Introducing the ROOTY

Meet the judges Barry Ghiglione George Olah Jean-Marc Turcotte Rhonda Pedersen

For 35 years now Canadian Rental Service magazine has been talking to and about the companies in Canada’s rental industry and the men and women who run them.

In that time, we have seen hundreds of great examples of innovative thinking, determined drive to succeed and conscientious care for the welfare of employees and customers that make this industry great. As part of our mission to create a conversation among Canadian rental operators and help the industry grow as a whole, we thought it would be a good idea to take special recognition of companies that stand as positive examples, and reward them for their dedication to the best principles of the rental business.

The result is the Rental Operator Of The Year (ROOTY) award. Starting at the 2012 Canadian Rental Mart, and at every Rental Mart thereafter, the ROOTY will be presented to a Canadian rental company that has demonstrated outstanding success, innovation and commitment to safety over the past two years. It will be presented to company representatives in a special ceremony on the floor of the Rental Mart, at the Canadian Rental Service booth. Any Canadian rental operator, from any sector, may be nominated, including operators from the equipment rental and event/party rental sectors. A panel of five industry leaders will judge the awards according the following criteria:

Success

• Business growth
• Professional image
• Attractive showroom/yard
• Satisfied customers
• Community participation

Innovation

• New product offerings
• New business models
• Creative marketing and sales efforts
• Investment in maintenance and product upgrades
• Contributions to industry advancement and education

Safety

• Commitment to training customers in safe use of products
• Commitment to safety training for employees
• Offering safe products and safety devices
• Investment in proper insurance coverage
• Commitment to environmental protection

A veteran panel
Canadian Rental Service is fortunate to have attracted four very prominent industry leaders to act as ROOTY judges.

Barry Ghiglione has owned and operated the Handy group of companies in Saskatoon, Sask., since 1983. The Handy Group is a diversified rental business providing general and industrial tools, special events, portable washrooms, heating, drying and self-storage services. Mr. Ghiglione served as CRA president in 2001 and as a director in the ARA between 2003 and 2006, including two terms on the Executive Committee. He won the ARA’s Meritorious Award in 2008.

George Olah has over 35 years’ experience in training, marketing and renting commercial appliances and equipment. He is presently the general manager of operations at ABCO Equipment and Supplies, a family-owned rental company. A former senior energy advisor to the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Olah helped draft provincial safety standards for propane and natural gas technology. Olah is a columnist for Canadian Rental Service magazine.

Jean-Marc Turcotte owns Location Turbo Rentals in Montreal. He has been in the rental industry for 35 years, and rents a comprehensive variety of general use equipment. Turcotte won the CRA’s Rental Man of the Year award in 1995, 2000 and 2002, the ARA’s award for Outstanding Record of Achievement in 1990 and twice Quebec Rental Store of the Year. He has served terms as the president of the ALQ and as Quebec director for the national CRA.

Rhonda Pedersen is vice-president of customer service for Pedersen’s Event Rentals in Burnaby, B.C. She has been in the party and event equipment rental business for 25 years and represents the third generation of Pedersens to run the company, which has been in business since 1949. Pedersen served as president of the national CRA in 2002 and is currently the Region 10 director for the ARA. Pedersen’s Rentals is a two-time winner of the national CRA Image Award, and Ms. Pedersen has won Region 10 Person of the Year and CRA Rental Person of the Year awards. She has also served on the International Special Events Society board.

Recognize, or get recognized
Nominating a company for the ROOTY is fast, easy and free. Just visit www.canadianrentalmart.com and select the Nomination tab. Maybe there is a rental operator you have always admired and who you think deserves notice. Maybe you think it is high time that your efforts to run your business the right way were noticed and appreciated. Either way, the ROOTY award panel wants to hear from you. Good luck!