The Missouri Rental Dealers Association [MRDA] met this week for its 15th Annual Heartland of America Regional Trade Show and Seminar in Lake Ozark, Missouri. The event’s highly anticipated 4-Man Golf Scramble and Bass Fishing Tournament went, on rain or shine, with record-breaking bass caught. The awards dinner was short and sweet as it coincided with this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs (Go Blues!) but closed with the announcement of new MRDA president Scott Mitchell of All American Rental. After 10 years, the torch was passed from former MRDA president John Cleek, Jr. of Cleek’s Home Furnishings to Mitchell.
“I am extremely proud of the accomplishments that this association has made. During the time that I have served, we have won four APRO State Association of the Year awards, and seven overall since the award was originated in 1991,” shares Cleek. “I very much appreciate all of the board members and vendors and think it’s time for a change. Scott is a great person who runs an outstanding family business. He is a man of high integrity and morals and will do an excellent job in taking this association forward.” Cleek will remain on the MRDA board of directors and serve as immediate past president.
Special guests Gary Romine, Owner of Show Me RTO and Past Missouri State Senator (District 3), and Moriah Eberhart, APRO Member Engagement and Business Development Manager, spoke at the MRDA Dinner. Romine, who has also served as MRDA and APRO president, provided a Missouri state of the industry update and discussed the importance of government relations on a local level. Eberhart introduced herself and thanked the association for the warm welcome. She also shared details about the upcoming RTO World 2019 scheduled for August 6-8 in Louisville along with debuting the APRO Legislative Conference video that included highlights from this year’s conference and the importance of why we go to our nation’s capital year after year.
This year’s event also included product trainings presented by Bill French and Martin “Elvis” Valdez of O’Rourke Sales Company and Dan Anderson, Mike Kays, Gary Jones, Michael Philips, Ron Reyering, Wes Slay and Jamee Thompson of Ashley Furniture. A PAC raffle drawing was held during the three days that gave away thousands of dollars in prizes and gift cards.
MRDA’s newly elected and re-elected directors are Scott Micthell, president; Aaron Windsor, vice president; John Cleek, Jr., immediate past president; and board members Michael Bowman, Cindy Boyers, Steve Braning, John “Tiger” Cleek, Sr., Dan Cole, Greg Humphrey, Mary Humphrey, Kevin Hollaway, Macy Mitchell, Curtis Moke, Jerry Pinkley, Rick Rineberg, Gary Romine, Kevin Welker and Mark Windsor.
Click here to see more photos of the 2019 MRDA Heartland of America Regional Trade Show and Seminar.
Golf Tournament Winners
1st Place: Paul Gibbons, Steve Gibbons, Rick Rineberg and Langley Johnson
Closest to Pin: James MacAlpine
Women’s Longest Drive: Ann Cleek
Men’s Longest Drive: Wade Burton
Longest Putt: Daryl Rodeman
Closest to Pin: Wade Burton
Bass Fishing Tournament Winners
1st Place: Dan Cole and Steve Braning
6 keepers; 17.28 lb total weight
2nd Place: Ron Reyering and Vic Lombardo
6 keepers; 17.27 lb total weight
3rd Place: Michael Key and Michael Phillips
6 keepers; 15.06 lb total weight
4th Place: Aaron Windsor and Brian Beauchamp
6 keepers; 12.83 lb total weight
Biggest Bass: Vic Lombardo
4.13 lbs
