Seminar Program

Each morning before the show floor opens, the Rental Mart presents a thought-provoking educational seminar from a top authority on hot industry topics. Attendance is free with your Rental Mart registration. Seminars take place in the conference rooms at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels across the road from the Congress Centre.

"Renting Safe and Profitable: How to Meet Your Safety Obligations and Still Remain Viable"
George Olah brings 30 years of experience to the question of how rental operators can navigate the choppy waters of federal, provincial and municipal regulations and still come out ahead. A former senior energy advisor to the Ontario Ministry of Energy, Olah helped draft provincial safety standards for propane and natural gas technology. As the former national director of marketing for a major Canadian equipment manufacturer and presently the general manager of operations for ABCO, Olah knows how to leverage his in-depth knowledge of government safety culture to comply with the law while staying in business. Governments at all levels are taking a hard look at safety performance in the rental industry these days. Olah's insights can help you manage your risks in this difficult environment.

Tuesday, March 6 * 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. * DoubleTree Hilton, New York room

Enhancing Your Lawn and Garden Rental Profits
Mark Peart, dealer sales representative for G.C. Duke Equipment, will discuss ways to make lawn and garden rentals more profitable through better promotion, training and customer service.

Peart has been selling lawn and garden equipment out of Burlington, Ont., for the last 15 years. He has also spent time in western Canada representing the same type of products. He was instrumental in developing G.C. Duke's Ontario and western Canada dealer network for landscaping and rental equipment. His product lines include Ryan, Lawn Solutions, Brown and Giant Vac. Prior to joining G.C. Duke he managed a lawn care Franchise in the Hamilton, Ont., area, and prior to that he worked in agricultural sales and marketing.

Peart presented this talk at the last Canadian Rental Mart to rave reviews. In it, he covers ways to offer value added products and services to lawn and garden equipment rental customers, including proper marketing of these services and training of staff. He will educate attendees on such areas as overseeding, aerating, and topdressing. Peart will also look at financing options for lawn and garden equipment, telling attendees how they can keep the latest equipment in stock without breaking the bank.

Wednesday, March 7 * 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. * DoubleTree Hilton, New York room