Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

2023: A Day in the Life in RTO | Ryan Schrader

2023: A Day in the Life in RTO | Ryan Schrader

Name: Ryan Schrader

What’s your current role/title?

Director of Finance Operations for RNR Tire Express corporate offices in Tampa, Florida.

Years in RTO:

16 years.

What did you do before you began working in RTO? 

I worked in consumer financing and services, and in sales.

How did you find your current position?

I was introduced to (RNR Founder and CEO) Larry Sutton by a longtime friend who was working for the company and thought I’d be a good fit for an upcoming position.

How did you prepare for your RTO role?

My sales and automotive experience, along with my knowledge of various consumer financing options, gave me a leg up, but working among and with a great group of RTO veterans has proven invaluable.

What do you do in a typical day or week?

I work extensively with our franchisees to help them achieve their goals and plan their path to being America’s best tire-and-wheel concept.

What are the benefits of working in RTO?

Nothing is better than reviewing your day and seeing the difference I’ve made in the lives of not only our customers, but also our team members. This industry empowers so many people to realize goals they might not have had access to achieve otherwise.

What do you love best about your job or employer?

I love helping people across the country work toward and achieve their goals on a daily basis. I feel privileged not only to have the chance to see the success of our team members, but also to be a part of such a terrific team.

How do you manage work-life balance?

With over 180 locations in 4 time zones, it can be a challenge! So ensuring I have an “off time” each night is important. I also make sure to dedicate some time every week to spend with family and friends.

What do you predict will change in the rent-to-own industry over the next five years?

I think the future holds an opportunity for continued market share growth, as well as the potential to transition into more of a subscription-style service.

You can connect with Ryan Shrader on Facebook or LinkedIn.

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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.