Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO)
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Giving Tuesday: A Lasting Donation for the RTO Community of Tomorrow 

Giving Tuesday is a chance to uplift, connect, and unite communities through acts of generosity. As millions participate across the country on December 2 (today!), the rent-to-own (RTO) community has an opportunity to channel that generous spirit towards something closer to home and heart – supporting the APRO Charitable Foundation. The Foundation – a 501(c)(3) created specifically for the RTO industry – exists to support the people who keep our stores and communities running. Your gift directly benefits RTO employees and their families, providing education opportunities and emergency relief when life takes an unexpected turn. 

APRO Scholarship Fund 

2025 APRO Scholarship Star Ava Milliner

Since 2008, the APRO Foundation has awarded more than 570 scholarships totaling over $1.27 million. These awards help RTO employees and their dependents pursue college or trade school, opening doors to career growth and long-term opportunity.  

The demand for educational resources continues to grow, with over 47 applications in 2025, and more expected in 2026. Because of donors like you, students such as recent Scholarship Star Ava Milliner can chase big goals – like attending medical school and becoming a neuropathologist – alongside dozens of others whose futures your support helps shape. 

RTO Employees Disaster Relief Fund 

The RTO Employees Disaster Relief Fund steps in quickly, providing emergency grants to help families recover from natural disasters. The fund has distributed more than $675,000 to RTO employees in need.  

When Full-O-Pep Appliances Inc. dba American Rental Store Manager Elizabeth Trull found herself “alone, hopeless, and scared” after Hurricane Helene hit, she and her team turned to APRO’s Disaster Relief Fund. Team member Josh Shields said, “I thought I couldn’t come back from this, but the disaster-relief funds I received through APRO made it possible to rebuild.”  

Elizabeth Trull attends APRO’s Legislative Conference 2025 in Washington, D.C.
Damage from Hurricane Helene in Waynesville, North Carolina
Severe flooding washes away a Waynesville bridge following Hurricane Helene.

Together, We Lift Up the RTO Family 

Giving Tuesday is local, it’s personal, and it makes a genuine impact on the lives of people within our professional community. Let’s lean in and create a long-lasting safety net for those in our industry who need it. Please consider a donation today that will impact so many tomorrow.  

Donate today to make an impact through the Scholarship Fund or the Disaster Relief Fund – every gift supports our RTO community.

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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.