Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO)
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RNR Opens 200th Franchise Location

RNR Tire Express 200th location opened in Schenectady, New York.

RNR Tire Express opened up its 200th location last month in Schenectady, New York, marking a key milestone in the franchise retailerโ€™s dynamic expansion.

โ€œAs we celebrate this landmark opening, we recognize it as a testament not only to our strong business model, but also to the unwavering dedication and hard work of our franchisees,โ€ said RNR CEO Adam Sutton. โ€œAs we enter our companyโ€™s 25th year, weโ€™re excited to continue expanding and providing our flexible payment solutions to meet tire and wheel needs in even more communities nationwide.โ€

The 200th RNR is owned and operated by husband and wife Jeff and Patrina Leland, who bring more than three decades of business acumen to the company. The couple worked together in a third-generation family distribution business that was sold in 2019; they began their entrepreneurial journey with RNR with the opening of their first location, in Queensbury, New York, in January 2021. Despite having no prior tire-industry experience, Patrina earned RNRโ€™s Rookie Manager of the Year award that year.

โ€œWeโ€™re thrilled to not only celebrate the opening of our second RNR location, but also bring the company to this incredible milestone,โ€ said Jeff. โ€œBeing part of the RNR family has been an exceptional experience, from the support weโ€™ve received to the opportunity weโ€™ve had to serve our community. As we continue to grow, we look forward to helping even more customers drive safely and confidently out on the roads, and weโ€™re excited to see where the future takes us.โ€

RNR has continued its expansion this year with additional openings in Salisbury, North Carolina, and Vicksburg, Mississippi. The company is currently seeking qualified franchisees for territories including Denver, Colorado; Nashville, Tennessee; and the northeastern U.S.

Grand Opening Celebration in Schenectady, New York
Sutton (C) celebrates the new store opening with franchisees Jeff and Patrina Leland.

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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 companyโ€™s Training Center.

Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, kids, and grandkids, and appreciates the simple things in life โ€“ 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.ย 

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 PTSโ€™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 Studiesย 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 APROโ€™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 worldโ€™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, Mikeโ€™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 Presidentโ€™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.ย