Association of Progressive Rental Organizations
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Announcing the 2019-2020 APRO Leadership

The backbone of any successful association is a solid leadership team coming together to move forward with a common purpose. We are pleased to present the teams who will be the 2019-2020 backbone of APRO.

Elected in front of their peers at the APRO Awards Luncheon during RTO World 2019 on August 6, the 2019-2020 Board of Directors come with a plethora of background and experience. Congratulations to new board members: Michael Bennett, Buddy’s Home Furnishings; Phillip Bumbry, Mid-Atlantic-WolfPack, dba Aaron’s; and Chad Fosdick, CR Fosdick Ent. Inc., dba Premier Rental-Purchase. Re-elected for another term were board members Dennis Adams, Full-O-Pep Appliances Inc. dba American Rental; Louis Garcia, RTO Advantage Consulting, David Harrison, Rental Concepts, LCC dba RNR Tire Express; Robbie Kamerschen, Aaron’s Inc.; and Gopal Reddy, Action Development Corp., dba Aaron’s. The following are serving the second year of their two-year term: Joe Gazzo, Bi-Rite Company Inc., dba Buddy’s; Shirin Kanji, Impact RTO Holdings, dba Rent-A-Center; Jonathan Rose, RNR of Virginia, LLC dba RNR Tire Express; and Adam Sutton, Rent-n-Roll LCC, RNR Tire Express.

The newly elected or re-elected board members, along with those who are serving the second year of their two-year term, elected APRO’s executive committee. Chris Kale, Sr., President was elected president; Trent Agin was elected First Vice President; David P. David was re-elected Secretary; Terah Vail was elected Treasurer; and Louis Garcia will remain on the board as immediate past president.

In addition to the advisement of APRO board members, the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee sets the direction and helps with many of the specifics of RTO World—the National Rent-to-Own Convention & Trade Show—while providing an important link between vendors and dealers. Congratulations to newly elected and re-elected APRO Vendor Advisory Committee: Al Benson, Central File Marketing; Donna DiTrani, High Touch Technologies; Rob Feliciano, Gemini Sound; Gary Jones, Ashley Furniture Industries; Kelly McClellan, L2 Corporation; Greg Skinner, Leopard Mobility; and Lauren Talicska, Wowbrands. The following are serving the second year of their two-year term: Bill French, O’Rourke Sales Company; John Blair, PTS Direct Benefits & Tax Services; Michael Helton, Rivero, Gordimer & Company P.A.; David Kaye, Benefit Marketing Solutions; and Marty Smith, RES Accessories.

This year, APRO is also excited to introduce the newly formed APRO Emerging Leaders Council [ELC]. The APRO ELC is a small, active group of member volunteer leaders rising in the RTO industry who help drive new ideas and programs for APRO that benefit the RTO industry as it continues to adapt and transform. Congratulations to its inaugural members: Dale Anderson, III, Jaguar Holdings LLC, dba Eagle Rental-Purchase; Jessica Mahon, Countryside Rentals, dba Rent-2-Own; Sachin Rama, Impact RTO Holdings; William Lee Rappold, Summit Capital Partners dba Rent-A-Center; Adam Stark, Happy’s Home Centers; and Matthew Warren, RNR Tire Express. Stay tuned for more details and bio’s on these new candidates coming soon!

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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.