Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

Buddy’s Leadership Conference Takes Better to Best

A sea of yellow “Better to Best” shirts showcase record-breaking attendance at the 2024 Buddy’s Leadership Conference.

Buddy’s Newco LLC dba Buddy’s Home Furnishings, held its Annual Leadership Conference in mid-August in Orlando, Florida. The multi-day event, held at the Loews Universal Resorts, focused on “Better to Best” and continuing Buddy’s growth and success.

Buddy’s CEO Michael Bennett addresses attendees at the company’s annual leadership conference.

This year’s Leadership Conference hosted a record-breaking 440 attendees and began with a meeting of Buddy’s Franchise Advisory Board. The next morning, the General Session was ushered in by the Orlando Magic drumline, along with a welcome team cheering participants and offering them high-fives and themed spirit boom sticks.

CEO and APRO Board President Michael Bennett led the session, noting that Buddy’s has opened a record eight new franchises so far this year, now has three $2-million stores, and has introduced more new technology platforms than ever, including tech to help: improve topline growth; enhance communications; streamline recruitment, digital documentation, and routing; and reduce operating costs.

Bennett (L) and APRO CEO Charles Smitherman (R) show off the new company work shirt, which benefits the APRO Charitable Foundation.

Bennett also promoted a new partnership with Vox-Pop-Uli to help raise funds for the APRO Charitable Foundation, which provides scholarships for children of rent-to-own employees and natural-disaster relief for affected RTO employees. Special Buddy’s work shirts with the Foundation’s logo on one sleeve are available for purchase, with $5 of every shirt bought going to the Foundation.

Keynote speakers The Up Guys – Richie Derwald and Nels Ross – presented FUN-damentals for a Bright Future: Positive, Present, Purposeful, and Playful Mindsets. The pair intermingled their message with acts of showmanship, including singing, juggling, Chinese yoyos, and ample audience participation. The rest of the day was made up of a vibrant Vendor Show featuring 46 vendors (eight of them new) and a smokin’ Hot Show.

“I’m incredibly proud of where Buddy’s is today, and where we aim to be in the future,” Bennett said. “And once again, I’m grateful for our vendors, who show up every year to help us bring the best products to Buddy’s customers.”

Buddy’s Franchise Consultant Chaz Wilson (R) channels his inner “Doc” with electrifying energy during a themed breakout session, while Regional Manager Pete Shau (L) plays the perfect McFly sidekick, keeping the crowd charged up.

That evening, conference attendees moved to the Universal CityWalk for the Peak Performance Winners Red Carpet Walk, where awardees were announced and strolled a red carpet into the Buddy’s Block Party, which offered abundant food, beverages, entertainment, and even a couple of human-sized Minions seeking bright yellow photo opps.

The following day began with Buddy’s Peak Performance Awards for top store performers, regional managers, and Store of the Year – which went to Lisa Currie of Batesville, Arkansas. Breakout sessions highlighted the rest of the day, with four teams – CRM/Mobile App, Sales & Marketing, Time Management/Planning for Success, and Vendor Product Knowledge – cycling through four education sessions each. New at this year’s event were two panels especially for Owners, focused on saving franchisees operating costs via vendor partnerships.

“This was our best-attended conference yet,” said Bennett, “as we welcomed our General Managers to join our Franchise Owners, strengthening relationships, building efficiencies, and tightening up our processes across locations.”

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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.