Jeff Crotto, CERP

PRESIDENT-ELECT

The designated voting representative of all ARA general members will vote for president-elect.

Jeff Crotto, CERP
All About Events – Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Fla.

Jeff Crotto, CERP, is president, All About Events – Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Fla. He founded the company in the fall of 2010 and oversees the day-to-day operations of the event rental company as the de-facto general manager. The company started out in a 10-ft.-by-10-ft. storage unit and, after a few moves over the years, is now in a 32,000-sq.-ft. facility and has 45 employees, including 41 who are full-time.

“The business has grown steadily from its beginnings and was poised to have its best year ever in 2020. Obviously, the pandemic made that impossible, but after a 2020 that saw sales down about 40 percent, we had a good year in 2021, where we were slightly up over 2019. In 2022, we are well on our way to the best year in the company’s history by a wide margin,” Crotto says.

The company’s business development manager, operations manager and warehouse manager, as well as an administrative assistant who handles human resources, payroll and accounting functions all report to Crotto, who also serves as the “face” of the company at networking and other community events.

Background: “I moved to Jacksonville in 2004, started in the industry that same year and have basically worked in a rental store ever since. The rental companies I worked for prior to starting All About Events were small, ‘mom-and-pop’ operations, but the small size allowed me to see and do almost everything from delivering equipment, installing tents, washing dishes and cleaning equipment in the warehouse to sales and on-site meetings with clients. The four years prior to starting All About Events, I operated as a sales manager and that really gave me the confidence to go out on my own, knowing I would be able to sell myself and our services to clients. I could not have survived this long without those lessons,” Crotto says.

Activities and recognition:

• ARA Region Three director: 2019-2021.

• ARA Executive Committee member: 2021.

• ARA of Florida: chair of the board, 2018-2019; president, 2016-2018; vice president, 2014-2016; secretary, 2012-2014; membership committee chair, 2015-2017; and communications committee chair, 2013-2019.

• ARA Volunteer Recognition Awards Committee member: 2017.

• ARA Event Rental Shared Interest Group member: 2015-2016.

• The ARA Show™ Task Force: 2016-2018.

• The ARA Show speaker: 2017.

• ARAPAC supporter: 2012-present.

• ARA Event Rental Advocacy Group: 2021-present.

• ARA Leadership Conference attendee: 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021.

• ARA National Legislative Caucus attendee: 2015, 2019.

• Women in Rental Breakfast attendee, 2019-2021.

• The ARA Show attendee: 2010-present.

• ARA Outstanding Leadership Award: 2017.

• Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce trustee.

• St. John’s County Chamber of Commerce member.

• San Marco Preservation Society member.

• Adopt a Road program participant.

• Bold City Best — Best Place to Work in Jacksonville – Small: 2015.

• Inc. 5000 fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S.: 2019.

If the members select you as president-elect — and ultimately you serve as president and board chair — what do you hope to accomplish?

“In my opinion, the two best initiatives that ARA has in motion are the Young Professional Network and the Women in Rental program. I intend to do everything in my power to encourage the continued growth of these programs. These two groups represent the future of our industry and the greatest untapped resources of our industry. We have to continue to encourage these groups, so these people know that equipment and event rental provides a viable career path for them and that we are a welcoming industry. We know this industry is great; now we just need to show them. I also believe my desire to learn will greatly assist me in this role. I enjoy meeting new people, hearing their stories, their challenges and their thoughts on things. This will help me to either know about an issue our association will need to address and be able to speak intelligently on that issue or will provide me the desire to learn the relevant things so I can provide insightful thoughts,” Crotto says.