The ARA of North Carolina recently held its board election. During the process, a new executive structure was established and a new face — Rebekah Jones, general manager of Party Makers Event Rentals in Greensboro, N.C. — joined the team.
Jones joined Party Makers Event Rentals in 2021 on the momentum of more than a decade’s worth of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry. “I worked in the service industry for about 15 years and served in management for about 10 of those years. However, I had the pleasure of working in events when I was director of catering for a well-known restaurant and hotel group in Greensboro and fell in love with the events industry. After a short return to restaurants, I found myself missing the world of events and found my way to Party Makers. I look forward to furthering my career in the event rental industry for years to come,” she says.
Jones was contacted about filling a vacant position on the ARA of North Carolina board of directors by her industry colleague and friend, Kim Taylor, CERP, CEO of TCS Event Rentals, Burlington, N.C., who also serves as the chapter’s president.
“I was happy to serve,” Jones says. “My experience in this industry is still very new and I am always looking for ways to get involved, make connections and gain knowledge about all there is to know in this industry that I have so fallen in love with. I also have a lot to offer based on my experiences outside of the rental industry that I thought would be a helpful contribution to the board. Joining the ARA of North Carolina board is both an honor and a huge step in my own personal development while also giving me the opportunity to have a voice in critical decision-making as the industry continues to grow and change.”
During her tenure on the board, Jones says she hopes to help her American Rental Association (ARA) state chapter “provide helpful resources for our members that assists them with recruitment and tenure, training and development, and softening the peaks and valleys of our business.”
Away from the day-to-day of the event rental world, Jones says you can find her “on the lake, kayaking or boating with my favorite people.”
Be sure to thank all the rental professionals who are serving in leadership roles for the state chapter:
President: Kimberly Taylor, CERP, CEO, TCS Event Rentals, Burlington
Vice president: Patti Whittaker, owner, Cardinal Rents, Charlotte
Treasurer: Meredith-Leigh Craig, vice president, American Tool Rentals, Kinston
Secretary: Barry Hellman, owner, TL Hellman d/b/a Stanly Tractor Co., New London
Chair: Shannon Thomas, CERP, owner, Creative Solutions Special Events, Belmont
Board member: Rebekah Jones
Associate member director: Kevin Marchin, owner, M & M Sales, Belmont