Slatton is dealer of the year, Collins is vendor of the year
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| APRO’s 2010 Rental Dealer of the Year, Jamie Slatton (Left) with mother Lois Slatton. |
The Association of Progressive Rental Organization’s annual awards banquet Wednesday, honored rental dealers, vendors and state associations that have gone above and beyond the call of duty for the rent-to-own industry and exude dedication to causes greater than themselves or their personal businesses.
APRO President "Tiger John Cleek" named Jamie Slatton, owner of Buddy’s Home Furnishings APRO’s 2010 Rental Dealer of the Year for his passion for the industry, his many years of service on the APRO Board of Directors and his enthusiastic fundraising efforts for scholarship funds.
Slatton accepted the award with his mother, Lois, by his side.
"On behalf of everybody at Buddy’s Home Furnishings we want to thank you for this award," Slatton said.
Slatton comes from a long line of “Doers”, Cleek said, for rent-to-own and APRO. His father, "Slats", an industry icon and the recipient of APRO’s Lifetime Achievement Award and his sister, Kim, both preceded Jamie on the APRO board of directors. His first cousin, also and industry innovator and major APRO supporter and past recipient of both APRO’s Presidents Award of Excellence and Lifetime Achievement Award, also served on the APRO board.
"He is one of the most likeable men any of us have ever met," Cleek said.
Bryan Collins of Bryce Company was honored as APRO’s 2010 Vendor of the year.
Collins became a manager trainee for Gordon’s Jewelers when he graduated from college and discovered the rent-to-own industry when he went to work for Southern Rings in 1995. He developed a passion for our industry while at Southern Rings and decided to go off on his own in 2001.
One of the first business decisions our 2010 Vendor of the Year made when he founded his company was to join APRO as an associate member. Today, he gives his time and talents on APRO’s Vendor Advisory Committee.
"He’s been loyal to rent-to-own and APRO," Cleek said. "He always treats those around him with courtesy – and now it’s our time to honor him."
The Missouri Rental Dealers Association earned APRO’s 2010 State Association of the Year Award and Charles Smithgall, Aaron’s largest franchisee, was named APRO’s 2010 Heritage Award Winner.
Richard May, APRO’s Public Affairs Director, earned the association’s 2010 President’s Award. APRO Legal Counsel Ed Winn III was honored for his 30 years of service to APRO and to the industry.
Listen to podcast with Smithgall here.
See photo gallery of awards banquet here.