The APRO Vendor Advisory Committee (VAC) provides an important link between rent-to-own vendors and dealers, and establishes the direction and helps with many of the details of RTO World each year.
Jimmy Taylor, Regional Vice President of Sales – Midwest & RTO for Southerland Inc., has joined the VAC, bringing 25 years in the mattress industry and almost 15 years of rent-to-own experience to the committee.
Taylor began his career in retail mattresses, then moved into RTO with a position at Symbol Mattress in 2011. In 2018, he was named Vendor of the Year for SKC Enterprises Inc. dba Rent One, alongside his then-Symbol colleague Eric Moore. And just last year, Taylor earned a spot in TRIB Group’s John D. Blair Vendor Hall of Honor – which he says is one of his proudest professional moments – presented during the group’s Meeting of the Minds event in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“My favorite thing about working in RTO is how rental dealers and vendors work together as a group with the shared mission of helping our customers,” Taylor says. “I’ve wanted to become more involved in this industry, which I truly love, so when the opportunity came up to join the VAC, it was an easy ‘yes.’”
During his time as a VAC member, Taylor says he wants to be a real team player, helping with whatever issues and wherever he is needed.
“I’m especially interested in helping strengthen APRO’s state associations through vendor support,” says Taylor. “And I want to help new vendors get to know and understand this incredible industry.”
Based in Alabama, Taylor enjoys spending his off-work time playing golf and playing with his grandkids, and highly recommends books by author, speaker, and organizational consultant Simon Sinek.
