Erin Brochu, 39, owner and manager, Castle Rentals & Welding Supplies, Edson, Alberta, Canada, says she grew up riding around town on her bicycle, delivering the monthly payables for the equipment rental company her father had purchased when she was a child.

Stefani Donabedian, 33, marketing director, Mobile Air & Power Rentals, Worcester, Mass., wasn’t looking to work in the equipment and event rental industry when she returned to the workforce as a new mother seven years ago.

Gina Glas, CERP, 38, managing partner, A Classic Party Rental, Indianapolis, had thoughts of becoming a photojournalist for National Geographic when she was a kid, but she also believed she would be working in her family’s business when she grew up and that’s exactly what happened.

T.J. Hermesman, 34, is one of the owners of Ted’s True Value Rental, Durango, Colo., one of a few different businesses his family has ventured into.

Ele Ioannou, 38, company operations manager, Mr Plant Hire (MPH), North London, UK, needed a job, so she applied at a national hire (equipment rental) company 20 years ago.