Advertise on podcast: The Fresh Rental

In this episode of The Fresh Rental, we sit down with James Polkinghorne, Owner and Manager of James Equipment LLC in Winchester, Tennessee.James started his rental business with one skid steer, one trailer, and a simple “Rent Me” sign by the road. What began as a side hustle has grown into a real independent rental operation built through grit, reinvestment, customer demand, and a willingness to learn the business one rental at a time.We talk about what it takes to start and grow an equipment rental company from scratch, the pressure of being an owner-operator, the lessons James has learned along the way, and what independent rental businesses need to focus on as they grow.If you’re in equipment rental, construction, tool rental, or thinking about starting your own rental business, this episode is for you.Guest: James Polkinghorne, James Equipment LLCHosts:Daniel Botero, and Jaime GaezPresented by The Fresh RentalTopics covered:-Starting an equipment rental business-Growing as an independent rental operator-Owner-operator challenges-Customer service in rental-Reinvesting in fleet and equipment-Lessons from the rental industry-Building a business in a smaller market#EquipmentRental #RentalIndustry #ToolRental #ConstructionEquipment #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #IndependentRental #TheFreshRental

Russ Callahan has done it all: tradeshow production, solar, hospitality, and now Chief Revenue Officer at Guest Events in Las Vegas, one of the most competitive event markets on the planet. In this episode we get into what it actually takes to scale teams, lead under pressure, and compete in a market where everyone's trying to put on the biggest show. Russ has been an owner, a director, a VP. He's seen this business from every seat there is. Quick disclaimer: Ralph had some technical issues mid-recording and had to drop. Turns out even the smoothest event industry can't always save you from a bad WiFi connection. Jaime carried the conversation solo from there, so consider this a bonus one-on-one with Russ. No fluff. Just a real conversation with someone who's operated at a high level across more industries than most people work in over a lifetime. 🎙️ The Fresh Rental is powered by Lizit — rental management software built by operators, for operators.🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week.Chapters: IntroductionHow Russ got into events and operationsCompeting in the Las Vegas events marketLeadership under pressureExperience vs. transactionLooking aheadLightning Round

From Navy Leadership to Rental Ops: Foster Harris on Building Systems, Teams, and a Rental-First DealershipIn this episode of The Fresh Rental, the hosts sit down with Foster Harris, Director of Rental and Trucking at Tri Lift Industries in Greensboro, North Carolina, to talk about what it really takes to run rental operations in commercial and industrial material handling. Foster shares his path from the Navy and retail management into Sunstate Equipment, where he quickly moved through branch leadership roles, and why he transitioned to Tri Lift to help shift a dealership toward a more rental-focused strategy. He breaks down day-to-day operational realities—fleet size and equipment mix, the close tie between rental and trucking, and how legacy dealership software creates manual work and visibility gaps. The conversation also covers hiring challenges, feedback cadence, customer follow-ups on equipment out on rent, building “rental ready” processes, and the need for bench strength and systems to prepare for industry retirements.

Tejas Equipment Rental’s Next Generation: Kyle on Data, Fleet Strategy, and Fighting TheftIn this episode of The Fresh Rental, the hosts sit down with Kyle from Tejas Equipment Rental, a Texas family business operating since 1975 with eight locations plus three site-services units. Kyle shares how he entered the business after working in financial services, what surprised him about rental’s many moving parts, and why team strength is the key differentiator. The conversation covers modernizing payments, adopting AI and data tools, and using utilization and other metrics to anticipate demand—especially as Texas jobs require larger equipment like 40–45 ft scissor lifts. Kyle explains implementing customer ID verification (using Vouched) to prevent theft, discusses fleet transitions like shifting skid steers toward more tracked units, and outlines his next step into a larger day-to-day leadership role as Tejas pursues growth amid booming Texas construction and rising competition.

Goodshuffle’s Marshall on Modern Rental Ops, Software Adoption, and AI’s Next WaveIn this episode of The Fresh Rental, the hosts sit down with Marshall, an account executive at Goodshuffle, to talk about the software side of party and event rental. Marshall shares how his background in logistics, venue operations, and SaaS sales shaped his advisor-first approach with rental operators, and why logistics mindset maps closely to rental execution. The conversation covers common operational breakdowns—items missed on trucks, last-minute order changes, double bookings, and details falling through the cracks—and why many owners hesitate to switch systems after painful past rollouts or because processes live “in their head.” They discuss how modern platforms can align sales, fulfillment, dispatch, and warehouse teams, the need to make buying frictionless for customers, and how AI and automation (like automated truck routing) can reduce owner workload and improve decision-making.

Alan Hunt (Thompson Machinery) on Leading Cat Rental Operations, Culture, and Winning in the Margins | The Fresh RentalIn this episode of The Fresh Rental, the host sits down with Alan Hunt, East Region Rental Manager at Thompson Machinery (the Caterpillar dealer) based in the Nashville Metro area, to discuss running heavy equipment rental at serious scale across Tennessee and Mississippi. Alan shares how he “fell into” rental, his transition from a sales background into operations leadership, and why he’s people-first, competitive, and focused on relationships. They break down Thompson’s complexity as a multi-line Cat business, the realities of managing a significant fleet across six locations responsible for about two-thirds of company business, and how big customers require partnership-level service with response times measured in minutes. Alan emphasizes process discipline, metric-driven management, culture as the foundation, and hiring for likability and work ethic, while noting systems help but never replace human confirmation. He also discusses AI as a tool for winners and his “magic wand” wish for predictive fleet management, plus his focus on growth through “feet, fleet, and facilities.”

Davis West (Top Tech) on Safe Tenting, Custom Projects, and the Future of Tent Rentals | The Fresh Rental In this episode of The Fresh Rental, the hosts sit down with Davis West, Technical Solutions Manager at Top Tech, to talk about his 15-year journey in the tent and event rental world—from starting at 14 on a local crew that grew from one 40x80 pole tent into a four-location business, to joining Top Tech after a brief stint outside the industry. Davis explains what sets Top Tech apart through quality, customer support, and solution-focused service, and breaks down his new role handling technical issues, engineering, wind loads, freight damage troubleshooting, and managing a redesigned Nantucket product launch. They also discuss innovations like printed tops and powder-coated poles, the industry’s shift toward PPE and safer job sites, and Davis’s tent-focused podcast

Michael Larsen on Talent, Culture, and Building the Next Generation of Rental Leaders | The Fresh Rental In this episode of The Fresh Rental, the hosts sit down with Michael Larsen, a second-generation rental operator from Australia and co-host of the Rental Journal podcast, to talk about how the rental industry is changing and why the next decade’s biggest advantage won’t be fleet—it will be talent, culture, and repeatable daily behaviors. Michael shares how his parents founded their power and HVAC-focused rental business in the early 2000s, how his original goal of becoming an international airline pilot shifted after graduating in 2020, and how the Australian Hire & Rental Industry Association’s Young Professionals program and the ARA Rental Exchange helped accelerate his path in the industry. The conversation covers his “rental is no joke” moments at industry trade shows, the four leadership archetypes he sees in high-performing rental teams, and the habits that compound into long-term growth. They also dig into common operational challenges—reliability, responsiveness, technical excellence, reputation, and consistency—along with the slow-killing behavior of indecision. Michael explains why the talent gap is both a visibility issue and a leadership development issue, emphasizing mentorship, purpose, and “talent gravity” as key to attracting and retaining young professionals. The episode closes with a practical discussion on shifting from transactions to customer experiences and a lightning round covering culture, branding, and what kind of guest should come next. 00:00 Welcome to The Fresh Rental + Meet Michael Larsen 01:15 Michael’s Origin Story: Growing Up in a Family Rental Business 02:15 From Pilot Dreams to Rental Leadership (Young Pros & Global Exposure) 03:58 “This Industry Is No Joke”: Trade Shows, ARA, and the People 05:13 The 4 Leadership Archetypes That Drive Rental Performance 06:37 Hiring & Team-Building: Small Daily Behaviors That Compound 07:26 The Problems Every Rental Company Faces (and Why Consistency Wins) 09:03 The Silent Killer: Indecision + Building Momentum to Scale 10:54 The 2030 Talent Gap: Visibility, Mentorship, and ‘Talent Gravity’ 13:12 Is It a Talent Shortage or a Leadership Development Problem? 14:59 Mentorship That Matters: Finding Guides and Staying Connected 16:19 When Things Go Sideways: Culture, Mission, and ‘Special Forces’ Teams 18:56 From Transactions to Experiences: Becoming a True Project Partner 22:41 Advice for the Next Generation + Mistakes to Avoid 24:47 Lightning Round + Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

In this episode of The Fresh Rental, hosts Ralph Shaw, Daniel Botero, and Jaime Gaez sit down with Carol Fontanez, General Manager of Rentals at Jamco and President of the American Rental Association Florida Chapter. Carol shares her journey from growing within Jamco’s rental operation to leading one of the most active ARA chapters in the country. The conversation dives deep into what it takes to manage a large rental team, the importance of building community through the ARA, and her mission to open more doors for young professionals in the industry. It’s an honest, insightful look into leadership, mentorship, and the future of rental — through the eyes of someone helping shape it. 🎧 About The Fresh Rental:A podcast by and for the next generation of rental professionals — operators, dispatchers, managers, and owners — hosted by Ralph Shaw, Daniel Botero, and Jaime Gaez. Powered by Lizit.

The fresh rental. Ep 2. Ty Bolden. - All about events. In this episode of The Fresh Rental, hosts Ralph Shaw, Daniel Botero, and Jaime Gaez sit down with Ty Bolden, General Manager at All About Events, to talk about leadership, growth, and the realities of running a fast-paced event rental business.Ty shares what he’s learned in his first year and a half leading one of Florida’s most active event rental operations, from managing chaos behind the scenes to building a team that thrives under pressure. Along the way, the conversation dives into the stories, lessons, and laughs that make this industry what it is.This episode captures what The Fresh Rental is all about: real conversations, real people, and fresh perspectives from the next generation of rental pros.🎧 About The Fresh Rental:A podcast by and for the next generation of rental professionals: operators, dispatchers, managers, and owners. Hosted by Ralph Shaw, Daniel Botero, and Jaime Gaez. Powered by Lizit and the YPN of Florida.

Welcome to the first episode of The Fresh Rental! 🎙️For this kickoff, the three hosts: Ralph Shaw, Daniel Botero, and Jaime Gaez, turn the mics on themselves. Ralph takes the hot seat as the very first guest, while Danny and Jaime step into the interviewer role. Together, they dive into Ralph’s journey in the rental industry, his role in the as GM, and the experiences that have shaped his perspective.This episode sets the tone for what The Fresh Rental is all about: real stories, sharp insights, and fresh perspectives from the next generation of rental pros.About The Fresh Rental:A podcast by and for the next generation of rental professionals: operators, dispatchers, managers, and owners. Hosted by Ralph Shaw, Daniel Botero, and Jaime Gaez. Powered by Lizit.