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Kelly Martin Named SKC Enterprise’s VP of Corporate Strategy & Culture

Kelly Martin Named SKC Enterprise’s VP of Corporate Strategy & Culture
SKC Enterprises, dba Rent One, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kelly Martin as its new Vice President of Corporate Strategy & Culture. This year, the company has expanded to 84 Rent One and eight RNR Tire Express locations; creating new opportunities and requiring new approaches to how they operate, think, and respond to growing needs of employees, communities, and customers. “We are confident in the creation of this position, and the promotion of Kelly Martin to it; our goal is to proactively address the need to define and match our business strategies with our vision for a strong and inclusive culture among our most valuable asset, our people,” says Rent One CEO and APRO Board Member Larry Carrico. Martin has worked with Rent One for the past six years in a number of leadership positions, such as regional manager and regional director, and most recently Managing Member at Imagery Marketing. In her new role, she will focus on the company’s fifth principle, “People,” which Carrico believes to be the most important out of the five—People, Product, Program, Price and Promotion. “With increasing store counts, this shift is vital to meeting our revenue growth potential and ensuring success for everyone at every position, from delivery and wheel techs to our leadership team at corporate. We are confident this emphasis will ultimately result in enhanced customer service and stronger community impact as well,” says Carrico. Martin will transition from Managing Member at Imagery Marketing to her new role while managing responsibilities for both companies effective immediately. “What I love most about my experience with the company is that I have become more well-rounded. My ability to help with what is needed is quicker and faster and has only improved over the past six years,” says Martin. “Our employees are the number one thing and that’s where it hits home for me. If I can make an impact in someone else’s life, that’s what matters to me the most—it’s why I get up in the morning, and that’s why we do what we do. We make an impact in our customer’s lives, but we can’t make an impact on their lives without making a positive impact on our employees. I’m really excited to add a little extra “why” in everything we do to help bring it all together.”

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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.