Rob Smith

PC# / location: 990
Start Date: February 22, 2000
Position: Business Development Manager P&P Services

How did you hear about Sunbelt Rentals? How did you find out about your position?

My Brother Doug Smith started working for SB 6 months prior and I was looking to get into the rental market during the short time I was employed by Home Depot but was not given the opportunity so my brother spoke highly of the company and so I joined the team 2/22/00

Why Sunbelt Rentals over other companies?

This is only my third Job in my life so being loyal is very important to me. I noticed right from the beginning that SB had a very close family ownership feel and everyone was all ways focused on one thing and that was to make it happen for the customer. I'm a problem solver and enjoying helping people no matter what the task is. It just seems to be the basis of my nature. So naturally I fit right in when I first joined in as a CSR at pc 011.

Brief summary of your military background & career path with Sunbelt (to date and what you plan for the future)

I joined the Navy with my brother shortly after high school on what is call the "Brother program" in 1994 and landed as a MS (Cook) on a fast attack submarine "USS Key West" stationed first in VA Beach but then 6 months later changing home ports to Pearl Harbor, HI. I was involved in a lot of operations as required on a submarine than just preparing and servicing meals for the crew. As it is with all submariners we were a very small team of 120 crew members and had to know all systems and operations past our normal duties. I was in for 5yrs and enjoyed and saw a lot of the world. Now since my Brother was in during the same time we both got out the same time and continued as it seems to follow each other's career paths. So I guess it was Doug who first joined SB and I followed soon after as well. Being military trained and having to know a lot of systems and operation of one team and group I quickly adapted to the same in my new SB career trying to learn everything I could. As I got into everything I moved to around to many PC's trying to work my way up through different positions. I started at PC 011 as a Rental manager, Then 8 months later went to a new Greenfield opening PC036 Wake Forest as a CSR. I then got my CDL and decided to give driving a try so I had some experience to go with my new CDL. So I then transferred down to my brothers PC003 in Raleigh and drove for 8 months. Meanwhile P&P was coming into the Mid-Atlantic district and was really interested in that side of our business. So in 2002 I moved over to PC093 as Dispatch. I quickly took as much responsibility from the PCM as I could. 4 years later 2006 I took a PCM role in Centennial CO at the new PC193. I worked as PCM for 2 years and then decided in 2009 to move back east as a project manager. As I progressed in the PM role I started working on acquisitions for P&P before we had a full business development team. As SB started its massive growth plan I easily moved over to the newly developed BD team where I currently reside today. I'm enjoying what I'm doing to as planned from the beginning was to learn every aspect of our company and culture I would like to aim towards a director or upper operations management position in our company.

In your own words - tell us a little about your experience here at Sunbelt Rentals:

I enjoy working with all the people in SB. We have a unique dynamic of good people to work with. I think we take our time and hire the right people and that's what makes us unique compared to our competitors. Even though when I started with SB with only 42 pc's and now have grown to over 600 I think it still has that small business feel and original culture. I try every day to instill that same culture and help other employees understand the importance of where we came from. So far SB has been a life changing and life learning experience. Its good comes with it bad but all super seeds by its people and that what I enjoy the most and look forward to many more years ahead.