Association of Progressive Rental Organizations
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2025 Heritage Award: Gopal Reddy

APRO CEO Charles Smitherman (L) and President Michael Bennett (R) present Gopal Reddy, joined by his wife Tulasi, with the 2025 Heritage Award.

APRO’s Heritage Award honors the unsung heroes of the rent-to-own industry – those who consistently support the industry with quiet dedication and ongoing excellence. These individuals may not seek recognition, but their contributions have been vital to the betterment of the RTO community.

The 2025 Heritage Award recipient is Gopal Reddy, President and CEO of Action Development Corp. dba Aaron’s Sales & Lease, and a valued member of the APRO Board of Directors for 14 years.

Reddy opened his first Aaron’s store in Springfield, Illinois, nearly 25 years ago, and today operates seven stores across central Illinois. With a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California and an MBA in finance from Bryant University, Gopal combined technical expertise and business acumen to build a thriving company while leading with integrity and vision.

Beyond his business, Reddy is a passionate advocate for the rent-to-own industry, earning respect in the Illinois state capitol and in Washington, D.C., for his tireless efforts to advance RTO. His thoughtful leadership on the APRO board has left a lasting impression, and his wisdom and guidance will be deeply missed.

Gopal’s dedication also extends to his community. He has served on the board of genHKids, a nonprofit fighting to eliminate childhood obesity, and donates liberally to the organization’s mission in Sangamon County, Illinois. He also serves as Chairman of the Board for the local Hindu Temple in the greater Springfield area.

APRO proudly recognizes Gopal Reddy as the 2025 recipient of the Heritage Award, honoring his powerful contributions, steadfast advocacy, and lasting impact on both the rent-to-own industry and his community.

As part of the celebration, we invite you to watch Gopal Reddy’s acceptance of the 2025 Heritage Award, presented during the APRO Awards Luncheon at RTO World 2025.

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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.