Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

Urban League of Springfield praises Aaron’s Inc., other groups for Camp Atwater donations benefiting local youth

Genesis White
7-24-13 – North Brookfield – Republican staff photo by Don Treeger- Photos from Camp Atwater, a summer camp run by the Urban League of Springfield. Here, camper Genesis White of Fort Washington, Maryland, works on an art project. Source: MassLive.com
Henry M. Thomas III, president and CEO of the Urban League of Springfield, praised a $10,000 donation from Aaron’s Inc., and matching funds from local donors, saying their generosity provided 10 Springfield youth with two-week stays at Camp Atwater this summer. Donations from the local companies and organizations helped those 10 campers along with an additional 40 campers from Springfield, Thomas said. The Urban League is “excited and appreciative” of the gift from Aaron’s, an Atlanta-based retail company, Thomas said. “Thanks to the generosity of several local companies and individuals, the Urban League was able to leverage Aaron’s gift with local donations to provide a two-week overnight experience for all the campers,” Thomas said. Camp Atwater, located in North Brookfield, has been a summer camp for black youth for 95 years. It is owned and operated by the Urban League. The experience offered at Camp Atwater “helps the Urban League do its part in developing youth to be ready to take the mantel for the next generation of leadership,” Thomas said. The camp helps build personal development skills that prepare youth for life opportunities and success, he said. Camp Atwater is accredited by the American Camp Association and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Aaron’s donation of $10,000 benefited 10 youth in Springfield Those providing matching funds for those 10 campers and 40 others from Springfield were: Geico, Comcast, Davis Foundation, Westfield Bank, TD Bank, Mercy Medical Center, People’s Bank, Chicopee Savings, Peoples United, Corvias, Colvest, 1st Niagara, Big Y, MGM Springfield, Buckley Richardson, Palmer Paving and one individual, Charlie Spencer. Aaron’s gave donations to several overnight camps in several states. The company praised Camp Atwater’s mission “to assist in the academic and social growth and development of youth by offering a quality residential camp experience within a safe, nurturing and Afrocentric environment,” Aaron’s stated in a press release. Source: MassLive.com

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Mike Lewis

Mike Lewis is a Premier Rental Purchase franchisee with multiple stores and currently serves as Vice President of Operations. With 33 years of experience in the rent-to-own industry, he has spent the past 20 years working closely with franchisee owners and previously spent 12 years in Corporate RTO, gaining a strong foundation in the business.

For the past five years, Mike has been sharing his knowledge by teaching managers and franchisees at the company’s Training Center.

Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, kids, and grandkids, and appreciates the simple things in life – especially riding his Harley Davidson with the sun on his face. If you know, you know!

Lauren Talicska

Arona Corporation dba Arona Home Essentials

Lauren Talicska is an experienced multi-channel marketing specialist and the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Arona Home Essentials. She has found her home in the RTO community, supporting stores in branding, growth, and increasing traffic.

You may recognize Lauren as a former RTO vendor, including her time as a partner for Nationwide RentDirect, or her previous participation in the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee. Lauren calls Columbus, Ohio, home and spends her workday crafting and executing marketing promotions from inception to realization, all while supporting the branding and social media needs of all the Arona stores in 12 states (plus Puerto Rico!).

Charles Smitherman

APRO

Charles Smitherman, JD, PhD, CAE, became CEO of APRO in 2023, bringing years of legal and executive experience in the rent-to-own industry. 

Prior to joining the association, Charles served as COO, General Counsel, and Vice President of PTS Financial Services, where he played an active role in the rent-to-own industry by representing his company through PTS’s club program offering with APRO member dealers. Charles is an attorney with two decades of experience across a wide variety of areas, including RTO, consumer financial services, antitrust, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, franchise law, and privacy law. Following law school at the University of Georgia, Charles earned a Master of Legal Studies and PhD in Law from the University of Oxford in England.

Charles is credentialed as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with the American Society of Association Executives, a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) with the International Franchise Association, and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. As APRO’s sixth CEO in its 45-year history, he brings a collaborative, member-focused approach to association leadership, emphasizing transparency, advocacy, and value creation. Outside of work, Charles is an active ultra runner and open water swimmer.

Mike Kays

Ashley Furniture Industries

As VP of Rental Sales for Ashley Furniture Industries, Mike thrives on building relationships with our RTO industry veterans, and helping businesses grow through new product, new marketing, and new supply chain options.

Mike works to leverage a wide breadth of relationships and influence, intimate knowledge of market trends, and unique knowledge of what RTO dealers need from a supplier to be successful.

The saying goes that a high tide raises all boats, and our goal is to leverage the world’s largest furniture manufacturer to drive the continued growth of the RTO industry and all the suppliers.

Mike Tissot

Countryside Rentals Inc., dba Rent-2-Own

Mike grew up in the rent-to-own industry under the guidance of his father, former APRO President and RTO legend Darrell Tissot. For nearly 25 years, Mike’s innovative leadership has helped expand the family business to more than 40 stores across Ohio and Kentucky while also shaping the industry as a whole.

He has served as President of the Ohio Rental Dealers Association, an APRO board member and Treasurer, and President and Treasurer of the TRIB Group. His contributions have earned him the APRO President’s Award of Excellence and the title of APRO Rental Dealer of the Year.

Outside of RTO, Mike enjoys time at the lake house or in Orange Beach, Alabama, with his girlfriend, Angela Strong McCool. A passionate Cincinnati Reds fan, he rarely misses a game, whether watching or listening alongside his parents. He also takes every opportunity to visit Arizona, where his daughter is currently attending Arizona State University.