The American Rental Association will recognize individuals for outstanding service to the association and the rental industry at The Rental Show in Orlando, Fla.
The Distinguished Service Award, which 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, will be bestowed upon Peter Lancken, chairman of Kennards Hire in Seven Hills, New South Wales, Australia, in recognition of his involvement with the formation and continuation of the Global Rental Alliance.
Lancken was part of the initial discussions among executives from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States to form a network of international equipment rental associations in February 2001 at The Rental Show. Further discussions encouraged the associations to join together and representatives of these countries (with the exception of New Zealand) and France met at The Rental Show 2003 and agreed to form the Global Rental Alliance. Its purpose is “to increase the profile of equipment rental worldwide and increase membership value to the respective membership associations.”
Lancken built on the work of the Global Rental Alliance in helping to create the International Rental Business Leadership Program administered by the ARA Foundation. This international job-shadowing program began in 2008, with Lancken hosting the first participant at Kennards Hire. The program, now in its fifth year, has had eight successful job shadow visits.
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. Joseph McKenney, a retired ARA member from Edwards, Colo., is this year’s award recipient.
McKenney, previous owner with his wife, Pam, of The Rent-All Shops in Columbia, S.C., is recognized for his work with the ARA Foundation’s Rental Advisory Program.
Part of the Rental Advisory Program since 2001, McKenney is frequently called for his expertise on financials and business succession. Among the requests he fulfills are those for long-term advice that require in-depth analysis.
The Special Service Award honors someone who is not in the business of renting but who has made an outstanding contribution to the rental industry. This year’s recipient is Alex Kouzmanoff, vice president of Aztec Tents in Torrance, Calif.
Kouzmanoff has been actively involved in Events & Tents, ARA’s educational program for party and special event rental held at The Rental Show. He has been a frequent seminar speaker and moderator. He served on the Events & Tents Task Force in 2004-2006 and is currently a member of the Party and Event Services Shared Interest Group.
The Outstanding Leadership Award, which recognizes an individual who has provided an example of superlative leadership at the grassroots level, will go to James Morden, president of Rentshop in Alliston, Ontario, Canada.
Morden, a second-generation rental business owner, is currently an Ontario provincial director on the Canadian Rental Association board. He’s being recognized for his longstanding work to get the younger generation of those in rental involved through his efforts with the Ontario chapter of CRA, his networking with members in the U.S. and outreach through social media.
Regional Persons of the Year Awards honor members who have made outstanding contributions to the association and the rental industry on the regional, state, provincial or local levels. The following recipients will be honored:
- Region 1: Robert Byrne, retired member, Middletown, Conn.
- Region 2: Woodward Thomas, Magic Special Events, Richmond, Va.
- Region 3: Ben Cooke, CERP, Cooke Rentals, Mount Airy, N.C.
- Region 4: Trish Southard, D. J.’s Rentals & Sales, Elk City, Okla.
- Region 5: Don Thennes, Ed’s Rental & Sales, Crystal Lake, Ill.
- Region 6: Andy Way, A to Z Rental Center of Eden Prairie, Eden Prairie, Minn.
- Region 7: Doug Click, Arizona Hi-Lift, Phoenix
- Region 8: David Dworschak, Don’s Rental, Saint Helens, Ore.
- Region 9: Tony Wright, Celebrations! Event Rentals and Tents, Roseville, Calif.
- Region 10: Dave Fraser, Hewitt Rentals, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
The President’s Image Award is a business facility or store award celebrating a commitment to improving the rental industry image through a remodeling, rebuilding or renovation project. The following locations will be honored:
- Region 1- Peterson Party Center, Woburn, Mass.
- Region 3 – Liberty Party Rental, Hendersonville, Tenn.
- Region 7 – Howe Rental & Sales, Murray, Utah
- Region 9 –Ventura Rental Center, Ventura, Calif.
- Region 10 –C & T Rentals, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
The Meritorious Service, Distinguished Service, Special Service and Outstanding Leadership Awards will be presented at The Rental Show during Lunch with ARA on Feb. 9. The Regional Persons of the Year and President’s Image Awards will be presented during the Regional Receptions on Feb. 10.
Headquartered in Moline, Ill., The American Rental Association, is an international trade association for owners of equipment rental businesses and the manufacturers and suppliers of construction/industrial, general tool and party/event rental equipment.
