Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO)
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American Rental Lets the Good Times Roll at 20th Annual Expo & Picnic

American Rentalโ€™s summertime expo and picnic is an annual companywide highlight.

APRO member Full-O-Pep Appliances, Inc. dba American Rental recently hosted its annual expo and companywide picnic in Nashville, Indiana, with about 400 employees and family members attending the Mardi Gras-themed โ€œParade of Productsโ€ and celebration.

For the eventโ€™s 20th anniversary, this yearโ€™s tradeshow was spread over two days, with 38 vendors exhibiting and educating American Rental store managers about the features and benefits of their products. Company employees and vendors also participated in a great golf tournament, with President David P. David, his niece Jennifer Hammond, James MacAlpine of Benefit Marketing Solutions, and Kevin Silvers of New Generations Diamond & Jewelry Co. walking away winners.

Golf tournament winners (L to R) James MacAlpine, Jennifer Hammond, David David, and Kevin Silvers.
Jennifer Hammond jumps with joy at the bungee trampoline.
James David (L) and David David (R) serve up the spice at their hot sauce bar.

As ever, the pinnacle of the event was the companywide picnic and carnival hosted by David at his family farm. Hundreds of the American Rental extended family โ€œlet the good times rollโ€ as they enjoyed bungee jumping, bull riding, water sliding, two roasted hogs, plenty of homemade private label โ€œDavid David D2 BBQTMโ€ sauce, and a spectacular fireworks show.

A favorite attraction at the picnic that has developed over just the past few years is David & Mikeโ€™s Bourbon Bar, named for American Rentalโ€™s Auditor David Powell and District Manager Mike Goodin. The bar began as a shared passion for good pours, and with a simple pitch, became an instant smash. Offering more than 40 unique bourbons from which to choose, the opportunity to sample such rare and hard-to-find bourbons is apparently a widely appreciated experience, and yet another facet that makes this annual celebration so special.

American Rental District Manager Jeff Roark (L) and company Auditor David Powell (C) serve up some prime bourbon pours to Lester Krinsky of American Cover Design/Persian Weavers (R).
L to R: James David, Brandon Van Sant, Cam Banister, Justin Burns, and David Powell dance to โ€œYMCAโ€ during the hog roast talent show.
The ladies take the stage during the talent-show portion of the hog roast and carnival.

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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