Paul Burkholder, territory manager with High Ridge, Mo.-based McClelland Marketing, has joined the ARA of Iowa board of directors as associate member director. In this role, Burkholder will provide input and deliver viewpoints to the board from the equipment supplier perspective while assisting with overall member engagement.
Founded in 1983, McClelland Marketing is an independent manufacturer’s representative servicing dealers in the construction and rental industry. The agency covers Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota.
Burkholder offers more than 15 years of direct equipment rental industry experience to the American Rental Association (ARA) state chapter board. He also brings nearly a lifetime’s worth of knowledge working in skilled trades and even influenced the current president of the ARA of Iowa to get involved in the association.
“I worked in the trades from age 16 but became involved with the rental business in 2008 when I became a manufacturer’s representative and started working closely with rental businesses full time,” he says. “Having been involved with the ARA as an associate member for many years, I encouraged a client and friend of mine who was getting into the business to join ARA and get involved around 10 years ago. That gentleman [Dave Hehr, president, Contractor Solutions Trench Shoring, Des Moines, Iowa] is now the president of the Iowa chapter.”
All these years later, that relationship led to Burkholder’s new role with the ARA of Iowa, and he is thrilled to run with the ball now being tossed back to him.
“Dave graciously offered me the opportunity to serve. I love how it has all come back full circle! I have been part of many organizations over the years, but the ARA is very unique in that it offers so much back to its members. I was extremely proud to accept the invitation,” he says.
As he settles into his spot on the ARA of Iowa’s leadership team, Burkholder points to one particular industry-wide dilemma that he hopes the board can play a role in tackling.
“I believe the largest challenge for the ARA of Iowa, as well as almost every chapter, is the scarcity of qualified help available,” he says. “I believe that the industry can look to more grassroots involvement through schools and organizations to help promote all the benefits of a career in the rental industry.”