A message from your regional director

We’re back, Region Four members!

I know we haven’t conquered COVID yet, but we have made incredible progress, thanks to the vaccines. In-person meetings are starting to happen, party and event rental operations are back in business and construction is rolling. Wow, the future looks so much brighter today than it did a year ago.

• Our region’s first in-person event was the ARA of Louisiana’s Crawfish Boil at Lafayette Rental Service. It was great to see the attendance and enthusiasm everyone had in getting back together to discuss the needs of the community and what the state chapter is doing to help us move forward. 

• The Texas Rental Association hosted its annual TRA Roundup in June at the brand-new and beautiful Kalahari Resort, which has one of America’s largest indoor water parks. It was a great event with plenty of education, and social and networking time. 

• The ARA Show™ will be in Las Vegas this October. It will be the time for everyone in rental to connect, buy and learn. If you haven’t registered yet, now is the time. Go to ARAshow.org. 

• Finding qualified help. With all this increased activity, I know that rental operations are having difficulty finding employees. Be sure to use the American Rental Association (ARA) Job Board. Every member receives five free postings on the site, so take advantage of them. In this issue of In Your Region, learn what else ARA is doing to address this issue and look for additional insights in the August issue of Rental Management. Also, access the new Clean. Safe. Essential. program to see how that can help you onboard and retain drivers. 

• Congratulations to the recent ARA Foundation and affiliate scholarship recipients from our region. This is a great achievement and opportunity. See the full story in this edition of In Your Region.

As we move forward, let’s not forget what we have been through. Be safe, remain vigilant in your cleaning protocols, stay connected through ARA’s Event Rental and Equipment Rental Facebook pages and get vaccinated, if you’re able, to make this a wonderful reopening. 

Bryce Puckett, ARA Region Four director
Kirby-Smith Machinery
Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas
405-495-7820
bpuckett@kirby-smith.com