Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

Aaron’s and ‘The Wendy Williams Show’ Surprise the Big Blue Bow Home Makeover Winner With Furniture, Electronics and Appliances

-New York, NY - The Wendy Williams Show -PICTURED: Wendy Williams -PHOTO by: Alex Oliveira/startraksphoto.com -AOH_4797.JPG Editorial - Rights Managed Image - Please contact www.startraksphoto.com for licensing fee Startraks Photo Startraks Photo New York, NY For licensing please call 212-414-9464 or email sales@startraksphoto.com Image may not be published in any way that is or might be deemed defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification or question you may have Startraks Photo reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image. If you violate our intellectual property you may be liable for actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image, and where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or statutory damages.Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, surprised the Dobbs family of Granville, West Virginia, as winners of the “Big Blue Bow Home Makeover” on Friday’s Debmar-Mercury’s “The Wendy Williams Show” with a home makeover of new furniture, appliances and electronics. Aaron’s partnered once again with “Wendy” for its December “Big Blue Bow Event” holiday promotion that includes shopping deals and big-prize giveaways during the month, including a new blue 2017 Kia Forte EX. Throughout November, Aaron’s and “Wendy” solicited entries for the “Big Blue Bow Home Makeover” by asking viewers why a home transformation would make a family reunion possible for the holidays. The winners, Anthony Harper and Jasmine Dobbs, recently moved into their first home but have too many bills and student loan bills to pay, so they could not afford a washer and dryer or to replace a worn-out living room set. They were hesitant to host family and friends for the holidays. The couple works fulltime, Anthony as an assistant director for the local parks and recreation department, and Jasmine as a paralegal who is also studying for her master’s degree in project management. -New York, NY - The Wendy Williams Show -PICTURED: Wendy Williams -PHOTO by: Alex Oliveira/startraksphoto.com -AOH_4994.JPG Editorial - Rights Managed Image - Please contact www.startraksphoto.com for licensing fee Startraks Photo Startraks Photo New York, NY For licensing please call 212-414-9464 or email sales@startraksphoto.com Image may not be published in any way that is or might be deemed defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification or question you may have Startraks Photo reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image. If you violate our intellectual property you may be liable for actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image, and where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or statutory damages.“We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the holidays and the spirit of giving than by partnering with Wendy Williams to make a holiday family reunion possible for the Dobbs family,” said Andrea Freeman, Aaron’s Vice President of Marketing. “Just like Wendy, we want to give the Dobbs a chance to create the life they want, and a whole-home makeover will help their family’s holiday dreams come true.” The Dobbs and their son, Zaylen, were flown to the set of “The Wendy Williams Show” under the impression they were merely finalists for the grand prize. They were shocked to learn they were the winners, and then received another big surprise when their extended family joined them on stage to celebrate. The show had arranged to have the entire extended family travel there to be with the Dobbs as part of the Aaron’s “Big Blue Bow Home Makeover.”  Jasmine’s parents, Dorian and Sherri; Anthony’s mom and 18-year-old brother, Marlene and Daiwan; and Jasmine’s sister and niece, Tanesha and Arianna, were brought on stage for the grand reveal. The studio audience got another big surprise, with each member receiving a free Woodhaven luxury queen-sized mattress set from Aaron’s. For more than two decades, Woodhaven has set the standard for superior quality and affordability with their handcrafted, built in America furniture.  Woodhaven furniture and mattresses are available at Aaron’s stores and online at Aarons.com. About Aaron’s, Inc. Headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) is a leader in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories, and currently has more than 1,930 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada.  Progressive Leasing, a leading virtual lease-to-own company, provides lease-purchase solutions through approximately 19,000 retail locations in 46 states. Dent-A-Med, Inc. (DAMI), d/b/a the HELPcard®, provides a variety of second-look credit products that are originated through a federally insured bank.  Aaron’s was founded in 1955, has been publicly traded since 1982 and owns the Aarons.com, ProgLeasing.com, and HELPcard.com brands. For more information, visit www.aarons.com. About “The Wendy Williams” Show “The Wendy Williams Show” is the provocative, must-see talk show in daytime. Taped live in New York City, the show screens internationally in 52 countries, is syndicated nationally and airs on BET at midnight. Viewers delight over Williams’ distinctive and entertaining personality, as well as a diverse mix of interviews with celebrity guests from television, film, music and sports. Popular segments include “Hot Topics,” in which she delivers her own unpredictable, honest and authentic take on the juiciest headlines, and “Ask Wendy,” during which she offers real advice to audience members looking for solutions to problems. “The Wendy Williams Show” is produced and distributed by Debmar-Mercury, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company.

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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.