 APRO: The Official Voice of the Rent to Own Industry
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APRO's Exclusive Rent-to-own Video
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Rent to own Video: 2009 APRO Employee of the Year
This Rent to Own Video brought to you by APRO's RTOHQ.org 
David Keen, employee development manager for Rent One, is APRO's 2009 Employee of the Year.
Keen served four terms on the Mt. Vernon City Council -- home base for Rent One's 42 stores -- and two years as the town's mayor, but it's his work behind the scenes of this bucolic town of 16,000, of which he is most proud. Six years ago, Keen helped start an organization called Jefferson County Operation Iraqi Freedom Committee (JCOIF) , and serves as its co-chair. The organization raises funds for holiday gift cards for Jefferson County troops currently serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. This year's effort -- the sixth for JCOIF -- was a record breaker earning close to $40,000 which will provide 51 troops each with a $750 military exchange gift card which can be used at any military exchange site, even online. "When David tells you something he means it," said Joyce Poorman, co-chair of the JCOIF. "He's dedicated to helping others. I see David shine in everything he does. He puts others before himself and I, and a lot of people, know we can always depend on David." Keen also helped establish the Senior Saints -- a 'hall of fame' for area seniors who have distinguished themselves through their community service and patriotism -- which nominates and honors 12 Jefferson County residents 65 and older each year. "Whatever David gets involved in he goes into it all the way and gets everyone else involved with the same enthusiasm," said Jerry McCracken, co-chair of the Senior Saints program. "Dave is definitely a team builder. His skill is to get people to come forth and put out all the effort they do. He's a motivator and doesn't mind being behind the scenes." With 23 years in the Army, Keen knows how to get things done and has contributed significantly in helping organize Illinois federal legislative efforts and was a key player in helping to organize a recent $21,000 donation by the Illinois Rental Dealers Association last month to the area Boys and Girls Club. Perhaps his greatest contribution is to an eleven year old boy for whom he serves as a "'big brother" through the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program. For the past several years has served as a mentor through the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program. "He continually compliments, congratulates, educates and reminds the leaders of Rent One to encourage positive habits," said Rent One owner Larry Carrico. "I have worked in this industry for almost 30 years and have never seen a more positive attitude." | |
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2012 APRO Convention and Trade Show July 24-26, Memphis, TN
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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 March-April 2012.
A New Rent-to-Own Experience by Neil Ferguson Here’s the lowdown on APRO’s 2012 Convention and Trade Show, July 24-26 in Memphis. The RTO industry’s big event will offer many valuable experiences, including insights on how to turn your stores into “experiences”–the good kind for consumers
Who Is Your Competition? by Bill Keese In order to expand your customer base, you can learn a lot by observing your competitors. But first, you need to figure out just who they are. If you think your only competition is the rent-to-own store down the street, you’re not considering the bigger picture. APRO’s executive director offers a big-picture perspective.
A Review of Online Customer Complaints by Ed Winn III While rent-to-own companies have not cornered the market on negative reviews posted on consumer complaint websites, it’s no surprise that there are cyberspace beefs against RTO. APRO’s general counsel reviews some of them in search of a pattern and he considers appropriate response to online complaints.
Rent-to-Own Families, Part VIII by Kristen Card Our series of family-run rent-to-own businesses continues with profiles of the Homeiers in Kansas and two Texas-based sets of kindred colleagues, the Spangles and the Weisblatts.
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.
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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 |