Justin Williams, co-owner, Advantage Tent & Party Rental, Latonia, Ky., has never served on a board before, but he is eager to learn now that he is the newest ARA of Kentucky board member.
“I am excited about being on the board, and I think it will be great to be part of it,” he says.
Williams thought board service would be a natural evolution for him.
“I already know almost every tent rental company in the area,” he says. “Years ago, when there was a stage collapse in Indiana, a lot of states looked into their safety protocols for tenting. I was involved when Kentucky tent rental companies had taken part with IFAI [Industrial Fabrics Association International] in looking at what the state should require as far as permitting. I met with the code enforcement personnel who were putting the plan together with IFAI to make sure everyone was on the same page. I also pre-worked with my manufacturers. That issue started my relationships with other rental companies in Kentucky and Ohio. I am active in this area and thought board service would be the next step. I felt I needed to get more involved in this way.”
Williams not only brings his experience as an event rental owner and his dedication to safety but also a new perspective to his new board duties. “My business consumes my life outside of my family. I have done every job in the operation and continue to be super-involved in my company. I would say my experience is my biggest asset. Since I have not served on a board before, I also can bring fresh eyes,” he says.
His industry experience started when he began a part-time job for an event rental operation while working nights at a group home for disabled adults. “It started out as a way to make some extra money. After 1.5 years, I quit working at the group home and began managing the company. After 10 years, I had investors to start my own business. About six years ago, I had an opportunity to buy six of those investors out. I now run the business with my partner, Travis Faris,” Williams says.
Williams prides himself on being “hands-on with everything in the business, including our restroom trailers. I have done every job in the operation. Weddings are our niche. I am big into planning jobs. When we do a wedding or any type of job, everything is planned out on paper, down to where things plug in. My team is executing the plan that I and the customer put forth. We don’t run into a lot of surprises because we do the prep work,” he says.
Because of his interest in tent safety, he would like to assist the ARA of Kentucky by offering training in this area as well as on other safety topics “so everyone is on the same page,” he says.
He is ready to assist in any way possible. “I just want to be involved. It will be a good experience. I am looking forward to it,” he says.
Connie Lannan
Connie Lannan is special projects editor for Rental Management. She helps plan, coordinate, write and edit ARA’s quarterly regional newsletters, In Your Region. She also researches, writes and edits news and feature articles for Rental Management, Rental Pulse, supplements, special reports and other special projects. Outside of work, she loves to bake for others, go for walks with her husband and volunteer for her church and causes she believes in.
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