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Rent-to-own News
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Rent-to-own News - Rent-to-own industry bestows highest awards to deserving individuals and the year's top state association
Egan was instrumental in creating the state legislative strategy that exists today and, accordingly, APRO’s annual Legislative Conference was named after him. Egan is now retired and resides in Wichita, Kansas. The 2007 President’s Award of Excellence was presented to Gary McDougal of Tennessee. Although retired from the business, McDougal remains politically involved in the industry’s efforts in Washington, D.C. McDougal served as APRO president for three terms, was named APRO Rental Dealer of the Year and has never missed an APRO legislative conference. He has raised thousands of dollars in donated products and money for the Congressional Black Caucus and continues to strengthen the rent-to-own industry’s alliance with the CBC. The 2007 Rental Dealer of the Year was awarded to John Darden, a Premier franchisee with stores in Virginia.
Darden began his career with industry legends Chuck Sims and Willie Talley, working at Remco and ColorTyme. He is very active in state political campaigns as well as serving as the political strategist and chief of staff for a Republican challenger to his state’s Senate seat.
The 2007 Vendor of the Year award was presented to Bill French, vice president of sales for O’Rourke Distributing. French was honored for his affable character and undying support for rent-to-own customers and dealers. The State Association of the Year Award was bestowed to the Missouri Rental Dealers Association. MRDA has maintained a very effective legislative agenda, held two outstanding and highly attended meetings during the past year and was instrumental in securing William Lacy Clay as lead sponsor of H.R. 1767. “Tiger” John Cleek Sr., chairman of APRO’s State Association Coordinating Committee, presented the State Association of the Year Award to his son, current MRDA President “Tiger” John Cleek Jr. and also summoned all Missouri rental dealers in the audience at the Awards Banquet to come to the stage to accept the award. APRO would like to congratulate these honorees for their unflinchable and enthusiastic support of the rent-to-own industry. Click here to view more photographs from the Awards Banquet.
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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. | |||
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Click the links below to download each article as a PDF
Complete issue of RTOHQ: The Magazine | January-February 2010
The Year of the Tiger 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.
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 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? 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.
See the current issue of RTOHQ: The Magazine... [PDF format] [HTML format]
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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 |