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2025 RTO Tiger Award: Chris Bolin

2025 RTO Tiger Award recipient Chris Bolin.

The RTO Tiger Award – named in honor of the late “Tiger” John Cleek Sr., a former APRO President and true icon of the rent-to-own industry – recognizes individuals for exceptional leadership and devoted service to strengthening state associations within the rent-to-own industry. It honors those who have championed legislative efforts at the grassroots level and contributed significantly to the industry’s advocacy and success.

The 2025 RTO Tiger Award recipient is Chris Bolin, owner of Bolin Rental Purchase and President of the Tennessee Rental Dealers Association (TRDA).

Bolin’s career has been marked by service, leadership, and a passion for community. He began working as a teenager at a local Harley-Davidson dealership before joining the Clarksville, Tennessee Police Department, where he rose to the rank of sergeant. In 1991, Chris entered the rent-to-own industry with Alrenco/Home Choice/RentWay, where he spent 11 years and advanced to regional manager. His experiences there inspired him to pursue entrepreneurship, and in 2003, he opened Bolin Rental Purchase in his hometown of Clarksville. He later expanded with the purchase of stores in Madisonville and Hopkinsville, Kentucky.

John Cleek, Jr (R). presents the 2025 RTO Tiger Award to Chris Bolin. (L)

Beyond his company, Bolin has devoted decades of service to the industry he loves. He is a former APRO board member, having served as treasurer and second vice president. He has spent more than 17 years on the TRIB Group board, including terms as treasurer, vice president, and president. He also represented TRIB on the BrandSource board in 2011–2012. Most notably, Chris is currently serving his 16th year as president of TRDA, where his grassroots advocacy and steady leadership have strengthened the association and amplified its voice in Tennessee and nationally.

Colleagues describe Chris as a true Southern gentleman who never meets a stranger. His commitment to advocacy is evident in his remarkable record of attending 15 of the last 18 APRO Legislative Conferences, reflecting his steadfast dedication to advancing the rent-to-own industry.

APRO proudly recognizes Chris Bolin as the 2025 recipient of the RTO Tiger Award, honoring his leadership, advocacy, and lifelong dedication to the rent-to-own community.

As part of the celebration, we invite you to watch Chris Bolin’s acceptance of the 2025 RTO Tiger 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.