ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Volvo Rents last month acquired franchise locations in both Florida and Oklahoma.
Casco Rents is a three-location equipment rental company and Volvo Rents franchise with stores in Tampa, Port St. Lucie and Pompano Beach, Fla. Volvo Rents also operates a rental center in Orlando. Casco Rents' owner Enrique Irizarry is part of the Irizarry Group that owns Casco Rents based in Catano, Puerto Rico.
Volvo Rents' expansion in Florida comes on the heels of a new forecast by economists at IHS Global Insight that predicts Florida will have the third-most construction dollars spent among the states from 2011-16, and the fourth-highest annual average percentage gain through 2016.
Volvo Rents continued its acquisition spree with the purchase of WED LLC, a single-location equipment rental center in Oklahoma City. The company was previously co-owned by Volvo Rents franchisees David Evans, Max Weldon and David Darby.
Volvo Rents said an increase in local construction spending is expected to total more than $14.5 billion between 2012 and 2016.
Evans, Weldon and Darby began their relationship with Volvo Rents early in 2010.
Volvo Rents is continuing to operate its franchise network and is growing a network of company-owned stores, acquiring some of the franchises.
In other company news, Volvo Rents opened East and Central Region offices.
The new East Region office in Iselin, N.J., is led by Russ Parisi, an 18-year equipment rental industry veteran who joined Volvo Rents in 2003. He will serve as eastern region vice president and oversee the eastern United States, as well as Canada's eastern provinces.
“This is a pivotal time in the market, with great opportunities for Volvo Rents' further growth,” said Parisi. “The new office and management team adds further depth and breadth of experience as we intensify our push to capitalize on the economic upturn and expand upon our already strong network of company- and franchise-owned stores.”
Other members of the new management team include regional executive administrator Michelle Laury; division managers are David Ritz, Northeast; Joe Weldie, Southeast; Larry Kirkpatrick, upper Midwest; Victor Guerreiro, greater Toronto area.
Regional sales managers are Matt Tavianini (Northeast and upper Midwest) and Mike Bullock, Southeast. Division sales manager is Nelson Tavares, Greater Toronto area. Region safety manager is Sal Lombardo; region service manager is Jerry Dohn; region controller, Ed Cunnally.
The new Volvo Rents Central Region office is located in The Woodlands, Texas, and is led by Bruce Slaughter, central region vice president. Slaughter is a 27-year veteran of the equipment rental industry who joined Volvo Rents in 2006 as a district manager.
Also involved in the central region management team is regional executive administrator Becky Medina; division managers Jason Bullock (Louisiana, Central Arkansas, Mississippi); Kelly Ryan (Texas); and David Evans (Missouri, Oklahoma, Northern Arkansas); region service manager Troy Dodd; region controller Rich Gomes; and region accounting manager Kathy Schultz.
Volvo Rents, based in Asheville, N.C., is No. 17 on the RER 100.
