Russ Hicks, director of operations, AAA Party Rentals, Landover, Md., has joined the ARA of Maryland board of directors.
Hicks, who has experienced the event rental industry for more than 25 years, can genuinely say that he grew up in the business.
“Our company was purchased in 1994 by my father, Ray Hicks, and godmother, Alexis Smith,” he says. “I was six at the time, so I wasn’t very instrumental in getting the business going, but I have been close to it most of my life.”
Hicks joined the AAA Party Rentals team on a full-time basis in 2016 after attending college in Atlanta at Morehouse College and then Georgia State University, where he received a degree in managerial sciences. “While living in Atlanta after graduation, I developed my basis in management with positions such as residential installation manager and commercial service manager at the Overhead Door Company of Atlanta,” Hicks says.
Hicks says he learned of the opportunity to become part of the ARA of Maryland board of directors through Reggie Eda, co-owner, Oxon Hill Rentals, Fort Washington, Md., and ARA of Maryland vice president.
“I had always been aware of the ARA [American Rental Association] and all that it had to offer, mostly from trips to The ARA Show™ each year. But the chance to become part of our state’s board presented itself when I was approached by Reggie,” Hicks says. “I’ve worked a lot with Reggie and Oxon Hill Rentals in the past business-to-business, and when he presented me with the chance, I was eager to get involved.”
Hicks says the prospect of joining his ARA state chapter’s leadership team “seemed like the perfect opportunity to surround myself with individuals from our industry. The chance to share and gain knowledge from the group that we have really gets me excited. I think when you’re in business, you are always looking for ways to grow and improve on your operation. Opportunities like this are great for that.”
Standing out as a leader of what he feels may be an under-represented group in the industry also appealed to Hicks. “This being those under 40 and minorities,” he says. “As a 33-year-old Black man, I think the industry as a whole in the past has lacked in leadership involvement in these areas, but we are definitely working to expand that. I’m happy to be a part of it by joining the ARA board here in Maryland.”
Hicks identifies his goals during his tenure on the ARA of Maryland board as “growth and continued involvement,” he says. “Being newer to things, I hope that I will eventually become a leader in ARA, a resource to those in our industry and maybe even an inspiration to someone newer looking to become involved. I would love to see the ARA of Maryland help members ease the hiring and personnel woes that most of us are experiencing. Obviously, I don’t have a perfect solution, or my business would be completely staffed. But I think that possibly a referral program set up with local colleges, high schools or second-chance labor programs to help applicants know of the opportunities that exist in what we do could be very helpful to all of us.”
Away from the hustle and bustle of event rentals, Hicks says that he “loves all things bass fishing, so as the weather breaks, I am usually trying to spend as much time as possible out on my kayak. I’m also a big NFL and NHL fan — go Commanders and go Caps!”