InTents April/May 2023 - 8

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The TRD NextGen Program
TENT
CONFERENCE
T
he 2023 Tent Conference saw the
launch of the division's first NextGen
event. " NextGen " is short for " Next Generation, "
defined by ATA's Tent Rental Division
(TRD) as anyone who meets at least one of
the following criteria:
* You have been in the industry for less
than 10 years.
The TRD NextGen program aims
to play a vital role in supporting
the education and training of the
industry's next generation of leaders.
* You may be under the age of 40.
* You are in the process of becoming an
owner, even if this is many years down
the road.
* You consider yourself to be the " next generation "
or the future of the tent industry.
Those who don't meet at least one of
those criteria are considered to be an
" OG, " which is short for " older generation "
(aka " original gangster " ). These
individuals carry the institutional
knowledge of the industry, and TRD is
launching the NextGen program in an
effort to help pass that knowledge on to
those who are currently rising through
the ranks.
" TRD continues to recognize the importance
of the NextGen to the future of the
tent industry, " says Steve Belliveau, sales
manager at Anchor Industries Inc. and
new chair of the TRD. " This is just one
of the division's many efforts to provide
programs that serve specific needs and
enhance relationships and growth within
the membership as a whole. "
The NextGen program aims to play a
vital role in supporting the education
and training that is so vital to ensuring
a vibrant and successful future for
this industry.
" This program is focused toward
the NextGens, who are the future of
the industry, and the passing of the
torch so to speak, " says TRD immediate
past chair Michael Tharpe. " By
torch, I mean the passing of the knowledge
forward from the older generation.
Events like this first one at Tent
Conference provide opportunities
for the two groups to focus on communicating
that knowledge and helping
one another for the betterment of
the industry. "
The next TRD NextGen event will
take place at the 2024 Tent Expo,
Jan. 16-18 in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Industry news
After 30 years of service to the industry,
Michael Tharpe has announced his
retirement from the Commercial Tent
Division of Rainier Industries. He will
continue to serve as the immediate past
chair of ATA's Tent Rental Division.
Jim G. Reyen, business director at Johnson
Outdoors/Eureka! Tents has retired after
35 years of service. In his retirement, Reyen
plans to focus on the Greater Binghamton
community as the first-ever Director of
Placemaking Initiatives with the Binghamton
Chamber of Commerce.
Rainier Industries announced the acquisition
of Outdoor American Images (OAI) Corporation,
located in Tampa, Fla. Together,
Rainier Display and OAI offer a full suite of
services nationwide.
AE Industrial Partners (AEI) has signed
a definitive agreement to sell its portfolio
company Resolute Industrial to Aggreko
for a transaction value of $440 million.
Resolute Industrial is a provider of
specialized temporary heating, ventilation,
air conditioning and refrigeration
(HVAC&R) solutions.
The U.S. Department of Labor is increasing
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) penalties for violations in
2023. OSHA's maximum fines for serious and
other-than-serious violations will increase
from $14,502 per violation to $15,625 per
violation. The maximum penalty for willful
or repeated violations will increase from
$145,027 per violation to $156,259 per violation.
After nearly 40 years, Standard Event
Rentals has announced the sale of the
business to two tenured employees-Isabel
Galindo and Malina Jacobs.
8 intents april-may 2023
InTents April/May 2023

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