Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

Fellows in Focus: Nicole Terherst

Nicole Terherst (R) and colleague Deedra Petty (L) prepare for their first APRO Legislative Conference.

The APRO Legislative Fellows program debuted at last year’s Legislative Conference, where 11 event newcomers – sponsored by state rental dealer associations and Ashley Furniture Industries – were mentored by industry veterans to become advocates for rent-to-own.

Nicole Terherst, a Store Manager with Rental Concepts LLC dba RNR Tire Express, was among this inaugural class of Fellows. Terherst stumbled across RNR Tire Express as a single mother seeking to improve her income, and joined the team as a salesperson. She fell in love with the company and the culture, and over the years, has been promoted up to lead the Springdale, Arkansas, location. Terherst says attending APRO’s 2024 Legislative Conference was a highlight of her career.

“My favorite part was telling legislators about rent-to-own and our daily interactions with customers,” says Terherst. “For example, I shared a story about some memorable customers who came in for a flat repair and tire check because they were about to drive two hours to Arkansas Children’s Hospital for their little girl to receive chemotherapy. I saw immediately their tires weren’t safe for travel, so we got them into a safe, high-quality set of tires so they could get to and from their many appointments with their daughter. We also helped them with payment options and extra assistance when times were extra-tough for them.”

Inaugural class of Legislatve Fellows at APRO’s Legislative Conference 2024.

Terherst also witnessed first-hand the importance of RTO professionals visiting their own region’s Congressional representatives.

“At our group’s very first appointment, one of the legislative staffers immediately recognized another Fellow, Deedra Petty, as her former manager at a Kohl’s in Conway, Arkansas!” Terherst says. “It was a crazy coincidence, but having that prior history made the meeting go exceptionally well. They caught up as old friends, and we were able to explain more about the rent-to-own industry than the aide had previously known.”

Terherst also deeply appreciated the networking opportunities available to LegCon participants; she met many RTO pros, and learned lots about running her store more efficiently and effectively from her new industry friends.

Terherst mingling with fellow RTO professionals during the Debrief Dinner.

“The networking I gained at LegCon has been invaluable to me and my business,” says Terherst. “I met so many influential people within the rent-to-own community. Hearing their experiences with customers gave me vast knowledge of how to better understand and deal with day-to-day interactions and challenges.”

As for RTO colleagues considering becoming Legislative Fellows, Terherst highly recommends the experience.

“Take the leap and seize this opportunity!” she advises. “Getting a behind-the-scenes view of our industry at work taught me so much about the business as a whole, and the networking opportunities have been incredibly helpful to me in my daily operations. The connections made and lessons learned can accelerate your career in ways you never expected!”


To learn more about the APRO Legislative Fellows Program and how it can enhance your career in rent-to-own, click here.

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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.