NBSRA Board – NBSRA

Board of Directors

Steve Byler - Chairman

Steve has spent 50 years of his life in the world of sheds. He grew up in a family business which his father started in 1972. Steve launched his own rent to own company in 2007 and bought out the family business when his father retired in 2010. In 2018, they merged the Virginia based companies with Ulrich Lifestyle out of Texas. Steve currently serves as president of Backyard Leasing and also serves Ulrich in business development both internally and externally. Recently, Steve also began writing as a columnist in the Shed Builder Magazine and blogger at www.sjbyler.com as well as working part-time as a speaker and executive coach.

Phone: 540-490-2870
Email: [email protected]
www.backyardleasing.com
Backyard Leasing – 36 Southgate Court, Ste 202, Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Leann Burkholder - Vice Chairman

LeAnn Burkholder, partner/managing director of Burkholder Management, LLC ,joined the RTO industry in 2009 and transitioned to COO in 2015. LeAnn currently serves three RTO companies with accounts in 7 states, including North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Montana and is known for her passion and perseverance. As a champion of stellar customer service and the integration of Christian values & principles, LeAnn enjoys leading her team in daily operations that support these goals. Her passion for time optimization and integration find outlet in business and overflows in her private life where she mentors and speaks periodically on Daily Rhythms, Time Management, and Education as Atmosphere, Discipline and Life. Wife, and mom of three, LeAnn avoids boredom successfully by juggling business, and personal life. Inherently curious, a foodie and traveler, LeAnn is always game for the next adventure.

Phone: 803-594-2309
Email: [email protected]
Burkholder Management, LLC – 315 N Main Street Suite 1, Salisbury, NC 28144

Nick Garrard - Legal Advisor for the NBSRA

Nick Garrard was born and raised in the Mississippi Delta. He graduated cum laude from Ole Miss in 2003, and from Ole Miss School of Law in 2006. Mr. Garrard advises companies on a variety of day-to-day legal issues, and assists them in efficient handling of accounts and business practices. He also represents business clients as creditors in bankruptcy cases, and assists in collections and replevin matters. Mr. Garrard has experience engaging and managing local counsel in many other states, and overseeing these cases to ensure client satisfaction. Nick and his wife make their home in Jackson, Mississippi with their two kids, and are active members of St. James’ Episcopal Church.

Tiffany Strong - Heartland Capital Investments

Tiffany, a trailblazer in the Portable Building and Rent-to-Own industry since 2004, has played an instrumental role in shaping industry advancements and elevating standards within our trade. With an impressive career trajectory, she currently excels as a Public Relations and Project Manager at Heartland Capital Investments, LLC, driving innovation and excellence in the field. Her ability to foster strategic partnerships, combined with her keen eye for detail, ensures seamless project execution and effective communication that continues to propel the industry forward.

Phil Falls - RTO National

Mr. Falls is founder and President of RTO National. RTO National operates throughout the US and is the largest provider of rental purchase and installment financing for backyard storage products in the industry. His primary focus is the overall operation of the business including strategic planning and day to day operations. Prior to founding the Company, Mr. Falls was with River Capital, a private equity fund in Atlanta, GA where he was involved with acquiring and operating various businesses that were River Capital portfolio companies. Prior to River Capital, Mr. Falls assisted in the start-up of Emergent Equity Advisors, a Greenville, SC based mezzanine fund and Emergent Business Capital, an SBA 7(a) lender which became one of the top 10 SBA lenders in the country. Mr. Falls has served as an officer of Tronair, a manufacturer of aviation equipment, and as a Board member of Consumer Product Enterprises, a manufacturer of consumer felt products. He has also participated at the board of directors level with several private businesses in industries ranging from telecommunications services, telecommunications equipment distribution, and retail music. Mr. Falls received a B.S. in Finance and MBA from Clemson University.

Chase Venable - Padukah Bank

Chase, a commercial lender with over 17 years of experience in banking, is dedicated to serving businesses with a collaborative and insightful approach. His years of experience in commercial lending have led him to be an expert in specialized industries such as RTO and equipment financing. His primary goal is to gain a comprehensive understanding of his clients' businesses, offering guidance and crafting financial plans aimed at ensuring their long-term success. Chase consults on various aspects of financial management, and his career is marked by numerous celebrations of his clients' milestones and ribbon cutting ceremonies. He firmly believes in the philosophy that his clients' success is a shared success, reflecting a commitment to both their personal and business achievements. Chase has a robust educational background with a Bachelor of Science in Business (Finance focus) and a Master in Business Administration from Murray State University. He is also an alumnus of the Branch Banking and Trust Leadership Development Program. Joining the Paducah Bank team in 2014, Chase brought with him a diverse experience encompassing banking, education, and construction management. Chase is happily married to Kelly, and they are blessed with two sons, Carter and Wyatt. Residing in Paducah, KY, the Venable family is an active part of the St. Thomas More Catholic Church community, and their children attend St. Mary's School. As a family, they have a passion for outdoor adventures, home renovations, travel, and actively participating in various sports and activities with their sons.

Jonathan Ulrich - Member

Jonathan Ulrich is owner/CEO of Ulrich and has been in the business since a very young age. At 8 years old he helped build his first shed and by 12 he completed his first solo shed build. Jonathan often worked with his father Jerry in sales and customer installs where he learned his passion and the art of creating raving fans! Later, he dropped out of high school to scratch his entrepreneurial itch. He served customers in sales (which still is his most enjoyable passion) and then went into sales management, later becoming the Vice President for the company. In 2008 he became a 50% partner buying out his father and in 2014 purchased control of the business and took over as the company’s Visionary CEO and owner. Jonathan is passionate about Servant-Leadership and growing the organization with timeless leadership principles. His life was greatly influenced by Zig Ziglar at a young age and from whom he adopted “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want” as a personal mantra.

Phone: 817-517-1057
Email: [email protected]
www.ulrichlifestyle.com
Ulrich Lifestyle Structures, LLC – 100 Energy Way Floor 18, Fort Worth, TX 76132

Tanner Leibee - Secretary

Tanner Leibee sold his first shed in 1996 and soon after started delivering buildings with a handyman jack and PVC pipes. Ten employees and four locations later, the family business was sold, and Tanner and his wife Rebecca served as missionaries while living in a mud hut in Ghana, Africa. They learned much more than they taught and after 8 years, settled back in the USA. Tanner still travels to Africa twice a year to assist churches in Bible Story-telling & Leadership. As president of Upward Management Group in North Carolina, he oversees multiple RTO companies and serves on the board of the NBSRA. He loves to discover great ways of communicating through stories, questions, and ideas.

Phone: 855-769-7433
Email:[email protected]
Upward Management Group - 4077 Statesville Blvd. Salisbury, NC 28147

Timothy Rudolph - Watson Barn Rentals

Timothy Rudolph resides in Morrison, TN and brings 15 years of experience to Watson Barn Rentals, LLC, a portable shed Rent-to-Own company. Prior to serving in his current management position, Timothy served as Office Manager for a sister company of Watson Barn Rentals, Watson Management, Inc. Timothy began working in the portable shed industry at the age of 17 as a manufacturer and has since worked in every aspect of the business, including manufacturing, hauling, sales, delivery and installation. He has spent the last several years in management where his years of experience and exceptional critical thinking skills give him a unique perspective when dealing with any issues brought to him by customers, haulers, and manufacturers alike.

Paul (PD) Weaver - RentaBarn

PD Weaver is the managing partner of RentaBarn, a family-owned rent to own provider located in Salisbury, North Carolina. He got his start in the shed industry many years ago in Pennsylvania as a manufacturer of shed delivery trailers, but now is involved in various aspects of the industry including rent to own management and retail sales. He resides with his family in Salisbury, NC on a mini farm where his wife and daughters enjoy the animals and he enjoys woodworking as a hobby.

Cory Hilgendorf - AFG Rentals, LLC

Cory Hilgendorf serves as the President of AFG Rentals, LLC, having joined the RTO industry in 2018. His primary commitment is to build a resilient team and leverage business as a ministry to positively influence employees, customers, and partners. A proponent of developing scalable structures and challenging the norm, Cory brings a fresh perspective to the RTO landscape. His authentic enthusiasm for people and the company's core values is evident in his dedicated efforts to embody these principles. At the heart of AFG's mission is making a meaningful impact in the community for the kingdom, a top priority for Cory and his leadership team. Originally from Michigan, Cory now resides in Cleburne, TX, with his wife Hillary and their five children. Cory takes pleasure in sharing common interests, such as hunting and fishing, with his business partners, emphasizing the importance of cultivating strong relationships that foster genuine teamwork and positive growth. As a member of C12, a group designed for Christian CEOs and Executives, Cory benefits from a framework that facilitates gathering, compelling, and equipping Christian business leaders. This membership empowers leaders to achieve excellence in their respective fields. Cory firmly believes that by putting God first and taking care of your people, the rest will fall into place.