Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO)
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Rent-2-Own Golf Event Promotes Community 

Owner Mike Tissot (second from right) congratulates the winning golf team: (from left) Nate Woods, John Krannitz, Chris Tussey, and Jackson Lee (far right). 

APRO member Countryside Rentals Inc. dba Rent-2-Own recently held its annual golf outing, bringing together more than 60 R2O employees, vendors, and volunteers, and benefiting Ohio youth with disabilities and special needs. 

“Our annual golf outing is about more than just a day out on the course,” said R2O Owner Mike Tissot. “It’s about connecting as a company, building relationships, and giving back to our community. This event gives our employees a chance to step away from their everyday routines, enjoy some fun and friendly competition, and strengthen the teamwork that makes our company special. Most importantly, it allows us to support a meaningful charitable cause.” 

This year’s event, hosted at the Crown Hill Golf Club in Williamsport, Ohio, raised over $3k for Supplemental Assistance for the Handicapped (S.A.T.H.), a nonprofit that provides recreational activities for young people with special needs and disabilities. S.A.T.H.’s flagship program is KAMP Dovetail, a volunteer-run week-long summer camp held yearly at Rocky Fork Lake for more than 200 children with various disabilities. 

Clouds Above, Connections Abound 

(L to R) R2O Owner Mike Tissot, King of Promotions’ Kevin Silvers, Tom Van Dyke of Darwill, and wowbrands CEO Ryan Krassbring some color to the course under cloudy Ohio skies.  
R2O Store Managers (L to R) Eric Holdren, Brad Matthews, Cam Kiger, and Richie Baker are looking and feeling good at the annual company event. 

Though grey and cloudy Ohio skies threatened the golf outing, the rain held off while R2O colleagues were on the course, and Wilmington Service Manager John Krannitz, Middletown Customer Service Representative Jackson Lee, Middletown Store Manager Chris Tussey, and Middletown Account Manager Nate Woods made up the overall winning team. For the first time, R2O home office, divisional, and regional staff prepared lunch for all attendees, serving up barbecue pork, chicken, and fried bologna. 

“Golf has always been a special part of the Rent-2-Own family,” Tissot said. “My dad [Founder Darrell Tissot] loved this game, but he loved bringing people together even more. I can’t think of a better way to honor his legacy than spending the day together with the people who continue to make R2O what it is today. I know he’d be proud this tradition continues.” 

Rent-2-Own Regional Manager Jeremiah Guisinger seems mighty proud of the barbecue pork meal he’s helping prepare for his colleagues. 
R2O staffers Jordan Collins (L) and Tyler Yoakum (R) try to overcome their competition with their super-bright neon-green golf wear. 
Divisional Managers Ben Davis (L) and Rachel King (R) are happy to help prep a tasty lunch for R2O golfers. 
Rent-2-Own’s McKenzie Helton (L) and Amy Coffey (R) get carted up and ready to roll at the company’s annual golf outing. 
R2O Owner Mike Tissot gives golfers some instruction prior to rolling out onto the vast golf course.
R2O Regional Manager Mark McCown believes in himself as a barbecue boss at the company’s annual golf outing lunch.

About Countryside Rentals Inc. dba Rent-2-Own 

Rent-2-Own has been an APRO member since 1985

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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.