Steve Houser, general manager/part owner, U.S. Rents It, Jefferson City, Mo., has taken on the role of president for the ARA of Missouri. He succeeds Ashley Pouche, president, Platte Rental & Supply, Parkville, Mo.
Houser’s company, U.S. Rents It, was founded in the 1950s and is a full-service rental center that offers equipment and event rentals, in addition to trailer services, to customers across Central Missouri.
Houser has served on the ARA of Missouri board of directors since the American Rental Association (ARA) state chapter was reactivated in early 2019 after years of dormancy. To prepare for his new role, he attended ARA’s Leadership Conference event in 2021, which informs and inspires volunteer leaders within the association.
Houser says that as president, his primary concern is to keep the ball rolling for his state chapter.
“Since we have resurrected the ARA of Missouri again, I view that my work is to continue the momentum that was set before me,” he says. “Our Missouri members deserve to have their dues provide educational and networking opportunities that will help their success in the rental industry.”
In the near term, Houser is eager to start getting the word out about the next ARA of Missouri event and has his sights set on families within the state’s equipment and event rental community.
“In my opinion, most equipment and event rental stores are family-run. That’s why our board is planning a family event at the Lake of the Ozarks this summer,” he says.
Looking ahead, Houser has clear ideas about the strategy he and his fellow board members need to take to continue engaging ARA of Missouri members in their state chapter and within the larger association.
“As a board, we have agreed that we need to reach out personally to our ARA of Missouri member stores — we are here to serve them,” he says. “People’s emails change, store leadership and locations change, and we don’t want members to lose sight of the importance of ARA and especially the ARA of Missouri.”