ARA names new executive vice president/CEO

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The American Rental Association’s board of directors has named Tony Conant executive vice president/CEO, replacing Christine Wehrman who is retiring after 16 years with the association. Conant will begin in the middle of November.

Conant will become the fourth executive vice president/CEO of the ARA since its founding in 1955. He most recently served as chief operating officer at the Institute for Supply Management based in Phoenix where he was responsible for enabling operational excellence across the company and building capabilities for ISM’s future growth. As leader of the certification, publications, membership, research, finance, IT and human resources functions, Conant helped enable ISM’s vision by managing project prioritization, decision ownership, effective resource, alignment, measurement and accountability across the company, ARA said.

“We look forward to [Conant’s] leadership and contributions to advance the forward momentum of the association,” said ARA president Roger Vajgrt, owner of Home Rental Center & Sales Co., Marshalltown, Iowa. “His professional career experience and education is a definite asset to ARA as we look ahead to the future of the equipment rental industry.”

Conant has worked with Intel, BASF, Whirpool and Bank of America, and was vice president of operations and share services at One Touch Direct, a direct marketing company.

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