ARA Rental Hall of Fame inductees announced

The American Rental Association (ARA) has announced two rental industry veterans as inductees into the ARA Rental Hall of Fame.

Doron Broadfoot of The Rent-It Store, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, and James “Jim” Ziegler of Rental City, Boulder, Colorado, will be honoured at The ARA Show 2023 in Orlando, Florida, taking place from 12-15 February. 

Doron Broadfoot began in the rental industry in 1972, working for his father at The Rent-It Store in Saskatoon. In 1974, he invested in a business owned by equipment distributor Acklands-Grainger, which he later purchased along with his business partner, Doug Mitchell, in 2005.

Broadfoot was CRA president from 1989-1990 and then served as the ARA Region 10 director from 2000-2003.

He served on the ARA Foundation board of trustees for two terms from 2009-2014 and was chair of the board in 2011 and 2012.

He also established the Region 10 Doug Mitchell scholarship in honour of his late business partner in 2014. In recognition of his philanthropic efforts, he has received the ARA Foundation James Keenan Award five times and the 1976 Club Award 10 times.

“Throughout his career, Broadfoot always has encouraged both employees and business partners to get involved with ARA and the Canadian Rental Association (CRA). He is being recognized for his leadership and long-term dedication and service to ARA, CRA and the ARA Foundation,” ARA said in a statement.

Jim Ziegler has been in the rental industry since1969 when he bought an A-Z Rental franchise in Boulder — which later became Rental City. He sold the company to NationsRent in 2000.

Ziegler also was the CEO of RenTrain, a business he developed to help reduce insurance costs and improve operating techniques through educational programs for rental equipment dealers and provide websites for small businesses.

Ziegler served on the ARA of Board of Directors from 1988-1992 and as the 29th ARA president in 1990. While on the ARA of Colorado board, he also served as president.

Tony Conant, ARA CEO, commented: “The Rental Hall of Fame is ARA’s most prestigious award. This year, we are honored to recognize two individuals whose vision and leadership has made a significant impact on the equipment and event rental industry. Their dedication has been felt across the rental community and I would like to personally thank and congratulate them.”