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2020: A Day in the Life in RTO | Heather DeLucia

Name: Heather DeLucia

Years in RTO: I have been in RTO for four years. They have been the best years of my life. 

What’s your current role/title?

Administrative Support Manager at Jaguar Holdings LLC, dba Eagle Rental-Purchase

What did you do before RTO?

I worked as an Administrative Assistant at Phantom Fireworks and a National Roofing Coordinator at Sodexo.

What do you do in a typical day or week?

I coordinate all of our day-to-day operations. I execute our payroll, perform some data entry and HR tasks, and coordinate Eagle events. I also pay all our incoming invoices and bills (I lick A LOT of envelopes) and manage model costs. Whatever is needed, I do it.

How did you find your current position?

I was hired through networking.

What are the benefits of working in Rent-to-Own?

We have the advantage of being able to provide a more personal service for our customers’ needs. We care about the journey our customers take to ownership versus a traditional retailer. We care about that journey and often build stronger relationships with our customers.

How do you manage work/life balance with your role?

I always try to live in the moment. If I am working, I’m all in. If I am at home, I’m all in. When you live in the moment, a balance is always maintained.

What do you predict will change in our industry in the next five years?

I believe virtual sales assistants will be in our near future. Through this, a customer would see available inventory in-store that can be delivered today — like a virtual home tour. There is a lot of at-home shopping right now. In this transition, I think more and more people will be comfortable ordering furniture online.

How did you prepare for your role in RTO?

I came to this company without any previous RTO experience and an open mind to learn. I am blessed to be surrounded by colleagues with decades of experience and they are willing to share their knowledge. If you are open to it, you can learn something new every day in this business.

What do you love most about your job or employer?

I love all the people at work! We really are a family. I cannot say enough fantastic things about Eagle Rental Purchase. Working for a company that invests in their associates like Eagle Rental is everything. It makes coming to work enjoyable and rewarding.

To reach out to Heather DeLucia, you can add her on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter: @HDeLucia.

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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.