The Rental Roundtable

AI agents aren’t coming—they’re already here. In this episode of Rental Roundtable , we’re joined by Jesse Buckingham , former CEO of Record360 and founder of Vooma , to explore how AI is actively transforming the freight industry, and what that means for the future of rental. Jesse walks us through a live demo of a voice AI agent that can answer calls, qualify carriers, and book freight with zero...

Steven Eisenstein, owner of Classic Tents and Events , shares how he scaled a small tent rental company into a 96-person operation serving movie sets, major sporting events, and even the Secret Service. From building a strong team culture to developing custom software, Steven breaks down the systems behind his growth, and what makes Atlanta’s event rental market unique.

Carol Fontanez spent over a decade building Jamco’s rental division from the ground up, turning what was once a minor part of the business into a key revenue driver. In this episode of the Rental Roundtable, she shares what it takes to succeed in the equipment rental industry. From fighting theft and earning trust to navigating a tight-knit industry, Carol talks through the hard lessons, real wins...

John Pfister, CEO and co-founder of Mazo Capital Solutions , joins the Rental Roundtable to discuss how transparent, dealer-focused financing is helping rental companies grow without relying on blanket liens. He shares Mazo’s approach to flexible funding, how tariffs and economic shifts are impacting the market, and why trust and clarity are the future of equipment financing.

Dan Morris started in rental right out of high school—washing equipment and running deliveries. Today, he’s the General Manager of Kennebec Equipment Rental and President of the ARA of Maine. In this episode, Dan shares how he worked his way up over 25 years, what it takes to lead a successful independent rental business, and why now is the time to plan for ownership transitions. Topics include: C...

Fuel isn’t just a cost—it’s a competitive edge rental companies can’t afford to overlook. In this episode, Mike Murphy , president of Ally Fuels, explains how rental companies are turning fuel management into a profit center by unlocking new revenue streams. Learn about the three phases of fuel management - 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 - and how independents can compete with the nationals by offering smarter...

Brett Baker, founder of States Rentals in Midland, TX, shares how he turned $77K and a driveway into a $60M fleet. He breaks down his niche strategy, creative financing, and why team culture and customer service set them apart.

Troy Greenleaf has spent over 40 years in the equipment rental industry - and he's still evolving. In this episode of the Rental Roundtable, Troy, owner of ⁠ Mainely Equipment ⁠, shares how he’s adapted to decades of change, how independent rental companies can stay competitive, and why personalized service and flexible rental programs still win.

Scott Cannon, CEO of BigRentz , joins us to share how his team has used AI since 2017 to improve pricing, logistics, and decision-making across 14,000+ rental locations. We dive into the future of equipment rental, construction inefficiencies, and what small businesses can learn from BigRentz’s tech-driven approach.

Laura Albert is the third-generation CEO of Interstate Rental Service , a 90-year-old family-owned event rental company based in Boston, Massachusetts. In this episode of the Rental Roundtable , Laura shares how Interstate has supported some of the city’s most iconic events- like the Boston Marathon, championship parades, and university graduations. Whether you're in event rentals, equipment r...

CPA Rebecca Warnick joins Kyle to break down the biggest financial mistakes rental owners make—often without realizing it. Learn how to: ✔️ Look beyond your bank balance ✔️ Identify your most profitable items ✔️ Raise prices the right way ✔️ Retire underperforming equipment ✔️ Stay ahead with proactive maintenance With over a decade of rental industry experience, Rebecca shares what it takes to ru...

In Part 3 of Mastering Rental Growth , Kyle and Elliott explore how to successfully expand your rental business into new markets and niche segments. They discuss testing demand, cold starts, market research, and forming strategic partnerships. You’ll also hear insights on sales team structure, compensation strategies, and how to use curiosity and social media to uncover new growth opportunities....

Part 2 of Mastering Rental Growth with Elliott Vigil is now live on the Rental Roundtable! In this episode, we dive into how to build a sales team that fuels real growth. Kyle and Elliott explore the timing of your first hire, how to recruit top performers, and the role of onboarding, trust, and tech in creating a high-performing sales culture. Whether you’re just starting to grow or rebuilding yo...

We’re re-releasing one of our most insightful series: Mastering Rental Growth with Elliott Vigil. Originally recorded in August 2024, this three-part series is now being published on the Rental Roundtable podcast - starting with Part 1: The Mechanics of Efficient Rental Growth. In this episode, Kyle and Elliott explore what it takes to build a rental business that’s designed to grow. From business...

Activate CEO Brian Giamo joins the Rental Roundtable to share how his platform is helping rental companies and fleet owners gain real-time visibility, improve customer service, and scale operations with AI and automation. With over 20 years in the industry, Brian demonstrates how transparency, data integration, and tech adoption are shaping the connected future of equipment management.

In this episode of the Rental Roundtable, Kyle chats with Clement Cazalot , CEO of Machinery Partner , about how niche markets and specialized equipment are reshaping the rental industry. Clement shares insights on the growing demand for specialty equipment, the challenges of managing unique inventory, and how new manufacturers are impacting the market. He also explains how Machinery Partner combi...

Thinking about selling your independent rental business? In this episode, Kyle sits down with Dan Conway , Managing Partner at Craft Partners , to break down the entire M&A process. With over 30 transactions and $2 billion in enterprise value under his belt, Dan shares invaluable insights on: ✅ When to start preparing for a sale ✅ Common mistakes to avoid ✅ Navigating due diligence ✅ The e...

In this episode of Rental Roundtable, Kyle welcomes Jay Tyrell, founder of Northern Safety, to discuss the critical role of safety training in the equipment rental industry. Jay shares insights from his decades of experience in construction and equipment safety, emphasizing how operator errors contribute to service calls and job site accidents. Get in touch with Jay at 218-296-1731 or jay.nsmn@gma...

In this episode of Rental Roundtable, Chad Wagner, owner of A1 Rent It , shares his journey from being a teacher to running a four-location rental business. Starting with one location, Chad and his wife rapidly expanded to three overnight, growing from six to 35 employees. We discuss: ✅ The challenges and lessons from scaling so quickly ✅ How peer groups and the Entrepreneurial Operating System...

Austin Yount, Partner at Brick & Mortar Ventures , joins the Rental Roundtable to discuss investing in construction tech and the future of equipment rental. Brick & Mortar Ventures is a venture capital firm backed by United Rentals, Home Depot, and Autodesk that invests in innovative software and hardware solutions in construction technology. Tune in to learn: ✅ How robotics, electrificat...

This week on the Rental Roundtable, we sat down with John Melia, founder of the Wounded Warrior Project and owner of Contender Equipment Rentals. John shares his incredible journey from military service to building a successful rental business - and the lessons he’s learned along the way. In this episode, we cover: ✅ The story behind founding the Wounded Warrior Project and its $1B+ impact ✅ How...

In this Rental Roundtable, we sat down with Don Hundley, founder and CEO of Iron Pulse Solutions, to dive into digital marketing for equipment rental businesses. Don is a marketing mastermind with a unique perspective, having worked at Synergy Equipment as it grew from one to 20 locations, spent time at JLG, and now helps 1-10 location rental companies with digital marketing strategies. We discuss...

Welcome to the first Rental Roundtable episode of 2025! 🎉 This week, we’re joined by Lauren Watts Mau from the American Rental Association (ARA). Tune in for an in-depth look at: ✅ The upcoming ARA Show 2025 ✅ Exciting updates on Women in Rental initiatives ✅ ARA's work addressing equipment theft ✅ Honoring longstanding ARA members with over 60 years of dedication This episode is packed w...

Join Kyle Clements, CEO of Quipli, as he flips the script in this special webinar hosted by Lauren Mau from the American Rental Association (ARA). In this conversation, Kyle shares his insights on the future of the rental industry, including trends for 2025 and beyond. He discusses the growing role of AI in rental operations, the importance of tech integration, and how these shifts will impact bus...

In this episode of the Rental Roundtable, Bryan Peters, President of AdvanceTrac Equipment, shares his inspiring journey of bootstrapping a rental business from $0 to multi-million-dollar success in just four years. What you’ll learn: ✅ Starting from Scratch: How Bryan balanced a full-time job, family, and launching a business without external funding. ✅ Scaling to Multi-Million Revenue: Discove...