A brand-new international rental exchange program allows young rental professionals the opportunity to live and work in another country to learn more about the rental industry internationally. Peter Maginnis, branch manager for American Rentals in South Gate, Calif., is the first exchange participant. He is currently working at Kennards Hire P/L in Sydney, Australia.

The exchange program is a partnership between the member associations of The Global Rental Alliance to advance careers in rental and increase worldwide awareness of the equipment rental industry. The ARA Foundation facilitates the exchange program on behalf of The Global Rental Alliance. The Alliance associations include the American Rental Association, Canadian Rental Association, DLR of France, European Rental Association, Hire Association Europe, Hire Industry Association of New Zealand, and Hire and Rental Industry Association Ltd.

Maginnis started at Kennards Hire at the beginning of November, learning the day-to-day operations of the rental business in Australia while also sharing his U.S. perspective. He will work at Kennards through the end of January and will share his experiences during The Rental Show in Atlanta, which is March 2-5.

He is chronicling his exchange experience on a blog, accessible through the International Rental Exchange Program link on The Global Rental Alliance Web site, located at www.globalrentalalliance.com.

The original idea for the international exchange program developed out of a conversation that Andy Kennard and Peter Lancken of Kennards Hire had with former ARA Chairman of the Board/ARA Foundation Trustee Carl Newman about the friendships they've formed with ARA members over the years. Kennard and Lancken donated $10,000 to the ARA Foundation in 2007 on behalf of Kennards to help create the exchange program.