ARA Elects Board Members, Recognizes Service

April 2, 2008 • The American Rental Association (ARA), based in Moline, Ill., has named Clay Eubanks, president of Takeuchi (U.S.), Pendergrass, Ga., to the position of associate member director. In his board position, Eubanks will serve as an industry resource for ARA and the board of directors and will represent the perspective of ARA's associate members, which are the manufacturers and suppliers of equipment to the rental market.

Eubanks has been involved in the equipment rental industry for the past 24 years. He has participated on several ARA committees and his company regularly supports and/or sponsors educational events for members.

 

Steve Reitter has been elected to the board of directors of the ARA. Reitter, rental division manager of Robinsons Ace Hardware and Rental in Hudson, Mass., has assumed the position of region one director.

 

ARA is represented in the United States and Canada through 10 geographical regions in order to support ARA members at the state, local and provincial levels. As region one director, Reitter represents ARA members in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

 

The association has also appointed Dennis Von Ruden to the board of trustees of the American Rental Association (ARA) Foundation, the philanthropic organization of the equipment rental industry. Von Ruden, president of General Equipment Company, Owatonna, Minn., was appointed trustee-at-large and took office Jan. 1. He will serve a two-year term.

 

Von Ruden has a long-time career in the industry and has been an active volunteer leader, recently serving on the board of directors of the American Rental Association, the industry trade association.

 

The ARA has also recognized Carl Newman, owner of A & A Rentals & Sales, Sevierville, Tenn., for his years of service. Newman completed 7½ years of exemplary service on the ARA Board of Directors at the close of this year's Rental Show. Newman served as the ARA's 44th president in 2006 and most recently was ARA's chairman of the board, having served as an officer since September 2004. He also served as ARA's region three director from September 2000 until February 2004.

 

Newman's volunteer service also includes participation on many ARA committees as well as leadership positions for the ARA of Tennessee. In addition, he served on the ARA Insurance Services Board of Directors and the board of trustees for the ARA Foundation, a philanthropic organization representing the equipment rental industry.

 

“Carl has been an exceptional leader of the association and within the industry,” said Christine Wehrman, executive vice president and CEO of ARA. “His contributions to the industry and to the ARA have been substantial and will stand the test of time.”