Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

National Preparedness Month: Start a Conversation

September is National Preparedness Month, a time to prepare for disasters and emergencies. The theme for 2024, “Start a Conversation,” encourages us to break the silence about potential risks and make talking about emergency preparedness part of our regular discussions with loved ones.

Why Conversations Matter

Talking about potential disasters or emergencies isn’t always easy. Many of us avoid these conversations because they can feel overwhelming or uncomfortable. However, discussing these topics is one of the most effective ways to begin taking steps to ensure the safety and well-being of those we care about.

Starting a conversation today can help your family and community take important actions to prepare for unexpected events. By making preparedness a part of your dialogue, you can help everyone feel more confident and ready in the face of adversity.

Steps to Prepare

National Preparedness Month emphasizes simple, practical steps that anyone can take to ensure they are ready for a disaster:

  1. Make a Plan
    The first step in preparedness is to create a plan that includes how you and your family will communicate and what you will do in different emergency situations. Identify evacuation routes, safe meeting places, and contact information for key people, including neighbors and local authorities.

  2. Build an Emergency Kit
    An emergency kit should contain essentials such as non-perishable food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries, and first-aid supplies. Tailor your kit to the specific needs of your household, including pets and family members with special health needs.

  3. Stay Informed
    Being aware of potential risks in your area is crucial. Sign up for local alerts and warnings, and learn about your community’s emergency plans. Understand which natural disasters are common in your region and how to respond appropriately.

  4. Get Involved
    Preparedness isn’t just about individual efforts; it’s also about strengthening the resilience of the entire community. Volunteer with local disaster response organizations, join a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), or participate in preparedness training to help your neighborhood respond better to disasters.

Business Continuity

According to data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the US Department of Labor, 75% of businesses without continuity planning will fail within three years of a natural disaster. With a statistic like that, it’s imperative to identify your business’ risk, and develop a plan to ensure the safety of your employees and ability of your company to rebound after a disaster.

Begin Today

Preparedness doesn’t happen overnight, but starting the conversation is a great first step. Discussing emergency plans and preparations now will help ensure that everyone knows what to do if a disaster strikes. Whether it’s assembling an emergency kit, reviewing local evacuation routes, or simply understanding what risks are common in your area, every action you take will contribute to the safety and resilience of your family and community.

For more information and preparedness resources, visit Ready.gov.

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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.