Melani Kodikian, CERP, president, A to Z Party Rental, Montgomeryville, Pa., has been elected to serve on the ARA of Pennsylvania board of directors.
“I’ve been involved in different committees of ARA [American Rental Association] and sat on the board of directors of MATRA [Manufacturers and Tent Renters Association] for many years but never focused on my state and its members. I felt it was time to direct some focus back home,” Kodikian says.
Kodikian’s company, A to Z Party Rental, was originally part of a franchise established in 1968, A-Z Rental Center. The company served primarily local construction companies and homeowners in Flourtown, Pa. In the late 1970s, A-Z moved to Springhouse, Pa., and sold off the tool and construction equipment portion of the business to focus solely on special events, caterers, hotels and corporations in the area.
Kodikian’s experience in the industry began during her school-age years and has encompassed both the equipment and event rental segments.
“I started working at Rental World part-time at a young age and continued through high school,” she says. “I worked in all the departments of general tool and party rental, except for engine repair. After college and a corporate career, I returned to Pennsylvania and got involved in the business again. In 2008 I became the president and owner of A to Z Party Rental.”
During her career, Kodikian has served within ARA as a member of the following committees: the task force that develops The ARA Show™, the Party Certification Task Force and the ARA/ARA Insurance Services Member Risk Management Committee. In addition, she has achieved Certified Event Rental Professional (CERP) credentials through ARA. She also is a member of the MATRA board of directors.
As the ARA of Pennsylvania plans member events and programs for 2022 and beyond, Kodikian says her goals for her involvement on the board are to “engage more of our members and grow our membership.”