Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

Tessa David-Burns Recovers from Massive Stroke at 28

In December 2014, Tessa David – daughter of APRO President David P. David – was young, healthy, beautiful, and living her best life. Tessa, then 28, had spent five years as a cheerleader for the Indianapolis Colts and now was cheering for the Dallas Cowboys. She worked as a spin instructor and a nanny on the side, and was in a happy relationship with her boyfriend, Justin Burns.

“Everything was perfect,” Tessa recently told the Indianapolis Star. “Then I had a stroke.”

Tessa was showering one day when her right arm seemed to go numb. She thought it was probably a pinched nerve, but when she exited the shower, her sight became blurry, a massive headache ensued, and as she headed for her room, her legs went dead. Tessa reached her bed, but was in and out of consciousness. She somehow managed to call Justin, but was unable to talk. Justin assumed it was just a poor connection, and tried to return the call, but Tessa couldn’t answer.

Experts say during a stroke, every second counts in saving the victim from progressive brain damage. Tessa suffered, alone in her apartment on her bed, for 36 hours.

Tessa David (in yellow) surrounded by loved ones – including her dad, David P. David – while recovering in the hospital.

Her family and friends became concerned when no one had seen or heard from Tessa for more than a day, and requested the police do a welfare check. They found Tessa and rushed her to the hospital. Doctors were shocked she was still alive, and warned her loved ones she might never walk or talk again. She had extreme brain swelling, and following 12 days in the ICU, Tessa couldn’t speak, was partially paralyzed on her right side, and remained hospitalized for the next two months.

“I could do nothing,” recalls Tessa. “I was in a wheelchair. I could do nothing at the time.” Tessa worried about Justin getting “stuck” with her in such an incapacitated state. Weeping, she tried to break up with him by writing it out on a dry-erase board. He said no.

Tessa David shares her hospital bed with her then-boyfriend Justin Burns.

“I fell in love with Tessa, and then, after the stroke, she became another Tessa, and I fell even more in love with her,” Burns affirms. “I’m not going to say every day was bright and sunny, but she had an extremely positive mindset from day one. She didn’t sulk, she just pushed forward.” Tessa moved into rehab and began to mount an astounding recovery. Almost eight years later, she can talk and walk without a brace or cane. But Tessa still faces limitations: she has aphasia, which sometimes makes it hard for her to speak clearly; she can’t move her right hand; she has weakness in her right leg; and she can’t read or write.

Tessa David-Burns today.

But Tessa can have and raise a family; married in 2018, she and Justin are now the proud parents of Elora, 2, and Bodin, 9 months. Tessa – now David-Burns – says following many frustrating and difficult days, she feels like her life is pretty close to perfect again.

“I’d cry, and then I’d lift myself up again and move on,” she concludes.

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Mike Lewis

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.