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The Premier Companies Wrap Up Successful National Convention

David Bauer
Franchisee Dave Bauer shared his experience at the Premier Executive Retreat last October.
The Premier Companies ended their 2017 National Convention at the Playa Largo resort in  Key Largo, Florida after an exciting turnout  and participation from The Premier Family. The final day of The Premier Companies convention began with the background and history of Key Largo and the grounds where the beautiful Playa Largo Resort and Spa reside. Following was an update of the Franchise Advisory Board presented by Chad Fosdick, Advisory Board Chairman. Dave Bauer was the franchisee selected to participate in the Premier Executive Retreat last October. He shared his experience with the group about the Premier team’s priorities within each department and their focus in 2017. Communication with employees is very important to building a successful team. Laura Emerson, Premier Human Resources Executive Director educated attendees about different personalities and the need to communicate effectively to these personalities. APRO General Council, Ed Winn discussed legal concerns going on in the RTO industry and the importance of staying compliant with state and industry rules and regulations.
Painting group shot
Attendees participated in a group painting class and created original works of art.
The educational sessions ended with a team of Dan Whitsell, CPA; Tim Stough, Premier Director of Operations and Trooper Earle, Premier President and CEO, addressing dealers who are interested in multi-store ownership. Premier’s annual cooking class demonstration with the Executive Chef of Playa Largo was a great success. A Painting Class was offered to guests during the afternoon meetings. Stephanie Dunn, spouse of Director of Purchasing Corey Dunn, shared her painting techniques with an attentive group. Each attendee left with their own original painting.
Dealer of the Year
Dealer of the Year awarded to to Wally Landmesser and Rob Rice, franchisee partners in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Pictured L to R: Trooper Earle, Grazyna Landmesser, Wally Landmesser. Photo credit: Stacia Mogan Photography
The Awards Banquet ended the convention with Premier Dealer’s accepting awards and receiving recognition for their Community Service, Premier Service, store anniversaries, sales volume and extraordinary contributions to the Premier organization.  The Dealer of the Year was celebrated as the highlight of the evening. A huge congratulation was extended and goes out to Wally Landmesser and Rob Rice franchisee partners in Bridgeport, Connecticut. “Congratulations to Wally and Rob for receiving this prestigious award ” said Trooper Earle. “They have been a part of the Premier system since inception and seen the growth of Premier over the years. Wally and Rob are well deserving of this award. “I commend the Premier Convention Team for their hard work in organizing another successful Premier Convention,” said Earle.   “We are all informed and energized as we look forward to another successful year for Premier and its Dealers.” Click here to view more photos of The Premier Companies 2017 National Convention.

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Mike Lewis

Central Properties dba Premier Rental-Purchase

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.