Scholarship recipient and Texas A&M University’s Liz Lytton. She is a business major and will speak during Fuse 2017’s General Session on Wednesday, May 10th.
Last year APRO introduced a new method of contributing to the education of young adults by way of The Society For Tomorrow. The Society For Tomorrow is a group of APRO donors who have committed to the long-term success of providing much needed college scholarships. With the creation of the Society For Tomorrow the APRO Education Foundation takes the next leap forward unifying an industry under one purpose of a secure and stable funding source for scholarships for years to come.
For almost a decade, APRO’s Education Scholarship Foundation has helped 226 students granting more than $525,000. Last year, APRO members and state associations donated $127,000 to 65 students. APRO is thrilled to have scholarship recipient and Texas A&M University’s Liz Lytton at this year’s Fuse convention on Galveston Island next week. She is a business major and will speak during Fuse 2017’s General Session on Wednesday, May 10th.
We would like to thank all of our 2016 contributors for investing in a brighter future and already making The Society For Tomorrow a success.
Click here to donate.
2016 Contributors
Regent Level, $15,000/+
Larry Carrico, Rent One
David Kraemer, Bestway Rent-To-Own
Cynthia and Shannon Strunk, Baber’s
Chancellor Level, $10,000 – $14,999
Chas Smithgall, IV, SEI/Aaron’s Inc.
Tennessee Rental Dealers Association
TRIB Group
President Level, $5,000 – $9,999
Chris Korst, Rent-A-Center
David P. David, Full-O-Pep Appliances
David Harrison, Rent-N-Roll
Gopal Reddy, Action Development Corp.
Jamie Slatton, Buddy’s Home Furnishings
Mike Tissot, Countryside Rentals
Provost Level, $2,500 – $4,999
Tiger John Cleek, Cleek’s, Inc.
Dan Cole, National Rent-To-Own
Gary Ferriman, Showplace, Inc.
Joe Fischer, Eagle Rental-Purchase
Florida Rental Dealers Association
Chris Kale, Rent King
Susan Matthews, Benefit Marketing Solutions
Casey Pristou, Watershed Development Corp.
Dean Level, $1,000 – $2,4999
Robert O. Briley, Briley Investments
Dan Fisher, Majik Rent-To-Own
Gary Jones, Ashley Furniture
Lyn Leach, Ace Rent-To-Own
Eric Moore, Rental SalesWorks
Missouri Rental Dealers Association
Dan Singh, Dial Rent-To-Own
Brett Wimberly, Benefit Marketing Solutions
Professor Level, $500 – $999
Al Benson, Central File Marketing
Chris Bolin, Bolin Rental Purchase
John Cleek, Jr., Cleek’s Inc.
Mark Connelly, Aaron’s
Ellison Crider, Buddy’s Home Furnishing
Bruce Kemp, Royal Rents
Spencer Smith, Smith Group
Larry Sutton, Rent-n-Roll
Founding Members, $500/-
Trent Agin, Rent One
Bill French, O’Rourke Sales
Allison Manley, Showplace, Inc.
Mark Williams, Rent One
Click here to donate.
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.
![SocietyForTomorrow_Logo_APRO16[1]](https://www.rtohq.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/SocietyForTomorrow_Logo_APRO161.png){kind=logo}
Regent Level, $15,000/+
Larry Carrico, Rent One
David Kraemer, Bestway Rent-To-Own
Cynthia and Shannon Strunk, Baber’s
Chancellor Level, $10,000 – $14,999
Chas Smithgall, IV, SEI/Aaron’s Inc.
Tennessee Rental Dealers Association
TRIB Group
President Level, $5,000 – $9,999
Chris Korst, Rent-A-Center
David P. David, Full-O-Pep Appliances
David Harrison, Rent-N-Roll
Gopal Reddy, Action Development Corp.
Jamie Slatton, Buddy’s Home Furnishings
Mike Tissot, Countryside Rentals
Provost Level, $2,500 – $4,999
Tiger John Cleek, Cleek’s, Inc.
Dan Cole, National Rent-To-Own
Gary Ferriman, Showplace, Inc.
Joe Fischer, Eagle Rental-Purchase
Florida Rental Dealers Association
Chris Kale, Rent King
Susan Matthews, Benefit Marketing Solutions
Casey Pristou, Watershed Development Corp.
Dean Level, $1,000 – $2,4999
Robert O. Briley, Briley Investments
Dan Fisher, Majik Rent-To-Own
Gary Jones, Ashley Furniture
Lyn Leach, Ace Rent-To-Own
Eric Moore, Rental SalesWorks
Missouri Rental Dealers Association
Dan Singh, Dial Rent-To-Own
Brett Wimberly, Benefit Marketing Solutions
Professor Level, $500 – $999
Al Benson, Central File Marketing
Chris Bolin, Bolin Rental Purchase
John Cleek, Jr., Cleek’s Inc.
Mark Connelly, Aaron’s
Ellison Crider, Buddy’s Home Furnishing
Bruce Kemp, Royal Rents
Spencer Smith, Smith Group
Larry Sutton, Rent-n-Roll
Founding Members, $500/-
Trent Agin, Rent One
Bill French, O’Rourke Sales
Allison Manley, Showplace, Inc.
Mark Williams, Rent One
Click here to donate. 
