Association of Progressive Rental Organizations | America’s Champion for Rent-to-Own

Rent-A-Center Franchisees Reconnect and Celebrate at 2017 National Convention

RACFI Eagle Winner 2017 - Impact RTO
Eagle Award winners. Pictured from L to R: Cathy Skula, Paul Metivier, Shirin Kanji and Michael Landry.
“Together Toward Tomorrow” – that’s the theme at this year’s Rent-A-Center Franchising International, Inc. (RACFI) 2017 National Convention at the Embassy Suites Convention Center in Frisco, Texas, where Rent-A-Center franchisees from all over the country met to reconnect, celebrate and strategize. “Our team looks forward to this convention all year because it gives us the opportunity to celebrate the successes of our franchisees,” said Cathy Skula, senior vice-president RACFI. “Our theme of ‘Together Toward Tomorrow’ represents our focus for 2017 of working together as a combined corporate and franchised Rent-A-Center system, supporting one another, and sharing best practices for the benefit of us all.” Opening day began Jan. 30 with welcoming remarks by Rent-A-Center (RAC) and RACFI leadership including Skula and RAC’s chairman of the board and interim – CEO, Mark Speese, in addition to presentations on topics ranging from best practices to future opportunities. “Profitable franchisees are the foundation of our system, and we’re excited that so many of our franchisees have an appetite for expansion,” said Michael Landry, vice-president of franchise development for RACFI. Activities for the convention included a vendor expo and buying show, a scavenger hunt and the announcement of the franchisee of the year and winner of the prestigious Eagle Award, Shirin Kanji of Impact RTO.  Impact, having never been in the RTO space but very familiar with multi-unit franchising, joined RACFI as a franchisee in late 2015 with the acquisition of 40 established Rent-A-Center stores and has since grown to 46 under the leadership of Kanji and Impact’s  vice president of operations, Paul Metivier. This marks the first time ever in RACFI’s 37-year history that a new franchisee taken home the company’s highest award. About Rent-A-Center Franchising International Rent-A-Center Franchising International, Inc., the nation’s first franchisor of independently owned and operated rent-to-own stores, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rent-A-Center, Inc. RACFI is a national franchisor of approximately 230 rent-to-own stores operating under the trade names of “Rent-A-Center,” “RimTyme,” and “ColorTyme.” For more information on how to become a Rent-A-Center Franchising International franchisee, visit www.racfranchising.com.

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