Aaron’s Announces $5 Million, Three-Year Renewal with Boys & Girls Club
A surprise makeover reveal of the Teen Center at the Lied Boys & Girls Club in Salt Lake City was held last Thursday to announce Aaron’s and Progressive Leasing renewed partnership.Aaron’s and Progressive Leasing announced that the Aaron’s Foundation has renewed its national partnership with Boys & Girls clubs of America. The continued partnership supports the Keystone Club, BGCA’s premier national teen leadership and character program, for an additional three years with a $5 million commitment.
A special event was held on September 20 at the Lied Boys & Girls Club in Salt Lake City, Utah, to announce the renewed partnership and Aaron’s continued support of the Keystone Club program. The Lied Boys & Girls Club received a makeover of its Teen Center valued at $25,000, marking the 30th Teen Center renewal to be completed since Aaron’s announced the initial partnership in August 2014.
“We knew when we began our partnership in 2014 with Boys & Girls Clubs of America Keystone Club, and believe even more strongly today, that this program is a vital resource for thousands of youths in communities across America,” says Chief Executive Officer of Aaron’s, Inc. John Robinson. “We’ve seen the positive and life-changing effects of our partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs over the last four years and we’re committed to supporting this incredible organization that not only provides a safe place for teens after school, but also helps in shaping our leaders of tomorrow.”
The renewed partnership will build upon the successes the two organizations have achieved since launching the partnership. Aaron’s has sponsored the last four national Keystone Conferences, where thousands of teen leaders from across the world gather and discuss important issues in their lives and communities. The 2018 conference was held in June, where more than 2,000 teens convened in Atlanta and participated in workshops, exchanged ideas, led service projects and socialized with peers.
Over the past four years, Aaron’s also performed makeovers at Teen Centers in cities such as Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville and San Antonio. Last week’s makeover at the Lied Boys & Girls Club Keystone Teen Center in Salt Lake City was made possible by Aaron’s in-kind donation of furniture, electronics and appliances – and the hard work of the company’s employees.
“The Keystone Club makeover in Salt Lake City last week and the last 29 Keystone Club makeovers across the country over the past four years of our partnership is a testimony to the tremendous efforts by Aaron’s toward making a lasting impact on the communities Boys & Girls Clubs of America serves,” says President and Chief Executive Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of America Jim Clark. “We are excited to continue to work with Aaron’s for another three years of partnership to benefit the youth of our country. Now more than ever, our youth need a safe place outside of their schools and homes where they can learn and truly make a difference in their local neighborhoods. With the help of great partners like Aaron’s, we are dedicated to building a greater future for generations to come.”
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.
