The Front Porch

Support Solutions Engineer Asher Cotton joins us on the porch this month from Jacksonville, Florida.  He tells us about how his entrepreneurial spirit and some serendipitous encounters have guided his career across industries and to Point of Rental, the business philosophies that have guided him through running a variety of multi-location businesses, and where he got his love for the water. He exp...

Melissa Christensen, a Support Solutions Engineer at Point of Rental, shares her journey from literal dancing to the metaphorical dance of the rental industry. She recounts a 25-year rental-industry career, including joining LiftWorks as the second employee, working long hours to help grow it into a 75-person business, and using early manual and fax-based processes before software modernization. M...

Point of Rental's Head of AI, Matt Gaffin, talks with industry experts Brittany Haas (Crown Rental), Grant Christopher (Christopher Equipment), and Anthony Durante (The Owl, formerly of Durante Rentals) about how rental leaders use AI in their lives.  They share practical applications like SOP and policy/manual creation, professionalizing emails and job descriptions, marketing content and images,...

Brian talks with Point of Rental e-commerce strategy lead Caleb Yell about how rental e-commerce has shifted from a "nice to have" to a business-critical tool and how you can avoid a lot of the growing pains that come from implementing it. You'll learn about the tools being used to digitize counter workflows online (e-sign, ID verification, ACH/payments), common breakdowns, and the need for optimi...

Senior implementation consultant Phil Clark shares his path, from trampolining, engineering and IT curiosity to bus driving, coaching, and ultimately training customers at Point of Rental. He talks about what good training looks like, what he enjoys most about working with customers and teams, and some standout travel experiences on the job. March is MS Awareness month, so Phil also opens up about...

Kim Medellin is Point of Rental's Global HR Generalist. She shares her journey from growing up in Michigan with dreams of being a singer to moving to Texas and finding her path in HR. She discusses her career transitions, including her time as a pharmacy tech and her entry into the construction industry, which eventually led her to Point of Rental. We talk karaoke tips, Gen Alpha slang, quotable m...

Join us as we welcome Kayla Winfree, the account management team lead at Record360, to The Front Porch. Learn about her journey from managerial experiences at Planet Fitness and Verizon, to her passion for sales and Record360, and her love for her new home in San Diego. Additionally, Kayla opens up about her yoga practice, the challenges of working remotely, and the strategies she uses to maintain...

Brian Holden is a solutions engineer at Point of Rental - the only one in South Africa - and he joins the podcast while on a visit to the UK for this month's Syrinx Conference.. Brian shares his experiences from the conference, memories from his career in the hire industry, and insights into his personal interests. Brian also delves into his love for mountain biking, lessons learned from his time...

In this episode, we welcome Josh Johnston from PartyPros to discuss his career journey and the intricacies of running a full-service events company. From his early beginnings in the AV field to owning a nightclub, DJing, and finally merging into Party Pros, Josh shares invaluable insights and experiences from his multifaceted career in the events industry. Learn how he balances creativity with bus...

Join Dan Huggins, our Solutions Engineer Team Lead in Reading, UK, on the Front Porch this month! We delve into Daniel's childhood ambitions, his experiences working at Blockbuster and as a poker dealer, and how these roles have helped shape his career. Daniel also discusses his leadership philosophy, his love for golf, and what it's like to balance parenthood with a professional career. Stay tune...

Join us on The Front Porch as we sit down with Ash Woodcock, owner of RPM Hire, a leading traffic management equipment hire company in Australia - Hire Company of the Year, in fact, in 2025. Ash shares his journey from growing up in Tasmania to building a nationwide business in Australia. He discusses the challenges and successes of funding business growth, the importance of maintaining balance be...

It's International Podcast Day! Enjoy this interview we published earlier in the month on YouTube: Dillon Baird, founder of RepMove , shares his journey from a young aspiring dirt bike rider to a successful entrepreneur. He delves into his early career, which he pursued throughout the American West, and the roots of RepMove. Dillon highlights the importance of persistence, teamwork, and continuous...

Jim Goodfriend shares his journey to rental software sales, from growing up in the Northeast, dropping out of college, to living on an organic farm in Israel. We learn about his career journey, his passion for sales, and his interests outside of work, including his love for concerts and soccer. Smart, engaging, and full of personality, Jim’s story is one of overcoming challenges, building connecti...

Claire Carden shares her inspiring journey from aspiring actress and theater enthusiast to Broadway stage manager and finally transitioning into a career in coding. Get an inside look at her experiences working on Broadway, her passion for adopting senior rescue dogs, and her love for video games. Claire also discusses her favorite musicals, why she enjoys Point of Rental hackathons, and offers in...

Erick Gordineer is Point of Rental's Salesforce Developer Manager, and he's got a backstory full of incredible successes, setbacks, and even more successes. Learn why he goes by Erick at Point of Rental, his background in IT and development, and his passion for mentorship and teaching. Erick also shares his love for spirited driving, his reflections on overcoming fear, and his recommendations for...

Elliott Vigil joins us on the Front Porch to discuss his journey from being a kid facing expulsion from school to a 20-plus-year career in rental sales to running his own sales consulting business. You'll walk away from this episode with several invaluable insights on sales, the importance of authentic relationships, and personal growth...and some tips for being an excellent Santa for any neighbor...

Bradley Hindsman, Customer Success Manager and unofficial ambassador of college football - and Alabama football in particular - to the team at Record360. We'll learn about his biggest takeaways from college, why he left mechanical engineering for sales engineering and now customer success, and his Top 5 Disney World rides, plus a whole lot more. Want to meet more Pointers and rental leaders? Subsc...

It's time to meet events coordinator Emyly Banke! On this episode of The Front Porch, we'll get into her journey from aspiring lawyer to event coordinator, and her passion for organizing memorable events, from small parties to company onsites and everything surrounding Point of Rental tradeshows.  Learn how she manages logistics, her favorite travel destinations, and some fun facts about her profe...

Martin Baugh, the product manager/owner for mobile solutions at Point of Rental, joins us on The Front Porch! Martin's our first Pointer to start his career at Chuck E. Cheese before becoming a key player in the tech industry. Discover the differences between product management and ownership, the challenges and joys of working in rental tech, and taking an RV around the country. Martin also offers...

Somehow this didn't get shared in March!  Jessie Anton is one of Point of Rental's account managers. On this episode of The Front Porch, Jessie tells tales from her career in marketing, waitressing, and in the electricity sector before joining Point of Rental. She discusses her role as an account manager and her love for building relationships with customers despite the challenges it entails. This...

Sara Brace , Record360's Sr. Customer Support Manager, shares her experiences from her early dreams of being a pop star to working at In-N-Out and how she transitioned into customer support roles. Listen as Sarah discusses her career journey, the surprising non-magnetic world of new fridges, and the challenges of growing a team. Discover her favorite In-N-Out secret menu items, and learn about her...

Kaitlyn DeGrasse joins The Front Porch from Special Event Rentals in Edmonton, Alberta this month! Caitlin discusses her path from growing up in Ottawa with a mother in the events industry to becoming a key player in the rental industry herself. She shares insights on why she was listed on Rental Management's '12 to Watch Under 40' list, highlighting her ability to see the bigger picture and conne...

Mark Goodrum, Point of Rental's Managing Director for the EMEA region, joins The Front Porch to talk about his journey to the top of Point of Rental's UK office. From a childhood dream of joining the military, through enlisting and a career in hire, to discovering Higher Concept and rising through the ranks, we learned about his career journey. We also learned about his favourite fishing styles, h...

Hey all, no regular episode with a rental leader this month - it's just me producing and my skills are pretty limited. So let's talk about what Point of Rental (and I) will be up to at the ARA Show in Vegas. POR's show specials POR's post-show training Adopt your own frog Let's talk at the show! Message me on LinkedIn

Cindy shares her journey from dreaming of a career in dentistry to working in nutrition and eventually project management. In this engaging conversation, they discuss the challenges and rewards of her various roles, memorable trips, her passion for coaching, and her unique perspective on the company. Don't miss out as Cindy reveals her top travel experiences, navigates the dynamics of work-life ba...