Association of Progressive Rental Organizations
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Get to Know Your Vendor Advisory Committee | Brian Rosen

Name: Brian Rosen

What is your current title/role?

I am the National Sales Manager for Nektova (a U.S.-based global independent distributor of branded consumer electronics).

How many years have you been working in rent-to-own?

I have been in RTO about 11 years, working at SED International and Florida State Games.

How did your career path lead you to work with RTO? 

My father, Denis Rosen, has been in the rent-to-own industry as a vendor for about 30 years.

What is your favorite thing about rent-to-own?

The family aspect of the industry, the people, and the way colleagues strive to help each other out – a characteristic not found in many industries.

What has been your proudest professional moment?

I have a few proud moments, such as winning RTO awards like Vendor of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Soaring Eagle Award, and Executive Club, to name just a few. Being elected to the Vendor Advisory Committee (VAC) is another proud moment!

Why did you want to be a member of APRO’s Vendor Advisory Committee?

Joining the VAC represents an opportunity for me to broaden my skills, deepen my rent-to-own expertise, and stay at the forefront of industry developments.

What issues do you hope to work on, and what sort of difference do you hope to make, during your time on the VAC?

I intend to help enhance tradeshow attendance and contribute substantially to legislative endeavors crucial to the RTO industry however I can.

What’s your favorite non-work-related way to spend your time?

I enjoy spending time with my wife, Kelli, and son, Brendan. We love going to Universal Studios and watching University of Michigan football. Go, Blue!

What’s your “happy place,” and why?

My “happy place” is spending time with my family, no matter where we are, because we always find a way to make our time together fun and filled with laughter.

Please share a favorite quotation, lyric, or saying, and what it means to you.

I’ve got two (LOL) business-related quotes I like:

“Whenever you see a successful business,

someone once made a courageous decision.” – Peter F Drucker-

“Great things in business are never done by one person.” – Steve Jobs –

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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.