Mark Connelly and Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership in Puerto Rico’s team members.
“I just want to thank all our associates in Puerto Rico for their amazing resilience and commitment to Arona and Aaron’s,” begins APRO past president and Arona Corp., dba Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership owner Mark Connelly. “This has been a long road, and it will continue to be a journey as we progress and move down the road.”
In mid-September, Connelly was set to make a trip to Puerto Rico to prepare for the opening of his newest store when he received a call from Arona Corp general and regional manager OT advising him to cancel his plans as Hurricane Maria was approaching the island. OT, whose wife and Arona colleague Maria Acosta Gonzalez and father-in-law were in Miami, had plans of his own that were cancelled. He was slated to travel to Miami to move his family to Puerto Rico but instead had to ride out the storm. Additional members of the Arona Aaron’s Puerto Rico store who also rode out the storm included Denisse Monell and Jesus Rodriguez.
Maria was the first Category 4 hurricane to directly impact the island in 85 years, and it caused widespread damage whose effects are still being felt. It also left those on island without power and means of communication for days. “Twelve days had passed and I still had not heard from our team,” remembers Connelly. “I was driving down the road and my phone rang, it was OT! I picked up and he said, “Boss, you have to book me a flight to get back to my wife and family. They still don’t know I’m OK!” and as luck would have it, my wife was in the car and immediately booked him a flight back to Miami.” OT and his cousin had spent hours driving around the island in search of cellphone signal before they could make a call out. OT spent a few weeks in Miami, going back and forth to Puerto Rico, assisting the company. Meanwhile, the other two associates, Monell and Rodriguez, remained on the island helping as much as they could without certainty the store would ever open.
Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership in Puerto Rico first customer
“They could have gone back to their previous employer or looked for another job,” Connelly notes. “But they didn’t, they stayed the course. They wanted to be a part of the Arona and Aaron’s Team, and for that we will always be grateful!”
Arona Corp., dba Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership in Puerto Rico opened its doors last week. They continue to experience power outages, very limited phone service and minimal internet service, “but based on what this team went through, these are just minor issues!” says Connelly. The store currently has 30 customers and is still growing. Its staff has also experienced some growth as Arona Puerto Rico welcomed its newest team member, Luis Pimental.
The APRO RTO [Relief To Our] Employee Disaster Relief Fund proved to be a source of relief to RTO employees affected by Hurricane Maria as well as hurricanes Harvey and Irma in 2017. “I want to mention APRO and the amazing thing this organization does for their members,” states Connelly. “APRO’s Employee Disaster Relief Fund helps member company employees get through times like these and thank God for that! The fund was able to help Denisse and Jesus with a little money, which they are very grateful for!”
Last year, APRO dispersed over $147,000 on behalf of the RTO Employee Disaster Fund. Since Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria made landfall, APRO has been urging fellow rent-to-own professionals to open their hearts and pocketbooks for the cause. “OT tells me the story where Jesus is following the mail man so he could get these funds which were so greatly needed,” recalls Connelly. “Thanks, APRO!”
Click here to contribute to APRO’s RTO Employee Disaster Relief Fund, or contact APRO at 800/204-2776.
Click here to see more photos of the Arona Corp., dba Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership in Puerto Rico.
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.
