NES Rentals Opens Florida Branch, Wins Safety Award

October 9, 2007 • NES Rentals Holdings, Inc., Chicago, Ill., announced the opening of its Panama City, Fla., branch. The branch is opening in response to significant growth and opportunity in the Panama City area due to the upcoming construction of the new international airport, ongoing vacation rental construction and the additional industries and businesses that are being built to serve the growing area. In addition to serving the greater Panama City area, the branch will also serve Tallahassee, Fla., and Dothan, Ala.

“The Panama City area is an attractive and high-growth region resulting in numerous construction rental opportunities,” said Don Irwin, regional vice president South. “We felt serving this community would fit with our strategic growth goals and the best way to serve was to establish a home base there.” 

 

In addition to Irwin, the management team for the branch includes Bill Griffin, district manager; Frankie Shields, branch manager; and Larry Sager, operations manager. The company is actively hiring for this location.  

 

In other company news, Joe Gallant Jr., an NES driver, has been recognized by the National Safety Council as the recipient of the Joseph M. Kaplan Safe Driver of the Year Award for the state of Connecticut. The award qualifies Gallant for the national award to be announced at the 2007 Annual National Safety Council Safety Awards Banquet in Chicago, Ill., on Oct. 16.

 

“We are extremely proud of Joe for being recognized as the Connecticut Safe Driver of the Year,” said Andy Studdert, chairman and CEO at NES.  “Joe exemplifies NES' commitment to safety.”

 

Winners of the award are judged based upon their total driving record throughout their career.  This includes total number of years driven, total number of miles driven, total number of hours behind the wheel and total number of accidents. Gallant qualified with more than 25 years of driving experience, 1.25 million miles driven and 108,900 hours behind the wheel.