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RentDirect Nationwide’s “No Limits” Show in Las Vegas

RentDirect Director Bruce Manning
RentDirect Nationwide held its 2018 Meeting and Hot Show “No Limits“ last week at The Venetian/Palazzo and Sands Expo in Las Vegas. The event, in conjunction with Nationwide Marketing Group’s Primetime! Show, included more than 190 vendors displaying products and services as well as more than 60 education and vendor product-training workshops. The event kicked off with an array of regional meetings and informational sessions based on merchandising-specific categories, with separate agendas catered specifically for both members and vendors.  Monday’s events were capped off with a keynote address from Admiral William H. McRaven, a retired U.S. Navy Four-Star Admiral and the former Chancellor of the University of Texas System.  McRaven was Commander of U.S. Special Operations, commanding the troops that captured Saddam Hussein, rescued Captain Phillips and was credited with developing the plan for the Osama Bin Laden mission in 2011. Following the keynote, attendees were invited to the PrimeTIme Palooza Reception, where members took advantage of the high-paced auction while enjoying hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a live band complete with an Elvis impersonator. The night was then capped with a Hot Show auction and reception where members had more opportunities to secure one-of-a-kind deals on products. Nationwide announced a partnership with Google at this year’s event. Tuesday and Wednesday continued with a number of Nationwide Learning Academies led by Google associates, PrimeTime Expo, and various regional meetings and dinners. In addition to the buying opportunities offered at the Hot Show and Palooza reception, RentDirect Director, and APRO Associate member Bruce Manning says there was a new focus for its members at this year’s show, “How to bring customers to your store or to your website.” “In keeping the focus on marketing and bringing customers into the store for our RTO members, we offered free website development,” shares Manning. “RentDirect members received free development of a website plus half the cost for the first six months of maintenance offering more than just deals at our Hot Show in an effort to bring customers back to RTO with digital marketing.” RentDirect will be exhibiting at RTO World August 21 – 23 in St. Louis, Missouri, highlighting marketing programs offered to grow RTO businesses. Click here to see more photos of the 2018 RentDirect Nationwide “No Limits” Show.

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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.