NEWSLETTERS - Award ceremony wraps Heartland Buying Show

Award ceremony wraps Heartland Buying Show

MRDA President John Cleek Jr., Kentucky RDA President Chris Bolin, APRO Executive Director Bill Keese, APRO President Larry Carrico, Illinois RDA President Steve Braning and Kansas RDA President Jess Fisher.

Rental professionals from seven states across the midwest packed the main ballroom of the Lodge of Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Missouri for a dinner and awards banquet that capped off two days worth of buying and networking at the fourth annual Heartland of America Regional Trade Show.

The show officially concludes June 18 with a talk on hiring and keeping good employees by renowned speaker Mike Frank.

Missouri Rental Dealers Association President John Cleek Jr. emceed the event noting an increase in both vendor and dealer company participation that speaks to the viability of arguably the largest regional rent-to-own trade show in the country.

"This is no longer the Missouri Rental Dealers trade show," Cleek said. "This is a regional trade show. We had 27 companies and 66 vendor booths, with 13 new vendors. Hopefully you had a great time and wrote some business and we look forward to having you here again next year."

Company participation at this year's show increased more than 20 percent over last year, Cleek said.

Cleek welcomed three attending state association presidents in the audience and invited each to the stage to address the crowd. Attending state association presidents included Jess Fisher of the Kansas Rental Dealer's Association, Steve Braning of the Illinois Rental Dealers Association and Chris Bolin of the Kentucky Rental Dealers Association.

MRDA Political Action Committee Chairman Dan Cole shows off a picture of his grandchildren.

Dan Cole, chair of MRDA's Political Action Committee, said keeping the PAC fund healthy would ensure the ability to contribute to the campaigns of politicians dedicated to the protection of the rent-to-own industry in the state.

Five contribution levels have been established for the PAC at the platinum, gold, silver, bronze and supporter level, Cole said.

"We've been able to raise a lot of money in the past, but this is a never ending job," Cole said. "As soon as we stop doing that we're going to have problems."

APRO President Larry Carrico and APRO Executive Director Bill Keese invited show attendees to attend the upcoming APRO Convention and Buying Show August 11-14 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Scott Young and Gary Romine, center, present trophies to winning golf team James MacAlpine of RentDirect Nationwide, Cheri McKinnon of Dimplex, Ann Cleek of Cleek's Lease or Own and Tom Moore of Rent-A-Center.

Keese praised MRDA for its leadership as a state association and discussed the retirement of the association's Progressive Rentals Magazine in favor of a revamped and renamed, RTO HQ Magazine which will focus more on the "heart and soul of the industry."

The new magazine is due out later this month.

"We are constantly trying to reinvent ourselves at APRO," Keese said. " Some think we are just in the business of legislation, but that's not true. We are here to promote the industry."

Trophies, accolades and good natured ribbing were dished out in recognition of this year's winners in the Heartland of America bass fishing and golf tournaments.

Bass tournament results can be found here.

The four person team of Ann Cleek, Cheri McKen of Dimplex, Tom Moore of Rent-A-Center and James MacAlpine of RentDirect Nationwide took home first place in the four man scramble golf tournament played earlier that Tuesday.

Bass tournament second place team Dan Cole and Joe Fagin of National Rent-To-Own with first place team  Mary  Hazel and  Matt Mertens of Rent-A-Center.

The second place team included Larry Carrico of Rent One, Kelly Carrico, John Howard of Promo Biz.com and John Philips of Progressive Furniture.

The third place team included John Mays of Cleek's Lease or Own, Wayne Strachan of Dimplex, Aaron Windsor of National TV Sales and Rental and Phil Brown of Imagery Marketing Solutions.

Click here for more awards winners and photos.

Dale Frederick of Bargain Center based in Oklahoma City said the Heartland Conference provided the perfect combination of networking and buying deals for the dealer looking to stock up mid-year.

The regional aspect of the show gives him more direct access to vendors who are more than willing to get him acquainted with new product, he said.

"I'm here to meet and network," Frederick said. "And there's a big advantage to doing that at these regional shows. Oklahoma doesn't have a show like this so it's nice to be able to pop in and buy mid-year. Missouri RTO dealers always do a great job of getting a good turnout."

Click here for more trade show photos.

mevans@rtohq.org