Rent-to-own News - NEW VIDEO: David Lane, APRO's 2010 Employee of the Year

Larry Carrico, APRO 2010 Employee of the Year David Lane, Premier franchisee Mike Lewis and Premier Companies CEO Trooper Earl. Click here to watch David Lane Video.

Today the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations formally honored David Lane, a sales assistant for Premier Rental Purchase of of Goshen, Indiana, with the association's 2010 Employee of the Year award for his selfless deeds within his community that represent the best of the rent to own industry.

Watch Video.

Lane was honored with a specially produced video and a plaque for his achievement. The plaque and video were presented Wednesday at the general session of APRO's 2010 Convention and Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky.

Lane made headlines last year when he spearheaded an initiative to open the doors of his store so that locals could use the store's computers on Sundays to apply for unemployment benefits. The initiative, which Lane planned to offer through the winter of 2009, regularly drew between 70 and 130 applicants looking for a safe place to file for benefits.

After a year, the store announced it would continue the program indefinitely.

"This is a tremendous honor," Lane said after learning of win. "I haven't really gotten my mind around this and what it means. I'm just fortunate to be in a position where I can help. There are many people  in need right now in our community. My whole family, helps out. It's really become a family affair."

Lane also worked with his local Boys and Girls Club to provide local teens who couldn't afford it, prom dresses and tuxes. Lane arranged a donation drive and once the duds were acquired, he negotiated with a local dry cleaner to clean and press all the clothing for free.

He also donated all of the audio video equipment needed for the prom. Then he and the rest of the staff at the store had the student's prom dinner catered by a top notch local restaurant.

Lane and his fellow employees also hosted the first annual seniors gaming night at the Elkhart County Fair in 2009. He had several flat screen TVs set up with the Wii Bowling. Fair organizers asked Premier to make this an annual event. The Premier crew also created a Guitar Hero contests at the fair.

Lane and his crew were also responsible for creating a Premier Pace Truck that is used as the official pace truck of the New Paris Speedway. The vehicle has become a local icon in the community. It is used in parades and at local charitable events.

"Dave has the mentality that if you take care of your community, it will take care of you," said nominator Dave Fugate. "Dave has planted a lot of great seeds in his community that have made him successful today."