About Us
Hartford Technology Rental was founded in 1991 by a couple of financial guys who really understand customer service and who have spent 80 years between them exceeding their customer’s expectations. We’ve surrounded ourselves with a team of extraordinary people who share our two founders’ vision of caring about customers, of providing first class technology rental products and service, and whose expectations for performance are second to none.
We’re guided by a set of core beliefs:
- Integrity: We adhere to the highest standards of business ethics.
- Service Excellence: We will provide the level of service we’d want for ourselves.
- Teamwork: We all share together in our collective fate.
- Innovation: We continually look for ways to innovate and improve.
- Economic Value: We deliver excellent value while meeting our profit objectives.
What We Do
At Hartford Technology Rental, we’ve got a saying that even though we all spend the better part of each day talking, thinking and living technology rental equipment, it’s really service that we sell. That’s where our tag line comes from: “Not just equipment.”
Our job is to make your life easier – at least in the area of technology. We can and do provide technology rental equipment – lots of it – and we will make sure it’s new, well cared-for and from industry-leading manufacturers. But more importantly, we’ll help you make it work for your event, conference or office use.
We have a passion for details and will execute flawlessly. Hartford Technology Rental focuses on innovative and creative solutions so that, at all levels of our company, we will act like partners and think like innovators.
Oh, and did we mention that we really like what we do? That is offering technology rental products and solutions!
When you need a technology rental provider who understands the importance of providing excellent customer service and excellent value, contact Hartford Technology Rentals.
Who We Are
Anthony R. Graffia – Co-CEO
Tony co-founded HTR in 1991 and serves as its co-CEO. From 1978 through 2005, he started, served as Chairman, and then sold one of the largest computer leasing companies in the Midwest, and he still serves as Chairman of several successor technology companies. From 1973 to 1978, Tony was Treasurer of Mutual Leasing Associates, Inc., a Chicago-based regional leasing company and prior to that was a staff auditor with Grant Thornton. He is a Certified Public Accountant.
His vast experience in the manufacturing and marketing of technology products provides HTR with extraordinary leadership, financial discipline and creativity in analyzing and structuring sophisticated solutions for our customers.
John B. Ward – Co-CEO
As co-founder and co-CEO, John has invested 40 years in being an entrepreneur. During his career, he has started five companies and served on numerous corporate, university, association and charitable boards. Currently Hartford benefits from his focus on sales and customer service and his unwavering attention to detail. His broad industry knowledge has helped shape Hartford into an organization that offers not only the best technology rental equipment in the industry but also the most attentive service.
His commitment to customers has led us to adopt an approach to business summarized in John’s words as: “Think like your customer’s partner, not just his supplier. That’s why we’re in business.”
Mark Ferro – Regional Sales Manager
As Regional Sales Manager at Hartford Technology Rental, Mark has an extensive technical background, loves solving problems, and brings 17 years experience in providing total solutions to all types of businesses for short-term rental projects. After a nine year stint, opening and then running the Washington DC office for a publicly held competitor of ours, Mark opened HTR’s Washington DC office. The quintessential entrepreneurial manager, Mark leads from the trenches with an accomplished and experienced team who are committed to making sure your next short-term project is a success.
Problems, obstacles, an upcoming project where you’re not sure what you need and are looking for fresh ideas? No problem. Mark is the consummate idea man who thrives on the challenges that complex events and short-term rental projects sometimes bring.
Dan Kallen – Vice President of Sales
As Vice President of Sales, Dan brings over 20 years of sales and expert project management to your doorstep.
After working for NBC for five years, Dan joined Hartford Technology Rental’s Chicago office. During his ten years with Hartford, he has structured complex equipment, audio visual and communications packages for large trade show events, Fortune 500 companies, and lots and lots of much smaller organizations. In addition, he currently serves as President of the computer and audio/visual rental industry’s largest trade association, The International Technology Rental Association, headquartered in Pittsburgh.
Whether you need a single laptop or on-site project management at a large event, Dan will give you his full attention to ensure every detail goes as smoothly as possible. Plain and simple, customer service is the single most important aspect of Dan’s job.
Peter Kutrumanes – General Manager
As General Manager of Hartford Technology Rental, Pete brings over 18 years of experience in IT and AV related projects. Prior to joining HTR, Peter was an assistant trader at Comdisco, one of the largest IT service and leasing companies in the world. Following his stint at Comdisco, he joined ICC Enterprises as Vice President and Director of Operations, where he was instrumental in growing it into one of the country’s largest IT and A/V rental companies. He has been with Hartford for over a dozen years.
Such extensive, hands-on experience has helped him be sensitive to the needs of our clients and fully comprehend the complex business-related issues that are part of our industry. His goal has always been to make your event or project worry free. It takes a lot of knowledge to do that.
In the small amount of time we let him out of the office, Pete volunteers his time with several feed-the-poor organizations as well as helping coach basketball for youth organizations.