APRO Hall of Honor member and longest-serving director of the APRO board David P. David was recognized for his significant contributions to the rent-to-own industry last weekend, accepting TRIB Group’s President’s Award. David received the award at the Meeting of the Minds & Expo in Nashville, TN. The four-day event included a general session, educational breakout sessions, an expo featuring 80 RTO vendors, a hot show and an offsite party at the Wildhorse Saloon.
This year’s general session featured vendor presentations from Benefit Marketing Solutions, Capital Concierges, Central File, and PTS Financial. Benefit Marketing Solutions’ CEO Brad Dennison stressed the importance of APRO’s upcoming Legislative Conference, scheduled for April 9-11th in Washington, D.C., and reminded attendees of when the industry was under fire and what was learned in the company’s efforts in offering and defending its Club programs.
APRO’s Executive Director Jill McClure also addressed the group on the importance of rental dealers attending APRO’s Legislative Conference to build relationships with lawmakers, and not allowing critics to define the RTO business. She made a point of identifying and thanking the 10 state presidents currently enrolled to attend: Dennis Adams, IN; Chris Bolin, TN; Chip Guy, OK; Louise Garcia, MD; Jeff Lebakken, WI; Kelly Martin, IL; Jonathan Rose, VI; Mike Tissot; OH; Sharon Tomaszewski, FL; and Terah Vail, AR. McClure later co-presented the Women in RTO breakout session alongside Impact RTO’s Lisa Mitchell. The well-attended and informational session included industry statistics and four actionable items dealers can do now to retain, develop and support women in their companies. To learn more about the session, contact APRO at 800/204-2776 or edu@rtohq.org.
Additional speakers covered a wide range of industry topics such as marketing plans, hiring & training, and new product strategies, featuring APRO members MAJIK’s Dan Fisher and Mike Simoncini; Ideal Software’s Enos Barger; Rent One’s Trent Agin, Kelly Martin, Mark Williams; High Touch’s Jan Miller; Happy’s Chris Kale, Jr. and Jeff Kale; Impact RTO’s Shirin Kanji and Paul Metivier; Show Place’s Gary Ferriman; Premiere’s Chad Fosdick; Appliance & Furniture RentAll’s Marty Auble; Eagle Rental-Purchase’s Joe Fischer; Preferred Sales and Leasing’s Todd Homberger; Countryside’s Mike Tissot and Jess Mahon; Bolin Rental Purchase’s Chris Bolin; Ace Rent to Own’s Lyn Leach and Frank Rotert; and Full-O-Pep’s Amy Swain.
The hot show hit $7.18 million in sales with Lyn Leach as the auctioneer and included award presentations where David was honored among his esteemed peers: Paula Allison, GE Appliances, Lowry Shrader People’s Choice Award; Sachin Rama, Impact RTO, James B. Baber Vendor’s Choice Award; Ashley Furniture, Top Gun Award; GE Appliances, Soaring Eagle Award; and Lane United, Rising Star Award.
Click here to see more photos of TRIB Group’s 2019 Meeting of the Minds in Nashville, TN.
