The time to make plans for the upcoming Dave Egan Legislative Conference in Washington DC is now! Next year’s legislative conference will take place on Tuesday, February 7th through Thursday, February 9th and we have some very exciting things planned for you.
APRO has booked two very historical, prestigious and exclusive venues for attendees: Capitol Hill Club and The Mansion on O Street.
A breakfast and briefing will be held on Wednesday, February 8th at 8AM at the Capitol Hill Club, sponsored by TRIB Group. Members of this national social club for Republicans have included the nation’s most influential people – Presidents and Vice Presidents, GOP Members of Congress, Governors, state party leaders and influential Republicans everywhere. We invite you to join us to kick off APRO’s 2017 Legislative Conference at this historic club.
After a general briefing session and meetings on the hill, attendees will have the opportunity to tour and dine at the Mansion on O Street, sponsored by RentDirect Nationwide. This unique evening will begin with a tour of this amazing home and museum. With over 100 rooms and 70 secret doors it has been called the most unique venue in the world. The mansion has been featured on the Travel Channel’s “mega mansions,” named a Washingtonian Magazine “hidden gem” and featured in National Geographic Traveler among others. The Mansion on O Street is located in the DuPont Circle historic district of Washington D.C. http://www.omansion.com/history/
2017 Dave Egan Legislative Conference
February 7 – 9
Gary Ferriman, Sen. Jerry Moran and Jim Brown at 2015 Legislative Conference.Agenda
Tuesday, February 7th
Arrivals and check-in at Capitol Hill Hotel
Wednesday, February 8th
8 – 8:45AM Breakfast and Briefing at the Capitol Hill Club
Sponsored by TRIB Group
8:30 – 9:30AM General Briefing Session
9:30AM Meetings on the Hill
6PM Bus departs for reception and dinner
6:30 – 9:30PM Reception and Dinner at The Mansion on O Street
Sponsored by RentDirect Nationwide
Thursday, February 9th
9AM Meetings on the Hill
Afternoon Departures
ReservationsCapitol Hill Hotel
200 C Street SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
Room rates: $239
Reservations: 202/543-6000 (Promo Code: APRO217)
Reserve online: www.RTOHQ.org
Hotel deadline: January 3, 2017Registration
For more information or to register for the conference, contact Tulisha Wendele at (800) 204-2776, ext. 111.
Schedule Your MeetingsClick here for Congressional Grassroots Instructions.
For more information or assistance with scheduling your meetings, please contact Richard May at (800) 204-2776, ext. 104.
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.