Pete Shau has spent more than 20 years building a career in rent-to-own. In recent years, he has also made it his mission to make sure the people who built the industry, and those carrying it forward today, have a place to tell their stories.
APRO recognized Shau, Franchise Training Specialist for RNR Tire Express and host of The RTO Show Podcast, with the 2026 Heritage Award during the APRO Awards Luncheon & Business Meeting at RTO World 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The APRO Heritage Award recognizes the unsung heroes of rent-to-own, individuals who operate with consistent excellence while remaining ready to support their colleagues, APRO, and the industry.
Shau’s own career began where many rent-to-own careers do: on a delivery truck and in account management.
“I literally started in a truck and on account management, learning this business from the ground up,” Shau said in his acceptance remarks.
Over the next two decades, he built a career working with Renter’s Choice, Rent-A-Center, Rent King, Buddy’s Home Furnishings, and now RNR Tire Express. Along the way, Shau said he was continually struck by the people behind the business.
“What I found was this industry is full of people with genuine heart, people who show up every day for the customers that are counting on them,” said Shau. “That’s never, ever, ever stopped inspiring me.”
That inspiration eventually led him to create The RTO Show Podcast.
Launched in August 2022, the podcast created a platform for conversations with people from across rent-to-own, including delivery professionals, store operators, multi-unit leaders, vendors, and company owners. For Shau, the goal was to give the industry a voice and recognize the people whose work might otherwise go unnoticed.
“I wanted to give the industry a voice to celebrate the dealers, leaders, advocates, and the unsung heroes who keep rent-to-own moving forward,” Shau said. “Every episode is my way of saying, ‘What you do matters, and your story deserves to be told.’”
That role expanded as APRO celebrated its 45th anniversary.
In partnership with APRO and wowbrands, Shau became the host of APRO’s RTO Legends Take the Mic series, sitting down with longtime industry pioneers, founders, and advocates to preserve their memories and experiences. By the time he received the Heritage Award, Shau had captured the stories of 23 rent-to-own legends, helping preserve decades of industry history for future generations.
His involvement with APRO has extended beyond the microphone.
Shau has participated in the APRO Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., since 2024, joining other rent-to-own professionals on Capitol Hill. He has also participated in the Florida Rental Dealer Association (FRDA) Legislative Day in Tallahassee.
For the last three years at RTO World, Shau joined APRO CEO Charles Smitherman for live broadcasts of The RTO Show Podcast, bringing the conversations he started online directly to the industry’s annual gathering.
When announcing the 2026 Heritage Award, Shau was described as “the RTO Show Guy” and, with some affection, the industry’s “lovable industry mascot.”
The recognition caught him off guard.
“When I learned I had been selected, I was literally speechless,” Shau said. “But to those of you who know me, that doesn’t happen very often.”
For Shau, the significance of the award was rooted in the people who had received it before him and the industry whose stories he has spent years helping tell.
“This award carries some real weight,” he said. “The names it represents are some of the finest people the industry has ever produced, and to be counted among them is something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
Shau also credited the people who have trusted him with their experiences and supported his work, including APRO and the colleagues who have helped make the podcast and historical interviews possible.
“This award is not just an honor for me,” said Shau. “It’s a reflection of every person in this industry who has trusted me with their story, their time, and honestly, their encouragement.”
The 2026 APRO Heritage Award recognizes a career built in rent-to-own and a commitment to giving the people behind the industry a microphone, preserving their stories, and making sure their contributions are remembered.
Watch the Acceptance Video on Youtube
About RNR Tire Express
Founded in 2000 in Tampa, Florida, RNR Tire Express is a national rent-to-own tire-and-wheel dealer and franchise system offering tires, custom wheels, and related automotive services through flexible rental-purchase options. The company has grown to more than 200 locations across 31 states. RNR Tire Express has been an APRO member since 2001.
