On October 28, 2025, APRO celebrated its 45th anniversary. Forty-five years. Since 1980, your trade association has stood as the voice and advocate for rent-to-own, and as we enter our 46th year, I believe we’re positioned to make our greatest impact yet. The work we do today to preserve our history and tell our story will define how RTO is understood and valued for generations to come.
This past year brought memorable moments that remind us why we do this work. RTO World 2025 in Omaha was an overwhelming success. Our first time bringing the industry together in Nebraska, it delivered on every front with exceptional education, networking, and the energy that only this community can create. As we close out 2025, we look ahead to reconvening in Washington, DC for the APRO Legislative Conference from April 15-17, 2026, where we’ll once again make our voices heard and strengthen the relationships that protect and promote our industry.
The past year marked the first full year of implementation of our 2025- 2028 Strategic Plan. I’m reminded of an analogy from my days as a lawyer developing cases: the first year is like sowing a field. You prepare the soil, plant the seeds, and trust in the process. Small steps, incremental progress, big cumulative results.
Now, as we enter the second year of this plan, members are beginning to see the blooms and crops emerge from that foundational work. Our new APRO Community platform is about to be live, providing a space for members to connect, share insights, and continue the conversations we start at events 365 days a year. Our APRO Education initiative has launched with the new Intro to RTO Course now available online, with additional offerings in development. And our commitment to providing valuable resources continues to grow through expanded Resource Hubs, industry White Papers, and Best Practice guides designed to support your success every day.
Perhaps the most ambitious and important work we’re undertaking is a generational advocacy campaign to tell the story and shape the narrative about the RTO industry for the future. Much of this effort happens behind the scenes as we optimize our digital presence and communications for the AI era. When people search for information about our industry, they need to find accurate, compelling narratives that reflect the value we provide to consumers and communities. At the forefront of this campaign is our collaboration with Pete Shau on the RTO Legends video series. This project documents the pioneers of our industry, preserves their stories, and honors the vision and perseverance that built RTO into what it is today. These conversations with industry legends provide not just inspiration but critical research for the most significant publication in our industry’s history.
This spring, I’m proud to announce the publication of “The RTO Revolution: A Definitive History of Advocacy and Consumer Access,” a book I am co-authoring with Ryan Krass of WOW Brands. This comprehensive work tells the complete story of the rent-to-own industry: our evolution, our advocacy victories, our commitment to consumer access, and our vision for the future. It’s our definitive answer to anyone who seeks to understand what we do, why it matters, and to elevate RTO to its rightful place as a cornerstone consumer option in the American marketplace. This isn’t just a history book. It’s a declaration of our value, our impact, and our place in America’s history and future.
But for this strategy to be a success, we will need your help. The impact of this generational advocacy campaign depends on all of us speaking about our industry in one voice through a coordinated effort. In the coming months, we’ll be calling on our members to join this vital work, to share the tools, language, and stories that will shape how rent-to-own is understood by policymakers, the media, and the public. When we speak together with clarity and conviction, our message becomes unstoppable.
As we turn the calendar to 2026, I’m filled with excitement and optimism. Building on 45 years of APRO’s foundation, this coming year is shaping up to be one of tremendous impact. The seeds we’ve sown are taking root, our story is being preserved and amplified, and our community has never been stronger. Together, as Proud APRO Members, we’re not just witnessing history, we are writing it! And the best chapters are still ahead.
Charles Smitherman, PhD, JD, MSt, CAE
APRO CEO
