Volunteerism has been a core part of the American Rental Association (ARA) since it began in 1955, while outstanding volunteers have been honored for their service to the association during the ARA convention for more than 50 years. That tradition will continue at The Rental Show® 2016, which will be a celebration of ARA’s 60th anniversary.

Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exemplary leadership with long-term service to the association at the national, state, local and provincial levels. Delores M. Crum, CERP, president of Premiere Events in Austin, Texas, will receive this year’s award.

Crum has been an active volunteer throughout ARA since her company joined the association in 2001, serving on a variety of committees and shared interest groups with a particular interest in membership and education. She’s been a strong supporter of The Rental Show and the Events & Tents program and has served as a speaker, presenter, moderator and volunteer, plus attended regularly.

She has been instrumental in organizing and planning the Texas Rental Association (TRA) Round-Up for many years, working with ARA staff and TRA board members. She’s also served on the state association board for several years and completed all officer positions.

In addition, Crum has served two three-year terms on the ARA Foundation board of trustees and been actively involved with the Foundation’s scholarship program. She is a supporter and generous contributor to the ARA Foundation and ARAPAC, the association’s political action committee.

Her past honors include the Region Four Person of the Year Award in 2007, as well as two President’s Image Awards. She is a graduate of the Certified Event Rental Professional (CERP) program and continues to recertify her CERP designation.

Special Service Award

The Special Service Award recognizes a rental industry supplier who has made an outstanding contribution to the association. This year’s recipient is Pierre Pereira, vice president of sales and marketing for Billy Goat Industries, an ARA associate member since 1967 and a 48-year exhibitor at The Rental Show in 2016.

Pereira has been an active participant on many ARA committees and task forces, including the Exhibitor Advisory Committee and The Rental Show Task Force, plus he served as an associate member director on the ARA board of directors and is currently a trustee on the ARA Foundation board. He is a donor to both the ARA Foundation and ARAPAC. Pereira also is active in ARA’s Region Six, and has attended ARA’s National Legislative Caucus and Leadership Conference.

Billy Goat Industries and Pereira have been sponsors of The Rental Show for many years, as well as donors to the ARA Foundation Charity Auction since it began in 2007. The company also supports Rental Management magazine.

Outstanding Leadership Award

Recipients of the Outstanding Leadership Award have demonstrated superlative leadership at the grassroots – state, local or provincial – level. Ian Goff, CERP, general manager of Goff Tents in Nicholasville, Ky., is this year’s award recipient.

Goff has led new enthusiasm and growth within the ARA state association in Kentucky. He was elected president of ARA of Kentucky this past year and began new initiatives, relying upon ARA resources. These included holding monthly board calls, having ARA conduct formal board training to help the board members focus on their roles and responsibilities, and establishing budget and accounting processes. The association also enhanced online marketing for member use.

Thanks to his efforts, membership is up in ARA of Kentucky this year, as is attendance and engagement at association meetings. With his encouragement, the association board voted to send two members to ARA’s Leadership Conference this year to gain additional training and help create further member engagement. In addition, a plan to diversify attendance by ARA of Kentucky members at the National Legislative Caucus will go into effect in 2016.

Regional Persons of the Year

These awards honor members who have made outstanding contributions to the association and the rental industry on the regional, state, provincial or local levels.

Region One: Sarah Wilper, CERP, Taylor Rental Center, Manchester, Conn.

Region Two: Harry Price, EDCO – Equipment Development Co., Frederick, Md.

Region Three: Mike Royal, Showtime Event Rentals, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Region Four: Byron Alleman, Lafayette Rental Service, Lafayette, La.

Region Five: Phil Stumme, A to Z Rentals, Elgin, Ill.

Region Six: Eldora Marsengill, Washington Rental, Washington, Iowa

Region Seven: Larry Cox, Sunstate Equipment Co., Phoenix

Region Eight: Victor Lewis, Lewis Rents, Portland, Ore.

Region Nine: John Wooten, All Star Rents, Fairfield, Calif.

Region 10: Philip Lavigne, S.O.S. Location Industrielle, Saint Jean Sur Le Richelieu, Quebec, Canada

President’s Image Awards

This is a business facility or store award celebrating a commitment to improving the rental industry’s professional image through a remodeling, rebuilding or renovation project.

Region One: Westchester Tool Rentals, Kenny Puff, Elmsford, N.Y.

Region Six: Arrow Rents, Troy Miller, Shawnee, Kan.; and Rent-All, Mike Baartman, Sioux Center, Iowa.

Region Seven: Butler Rents, Barbara Wyatt, Glendale, Colo.; and Diamond Rental, Mark Clawson, Salt Lake City.

Region Nine: American Rentals, Tony Murray, Long Beach, Calif.; Celebrations! Party Rentals and Tents, Tony Wright, Roseville, Calif.; and Expo Party Rentals, Jared Medaris, CERP, Fresno, Calif.

The Distinguished Service, Special Service and Outstanding Leadership Awards will be presented at The Rental Show during the Networking Lunch With ARA on Feb. 21. The Regional Persons of the Year and President’s Image Awards will be presented during the Regional Receptions on Feb. 22.

The Rental Show is Feb. 21-24 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.