Rent-to-own News - Rental dealers take to Capitol Hill

First time APRO Legislative Conference attendees with the board of directors.

More than 125 rent to own professionals took to the Hill Tuesday for the Association of Progressive Rental Organization's Annual Legislative Conference.

Over the next two days, industry dealers, vendors and their families will meet with legislators to educate them on the value of the rent to own transaction to the U.S. economy and the American consumer.

A separate meeting joining more than a dozen state associations' kicked off the conference that included state association presidents and a number of individual dealers and vendors. Dealers discussed a number of issues including state legislative climates and a the recently conducted "potential customer" focus groups.

Attendees then met for a two hour general session featuring APRO President Robert Briley, APRO Executive Director Bill Keese and industry lobbyists, followed by a special reception for first time conference attendees .

Some 31 participants are new to APRO's Legislative Conference this year, several of whom are vendors.

Michelle Dunning, with Atlanta-based Rush Trucks, is a member of APRO's Vendor Advisory Committee. She is also a first time attendee who understands the importance of supporting the industry with whom she does business.

"I'm here to learn about the legislative process and how that affects the industry and the dealers I work with," Dunning said. "That's why I serve on the vendor advisory committee. I think it's important to show that we are united, both dealers and vendors, as an industry."

Fernando Flores, who owns one rental store in Abbeville, Louisiana and is the recently elected president of the Louisiana Rental Dealers Association, is also a first time attendee at the conference. Flores said meeting with legislators in Washington D.C. was a prime opportunity to enhance understanding of the industry.

"One of the things our industry has to do is continue to work on our image," Flores said. "Over the past 20 years that has changed and improved greatly. I want to continue to see it improve. We can always do better. This is a great opportunity to visit with legislators and express my concerns and represent how we do business with our customers and how we enhance their lives."

See photos of the 2011 Legislative Conference here.

For more information about the conference go here.