What is APRO? - RTO Customer & Employee of the Year Annual Contest

David Keen (center) -- APRO's 2009 Employee of the year. Watch video.

APRO Announces its

2010 Rent-to-own

Employee and Customer of the Year.

2010 Employee of the Year:

David Lane - Premier Rentals

APRO Member: Mike Lewis

2010 Customer of the Year:

Louise Brown - BestWay (Norfolk, VA)

APRO Member: Richard Rose

Congratulations to BestWay Employee, Mike Dennis, who Nominated Louise.

APRO's Employee and Customer of the Year are those customers and employees who inspire, help or sacrifice for the betterment of their families and/or communities—just like the previous recipients listed below have done.

If one of your employees or customers represent rent-to-own with such honor and character then submit their name's for APRO's 2011 Employee and Customer of the Year contest. The call for 2011 submissions will be in the Summer. Look for updates on this web page or APRO's newsletter for details about 2011's contest.

The APRO 2010 Employee of the Year Winner and a guest receive an all-expense paid trip to APRO's convention in Louisville, Kentucky. The winner will be honored and featured during APRO's General Session and Awards Banquet. The winner is bestowed the equivalent of rent-to-own's "Oscar" award for APRO's 2010 Employee of the Year.

The APRO 2010 Customer of the Year Winner receive $1000 cash prize. AND, the employee who nominates the winner receives a cash prize of $500 for discovering the rent-to-own customer that best exemplifies the humanity and giving spirit within our industry. The customer winner will be featured with a video during APRO's General Session and APRO national publications. Many recipients have been featured in their local newspapers and television news programs. The winner is bestowed the equivalent of rent-to-own's "Oscar" award for APRO's 2010 Customer of the Year.

Contest Rules & Judging Criteria: 

• The entry deadline for 2010 contest is June 11.
• Winners and finalists will be announced prior to convention 2010.
• Click here to enter contest online.
• Click here to download a PDF contest entry form.

Rent-to-Own Employee of the Year
Eligibility requirements:

• Must be an employee of an APRO rent-to-own company member in current standing.
• Must be nominated through an official application. You may nominate yourself. You may nominate as many people as you deem appropriate. An application (PDF) can be downloaded by clicking here or fill out our online application.

Judging criteria (in order of importance):

• Project positive image of industry
• Contributes to the community, society and/or family
• Good human-interest story
• Positive personality traits: honesty, integrity, kindness, etc.
• Prefer store-level employee, but not required
• Concern for customer
• Leadership traits
• Valued by company owner and peers
• Loyalty and length of service to the RTO industry

• Please view these past winners as examples

• 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

Rent-to-Own Customer of the Year
Eligibility requirements:

• Must be a customer of an APRO rent-to-own company member in current standing.
• Must be nominated through an official application. You may nominate as many people as you deem appropriate. An application (PDF) can be downloaded by clicking here or fill out our online application.

Judging criteria (in order of importance):

• Contributes to the community, society and/or family
• Good human-interest story
• Positive life experience because of rent-to-own
• Positive feelings toward rent-to-own company or companies they have used
• Length of time customer has used rent-to-own

• Please view these past winners as examples

• 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