KRDA meeting attendees Shaun Rush, Mike Strong Jr., Jim Brown, Jessica Mahon, Dennis Sheilds, Angie-Strong McCool, Mike Strong Sr. and Todd Homberger.
The Kansas Rental Dealers Association met in Mulvane, Kansas, on April 25 for its annual association meeting at the Kansas Star Casino. The event featured RTO industry updates, a vendor mixer and tradeshow followed by a day of industry-related insights and state association meeting. This year’s meeting also broke attendance records for KRDA. “We’re so excited about the turnout and enthusiasm at this year’s meeting,” says KRDA President Angela-Strong McCool. “We had more than 62 members and 12 vendors attend this year, which is the biggest turnout we’ve ever had.”
The vendor mixer and trade show kicked off the event on the evening before the meeting with vendor presentations the following morning. Industry insights included a presentation on the future of RTO from APRO Director of Government Relations Apurva Naik, Facebook Marketing by Rent-2-Own Marketing and Communications Manager Jessica Mahon, an RTO legal update by APRO General Counsel Ed Winn III and a keynote presentation on the RTO Sales Process by Todd Homberger of Preferred Sales and Leasing dba/Buddy’s Home Furnishings.
“I thought the presentations and informational sessions at this year’s meeting were top notch,” shares KRDA Vice President Brett Reed of the Appliance Center in Salina, Kansas. “To be able to network with others in the industry and share great knowledge and insights with each other is really invaluable.”
KRDA was established in 2007 and restructured as a nonprofit organization in 2010. In 2015, KRDA created a scholarship program, administered by APRO and available to members, employees, and children of employees. Membership is open to all rent-to-own dealers with stores in Kansas and dues to join are $100 per store.
KRDA’s newly elected, or re-elected, board of directors are Angela Strong McCool, president; Brett Reed, vice president; Mike Strong, treasurer; and board members Jess Fisher, Adam Green, Gloria Homeier, Chuck Kuluva, Shaun Rush.
For more information about KRDA, including how to join, contact Angela Strong-McCool at 620/663-3556 or at angie@mikesrenttoown.com.
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.
