Rent-to-own News

Rent-to-own News - APRO honors state associations and legislative achievement

September 26, 2007

State rent-to-own associations, their leadership and legislative grassroots efforts were recognized during the , September 26, in Reno, Nevada.

 

APRO President’s Reception during the 2007 APRO Convention and Buying Show

 

APRO President Larry Carrico introduced APRO's State Association Coordinating Committee Chairman "Tiger" John Cleek, who presented the following state rental dealers association awards during the reception:


  • 2007 Legislative Achievement Award: Texas
  • 2007 Continued Excellence Award: California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee
  • 2007 Emerging Excellence Award: Louisiana, Northwest (formerly Idaho, Oregon and Washington), Pennsylvania and West Virginia

 

Cleek then presented gavels to the following new state rental dealer association presidents:


  • Alan Frazier: Arkansas
  • Steve Braning: Illinois
  • Brian Luksetich: Iowa
  • Jeff White: Louisiana
  • Mark Wilford: Maryland
  • "Tiger" John Cleek Jr.: Missouri
  • Dave Edwards: New York
  • Sandi Whited Frye: Pennsylvania
  • Dan Matthews: Texas
  • Shawn DiLeo: West Virginia

 

To date, Cleek reported that there are 33 state rental dealer association presidents and expressed sincere gratitude on behalf of the industry for their voluntary dedication and involvement. Carrico then retook the stage, chronicling the success of the 2007 APRO Legislative Conference earlier this year. For the first time in APRO history, there were 109 first-time conference attendees who joined with industry veterans to lobby their elected officials on behalf of the rent-to-own industry. More than 200 rent-to-own dealers and vendors traveled to Washington, D.C., in April, with attendees from 82 companies representing more than 5,000 stores. The APRO members who held the most meetings with elected representatives and who were presented with American flags that were flown over the U.S.

 

Capitol from Mississippi's Senator Trent Lott's office are Shannon and Cynthia Strunk and Lee Duvall. The Strunks and Duvall held an impressive 20 meetings to lobby on behalf of the industry. Finally, APRO Political Action Committee Chairman Robert Briley recognized Team APRO contributors and their generous donations. The total amount raised for the PAC/Team APRO for 2006-07 totaled a whopping $185,450, with $13,250 raised for Team APRO and $172,200 for the political action committee. APRO would like to thank Speed Queen for its generous sponsorship of this event. Click here to view pictures of the event in APRO’s Photo Gallery.

 

About APRO
The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations is the official voice of the rent-to-own industry and the most accurate and trustworthy source of rent-to-own news in the industry. Founded in 1980, APRO is the national, nonprofit trade association advocating and representing the rent-to-own industry before the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, courts, media and the public.

For more information, visit www.rtohq.org.




APRO's 2010 Legislative
Conference!

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RTOHQ: The Magazine
RTOHQ: The Magazine is the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations' award-winning rent-to-own industry magazine, and it's available here.
Click the links below to download each article as a PDF

Complete issue of RTOHQ: The Magazine | January-February 2010
Download the entire January - February 2010 issue of RTOHQ: The Magazine by clicking on the link above (PDF).

 

The Year of the Tiger
by Kristen Card

According to Chinese astrology, the Year of the Tiger begins in February 2010. Tiger John Cleek is making the most of it as he winds down his two-year term as APRO’s president. He reflects on personal and industry-wide accomplishments and the love of family that sustains him.

 

Following the Leaders

In the 30-year history of the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations, 17 rental dealers have served as president. To mark APRO’s special anniversary, 15 of these leaders share their experiences in helping to shape the rent-to-own industry.

 

The Keep Rate Conundrum
by Ed Winn III

Calculating keep rate does not seem to improve the rent-to-own business in any discernible way—and yet this calculation, beyond all the others, has had enormous legal and political implications for rent-to-own almost since its inception.

 

Vendor Spotlight: What's in a Name?
by Neil Ferguson

These three departed rent-to-own vendors--Joe Eason, Tom Kitchens and Norm Smith--live on, their names indelibly linked to key industry events and honors.

 

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Association of Progressive Rental Organizations
1504 Robin Hood Trail
Austin, Texas 78703
800/204-2776, ext. 103
Fax 512/794-0097