Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

It Takes A Village (of Tiny Homes) to Make a Huge Impact

APRO staff volunteers at Community First Village. (L to R) CEO Charles Smitherman, Director of Finance Tulisha Wendele, VP of Membership Jen Troke, Director of Marketing and Communications Amberlee Maya, Director of Events Lisa Krabbenhoft, and Web Membership Coordinator Benji Colegio.

Inspired by our members’ relentless community engagement, APRO decided it was our turn to give back. On a cold, rainy December morning, we volunteered at Community First! Village in East Austin, Texas, kicking off a new annual APRO holiday tradition!

Community First! Village is a 51-acre community dedicated to providing affordable, permanent housing and support for individuals emerging from chronic homelessness – defined as those with a mental or physical disability who have lived on the streets for over 12 months. The village offers a variety of housing options, including tiny homes, RVs, and manufactured homes, all designed to foster a sense of community and belonging.

Residents, who are lovingly referred to as neighbors, have access to shared amenities such as outdoor kitchens, gardens, a “living room” with games and pool tables, a chicken coop, a market, a dog park, a beauty salon, and even an outdoor movie theater. The village also provides opportunities for neighbors to earn a dignified income through on-site jobs, including creating and selling artwork, groundskeeping, farming, hydroponic gardening, and maintaining public spaces.

Community First! Village promotional video.

The Village hosts an annual “Village of Lights” event for the local community, and we had the opportunity to assist with the final preparations. The event features thousands of lights synchronized to holiday music, a visit from Santa, a Christmas train, a holiday market, and s’mores. Our tasks included “fluffing” the Christmas tree, staging and lighting outdoor signs, setting up Christmas lights, and packaging 600 s’mores for the neighbors and incoming visitors.

After completing our tasks, we were given a tour of the village to learn more about this incredible neighborhood. Following the experience, the staff shared their reflections on what they learned:


“What stood out most to me was the emphasis on providing dignity to the neighbors. Community First! Village could have been set up as a large dormitory to house the most people in the smallest footprint, but instead each person has their own space, whether a tiny home or an RV. They pay rent for their homes and pay for their own food – so this isn’t a free ride – and they are provided with many opportunities on-site to earn an income.”
Lisa Krabbenhoft


Charles Smitherman

“It was incredible to witness how businesses and city stakeholders came together in this novel approach to address a major issue by moving people from the streets into a real community with homes and support services. While our role during the visit was small, the entire operation felt like the result of many efforts working together to create a dignified and supportive environment for the residents.”
Charles Smitherman


“It was heartwarming to learn about the village and how it began with just one food truck to serve the homeless, then transitioned to a handful of RVs, and then the vision of the village was born. I am thankful for the experience of learning more about this epidemic and am reminded that every good deed starts with one small step. This community is a collaborative effort and only possible because of the efforts of so many volunteers. I can’t think of a better thing to be doing to celebrate the holiday season!”
Tulisha Wendele


“What stood out to me the most was how intentional the community is about fostering dignity and belonging. Learning that they refer to residents as ‘Neighbors’ instead of individuals was powerful – it shifts the narrative from one of charity to one of shared humanity. Working here made me realize how even small actions can contribute to creating joy and a sense of home for others, especially during the holidays. It’s a reminder that kindness is in the details.”
Benji Colegio


“Volunteering with Community First! Village was a truly rewarding experience. Coming together as a team to contribute to such a meaningful cause – bringing dignity and community to those who are all too often overlooked – was both inspiring and humbling. Helping with their Christmas event felt like a small but meaningful way to support their mission and raise awareness about the amazing work they do.”
Amberlee Maya


“I was surprised to learn that 90% of chronically homeless individuals living on the street have a traumatic brain injury which translates into all kinds of complications in everyday life. Community First! Village understands that those with these types of injuries can be quick to escalate, so they designed individual tiny homes that don’t share walls to eliminate any potential friction. Taking time to understand who the homeless really are helps me extend extra compassion to this population inside and outside the Village.”
Jen Troke


For more information about Community First Village, visit their website at https://mlf.org/community-first

Upcoming Events




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.