At Cooper Equipment Rentals, we strive to create an environment where employees are happy at work and customers want to keep coming back. We make it clear to everyone at the company that our values—the “Cooper Difference”—are non-negotiable, and I’m gratified to see how much they resonate with our many long-term employees. My business partner, Darryl Cooper, and I, have complementary skills and perspectives—we each bring different ideas to the table, and it works incredibly well. Since we joined forces in 2010, we have grown the business from two locations to 65 and from twenty employees to 1,100. Our company has grown at a compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) of 42% since 2010. As a leader, I know that teams accomplish more than individuals, and I always seek differing opinions before making any decision. I’ve learned that one of the best ways to get people engaged is to ask them what they think. I always leave my door open and make it clear that I’m open to talking any time. I rely heavily on my team to tell me the right thing to do—they are the experts, after all.This perspective is core to my deep belief in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I). To me it’s a natural extension of my long-held philosophy that you get more accomplished when you seek a wider range of thoughts, experiences and ideas. We are actively working toward achieving gender parity across the organization and making tremendous progress. It makes me very proud that Cooper was awarded a bronze parity certification under Women in Governance in 2022, and we continue to set our sights even higher for future years. A diverse team leads to more ideas and better solutions for our customers; why wouldn’t we want that?I also believe in giving back to my community. I’m a member of the board of trustees at the George Hull Centre for Children and Families, a charitable organization providing child and youth mental health services, whose mission is very important to me. I’m also an active member of the Georgian Peaks Ski Club, and an avid tennis player, golfer and cyclist. My wife and I have three grown sons, three wonderful daughters in law, and 4 grandchildren, all of whom make us very proud in so many different ways.