Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO)
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Mike’s Rent-To-Own Honors Its Own 

Bethany Smith holds a gold plaque in one hand and a silver plaque in the other as she smiles.
Mike’s RTO’s Concordia, Kansas, Store Manager Bethany Smith went home an evenly balanced double winner, for both Manager of the Year and Employee of the Year. 

Kansas-based Mike Strong Inc. dba Mike’s Rent-To-Own recently held its annual companywide Awards Banquet in Salina, Kansas, honoring team members for their successes and their struggles. 

All employees wore specially designed t-shirts to the event to show their full support of two coworkers who recently began battles against cancer. The back of the shirts read “In this family, no one fights alone,” along with the coworkers’ names. 

Prior to the awards presentation, attendees enjoyed a meal together, followed by minute-to-win-it games and some cornhole, all interspersed with many giveaways throughout – such as utility payments, paid time off, appliances, and electronics. 

“Our awards banquet is one of the events where we get to come together and celebrate as an extended family,” said company Co-Owner Angela Strong-McCool. “I know my dad (Founder Mike Strong), brother (Co-Owner Michael Strong), and I have a lot of fun with it, and our staff definitely does, too! Their loud cheering whenever finalists are announced and winners are revealed shows just how much they all support each others’ successes.” 

A woman wearing a black t-shirt has her back turned to display the words “In this family, we fight together,” along with names written on two cancer-awareness ribbons.
All event participants wore these custom t-shirts to show their support for two coworkers currently battling cancer.

And the Awards Went to …  

  • Store of the Year – Russell, Kansas 
  • Manager of the Year AND Charley McCue Employee of the Year – Bethany Smith 
  • Salesperson of the Year – Michah Leckliter 
  • Collector of the Year – Denver Cherry 
  • Rising Star – Alexxis Martinez 
  • Rookie of the Year – Charisma Bowen 
  • Jack of All Trades – Ben Walden 
  • Installers of the Year – Jon Rhees & Clay Anthony Williams 
  • Home Office Employee of the Year – Kristal Hague 
  • 10 Years of Service & Dedication – Rayne McClanahan 
  • 5 years of Service & Dedication – Steven Burns, Christina Graebner, Jack Jensen, & Brandy Wilson 

Congratulations to Mike’s RTO and all its winners! 

Several Mike’s RTO staffers hold plaques and smile alongside Strong family leaders.
Four Mike’s RTO team members celebrate five years with the company: (front row, L to R) Brandy Wilson, Christina Graebner; (back row, L to R) Co-Owner Michael Strong, Steven Burns, Jack Jensen, Co-Owner Angela Strong-McCool, Founder Mike Strong. 
Rayne McClanahan holds a recognition plaque and smiles along with three Strong family members standing on either side of him.
Rayne McClanahan (second from L) receives recognition for his decade of dedication and service to Mike’s RTO from (L to R) Michael Strong, Angela Strong-McCool, and Mike Strong.

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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.