FEBRUARY 2014 | HIRE
AND
RENTAL
NEWS
| 7
INDUSTRY NEWS
Each year at
The Rental Show,
to be held in
Orlando, Florida
in 2014, the
American Rental
Association
(ARA) recognises
individuals for outstanding
service to the association and the
rental industry.
The Distinguished Service
Award recognises 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.
In 2014, Peter Lancken,
Chairman of Kennards Hire, will
receive the Distinguished Service
Award in recognition of his
involvement with the formation
and continuation of the Global
Rental Alliance.
Peter 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 and representatives of these
countries and France (with the
exception of New Zealand) met
at The Rental Show 2003 and
agreed to form the Global Rental
Alliance. Its purpose was defined
as “to increase the profile of
equipment rental worldwide
and increase membership
value to the respective
membership associations.”
The group is administered by
ARA and functions informally
through networking, personal
relationships developed on
behalf of their associations and
ongoing communication.
Peter 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
ARA to recognise
members for service
international job
shadowing program
began in 2008, with
Peter 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 recognises 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,
Colorado, is the recipient.
Joseph, previous owner with
his wife, Pam, of The Rent-All
Shops in Columbia, SC, is being
recognised for his work with
the ARA Foundation’s Rental
Advisory Program. Through
this consultation and advising
program, experienced rental
store owners volunteer their
time counseling other rental
business owners.
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, California. The
company is a 32-year exhibitor
at The Rental Show and has
been an ARA associate member
since 1988.
The Outstanding Leadership
Award recognises an individual
who has provided an example
of superlative leadership at
the grassroots level. This year’s
recipient is James Morden,
President of Rentshop in
Alliston, Ontario, Canada.
Regional Persons of the Year
Awards will also be handed out
to honour members who have
made outstanding contributions
to the association and the rental
industry.
Visit the “Recognition”
section at ARArental.org
HR
