By Scottie Claiborne ©2006

We are running slightly behind on our elections and general meeting, but we will get the details to you soon.  In the meantime, it's time to introduce you to the four candidates running for our two open spots on the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors is made up of 5 individuals that serve 2 year terms.  This year we have 2 open seats, next year we will have 3 open seats.  Board members may run again and be elected to serve indefinitely.

Returning board members are Heidi Schulz, Christopher Kinkade, and Harold Fisher. Our two new board members will be elected from these four candidates, who have each submitted a short bio:

Blake Hemric

I've been married for 15 yrs to my lovely wife, Maggie. We have 3 kids, 1 girl and 2 boys. I was a truck driver in my former career. We started our biz in 2001 and went full time in 2004. We are now starting our seventh yr in the biz. I really enjoy the biz and love making folks happy with our services.

As far as being on the Board, it would just be another way of helping out the inflatable industry. I've been a moderator at the forum for a while and I enjoy the people and the information shared there.  I believe the help Airco provides is invaluable to the industry. I view my role as whatever I can do to help out Airco with the goals we have for this industry. I would like to think I am a fair minded person with some common sense about me.

Mark Popovich

My name is Mark Popovich and I am 46 years old. My wife Danielle and I have been married for 21 years. We have three children, Alex (20), Nick (18), and Chrissy (16).

We began as a tent rental business 14 years ago. We had a 20x20 tent left to us by a relative. We used to have large cookouts at our old place. Since we only used the tent twice a year Danielle suggested we rent it out. It caught on so quickly that we bought a second tent. It was a nice, cash only business that gave us lots of mad money. Then one day as I was coaching my son's t-ball team a man blew up a Starwalk III.  I walked over and struck up a conversation. Three days later I bought it off of him for an exhorbitant amount of money. But, he gave me many leads.

I set it up in my front yard during our subdivision garage sale that year and made $300 in 6 hours. I was hooked. We went to the bank and secured a loan. I went to the ARA show in NOLA in 97 and bought a bunch of equipment and took classes. We got incorporated, got insurance, and away we went. Without going too deeply into all of the details I will bring us to 11 years later. We now have a workforce of 12 part-time as well as Danielle, myself, and our youngest two. We have over 20 different inflatables, tents, tables and chairs with all types of accessories, casino games, carnival games, concession machines, clowns, magicians, balloon artists, and face painters.

Beginning four years ago our business doubled and the doubled again the next year. Just this year so far (Jan. 1, 07 to today) we have increased business 30% over last year at this same time. We currently do over 700 events a year and our gross income is well into six figures.

I have my Master's degree in Psychology and am licensed in Indiana. I currently work with prisoners in a Super Maximum Security Prison. I am also involved in our local theater. I am currently in the role of Richard in our presentation of "The Lion in Winter".

I would like to serve on the board as I see a need for a unified voice in the industry. I also see a need for reason in this voice. Too often there are "knee-jerk" reactions made and I would like to be that voice of calm and reason. This is a fine organization and the forum is a professionally run and ethical place to give and receive information. I would like to develop an educational component to A-IRCO that could be done in regions to benefit all but especially the newcomers. I hope to one day meet many of you in person. Most of all, I wish for world peace! Thank you.

Greg Harkins

I am Greg Harkins from St. Albans, WV. I have been in the party rental/retail business for 14 years.We started the company with 50 events and 3 bounces in 1993 and have grown to what we are today.We service over 1500 events per year. We offer over 70 different items in house and have access to 100's of others. We employee 8 full time staff year round and in the peak season we employee around 60.

This is my life as it is most of ours. I am very lucky to like what I do, and enjoy it daily. That's not to say I dont get upset, depressed, pissed off etc, but in general I love the rental business, because it is what I make it. Yes we have customers calling to book items, we have customers walking in our store, but when it comes to creative ideas, new promos, new equipment etc its up to me to determine the needs. I an not so stupid to think I am what makes this company, we do listen to our customers and more so our staff. They are the front line and we have to listen to them to get input on what we need to do to better our company, image and more.

I am a board member of our local 4th of July festival. With that event I am the talent buyer, my company runs logistics for the 4 day event everything from security, traffic control, river activities, and general festival needs.

I have won the Blue Chip Enterprise award in 2000 and the Ernst and Young Enterperuer of the Year award in 2002. We are the only party rental company in WV to ever win either of those awards.We'll be having a chat session before the official voting later this month, so I'll keep you updated on that as well. I am a member of ARA, IAAPA, WV Fairs and Festivals Assocation, IIPGA (state rep).

I would love to serve as a board member as I think this is a great way to learn, grow, and help others. There is nothing as good as being able to listen and get ideas from others. I love to spend time when I have it on the phone or net with other rental companies lending a hand where ever I can. After all, we are all in it for the same reason.

Here in WV we are very fortunate to work with all the other rental companies, tool, catering, tents and even other party rental companies at a very close range. WE all help each other with no questions asked or even a fear of them trying to steal your customers.

Please accept my offer to help you as a board member and thank you for considering me. I feel that in the short time I have been on the boards I have gained a great amount of knowledge and I hope I have helped others do the same.

Tom Pacheco

My family own carnival rides and concession stands and travel around to all the big festivals and fairs from California to a few other states. Every spring break or summer vacation I was excited to travel with my family. My dad was one of the biggest hands on guy I knew and it did not matter how successful he was he always was right there along side is employees. Over the years growing up around the amusement business I would dream about one day being able to set up my own events.

My first inflatable was a 24’ slide and soon after four jumpers. In my first year I was able to get into one of the biggest street fairs around and land a car dealership relationship. Between 50 street fairs and 33 tent sales I had a pretty cool first year and I was well on my way towards my goals and dreams.

In 2001 I started Fun Time Express Rentals and I wanted to offer nothing but the best licensed jumpers. I wanted to have the biggest jumpers in my area. I not only had the biggest jumpers but I was the first to have licensed jumpers. It was not long before others got them, but I’m the one that raised the bar. Just because I advertised renting jumpers my main goal was doing events. It did not take long and I was doing over 100 events in a year and that was not even trying! In 2006 I decided to split my business in half and start Extreme Fun Events. That way I could have one that did nothing but backyard parties and one that did nothing but events.

Most people start this business because they want to work less and spend a lot more time with there family. Well for me this business takes up a lot of my time and its no walk in the park. One thing for sure I have a lot of passion and love for what I do and I enjoy my business. I once set goals and dreams and I’ve reach every goal I’ve set and right now I’m living a dream. I feel the more you enjoy what you do the more successful you will become. As a young kid I dream of putting together my own events and right now I’m doing just that. Just like any business or job you have to keep it exciting or fun and I’m always looking at ways I can raise the bar and buy stuff that would make my business more fun.

It’s hard for me to put it into words and if I would describe this business and what it feels to me I would have to say I have a lot of passion and love for what I do and I would not trade it for a million dollars. Most may say that and not mean it and I can say that and you can believe it. I’m so thankful for everything God has giving me and I’m living a dream I once had as a little kid.

I found this forum back in 2004 and was excited to talk with people that did the same business I did and I always enjoyed helping people and sharing my experiences. I feel I can not only help people with my experience but can give it my own twist.  If I was only in this business for the money I would not be where I’m at today.

Ballots Will Be Emailed

If you are a verified member of AIRCO, please check your email this week for your ballot.  If you've been accepted into AIRCO but haven't sent in your proof of insurance, you are not a verified member yet! Fax, email, or mail us a copy of your insurance binder page so we can update your membership to verifed and get your vote counted.