Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO)
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2026 Emerging Leader Award: Lauren Talicska 

(L to R) Outgoing President Dan Fisher, 2026 Emerging Leader Award recipient Lauren Talicska, and APRO CEO Charles Smitherman.

Lauren Talicska has built her rent-to-own (RTO) career from both sides of the industry, first helping dealers grow as a marketing vendor and today leading marketing and communications for Arona Corporation dba Arona Home Essentials. That experience, combined with an expanding role in industry leadership, has made her an increasingly familiar voice across RTO. 

APRO recognized Talicska, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Arona Home Essentials, with the 2026 Emerging Leader Award during the APRO Awards Luncheon & Business Meeting at RTO World 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida.  

The APRO Emerging Leader Award recognizes an individual rising through the ranks of rent-to-own leadership and making an impact through their involvement, expertise, and commitment to the industry. 

Talicska brings experience from both the vendor and dealer sides of rent-to-own. Before joining Arona, she worked with RTO businesses as a vendor, including as a partner with Nationwide RentDirect, and previously participated in the APRO Vendor Advisory Committee. 

Today, she leads marketing and communications for Arona Home Essentials, supporting branding, social media, promotions, and store growth across 12 states and Puerto Rico. 

Her leadership role within the broader industry has grown alongside her career. 

Earlier this year, Talicska was elected to the TRIB Group Board of Directors. At RTO World 2026, she was also announced as a newly elected member of the APRO Board of Directors, beginning her first term of service. 

Talicska has also become a strong advocate for women in rent-to-own and a familiar presence at the APRO Women’s Forum at RTO World. She has moderated the forum since its inception in 2024, leading conversations around communication, mentorship, confidence, accountability, and expanding leadership opportunities for women in the industry.  

Her willingness to share what she knows has become another hallmark of her involvement. 

“She’s an outstanding speaker, shares her expertise freely,” incoming APRO Board President Trent Agin noted while presenting the award. 

Talicska used her acceptance remarks to encourage others to do the same. 

“I truly believe in rent-to-own, and in pretty much everything, you get out what you put in,” Talicska said. “And we have so many leaders who are putting in that work.” 

For those who want to become more involved, her advice was simple: show up. 

“Join the Zoom, be on the panel, host an education session, join the committees,” she said. “There are tons of them, and they want you to join.” 

Talicska also brought some humor to the moment, comparing the Emerging Leader Award to the beginning of a rent-to-own version of an EGOT, the collection of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards recognized in the performing arts. 

“I’m not quite sure what the acronym equivalent would be in rent-to-own,” she joked. “Regardless, I do believe it starts with E for the Emerging Leader Award.” 

The comparison quickly gave way to appreciation for the leaders who had received the honor before her. 

“When I look back at previous winners, I am just in awe of everything that they have done and what they continue to do,” Talicska said. “And I am absolutely honored to now be counted among them.” 

Her message also looked forward. 

“The future of rent-to-own is definitely in this room,” Talicska told attendees. 

With new roles on both the TRIB Group and APRO boards, continued leadership of the Women’s Forum, and a willingness to share her marketing expertise with others, Talicska enters that future with an expanding role in shaping it. 

The 2026 APRO Emerging Leader Award recognizes that growing contribution and a leader who is not only stepping forward herself, but encouraging others throughout rent-to-own to step forward with her.

Watch the Acceptance Video on YouTube

Arona Corporation dba Arona Home Essentials

Arona Home Essentials is a national rent-to-own dealer with more than 50 locations across the United States. The company offers furniture, electronics, appliances, tires, and other home essentials through flexible weekly, biweekly, and monthly rental-payment options. Arona Home Essentials has been an APRO member since 2004.

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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.