needs to spend a lot of time traveling, even more in the future," Irish said. "I'm moving into a time in my life when I want to spend moretime at home. Personally, I feel like I've been here long enough, having been with the same organization nearly all of my adult life. It will benefit ARA to have new ideas, a new level of energy, new approaches and abilities. It's healthy for an organization."

Irish said he plans to devote a lot of time this year to helping Wilson with his goals, particularly in growing ARA's field presence, and improving its Web site. "I hope to leave the organization in as good a shape as possible," he said.