Rent-to-own News

Rent-to-own News - Rent-to-own industry bestows highest awards to deserving individuals and the year's top state association

October 2, 2007

APRO’s 2007 Rent-to-Own Convention and Buying ShowThe Association of Progressive Rental Organizations bestowed the industry’s highest honors upon five rental dealers, one vendor and the year’s top state rental dealers association during APRO’s 2007 Rent-to-Own Convention and Buying Show on September 27 in Reno, Nevada. The 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dave Egan. This award recognizes a lifetime of effort and accomplishment in the industry and only 13 people have been so honored since APRO’s inception. Egan served as one of Rent-A-Center’s first in-house lawyers and admirably and deftly steered the company and APRO through a number of state legislative battles with incredibly successful results.

 

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. David’s involvement and support of the rent to own industry is illustrated in his almost two decades of service.Two rental dealers were awarded the 2007 Heritage Award this year. The first winner is David P. David of Full-O-Pep Appliances, in Bloomington, Indiana, who has served on the APRO board for a record 18 years. David’s involvement and support of the industry is illustrated in his almost two decades of service. In addition, David is heavily involved with raising funds year after year for the Children’s Miracle Network and Riley’s Children's Hospital. He is also a former Rental Dealer of the Year. The second Heritage Award winner is Steve Kruse of Bestway in Dallas, Texas. A 30-year industry veteran, Kruse serves as the company’s operations analyst and has been instrumental in compiling and disseminating critical industry information to members of Congress during the APRO Legislative Conference.

 

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.

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.




2012 APRO Dave Egan
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 HERE FOR OUR DIGITAL RTOHQ: THE MAGAZINE

 

RTOHQ: The Magazine’s upgraded digital format

APRO's new, mobile-ready magazine is now available in addition to our print edition. The digital format provides the same informative content as our printed magazine, but also offers tools to make the reading experience more enriching. Access the table of contents page with one click or tap. Get additional information from advertisers by clicking on the links in their ads. The interface is easy to navigate and requires no special app—read our magazine on your computer, digital table or smartphone. Click here to access the digital version of RTOHQ: The Magazine November-December 2011.

 

Marketing Matters

This year marks the launch of a marketing campaign initiated by APRO to build the rent-to-own customer base. It will be a multi-year endeavor employing multiple strategies. In this and upcoming issues of our magazine, we will address the many facets of marketing that affect our industry.

 

Striving for an A with the BBB

by William E. Freeland

Consumers often refer to the Better Business Bureau's ratings to help them make rental and purchasing decisions. National Rent-to-Own's human resource manager outlines the steps every RTO company should pursue to help earn an A+ from the BBB.

 

Creating an Extraordinary Customer Experience

by Bill Keese

Apple does it. Southwest Airlines does it. Can the rent-to-own industry also garner a national reputation for exceptional service and, in the process, attract new customers?

 

BB and BBQ on Beale Street

Memphis' reputation for tremendous food, groundbreaking music and Southern charm is well deserved. It's not too early to start planning your trip there next July for APRO's 2012 Rent-to-Own Convention and Trade Show.

 

Card Talk

by Ed Winn III

Credit and debit card payments are on the rise in rent-to-own. So are the risks in keeping such transactions secure.

 

Rent-to-Own Families, Part VI

by Kristen Card

No, you're not seeing double, or are you? Our latest profiles of kindred colleagues include two sets of twins-the Botkins and the Kimbles. And in Kansas, a son and daughter help their dad keep business running Strong.

 

 

Future issues of APRO's magazine will be available in this same new format. Click here to access past issues that are not yet archived in the new interface.

 

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