Rent-to-own News - APRO's Employee of the Year finalists announced

The Association of Progressive Rental Organization's annual "Academy Awards" of RTO narrowed this week to five outstanding finalists in the employee of the year category. Again this year, employee of the year finalists represent the best of the industry.

Louis Carpenter of Portsmouth, Virginia has been an employee with Bestway Rent To Own for 14 years and currently works at BestWay's Southern Shopping Center Location in Norfolk where he has been a top performing customer service manager for the past 10 years.

Carpenter is a member of the Bethel Temple Church where he has served as Deacon for the past three years and also serves as director of the church choir and serves as the church's sound technician.

Louis and his wife of 13 years, Renee', regularly take into their home church members who have fallen on tough times until they get back on their feet again.

Louise and Renee' also run a cleaning business called, Carpenter House, for elderly people who have trouble keeping their homes clean. They charge a fraction of the amount charged by most other cleaning companies in the area.

"Louis's generosity and pay-it-forward attitude is not limited to his local community of Portsmouth or to his church congregation," said Jonathan Rose, COO for BestWay. "He has given his last dollars to elderly people who have needed help."

Donna Fally is the financial manager for the corporate office of Rent One/SKC Enterprises in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

She is an active member of her community as a 15-year member of the Rome Community Consolidated School Board and through her years of volunteer service with the United Way of South Central Illinois and Jefferson County Habitat of Humanity where she has served as treasurer and on the board for more than 6 years.

In addition to keeping the books, Fally also provides home cooked meals for those working on various Habitat Projects.

Fally was first elected to the school board in 1995 when her children were in school and has continued on long after they finished. She currently serves as vice president of the board and served two terms as its president overseeing an extensive school district building renovation project.

She has volunteered with the United Way since 2002, serving in half a dozen positions including seven years on the United Way Board of Directors.

"I wish we could put into words the service Donna has done for United Way," said Rhonda McCowen, executive director of the United Way of South Central Illinois. "She has been a liaison and wonderful representative for the company she loves and her community."

David Lane is a sales assistant for Premier of Goshen, Indiana.

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 between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. 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.

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."

Robbie Lewis is a district manager for Rent-A-Center in southwest Oklahoma.

Lewis has been an active member of the Oklahoma Rental Dealers Association for more than five years and is a rental dealer who makes the connection between the public image of the industry and it's organization at a local grassroots level.

Lewis participates in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life and the local chapter of Special Olympics. Lane regularly assists with police fundraisers and is an advocate for battered women's programs as well as assists local churches by helping to serve hot meals to families in need.

When a friend was diagnosed with and overcame breast cancer, Lewis took it upon himself to make breast cancer awareness bracelets for over 200 employees to show his support.

"I am honored to have family like Robbie in my store to brighten up my day when I need a laugh or for support," said co-worker Kuqra Hansen. "He truly makes mine and my co-workers jobs a little more enjoyable."

Dusty Ray is the Regional Manager for Rent One Region 1.
 
He has been with Rent One since Dec 2008.

Ray is involved in numerous community activities and most recently volunteered to assist a local fundraiser and jogged his first 5K and rounded up 4 other walkers to donate to a benefit for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

As Rent One's 2009 Employee of the Year, Ray made contact with Olney Chamber of Commerce to partner with Big Brothers & Big Sisters program this summer in Olney. The contact allows Rent One to participate in their fundraiser event and donate the prizes to a local winner.
 
I volunteer to assist a Dale Carnegie class in Vincennes, Indiana, as well as share those lessons with my team. I also share lessons from “The Telephone Doctor”, Glenn Sheperd, Dan Coughlin, and John Maxwell. 
 
Ray is also on an innovative Health & Wellness Committee at Rent One. Motivating team members to walk and sharing health news.
 
He has also organized 'Safe Halloween' events like “Happy HalloWii” for children to play video games and eat candy.
 
Ray has also made financial contributions to United Way and volunteers at local events in his Region: The Watermelon Festival in Knox County, The Bicycle Classic in Olney, Relay for Life event in Flora, Paws Fur a Cause (Pet Adoption) event in Flora, Pet Adoption Event in Mt. Carmel, Illinois tied to a Customer Appreciation Day.

"Dusty definitely epitomizes the true characteristics of a leader," said nominator David Keen of Rent One. "He The best way to describe Dusty is that he is like E.F. Hutton, when he talks, people listen."