Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO)
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VersiRent User Conference Highlights AI Innovation and Dealer Collaboration 

User Conference attendees and the VersiRent team gather during a post-conference tour of the VersiRent campus, where dealers connected with the people behind the software they use every day.

Rent-to-own (RTO) professionals recently met in Meridian, Mississippi, for APRO member VersiRent’s annual User Conference. The conference brought together the software’s daily users – RTO store owners and staff – to explore new software tools and get intensive training on existing features. The event balanced hands-on technical education with opportunities to exchange ideas with the VersiRent team and each other.  

VersiRent attendees enjoyed dinner and live music at the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience to close the first day of the User Conference.  

On the opening day of the conference, APRO CEO Charles Smitherman gave the keynote speech, sharing his insights on the industry and showing how APRO is using AI to promote RTO.  

“Rent-to-own is coming off a year that proved just how resilient and adaptable this industry can be, and events like the VersiRent User Conference are a big reason why,” said Smitherman. “When dealers and technology partners come together to share what’s working and collaborate on what’s next, the whole industry gets stronger. It was a privilege to take part, and I am excited to see the great things VersiRent continues to develop for our dealers to meet current challenges and leverage new technologies.”  

Artificial intelligence – and how it is transforming the RTO business – was a major focus of the conference. Sessions demonstrated how AI is being leveraged to manage content for websites and customer mobile apps, and to generate marketing campaigns, making tedious work much simpler.  

“For decades, VersiRent has sought to make it easier for you to do your job,” said VersiRent President David Goldman. “But now, more and more, VersiRent is doing the job for you.”  

VersiRent President David Goldman welcomes attendees as he opens the annual VersiRent User Conference.  
APRO CEO Charles Smitherman delivers the keynote address, highlighting industry trends and APRO’s use of AI to promote rent-to-own.  
VersiRent Technical Advisor Roy Griffaw demonstrates how artificial intelligence can streamline the collections process.  

Conference attendees learned about future AI-powered capabilities of the software and enjoyed participating in hands-on labs and working closely with VersiRent techs to try out new features or get answers. Attendees joined roundtable discussions on various topics and shared experiences in a setting that allowed management teams dedicated time to discuss operational challenges, exchange ideas with peers, and explore ways to improve their business.  

Following the conference, VersiRent President David Goldman joins Chris Bolin, Tomeka Twiss, and Valerie Mai of Bolin Rental Purchase for a tour of the VersiRent campus and an opportunity to meet members of the development team. 

“The conference gave us the opportunity to build relationships with both the VersiRent team and other dealers,” said Bolin Rental Purchase Owner Chris Bolin. “The conversations during the roundtables provided practical ideas and real-world insights that we’ll be able to take back and use in our own business.”  

VersiRent ended day one by hosting dinner and live music at the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience. Day two wrapped up with an invitation to tour VersiRent’s campus and meet the rest of the crew. A key point of this conference was connecting dealers with the people who build the software they rely on and putting faces to the voices they hear over service and support calls. Customer feedback gathered during the conference will help inform future software development. 

By combining hands-on education with peer collaboration and direct feedback between dealers and developers, the conference highlighted how technology partnerships continue to help the rent-to-own industry adapt to changing customer expectations. 

VersiRent/Ideal Software Systems Inc. has been an APRO associate member since 1998.

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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.