Association of Progressive Rental Organizations
JOIN APRO
JOIN APRO

A Sizzling Addition to Summer! RTOHQ: The Magazine

The Sumer 2019 issue of RTOHQ: The Magazine covers a variety of articles that gives you a recap on industry events and news while also keeping you in the know on upcoming RTO happenings. In our cover story, we outline the benefits and advantages of the rent-to-own transaction and why consumers need to understand it in the article What Your Customers Need to Know that outlines.

Also in this issue, APRO board member, Robbie Kamerschen, is featured highlighting his career that led him to the last several impactful years at Aaron’s, Inc. as the company’s Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. Another familiar face featured in this issue is Jim Brown, one of APRO’s founding fathers and recipient of the 2018 Ernie Talley Lifetime Achievement Award. Brown has been a guiding force for the association and the industry. In this feature, he highlights his involvement and acknowledges the importance of innovation along the way. Read more about Brown in the APRO Spotlight.

You also won’t want to miss the article Trumped By The Nuns: Fear And Loathing Among The Cheeseheads by recurring contributor, Ed Winn, III. In this feature, APRO General Counsel recounts his journey to Madison, Wisconsin RTO to advocate for the state’s first-ever RTO legislation.

In April, RTO advocates from all over the country joined forces to climb the capitol steps to talk to legislators about the industry at the APRO Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. With positive vibes in and out of every conversation, RTO advocates made sure that legislators learned about the building blocks of the industry to ensure its continued existence. Included in this issue is a recap of the event that contains photos and plans for next year.

Last but definitely not least, this issue includes your invitation to RTO World 2019! With resounding success from last year’s inaugural event, this year is looking better than ever in Louisville, Kentucky. APRO is gearing up for this fantastic event that is just three weeks away, and everyone is buzzing with excitement!

Click here to read the full digital version of the Summer 2019 issue of RTOHQ: The Magazine now!

Upcoming Events

View Calendar



Popular Resources

Sign up for APRO Today

Copyright © · All Rights Reserved · APRO Privacy Policy · APRO Antitrust Policy

Facebook Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Copyright © · All Rights Reserved · APRO Privacy Policy
Facebook Twitter Youtube Flickr

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.