Founded just outside of Charlotte, NC, Sunbelt Rentals has grown into one of the largest equipment rental companies in North America with over 550 locations. They also have an extensive fleet of construction equipment, tools, pumps and power generation equipment valued at over $5 billion dollars.
The company’s mission is to service a variety of customers. These include those in the commercial, residential, and industrial construction along with specialized service industries and the weekend do-it-yourselfer. One would think that a company such as Sunbelt Rentals would be a natural progression for ATI students who graduate and are transitioning to the workforce.
Michael O’Brien, Career Services Advisor
Recently, two of Sunbelt Rental’s managers, here in Hampton Roads got a chance to visit ATI for the Heavy Vehicle department’s advisory board meetings. They were able to tour and learn all of the details as to why ATI is a great place for students to learn their trade. They then spoke to students directly and explained to them how a career with Sunbelt could be exactly what they are looking for.
This was their first visit to ATI and this was what Norman Paquette, Chesapeake Branch Manager had to say. “It was a real learning experience and ATI is much more than I realized. I thought that ATI was only teaching the breaking down of engines and putting them back together.”
He continued, “It’s way more than that. And it is absolutely better for a company like Sunbelt that you are giving students the fundamentals. We then can give them the operational experience.”
During the presentation, Paquette stressed to interested students how they can find different types of job experiences with the company. He pointed out the company’s never ending devotion to safety and training and the comprehensive programs that they put on for their employees.
He also touched on Sunbelt’s commitment to giving back, in the form of their involvement with the Gary Sinise Foundation and its R.I.S.E program. Sunbelt Rentals provides tools and equipment at no cost to the program’s contractors that help to provide specially adapted smart homes for America’s most severely wounded heroes and their families
