Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO)
JOIN APRO
JOIN APRO

Society For Tomorrow, a Year in Review

ElizabethLytton
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
SocietyForTomorrow_Logo_APRO16[1]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.
  • Tags:

Upcoming Events

View Calendar


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.