Rentec Direct fosters community engagement and growth both as a company and individually as employees. Find out how Rentec Direct is giving back to its local community and beyond in this overview of many of the important ventures that employees and the company choose to support.
Over the years, Rentec Direct continues to prioritize community engagement and giving back as a core value, earning the company recognition both locally and nationally for its philanthropic efforts. Most notably, in 2024, Rentec Direct was honored as a Community Champion by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, gaining a spot as a Top 100 Small-Business in America, a distinction that celebrates the company’s impressive growth and its positive impact on the local area.
This achievement is a well-deserved honor for the entire team at Rentec Direct, who both professionally and personally volunteer, sponsor, and support numerous efforts in southern Oregon, where the company is based.
Join us as we reflect on our collective achievements and celebrate the spirit of giving that defines our company culture.
A Culture That Fosters Community
Rentec Direct fosters community engagement and growth both as a company and individually as employees. Rentec Direct actively supports numerous community programs and organizations through sponsorships, donations, and collaborations.
Youth and Student Investment
Rentec Direct has directly sponsored programs that champion youth needs and foster youth excellence. This year, we have sponsored local children and students through holiday initiatives such as Toys for Tots and Salvation Army Angel Tree, through community organizations like The Rogue Valley Young Marines, the Boys and Girls Club, and through multiple sports organizations including North Valley Volleyball, North Valley Track and Field, Grants Pass Booster Club (High School Athletics), and Central Valley Futbol Club.
On top of these local sponsorships, Rentec Direct makes a difference for students nationwide by offering scholarships for students in the technology industry. The Rentec Direct Tech Mastery Scholarship recipients for 2024. This scholarship is offered annually, beginning in 2016, and has offered assistance to graduate and undergraduate students pursuing an education in technology by helping them achieve their academic dreams and future goals in the technology industry.
Nathan Miller, Rentec Direct’s president and founder, started Rentec Direct in 2007 on his own using his coding skills to meet a need. He certainly understands the power that tech skills can offer and readily supports students who seek to make everyday life better by growing their tech skills and offering solutions to everyday problems.
Nathan says “The tech industry thrives on new ideas and fresh perspectives,” says Nathan Miller, president of Rentec Direct. “At Rentec Direct, we feel that by supporting these future leaders in tech, we are investing in a bright future. Their potential to drive innovation is great, and we are excited to help them on their journey,” explains Miller.
This scholarship is offered annually, so if you know a student pursuing a degree in computer science or a related field, have them apply in 2025!
Learn more: Congratulations to the 2024 Tech Mastery Scholarship Winners | Rentec Direct News
Community Initiatives:
Rentec is committed to uplifting the Grants Pass community. The company also invests in education and economic development, sponsoring and collaborating with initiatives like SOREDI, the SOREDI Foundation, Rogue Community College, the Josephine Community Library, and the Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce to strengthen local businesses and enhance regional development.
Along with the goals of strengthening commerce and local businesses development and opportunities, Rentec Direct sponsors initiatives through the Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce that create family-friendly and engaging events. Rentec Direct is a platinum partner for the Concerts in the Park event for 2024, and the annual Wine Stroll, both are events hosted by the local chamber of commerce to support local businesses and the community at large. The annual summer event occurs weekly in the summer and is free for community members to enjoy.
Rentec Direct also shows up annually in support of veterans as a sponsor for the Grants Pass Devastational Golf Tournament by the Relentless Heroes organization.
During the holiday season, Rentec Direct supports many additional community initiatives including Toys for Tots and Angel Tree. Since 2018, Rentec Direct has hosted a Salvation Army Angel Tree, bringing joy to nearly 100 children in need. Rentec Direct was also a sponsor of the 22nd Annual Rogue Winterfest, Josephine County’s largest holiday festival held in support of the Rogue Valley’s mental health organizations.
Employee Involvement and Leadership:
Just as we know at Rentec Direct that we would not be where we are without our amazing clients, we know that our fabulous team of talented and kind employees are what makes us the company we are today. While Rentec Direct itself supports and fosters programs within the community and beyond, this commitment extends beyond company initiatives—our employees are passionate about supporting their neighbors, schools, and local organizations, reflecting Rentec Direct’s dedication to making a difference.
Rentec Direct staff members are truly amazing in their dedication to our wonderful community and they show their support through a diverse range of community services and volunteer opportunities.
Leadership volunteers include:
- Nathan Miller: Rentec Direct Founder & President
- Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
- Since 1924, the Chamber has been dedicated to helping local companies grow their businesses by creating resources and opportunities to encourage business development, success, engagement and meaningful impact.
- Historical Buildings and Sites Commission
- Historical Buildings and Sites Commission (HBSC) meets and has the authority to issue land use decisions regarding the alteration of structures, new construction, and demolition within all locally designated historic districts, sites, and landmarks within the Urban Growth Boundary.
- Neighborhood Watch President
- As the neighborhood watch president Nathan oversees the safety, security, communication, and engagement among neighbors and collaborates with public safety officials for education and community safety.
- Kaycee Miller: Rentec Direct Director of Operations and Marketing
- SOREDI Board Vice President
- Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SOREDI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the long-term prosperity of Jackson and Josephine Counties.
- Rogue Community College Business Technology Advisory Committee
- RCC recognizes the important connection between educators and business practitioners in achieving program quality, relevance, and excellence of Rogue Community College’s career technical education (CTE) programs. Acting in a consultative capacity, our Advisory Committee consists of Business Technology faculty, current and former business students, and community business leaders who provide expert advice and assistance to the business technology program at RCC.
- Sha Lehmberg: Rentec Direct Client Experience Team Lead
- Josephine County’s Toys for Tots Coordinator
- Sha Lehmberg serves as Josephine County’s coordinator for Toys for Tots, a vital holiday program that collected $13,000 in donations, distributed 3,951 toys, and supported 1,449 children in the region in 2023.
- Common Connections Vice President
- Sha is the VP of Common Connections which seeks to facilitate unique projects within the community. It is centered on program flexibility to respond to community needs, trade-skill development & collaboration.
- Jill Glover: Rentec Direct Client Success
- Board of Directors for Barnstormers Theater
- A volunteer for 5 years and a member of the board for the last 3 years, Jill Glover assists with obtaining and writing grants to help with community theater expenses and is in charge of volunteers for Barnstormers Theatre. In the first quarter of 2025, Jill will also begin her debut as a director for the upcoming performance in March 2025.
- Brentnie Daggett: Rentec Direct Marketing Department
- Riverside Elementary Parent Group Co-President
- Brentnie has been a parent group volunteer for 5 years, and on the leadership team for 4 years. Along with other activities throughout the school year, Brentnie coordinated the elementary school Fall Festival, which served roughly 200 children and their families, and the purchase of Christmas dinners and presents for 10 families in need at the school.
Additional Employee Volunteer Contributions
Employees at Rentec Direct gave back to their community in a variety of ways outside of company initiatives and community leadership opportunities. Employees at Rentec Direct are just as dedicated to their community outside of the office. These volunteer opportunities include additional volunteering for some of the organizations that other office employees and their families serve on the leadership team for.
For instance, Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve, and in Josephine County, the Rogue Valley Young Marines help to host the event by accepting donations and assisting with the distribution. Besides Sha Lehmberg serving as the county’s coordinator, another employee volunteers alongside their child in the Young Marines, with the family collectively volunteering over 70 hours for the program’s success.
Additional employee volunteer work includes time spent supporting local senior citizens through meeting lawn care needs, employees who use their free time to support local Firewise programs and protocols, and volunteer work at local children’s programs through churches and local dance performances like the 34th annual Nutcracker performance.
With a year of giving behind us, Rentec Direct now looks for new and continued opportunities in 2025. With community engagement and giving back as a core value, there is no doubt that Rentec Direct and Rentec Direct’s employees will continue to give back and engage in a spirit of service locally and beyond.