Rent-to-own News - APRO 2011 Board of Directors Candidates

During the association’s general session, July 13 at APRO’s 2011 Rent-to-Own Convention and Trade Show in Little Rock, APRO members will run for election to fill eight positions on the board of directors.

Board members serve staggered two-year terms and half of the positions become open each year at the Convention and Trade Show, in addition to any vacancies needing to be filled. Only APRO members in good standing are eligible to vote. Here is your slate of candidates:
 

Dennis Adams, Full-O-Pep/American Rental, Bloomington, Indiana

Dennis Adams, who is seeking re-election to the APRO board, has a 33-year history with Full-O-Pep/American Rental. His career with Full-O-Pep/American Rental started when a local appliance store at which he worked was sold to Jim Hammond. Hammond partnered with his brother-in-law, David P. David, and Adams and the three re-structured the store into a rent-to-own business, which marked the beginning of Full-O-Pep/American Rental.

The company has evolved over the years with the guidance of all three men. Currently, there are 48 stores in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia. Adams was a store manager for a few years and has served as the company’s regional manager for 28 years (see RTOHQ: The Magazine, October–November 2008, page 26).

As an APRO board member, Adams wants to continue nurturing the association’s goal of passing a federal law that will act as a guideline for state rent-to-own practices. He also wants to further APRO’s commitment to educating members on the importance of marketing, which will improve the industry’s image at a store level, and he wants 
to continue serving as a voice for independent stores on the APRO board in order to support their operations.

“As president of the Rental-Purchase Dealers Association of Indiana for the past five years, I have worked closely with Aaron’s and Rent-A-Center on Indiana’s rent-to-own issues and with the small mom-and-pop stores on many issues, as well,” Adams says. “My objective is to be open-minded about the issues and hear all sides.” Adams has been involved with the Indiana association for 15 years.

David P. David, general manager of Full-O-Pep/American Rental, describes Adams as an enthusiastic, honest, loyal and hardworking businessman who isn’t afraid of getting his hands dirty to make sure customers’ needs are met. “Dennis understands the importance of taking care of things—especially customers. He makes sure they get what they need when they want it.”

Adams is devoted to following David’s example of contributing to the rent-to-own industry as part of the APRO board. David has served on the APRO board of directors for more than 20 years, making him the longest-serving member in the association’s history.

Giving back to his community is very important to Adams. Since the 1990s, he has collected money for the Riley Hospital for Children. This year, he will provide leadership for the Habitat for Humanity build that American Rental is sponsoring in Brown County, Indiana. The build will take six weeks to complete, with Adams logging hours on the project every day and guiding volunteers in construction of the house.
 

Cynthia Baber-Strunk, Baber’s Inc., Pascagoula, Mississippi

Cynthia Baber-Strunk has been in the RTO industry for 25 years. In 1986, she began her career in rent-to-own with Baber’s Inc., a family business started by her late father-in-law, James B. Baber. Baber-Strunk and her late husband, Barry, worked together in the business for several years prior to his death and, after his death, she embraced her work in the industry as a full-time career. At that time, Baber’s had 17 locations. Today, the company has 52 Baber’s locations and 11 Rent-n-Roll locations, with more than 300 employees.

As CEO, Baber-Strunk still enjoys the challenges and excitement of the rent-to-own industry. She and her husband, Shannon Strunk, are a leadership team, both having served on the APRO board of directors, as well as other industry boards.

Baber-Strunk, who currently serves on the APRO board, sees the association as one avenue toward bettering the industry: “APRO provides education, encourages ethical operations, promotes the image of rent-to-own and offers legal counsel to advise us,” she says. “It does many things, although not all dealers need or use the same services. But the one-store operators and the large public chains have one thing in common—we want to be able to run our business to make a decent profit. APRO provides us the forum to work together to improve our image and protect our industry from negative legislation.

“As an APRO board member, I want to continue to encourage the board and the association’s members not to concentrate on our differences, but instead work as a united group to accomplish our common goals,” Baber-Strunk continues. As a firm believer in the industry’s efforts toward federal rent-to-own legislation, she has attended APRO’s annual Dave Egan Legislative Conference every year for more than a decade.

Serving her community and church are also important to Baber-Strunk. This year, she is chairman of the board of Bacot McCarty Foundation—which raised more than $500,000 for its numerous charitable activities—and she serves as chairman of board for Pascagoula First United Methodist Childcare Preschool.

Baber-Strunk is eager to be re-elected to APRO’s leadership team. She understands the importance of having small and large independents, franchisees and larger public companies work together to better the industry and secure a welcoming legislative and regulatory climate. She feels that we are much more effective as a united force than when we each work separately.
 

Dan Cole, National Rent-To-Own, Bridgeton, Missouri

Dan Cole has been in the rent-to-own business for more than 27 years. Using the strong sales and marketing background he first developed by selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door to help pay his way through college, Cole opened his first rent-to-own store in St. Louis, Missouri in 1984. His strong work ethic and excellent organizational skills propelled that single store into a 35-store chain of National Rent-To-Own locations in Missouri and Illinois.

Cole has always been very active in the industry, with more than 20 years of experience on the Missouri Rental Dealers Association board of directors, serving as MRDA’s secretary/treasurer, vice president and four years as president. In addition, currently he chairs MRDA’s political action committee and is an active member of the Illinois Rental Dealers Association.

As a longtime APRO member, Cole has served on the association’s government relations and political action committees and he has attended all but one of APRO’s annual Dave Egan Legislative Conferences in Washington, D.C. A quiet but strong and effective leader, APRO recognized his contributions to the rent-to-own industry by naming him the association’s first recipient of the Heritage Award in 2005.

Cole has a unique perspective on the industry, never forgetting what  it was like to be a one-store operator while currently competing with the big players as he runs a 35-store chain.

“I am so proud of this industry!” Cole exclaims. “I have seen it mature into a real team, where we all help each other. I remember a few years back at a trade show when a sales consultant pulled me aside and wondered out loud how we in the rent-to-own industry got so much cooperation from all of our members. I replied, ‘It’s because we are all a family here!’”

Married to his wife, Terry, for 42 years, the Coles have a daughter, Deborah, a son, William, and three grandchildren—Carly, Cole and Brianna.
 

Dave Edwards, SEI/Aaron’s, East Hartford, Connecticut

Like many in the rent-to-own industry, Dave Edwards considers himself a people person. “When I was young, I knew I would be in a job where I dealt with people,” Edwards says. As president and chief operating officer for SEI/Aaron’s, he’s certainly in the “people” zone now. SEI/Aaron’s currently operates 72 stores and employs more than 600.

Along with connecting to customers, Edwards shares an enthusiasm for relating to industry colleagues as well; currently, he serves on the APRO board of directors and is chairman of APRO’s state association coordination committee. “I have developed into the person I am in the time I’ve spent in this industry,” he says. “I am fortunate to be where I am and I want to give back to an industry that has given me so much. My motivation is to serve to the best of my ability.”

In addition to his service on the APRO board, Edwards also puts his people skills to work for the New York State Rental Dealers Association, where he has served as that association’s president for the past four years. He has played a key role in developing strategies to stem the onslaught of anti-RTO perceptions and legislative initiatives in that state. As part of the plan, he has helped initiate seven new state rental dealer associations in recent years.

Edwards shares with other rental dealers the concerns about the industry’s image, but also is optimistic that rent-to-own is heading in the right direction. “The standards in the industry are much more consistent now than in the 1990s,” he says. “It is extremely rare to walk into a store and think, ‘This is a disgrace—I can’t believe I’m in this industry.’ As the perception develops that rent-to-own is more legitimate, it will attract more people to the industry. We need to stay cohesive and viable. Our primary goals should be to have protective federal legislation passed and continue to put a positive 
face on rent-to-own. ”

Edwards considers communication a primary element in countering the attacks and helping the industry develop. He views APRO as “the glue that binds dealers together. The association acts as a catalyst for competitors with different business models to discuss and share common issues. I want to continue to be a part of that and I want to contribute to the health of the rent-to-own industry,” Edwards says.

In 2009, Edwards was awarded APRO’s Rental Dealer of the Year (see RTOHQ: The Magazine, September–October 2009, page 22). He and his wife, Samantha, have a 10-year-old daughter, Ashley Elizabeth.
 

Gary Ferriman, Showplace Inc., Marion, Ohio

While working in the quality-control department for a mining equipment manufacturer, Gary Ferriman was solicited to be an Amway distributor, which is where he discovered his love for sales. In 1981, he sold reconditioned televisions off his enclosed porch in the evenings. After a year, that business developed into opening a small shop that sold and repaired televisions.

At the suggestion of a retailer from whom Ferriman was buying trade-in televisions, the following year Showplace—originally known as TV Outlet—began renting televisions and other electronics. Soon, home-satellite sales were added and the company sold more than 1,000 large-dish satellites throughout the 1980s. By 1989, it was clear that Ferriman had found his career passion in the rent-to-own industry. Today, there are 15 Showplace rent-to-own stores in Ohio.

Ferriman was among a group who helped ensure passage of Ohio’s rental-purchase statute. He has served the rent-to-own industry with more than 20 years experience on the Ohio Rental Dealers Association board, three terms on the TRIB Group board and two years on the APRO board of directors. Ferriman regularly attends the industry’s conventions and events, including APRO’s annual Dave Egan Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. He has presented several training seminars at the APRO Convention, as well as at state association conventions. Ferriman attended seven consecutive World Leadership Symposiums sponsored by the Franklin-Covey Leadership Center and is a licensed facilitator of several of its training programs. “Personal and team effectiveness are strong areas of interest for me,” Ferriman says.

Ferriman and his wife, MaryAnn, live in Marion, Ohio. They have four grown children—sons Keith and Jeremy, and daughter Sheri are in the rent-to-own business, as well (see RTOHQ: The Magazine, January–February 2011, page 18). The Ferrimans have nine grandchildren and another one on the way. Ferriman’s hobbies include rent-to-own, house boating, motorcycling and red wines.
 

Sandi Frye, Premier Rental-Purchase/White Rose Enterprises, Altoona, Pennsylvania

Sandi Frye graduated from Bowie State University in 1989 with a bachelors of science degree in elementary education. While substitute teaching, she started working part-time for Rainbow Rentals as an office manager in 1992. This led to a full-time position and then on to becoming a Rainbow Rentals store manager in 1999. Frye managed a successful store for the company until 2004 and in 2005 she opened Premier Rental-Purchase in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Frye is very passionate about rent-to-own. She is deeply committed to the industry and loves being involved in all aspects of the business. When the state rental dealers association in Pennsylvania was about to dissolve, Frye stepped forward and reorganized the Pennsylvania Association of Rental Dealers. She has served as president of PARD for the past four years and recently was re-elected to serve as president for the next two years. In 2009, the Pennsylvania Association of Rental Dealers received APRO’s Most-Improved State Association award.

Frye is married to Mike Frye Sr. (see RTOHQ: The Magazine, March–April  2011, page 30). With five children and five grandchildren, they love spending time with their family and camping.

“If elected to the APRO board, I would be the voice for all rental dealers,” Frye says. “I will do for APRO and its members what I do best: plan, organize and execute.”

 

William McCrae, Buzz’s Lease Purchase and Sales, San Antonio, Texas

William McCrae is president and a shareholder of Buzz’s Lease Purchase and Sales headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. He is a current APRO board member and, if re-elected, is committed to serving the membership for another term. Currently, he is APRO’s political action committee chairman and also serves on APRO’s ethics and state association committees. In addition to serving APRO, McCrae is president of the Texas Association of Rental Agencies.

Prior to entering the rent-to-own industry, McCrae served in the U.S. Navy, but early on, the entrepreneurial bug bit and he sought a life in the private sector. “As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be in business,” McCrae says. His first rent-to-own experience began in 1981 in San Antonio. After working a short time for an independent, he joined a large ColorTyme franchisee.

After many successful years at ColorTyme, McCrae left to join his father in the family hearing-aid business. He currently owns a 10-clinic audiology practice in the greater San Antonio/Austin area. With that successful practice running smoothly, he delved back into the rent-to-own business in 1995. In 2001, McCrae and his current partners started Buzz’s Lease Purchase and Sales, which currently has eight stores and 48 employees.

Over the past 30 years, McCrae has seen dramatic shifts in rent-to-own and its governance and wants to continue to be part of that change and leadership. “Having worked for a franchisee for seven years and being independent for the past 16, I believe I can relate to all members’ range of concerns and issues,” McCrae says.

He cites APRO’s networking as a key benefit to rental dealers. “The continuous networking opportunities and professional relationships have helped me operate a better, more profitable rent-to-own business,” he says. “The resources made available through being a member allow smaller companies to have access to knowledge and information that larger companies take for granted.”

McCrae wants to nurture APRO’s benefits as part of the association’s board and hopes to help raise the bar on the industry’s image. “I would continue to challenge our membership to raise the overall professionalism and, by doing so, enhance our image to the public,” he says. Also, he shares another industry objective with many other APRO members: “We need to see to it that legislation is passed that provides a level of protection and certainty to our members so that they can operate competitively and profitably.”

Married for 27 years, McCrae and his wife, Francine, have two daughters: Raquel, 23, and Taylor, 21.
 

Jim Ratner, Premier Rental-Purchase/JR Squared Enterprises, Westbrook, 
Maine

Jim Ratner started his rent-to-own career as an account manager for Rent-A-Center in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1982. His career progressed when he became a ColorTyme franchise store manager in Atlantic City and then was promoted to vice president of operations for the company. In 1986, Ratner became owner of a Rent America franchise in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Ratner moved to Portland, Maine, in 1989 to open a store, sold his interest in the Massachusetts stores and eventually sold his Portland store to Aaron’s in 2004. In 2007, he opened a Premier Rental-Purchase franchise in Westbrook, Maine, with his partner, John Reichnenbach. This past spring in Sanford, Maine, Ratner and Reichnenbach opened their third Premier Rental-Purchase store.

Throughout his career, Ratner has understood the importance of giving back to the community. Currently, he supports a local teen center—a place for kids to go after school—as well as a local heating-oil-assistance center and food bank in the Portland area. Many local softball, soccer, hockey and little league baseball teams have been sponsored by Ratner. “Giving back to the community is a responsibility that every business owner should undertake,” he says.

As both a franchise owner and operator of an independent company, Ratner has experience at every level of the rent-to-own business for more than 15 years. “I’ve worked for 20 store chains and I’ve owned one huge independent store,” he says. “I can relate to the challenges each scenario presents. My unique perspective will allow me to represent every sized business in the association. As a board member, I will make sure that every APRO member’s interest is considered with the utmost respect.”

Ratner believes strongly in promoting the annual Dave Egan Legislative Conference to all APRO members. “If I have to personally call every APRO member to remind them of the importance of federal rent-to-own legislation and why they should attend the conference, I will do it!”

Married for 27 years to his wife, Cindy, the Ratners have a 21-year-old son, Eli, and an 18-year-old daughter, Delaney (see RTOHQ: The Magazine, September–October 2010, page 30). His wife and daughter actively compete in dog agility at the national level. Currently, the Ratners own four dogs and one very dog-savvy cat.

 

Gopal Reddy, Action Development Corp., dba Aaron’s Sales and Lease Ownership, Springfield, Illinois

Gopal Reddy, president and CEO of Action Development Corp., came to the United States from Kurugonda, India, in 1968, arriving here with two bachelor’s degrees—one in physics, the other in mechanical engineering—and only $8 in his pocket to pursue higher education and live “The American Dream.” He received his master’s degree in 
mechanical engineering from the University of California and an MBA and master’s degree in finance from Bryant University in Rhode Island. After being bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, Reddy started working in the rent-to-own business in 1997, leaving his nearly 25-year career as a manufacturing engineer and manager. He opened his first Aaron’s store in Springfield, Illinois—the first Aaron’s location in the Land of Lincoln. Reddy has continued to expand his business over the years and now has 10 stores across central Illinois and another location opening this fall.

Reddy attributes his success to having the greatest associates and best management team. He has been tirelessly involved with the Aaron’s Franchise Association over the years by being an officer and/or serving on the board. In addition, Reddy is involved in the Illinois Rental Dealers Association and has participated in both the Illinois Legislative Conference and APRO’s Dave Egan Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.

Reddy feels that it is very important to give back to the community and he does so by donating to the American Lung Association, Boy’s and Girl’s Club, donating backpacks and school supplies to local schools and sponsoring little league teams, as well as other donations and sponsorships.

Reddy feels that industry leaders should exhibit moral values. “First and foremost, you need to be honest—not only with yourself, but with your employees, customers and all other supporters,” Reddy says. “You also need to be humble. Finally, you need to put a lot of hard work into your business. You need to work 70 to 80 or more hours a week, if necessary, to get it stabilized and profitable.”

Reddy lives in Springfield, Illinois, with his wife of 40 years, Tulasi. He has two daughters and three grandchildren. If elected, he hopes to bring cultural diversity to the APRO board.