Jack Shea, widely referred to as the “godfather of rental industry software” is retiring from InTempo Software following a career of more than 50 years, primarily in the equipment rental industry. Shea was one of the pioneers of software specifically for rental.
Joining Taylor Rental as a certified public accountant in 1973, Shea worked to computerize internal operations and to provide franchisees with better information. Believing that there was a substantial benefit from having a point-of-sale system in a rental business, Shea founded Solutions by Computer in 1982. Solutions quickly earned accolades for its CounterPro software line, which enabled rental businesses to efficiently track inventory and calculate charges accurately—revolutionary developments at the time. The product continued to evolve over the years, and was followed by the introduction of Enfinity (now InTempo Core) in 2005.
Solutions was acquired by Constellation Software in 2008, and in 2015 the company joined forces with a portion of Wynne Systems, also owned by Constellation, to form InTempo Software.
While the software Shea developed with Taylor and later Solutions by Computer was not the only early attempt to computerize rental businesses, Solutions software is viewed by many as the first system to really stick and have a lasting impact on the rental industry, including the party industry as well as tools and equipment. His CounterPro software, now owned by InTempo, is still being used by many rental companies, as is Enfinity, developed by Solutions By Computer and now known as InTempo Core.
Shea has been honored with many awards over the years, including the American Rental Association’s prestigious Special Service Award.
“Jack has been an outstanding ambassador not only for the InTempo brand, but for the advancement of technology in general,” said John Bureau, general manager of Wynne Systems. “He opened the eyes of an entire generation, myself included, to the power of computing in this industry. His passion and dedication inspired many of us over the years and he will be missed by all of those who had the opportunity to work with him.”
“Watching how this industry has grown and embraced technology has been incredibly fulfilling. It has been a privilege to serve alongside such a passionate group of colleagues and customers, many of whom I have known for decades and come to count as close friends,” said Shea.
Shea plans to spend more time with his family, focus on his hobbies, and take on new challenges.
