Episode Overview
In this episode, Rob Mayes, Regional Manager at Empower Rental Group, shares his journey from finance into the world of equipment rental, a career he’s grown to love over the past decade. After starting at a small independent rental company and navigating its acquisition by HERC, Rob now leads two locations for Empower, a fast-growing regional player.
We explore how relationships drive everything from recruiting to problem-solving, what changes when an independent gets acquired by a national, and why “scrappiness” is the biggest advantage for independents and regionals in heavy equipment rental. Rob also discusses building careers and upward mobility for employees, and where AI can, and can’t, replace people. His story is a testament to work ethic, adaptability, and the people-first side of the rental industry.
Timestamps:
- 00:00 – Rob shares how he went from financial planning to building a rental career over the past decade.
- 01:48 – Realizing that he wanted to build something of his own sparked a shift from his family’s finance business to rental.
- 07:36 – Despite tech advances, the industry still depends on mechanics, drivers, and customer-facing staff who understand real-world needs.
- 09:35 – The HERC acquisition of Rental Works brings new resources, structure, and career growth opportunities for employees.
- 27:35 – Building strong peer networks and joining industry groups emerges as a key way to solve problems and grow.
- 30:01 – Helping employees rise from entry-level roles to six-figure careers becomes one of Rob’s biggest motivations.
- 36:54 – A hustle mindset—pushing for one more rental, delivery, or repair—creates compounding advantages over time.
- 38:49 – AI tools like Gemini support operational decisions by analyzing large datasets and comparing sales territories.
- 41:30 – Future AI adoption could improve routing, call coaching, and recruiting without replacing human expertise.
- 43:33 – Career success comes from building relationships, finding mentors, and investing in the next generation.
