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[2020 Archive] 2019 Was Good, But 2020 Will Be #better!

Digitally Archived: 2026

Archive Notice

This article was originally published in an APRO magazine and has been digitally archived to preserve the history of the rent-to-own industry. It is presented for historical and educational purposes. References to laws, regulations, business practices, products, organizations, or compliance requirements reflect the time of original publication and may no longer be current.ย Readers should consult current legal and compliance resources before relying on any information contained in this article.

Countryside Rentals Inc., dba Rent-2-Own, has decided to make 2020 even #better at the firmโ€™s annual meeting in mid-February. The companyโ€™s record achievements in 2019 were celebrated as employees and management also pledged for more in 2020 through the theme โ€œ#better.โ€

โ€œThe entire company worked together, shared ideas, paid attention to and beat the competition, and focused more on customersโ€™ experiences and happiness,โ€ said Countryside Rentals Inc. CEO and owner Mike Tissot regarding last yearโ€™s results. โ€œWe have much to congratulate ourselves for, and we are using those results as a foundation for even higher achievements this year. Once again, we will make every effort to rent better, collect better and be better in every way.โ€

Countryside Rentals closed its stores for the day so that all employees could celebrate 2019โ€™s accomplishments and participate in activities such as parody games, sharing meals as a family and team building exercises. Additional events included an โ€œRTO Family Feudโ€ competition among different sales regions, drawing for cars and a speech by special guest Giovani Bernard, running back for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Before the line for photos and autographs began, Bernard spoke from his football experience about three critical aspects of a successful team. His first point focused on bringing in the right people and making sure they were determined enough to stick with the team in times of need. Secondly, he discussed the need to let go of individuals who donโ€™t fit the team, and how keeping them can negatively impact the groupโ€™s dynamic. Lastly, he explained why the need for collaboration is essential to the organization, especially with individual differences.

Countryside Rentals Inc. celebrated a record-breaking 2019 at its annual meeting, rallying employees around the 2020 theme โ€œ#better.โ€ Through team-building activities, recognition awards, and a motivating keynote from Giovani Bernard, the company set the tone for continued growth and success.

Before the day ended, the awards ceremony recognized people and teams with above-and-beyond results for the stellar 2019 year. The individuals honored were:

  • Grayson Store Manager Jonda Justice, Employee of the Year
  • Jason Slayers, Assistant Manager of the Service Department, Home Office Employee of the Year
  • London employee Tamika Wall, winner of The Dianne Smalley Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Lancasterโ€™s Jeremiah Guisinger, manager of the Year
  • Irontonโ€™s Bonnie Sargent, Assistant Sales or Collections Manager of the Year
  • New Philadelphiaโ€™s Brendan Metarko, Account Manager of the Year
  • Washington Courthouseโ€™s Harley Anders, Rookie of the Year
  • Wilmingtonโ€™s Nate Norris, Customer Sales Representative of the Year
  • Graysonโ€™s Mike Stevens, Customer Sales Representative of the Year
  • Middletownโ€™s Wyatt Chandler and Scott Knapp, Delivery Specialists of the Year

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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 companyโ€™s Training Center.

Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, kids, and grandkids, and appreciates the simple things in life โ€“ 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.ย 

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 PTSโ€™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 Studiesย 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 APROโ€™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 worldโ€™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, Mikeโ€™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 Presidentโ€™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.ย