Welcome to our APRO-FESSIONAL series, where we spotlight the dedicated individuals shaping the rent-to-own industry. Each interview delves into the lives and careers of our members, offering insights into their journeys, daily roles, and passions. Join us as we explore and celebrate their contributions to the rent-to-own community.
Jess Mahon, Marketing Director for Countryside Rentals Inc. dba Rent-2-Own, has been in rent-to-own for 11 years, all of them with Ohio-based Rent-2-Own (R2O). Her prior work experience was as an Assistant Branch Manager with a bank specializing in second-chance banking, where she mainly served customers who didnโt qualify for traditional checking or savings accounts due to poor banking histories or limited credit.
โJoining the Rent-2-Own team felt like a natural fit,โ Mahon says. โI began learning the business from the ground up as an account manager, then managed a couple of stores. In 2016, I was promoted to the marketing department, where the work is extremely dynamic โ every day brings something new.โ
Mahon enjoys her fast-paced, highly varied workdays, which blend customer service, sales, product management, delivery, and collections.
โIโm constantly engaged in communications, strategic planning, performance metrics, and problem-solving, all while providing hands-on training and support to our stores,โ says Mahon. โMy daily interactions span across stores, management, vendors, and other departments to keep everyone aligned, collaborating closely with various teams to talk over upcoming promotions, new products, and potential offers. Store visits also play a key part in my role โ I confer with store managers, sales managers, and customer-service reps on tailored marketing strategies designed to drive their store results.โ
While Mahon finds her current work engaging, sheโs also excited for the future of rent-to-own โ particularly as technology continues to advance.
โWeโre already seeing incredible improvements with updated websites, mobile apps, and online payments, and I believe the RTO industry will continue to invest in digital platforms to streamline and enhance the customer experience,โ Mahon says. โNext, we may be using AI tools to create virtual showrooms or โsee this product in your homeโ features. Additionally, I think companies will continue to extend their product offerings beyond the traditional.โ
For now, one of Mahonโs favorite things about her work is helping customers enrich their lives by helping them bring home things they want or need โ but her proudest professional moments come from helping elevate her colleagues.
โI love mentoring others, seeing them grow and succeed within the company or industry,โ Mahon says. โThereโs nothing more rewarding than watching people Iโve worked with thrive and reach new career heights. Helping others succeed is truly one of the most fulfilling parts of what I do.โ
