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2017 TRIB Group Annual Summit Recap

DSC01299The 2017 TRIB Group Summit Convention and Expo three day meeting took place on March 5 – 8 at the Marriott Orlando World Center. This year’s convention was the most attended in the TRIB Group’s history. The event’s purpose is to create networking events and provide buy shows across all categories of merchandise. The event began with the Tom C. Kitchens Charity golf tournament to benefit the APRO Educational scholarship. The tournament welcomed 91 golfers and raised close to $14,000.
The contest winners are as follows:
  • Long Drive Men: Mike Tagel
  • Long Drive Women: Rita Haney
  • Closest to the Pin Men: Trini Rubio
  • Closest to the Pin Women: Sharon Tomcszewski
  • Longest Putt: Ernie Lewallen
  • Straightest Drive: Danny Singh
  • Winning Team: There was a 3 way tie for winning team with each having a net 60 score. The winning team with be Kevin Silvers, Mark Lamkin, Bill Milby, and Kevin Faulkerson.
  • Second Place Team: Jim Forker, Brian Clussman, Trinidad Rubio, Big Mike Gordon.
  • Third Place Team: Dan Singh, Rita Haney, Ben Bost, Mike TIssot.
  • Marshmallow Drive: Kyle Hadden
  • Putting Contest: 3 way tie of David Pagano, Robert Fales, and Mark Lamkin with David Pagano the named winner.
  • Washing Machine Chipping Contest: Another 3 way tie with Cory Gray being named winner, and Mike Tissot and Dan Allums runners up.
DSC01267As always, the Hot Show auction presented buying opportunities in a fast-paced auction format. This was followed by the off-site Welcome Celebration at Whirly Dome. This was a great event that gave both vendors and members the opportunity socialize and/or compete on the WhirlyDome courts. Countryside Rentals even had a team uniform, complete with matching headbands and wristbands. TRIB Group had an excellent band this year, and a cigar roller. Event Sponsors were Crosley, Sealy, LG Electronics, and Imagery Marketing and we thank them for their generosity. Tuesday, Members got down to business at the annual Membership Meeting followed by the Hot Show II Furniture buying fair which was a very successful event. TRIB Group would like to thank all vendors and members who helped make this the most successful convention yet. Click here to view photos more photos of the 2017 TRIB Group Summit Convention and Expo.

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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.