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Heartland Show Features New Event, New President

Macy Mitchell and Liz Mitchell of All American Rental Inc. welcome folks to the Heartland of America Trade Show, which they planned together.

The Missouri Rental Dealers Association (MRDA) Heartland of America Regional Trade Show & Seminar was held in mid-June; about 170 rental dealers and vendors attended the three-day event, held once again at the beautiful Lodge of Four Seasons Resort in Lake Ozark, Missouri.

“This year’s Heartland of America Trade Show went off without a hitch, thanks in large part to my son Macy (Mitchell) and my wife Liz (Mitchell), who organized it,” said MRDA President Scott Mitchell, Owner of All American Rental Inc. “Dealers and vendors alike were upbeat and positive about the event; after all RTO has gone through the past few years, it was good to see all of us pull together and succeed.”

Dan Fisher of Pennsylvania-based Majik Rent-to-Own offers the keynote address at this year’s event.

The organization launched the event a little differently this year, with folks gathering for “The Tiger Social” – named to honor longtime APRO and MRDA member, leader, and President “Tiger” John Cleek.

The next morning, early risers participated in bass-fishing and golf tournaments, with a combined dealer-vendor team winning the golf round, and Aaron and Charlie Windsor of National TV Sales & Rental earning first place fishing. The rest of the afternoon, attendees enjoyed a vendor showcase with a cocktail reception, followed by a banquet dinner buffet, and an after-party at The Rooftop Bar.

APRO CEO Charles Smitherman addresses Heartland Show attendees for the first time in his new leadership position.

“The whole show was fantastic,” said Cleek’s Home Furnishings/Rentals & Sales Owner John Cleek Jr., who was also elected as MRDA President for the coming year. “We sold 55 booths, and rental dealers from around the country came to take advantage of show specials. Dan Fisher – Owner of Majik Enterprises International Inc. dba Majik Rent-To-Own – did an awesome job with his keynote address, and we were lucky to have O’Rourke Sales Company and AUTCO Distributing Inc. provide electronics and appliances product training.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed the MRDA Heartland of America Regional Trade Show & Seminar, and catching up with many of our APRO member dealers and vendors,” said new APRO CEO Charles Smitherman. “The event continues to fulfill its historical legacy of high standards and impressive longevity. Like many attendees, I left Lake Ozark already looking forward to next summer’s event!”

View the gallery of photos below to see who you may know!

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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.