Carol Fontanez, rental manager for Sanford, Fla.-based Jamco, has stepped into the role of president for the ARA of Florida. She succeeds Brandon Ahlgren, CERP, owner, Elite Events & Rentals, Tampa, Fla., who has transitioned into the position of board chair.
Established in 1986, Jamco specializes in rentals of forklifts and material handling equipment. Fontanez joined the company in 2014 and four years later, in 2018, she became a member of the ARA of Florida board of directors.
As she launches her tenure as president of her American Rental Association (ARA) state chapter, Fontanez says “ARA is an amazing association with a diverse group of individuals and organizations. As ARA members, we collectively are facing unprecedented times, especially with long lead times from manufacturers and high rental demand for our products. As I step into my new role, I’m eager to work with members from all rental segments to grow our companies and navigate through the challenges we all face.”
Fontanez doesn’t enter the ARA of Florida presidency without a plan for what she hopes to accomplish in service to members in the state. On the contrary, she lists several initiatives that she is eager to dive into.
“I would like to see educational programs in place for the small to mid-size rental companies; more networking opportunities between rental segment swim lanes; new participation from executives sharing best practices to empower ARA members to push their organizations to the next level; and focus groups and workshops with manufacturers to innovate ideas that drive improvements for the end user,” Fontanez says.
In addition to her service at the state level, Fontanez is a current member of the ARA Equipment Rental Shared Interest Group, which advises the association on matters relevant to the equipment rental segment, prioritizes initiatives and develops the education plan that supports the needs of members.