APRO member and SmartWay/SmartWheels owner Ben Bost passed away on October 17th at the age of 43. Bost supported the rent-to-own industry by participating in APRO conventions, and serving on the TRIB Group board of directors. In November 2017, he suffered two strokes that left him a quadriplegic, but lived the past eleven months with resilience, courage, and good humor.
In March, TRIB Group hosted a special tribute to Bost at the buying group’s 2018 Meeting of the Minds Hot Show, raising more than $56,000 to help fund a specialty van for Bost. In August, Ben and his daughter, MariMac, drove the van to St. Louis to attend RTO World; he gave a speech at the event’s Hot Show expressing his gratitude to the RTO industry for all its support.
A service celebrating Bost’s life will be held today at 2 p.m. at his home in Charlotte, NC. Parking will be available at the Myers Park Country Club Tennis Center, located at 2600 Sharon Road in Charlotte.
Friends of the Bosts have established a GoFundMe campaign to help support Ben’s family during this difficult time. To contribute, click here.
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.