Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

Blue Ocean Celebrates Employees at Annual Banquet

The team from Sunbury, Pennsylvania, won Blue Ocean’s Store of the Year Award – (L to R) COO Mike Simoncini, Brock Hunt, Nate Kocher, Raymond Adames, Trina Morris, Luis Santana-Mendez, Zac Culver, and CEO Bill Short (team member Hector Romero not pictured).

APRO member Blue Ocean Brands, LLC, recently held its annual awards banquet at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s Best Western Premier Central Hotel & Conference Center. The awards banquet continued Majik Rent-To-Own’s annual event, honoring the culture and legacy of the company, which was acquired by Blue Ocean last spring.

“Majik was probably the best-run company of the 50 or so I’ve acquired over my 40 years,” said Blue Ocean CEO Bill Short. “I really consider it a privilege as well as an opportunity to be chosen by [Majik Owner Dan Fisher] to be the company he sold his pride and joy to. So we recognized early on that keeping the annual awards banquet was essential.”

Organized by Director of Office Services Tammy Dunlap with the help of a ten-person team, this year’s banquet was attended by about 135 employees and guests from all three Blue Ocean brands – Majik, LifeStyle Home Furnishings, and RentMart. Every employee, along with a guest, was invited to the event, with all Blue Ocean stores closing early in the day to allow for travel time.

The event theme was “Winter Nights,” and included a brief review of the company’s 2024 success, a preview of the coming year, senior leadership introductions, and the awards ceremony, followed by dinner, dancing, karaoke, and a little legal gambling. The evening was capped off with a giant giveaway of 47 prizes, including two grand prizes – a 98” television and a dream vacation.

“Each January, we celebrate not just a year of hard work and success, but also the incredible rewards that come with it,” said District Manager Patric Hartman. “Over the years, numerous employees have won dream vacations at our annual banquet – an exciting tradition that continues to recognize dedication and excellence. This event is our way of saying thank you, turning hard work into unforgettable experiences.”

The first-ever recipient of the Dan Fisher Spirit Award, Blue Ocean COO Mike Simoncini (C), beams proudly alongside CEO Bill Short (L) and award namesake Dan Fisher (R).

New to the list of this year’s awards was the Dan Fisher Spirit Award, created to honor Fisher and his decades of hard work developing an extraordinary culture for his employees. The award will be presented annually to an individual who represents the very best of Blue Ocean, continuously demonstrating the company’s core values, core purpose, and brand promise. The recipient of the inaugural Dan Fisher Spirit Award was COO Mike Simoncini.

“Mike is relentlessly passionate about his role at Blue Ocean,” Short said. “When faced with many challenges last year, he stayed focused on the big picture and consistently led the team in a positive direction, guiding our organization to a very successful 2024 and positioning us for an even greater 2025.”

“For me personally, it was a great honor,” said Simoncini about receiving the award. “Dan has served as such a mentor for me over the last ten years. With he and [his wife] Tricia beginning a new path for themselves, I’m proud to be recognized for helping carry on their vision and legacy. I really need to credit the whole organization though. Everyone has continued to represent the values, drive, and commitment that made us successful over the last several years… and years to come.”

Other Blue Ocean award winners included:

  • Store of the Year – Sunbury, Pennsylvania, team: Raymond Adames, Zac Culver, Brock Hunt, Nathaniel Kocher, Trina Morris, Hector Romero, and Luis Santana
  • Store Manager of the Year – Yvan Irizarry, Lincoln Highway Store Manager
  • Assistant Manager of the Year – Kelly Lorah, Columbia Assistant Manager of Sales
  • Rookie of the Year – Craig McMullen, Huntingdon Delivery Specialist
  • Challenge Coin Winner – Armond Williams, Harrisburg Account Retention Specialist
  • Sales Leader – Kelly Lorah, Columbia Assistant Manager of Sales
  • Operations Leader – Tiffany Nixdorf, Manheim Operations Specialist
  • Account Retention Leader – Alex Lockley, Harrisburg Assistant Manager of Account Retention
  • Delivery Leader – Brock Hunt, Sunbury Delivery Specialist
  • “We Serve Others” Core Value – Anthony Velez, York Store Manager
  • “We Do What It Takes” Core Value – Ryan Guinther, Shenandoah Store Manager
  • “We Own It” Core Value – Beth Weaver, Lincoln Highway Assistant Manager of Operations

Kevin Silvers (L) celebrates with Challenge Coin Winner Armond Williams (R) after his big win.

Each award winner received a plaque and a “Dream Vacation” travel prize.

“To be in a room full of people excited about going to work, caring for their customers, and helping their coworkers become the best they can be, is truly amazing,” said Blue Ocean vendor invitee Kevin Silvers of New Generations Diamond & Jewelry Co. “The awards represented more than just numbers; they were an expression of the company culture and how they continue to strive for excellence.”

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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.