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TRIB Group Holds Peachy Meeting of the Minds

(L to R) Ed Kestler, Brian Grow, Eric Grow, Chris Bolin, Charles Smitherman, Wally Landmesser, John Doroba, and Kevin Tanksley savor tastings of ASW Distillery products, including bourbons, ryes, and other spirits.

TRIB Group recently held its annual Meeting of the Minds Tradeshow & Buy Fair at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center in Atlanta, Georgia. With more than 625 attendees and 96 exhibitors, the three-day event offered great deals, dynamic education sessions, and tons of Peach State fun!

The convention kicked off with a special ASW Distillery Tour & Tasting Experience and an Escape Room Experience, followed by the Welcome Reception at Punch Bowl Social. Participants enjoyed an enhanced arcade, bowling, karaoke, and more, along with a huge buffet and bar, before moving on to the Good Game Atlanta After-Party. There, attendees exercised their skills in Topgolf Swing Suites interactive gaming simulators.

Day two began with a TRIB Group Membership Meeting, followed by four rounds of education session trios, all categorized within new targeted learning tracks: Jump Start, Laser Focus, and Managers’ Roundtables. Among these sessions was the launch of the Leadership Education Advancement Program (LEAP), presented by Dan Fisher of Blue Ocean Brands, LLC dba Majik Rent-To-Own. Fisher introduced the new initiative, which will feature monthly Zoom sessions hosted by APRO and TRIB Group. Participants can earn class credits by attending or watching the sessions and completing a brief survey, working toward certification levels with potential rewards to be announced. Session recordings and more information are available online at www.rtohq.org/leap.

The Hot Show Preview and Live events were as popular as ever, but without traditional auctioneer Lyn Leach of Ace Furniture & TV Inc. dba Ace Rent-To-Own, who wasn’t able to attend this year. Luckily, John Cleek, Jr., of Cleek’s Home Furnishings/Rentals & Sales rose to the substitute challenge, channeling his inner Lyn with a resounding, “Sold, Sold, SOLD!!”

Dan Fisher introduces the LEAP Program to a packed room.
Florida dealers (L to R) Paul Metivier of Impact RTO Holding dba Rent-A-Center, Josh Ciesicki of Great Rooms Central LLC, and Pete Shau of Buddy Mac Holidings LLC dba Buddy’s Home Furnishings, catch up after an engaging education session.
Dan Singh of Dial Rent To Own, surrounded by RTO colleagues, gleefully receives the TRIB President’s Award.

The evening concluded with an Attendee Appreciation Celebration, which included the introduction of the TRIB Board of Directors’ new President – Joe Fischer of Jaguar Holdings LLC dba Eagle Rental-Purchase. Chris Kale, Jr. of Happy’s Home Centers Inc. was also reelected to the Board, and Keith Ferriman of Showplace Inc. and Buckeye Wheel & Tire, LLC dba RNR Tire Express was welcomed as a new Board member.

The following annual awards were bestowed upon deserving members, including:

  • Lowry Shrader People’s Choice Award for Outstanding Vendor – Greg Skinner, Leopard Mobility
  • James B. Baber Vendor Choice Award for Outstanding Buyer – Heather Cleek, Cleek’s Home Furnishings/Rentals & Sales
  • Norman W. “Slats” Slatton, Sr. President’s Award – Dan Singh, Dial Rent To Own
  • John D. Blair Vendor Hall of Honor – Don Hunter, Mega Motion and Jim Mahin, American Wholesale Furniture
  • Executive Club – Ashley Furniture Industries, O’Rourke Sales Company, and RES Marketing
  • Top Gun Award – Ashley Furniture Industries
  • Soaring Eagle Award – FlyWheel RTO, formerly Dialectic
  • Rising Star Award – King of Promotions

Additionally, the TRIB Board of Directors unanimously voted to rename the Lowry Shrader People’s Choice Award to the Dennis L. Shields People’s Choice Award, honoring TRIB’s longtime Executive Director.

“I was totally surprised,” said Shields. “I was caught off guard when the Board of Directors came to the stage and announced the award would now be named in my honor.”

APRO CEO Charles Smitherman (L) and TRIB Group Executive Director Dennis Shields share a mutual message about their respective groups.

Author and speaker Chad Foster launched the final day of the event with his inspirational story of dealing with blindness through personal fortitude and perseverance. Then, the Buy Fair was underway, closing out with drinks, appetizers, and cash prizes for participants.

“The event was well attended this year, the seminar presentations had packed rooms for every one of them, ” said Shields. “The Hot Show and Exhibit Hall were both busy and full of great deals, especially in the appliance and furniture categories. We came away from the event very pleased with all aspects of the event, the attendance, and participation.”

“TRIB knocked it out of the park once again with another great Meeting of the Minds,” said APRO CEO Charles Smitherman. “Awesome attendance, excellent education, and a wonderful opportunity to catch up with colleagues. I’m already looking forward to being in Paris (Las Vegas) next year!”

Click here to check out more photos from the Meeting of the Minds!

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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 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.