What is APRO?

What is APRO? - Honoring the Rent-to-own Industry's Finest

The APRO "Buddy" Awards are presented every year to those outstanding individuals and organizations that have raised the level of what can be done to better the industry for everyone.

 

The recipients are named at the annual APRO Awards Banquet held during the association's Convention and Trade Show.

 

APRO's Hall of Honor:

 

Ernie Talley Lifetime Achievement Award


  • Gary McDougal, 2009
  • Charlie Loudermilk, 2008
  • Dave Egan, 2007
  • Larry Sutton, 2006
  • Lyle Jones, 2005
  • Darrell Tissot, 2004
  • Ernie Talley, 2003
  • Wayland J. Russell, 2002
  • Barry Gambini, 2001
  • Chuck Sims, 2000
  • Norman Slatton Sr., 1999
  • Chris Korst, 1999
  • Bill White, 1998
  • Ed Winn III, 1996
  • Wayne Chambers, 1995
  • Bud Holladay, 1995

 

State Association of the Year


  • Illinois, 2009
  • New York, 2008
  • Missouri, 2007
  • Florida, 2006
  • Missouri, 2005
  • Arkansas, 2004
  • Ohio, 2003

                  2009 Award Recipients  

    2009 Lifetime Achievement Award winner Gary McDougal.

     

     



     


     


     

     

     

    2009 Dealer of the Year Dave Edwards.

     

     



     

     

     

     

     

      

      

    2009 President's Award of Excellence winner David P. David.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Indiana, 2002
  • Florida, 2001
  • Texas, 2000
  • Louisiana, 1999
  • Illinois and Missouri, 1998
  • New Jersey and Ohio, 1997
  • Ohio, 1996
  • Arkansas, 1995
  • Missouri, 1994
  • Florida, 1993
  • Texas, 1992
  • Indiana, 1991

 

President’s Award of Excellence


  • David P. David, 2009
  • Mike Tissot, 2008
  • Gary McDougal, 2007
  • Terry Beville, 2006
  • Kevin Quinn, 2005
  • Jim Brown, 2004
  • Ron Waters, 2003
  • Larry Carrico, 2002
  • Bill Keese, 2001
  • Darrell Tissot, 2000
  • Richard Bartel, 1999
  • Ernie Talley, 1998
  • Tracey Morgan, 1997
  • Ernie Lewallen, 1996
  • Ronald D. DeMoss, 1995
  • Larry Sutton, 1994
  • Ted Wilson, 1993
  • Bud Holladay, 1992
  • Chris Korst, 1991
  • Ken Gay, 1990
  • Wayne Chambers, 1989
  • Bill Morgenstern, 1988
  • Dave Egan, 1987
  • Tom Devlin, 1986
  • Rozanne Flatt, 1986
  • Ed Winn III, 1985
  • Barry Gambini, 1984
  • BudHolladay, 1983
  • Charles D. Sims, 1982

 

Rental Dealer of the Year


  • Dave Edwards, 2009
  • Chris Bolin, 2008
  • John Darden, 2007
  • John Spangle, 2006
  • Robert Briley, 2005
  • Martin Auble, 2004
  • Shannon Strunk and Cynthia Baber-Strunk, 2003
  • Gary Hughes, 2002
  • James Byrd, 2001
  • Lyn Leach, 2001
  • David P. David, 2000
  • Tom Neyhart, 1999
  • Larry Carrico, 1998
  • Dan Weiss, 1997
  • “Tiger” John Cleek, 1996
  • James Strong, 1995
  • Gary McDougal, 1994
  • Mamie Harper, 1993
  • Kevin Quinn, 1992
  • Bob Simons, 1991
  • Allen Lewis, 1990
  • Roger Sharp, 1989

 

Rental-Purchase Employee of the Year


  • David Keen, 2009
  • Bill Tennison, 2008
  • Jonathan Brown, 2007
  • Murray Beck, 2006
  • Paul Russell, 2005
  • Jody Katz, 2004
  • Anthony Robinson, 2003
  • Ronnie D. Williams, 2002
  • Josef Warren, 2001
  • Eric Ison, 2000

 

Rental-Purchase Customer(s) of the Year


  • Sherron and Robert Wilder, 2009
  • Kim Royal, 2008
  • Johnnie Bradford, 2005
  • Patrick and Marianna Head, 2004
  • Donna Brown, 2003
  • Norma Burgenger, 2002
  • James and Brenda Atchison, 2001
  • Maria Magdalena Estrada, 2000

 

Heritage Award


  • Larry and Brenda Tinney, 2009
  • Jeff Lebakken, 2008
  • David P. David and Steve Kruse, 2007
  • Chuck Kuluva and Jeff Loeb, 2006
  • Dan Cole and Richard Eichlin, 2005

 

Norm Smith Vendor of the Year


  • John Blair, 2009
  • Susan Matthews, 2008
  • Bill French, 2007
  • Ellison Crider, RSSS, 2006
  • Wayne Harris, Sandberg Furniture, 2005
  • Ron Wanek, Ashley Furniture, 2004
  • John Foster, Alliance Computing Technologies, 2003
  • John Rogers, High Touch, 2002
  • Dennis Shields, TRIB Group, 2001
  • Bob Saunders, Saunders Marketing, 2000
  • Brad Wire, Whirlpool, 1999
  • Les Feldser, RSSS, 1998
  • Joe Savovic, Progressive Furniture, 1997
  • Al Zagorniak, Sears, 1996
  • Steve Owens, Foresight, 1995
  • Danny Wright, Foresight, 1995
  • Bonnie Nitzsche, Bonnie the Flyer Specialist, 1994
  • Tim Shannon, Thomson, 1994
  • Tom Kitchens, Whirlpool, 1993
  • Lyle Jones, High Touch, 1992
  • Norm Smith, Zenith, 1991

 

Most-Improved State Association


  • Pennsylvania, 2009
  • Illinois, 2008
  • New York, 2007
  • Tennessee, 2006
  • Ohio, 2005
  • Missouri, 2004
  • Arkansas, 2003
  • California, 2002
  • Colorado, 2001
  • New York, 2000
  • Florida, 1999
  • Vermont, 1998
  • Wisconsin, 1997
  • New Jersey, 1996
  • Massachusetts, 1995
  • New York, 1994
  • Michigan, 1993
  • Ohio, 1992
  • Alabama, 1991

 

Emerging Excellence


  • Northeast RDA, Southwest RDA, Georgia and Delaware-New Jersey, 2009
  • Kentucky and Minnesota, 2008
  • Louisiana, Northwest (formerly Idaho, Oregon and Washington), Pennsylvania and West Virginia, 2007

 

State Legislative Achievement


  • New York, 2009
  • Iowa and Indiana, 2008
  • Texas, 2007
  • California, 2006
  • Arkansas and California, 2005
  • Florida, 2004
  • Texas, 2003
  • Wisconsin, 2002
  • Nebraska, 2001
  • Kentucky, 2000

 

State Association Continued Excellence


  • Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky, Minnesota, Louisiana, Tennessee, Ohio, Missouri, Florida and Kansas, 2009
  • California, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Northwest Rental Dealers Association, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas, 2008
  • California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, 2007
  • Alabama/Mississippi, Texas, Missouri, Ohio, 2006
  • Alabama/Mississippi, Florida, Illinois and Tennessee, 2005
  • Alabama/Mississippi, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Wisconsin, 2004
  • California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri, 2003
  • Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Texas, 2002
  • Arkansas, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio and Texas, 2001
  • Indiana, 2000

 

APRO Board Presidents


  • "Tiger" John Cleek, 2008-
  • Larry Carrico, 2006-2008
  • Shannon Strunk, 2004-06
  • Lyn Leach 2003-04
  • Gary Romine 2002-03
  • Gary McDougal, 1999-2002
  • Ernie Lewallen, 1998-99
  • Darrell Tissot, 1997-98
  • Bill White 1995-97
  • Kevin Quinn, 1993-95
  • Wayne Chambers, 1991-93
  • Ted Wilson, 1989-91
  • Dick Grauel, 1988-89
  • Mac Hennigan 1986-88
  • Glenn Davis, 1985-86
  • Bud Holladay, 1985
  • Barry Gambini, 1982-85
  • Bud Holladay, 1980-82

 

Join APRO Today!

For more information:
800/204-2776, ext. 103
Fax 512/794-0097
E-mail Laurie Hill, APRO's membership director




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From the Illinois Rental-Purchase Dealers Association 2009 Annual Meeting Album
Illinois Rental-Purchase Dealers Association 2009 Annual Meeting

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

 

The Opportunity to Serve
by Tiger John Cleek

As his term draws to a close, APRO President Tiger John Cleek reflects upon two years of achievements, challenges and ceaseless legislative pursuits

 

Ed Winn III: The Wizard of RTO
by Kristen Card

This year, APRO's general counsel and one of the association's founders marks 30 years on the job. Although he prefers to stay behind the curtain, Ed Winn III-—known for telling it like it is-—finally agrees to tell his own story.

 

Rent-A-Center vs. The Supreme Court
by Ed Winn III

In a rare case involving a rent-to-own business, the nation's highest court addresses who decides whether an arbitration agreement is enforceable or not.

 

APRO Education 2010: Learning in Louisville

Get your head in gear when you head to Louisville for this year's Rental Roundtables and seminars held during APRO's 2010 Convention and Trade Show.

 

Hearing is Believing
by Jeremiah Wilson

APRO's 2010 keynote speaker and founder of ContactPoint, a customer service and sales training company, reveals a major tool to help increase your customer base: the telephone.

 

2010 APRO Board of Directors Candidates

2010 APRO Board of Directors Candidates The time is again at hand for the membership to select its leaders. Here is your slate of eight.

 

Vendor Spotlight: Bill French, O’Rourke Sales Co.
by Tiffany Hamburger

The start of his career might have been a fluke, but Bill French's success since then is no fluke at all.

 

Cover photograph by George Brainard

 

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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