Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO)
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2025 Summer Magazine: Welcome Letter

As we head into the heart of summer, I’m reminded once again how proud I am to serve this industry and this association. The past several months have shown me what makes the rent-to-own industry so special – our relationships, our resilience, our advocacy efforts to spread the news on our community impact, and our shared commitment to lifting each other up, particularly in times of natural disasters like we witnessed last fall.

Our 2025 APRO Legislative Conference in Washington, DC was one of our best yet, bringing together 84 passionate attendees from across the country – our largest turnout in recent memory! We successfully continued our advocacy for the RTO industry by making new friends, maintaining current relationships, and positioning ourselves as trusted resources for the legislators who shape our future. Whether you were a seasoned LegCon veteran or one of our 15 Legislative Fellows, your voice made a difference. The conversations we had, the stories we shared, and the relationships we strengthened all contribute to the long-term success of our industry – and the industry is better from your work.

As we turn toward the horizon, RTO World 2025 is on the way – August 11-14 in Omaha, Nebraska! This marks our first time bringing the industry together in Omaha, and we’re planning something truly special. In addition to the best-in-class education, networking, and expo you’ve come to expect, this year’s event will feature the return of the Women’s Forum and a new Legal and Compliance session unlike any we’ve held before. We’ll dive into real-world case studies on safety violations, HR issues, cybersecurity breaches and everything in-between, and unpack them with a panel of legal experts – giving attendees practical solutions and strategies to protect their businesses.

Our ongoing work and new fresh initiatives reflect the incredible value of APRO membership. Through our APRO Members Get More campaign, we’re proudly highlighting how being part of this community means more access, more support, and more opportunities to grow. Whether it’s new RTO-specific training modules, our APRO Community platform in development, an array of newly developed Resource Hubs on our website, or powerful advocacy efforts like LegCon and our state association support, we are committed to ensuring that every member feels the power and benefit of belonging.

It’s not just a tagline – it’s a mindset. Being a Proud APRO Member means being part of something bigger: a network of industry professionals who look out for one another, stand up for our shared values, and are committed to building the future of rent-to-own together. By coming together as Proud APRO Members, we can be the rising tide that lifts our industry – and each other – higher.

Charles Smitherman, PhD, JD, MSt, CAE
APRO CEO

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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.