Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO)
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State Presidents Talk Valuation, Events, and Advocacy at Q3 Meetup 

State association presidents from across the country met for the Q3 State President Quarterly Meeting to discuss business valuation strategies, industry support commitments, and events for 2027, and to share the latest happenings in their neck of the woods. 

Kicking off the meeting, the presidents welcomed several new leaders into the fold who will be taking responsibility for leading their state organizations, including: 

Business Valuation and Exit Planning

Next, special guests from Rivero, Gordimer & Company P.A., Michael Helton and Alicia Holloway, gave an informative presentation on valuing a rent-to-own business and planning tips for a smooth exit strategy. Helton’s main advice was to start planning years ahead, and he recommended that owners do their own internal due diligence well before they talk to a buyer. 

Helton also noted that most RTO deals are asset sales, not equity transfers, which means that the seller owes a mix of ordinary income tax and capital gains tax. He reminded the presidents that “sentimental value does not create economic value, so know your numbers. Some people get really attached to the business that they built, and I totally get it, but no one’s going to pay you for that portion of it. They’re going to base it on the cash flow and what you do within the business itself.”  

Helton also covered tax planning and the federal rules that let a business keep its books and its tax return on different methods, but many states don’t allow federal treatments such as bonus depreciation. He also pointed out that some states offer a pass-through entity (PTE) tax election that gives owners a way to deduct state business taxes on their federal return. 

For additional information about business valuation, please refer to the best practices valuation guide available to APRO members in the Business Resource Hub. 

This information is provided for general educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice. Business owners should consult with qualified professional advisors regarding their individual circumstances.

Looking Ahead to APRO Events in 2027

Following the presentation, APRO CEO Charles Smitherman and Vice President of Membership Jen Troke shared important updates on upcoming industry events in 2027. Smitherman shared plans for the 2027 Legislative Conference, scheduled for April 27–29 in Washington, DC. He also encouraged the state associations to consider supporting APRO’s goal of growing the Legislative Fellowship Program to 30 participants next year – and states stepped up and committed to supporting 10 fellows! Thank you to Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Southwest (AZ/CA), Tennessee, and Virginia. 

Smitherman also provided a brief overview of RTO World 2026 and asked for feedback from the group. John Cleek, Jr., President and Owner of Cleek’s Home Furnishings/Rentals & Sales, noted that this year’s RTO World was “one of the best in recent years, with a good trade show layout and strong seminars.” Cleek also suggested ways to improve how vendor products are allocated, prompting a discussion of the generous donation from vendors who donated over $81,000 in floor products to local non-profit organizations, Vita Nova and Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.  

Lastly, Troke encouraged all presidents to start setting their 2027 state rental dealer association meeting dates. 

State Associations Share Local Updates

The meeting ended with presidents sharing updates from their states: 

  • Georgia: Dan Kniesly, Vice President of Easy Rental, reported on a productive meeting at RTO World where members discussed chargebacks and plans for the upcoming year. 
  • Southwest: Paul Davis, President and Owner of Nations Rent-To-Own Sales & Leasing, reported that their meeting at RTO World explored the idea of setting up a Political Action Committee as well as nonprofit compliance requirements for financial records and elections. Davis also shared that he is monitoring a potential new bill in Arizona. 
  • Wisconsin: Smitherman shared that a rent-to-own statute may soon pass, so be on the lookout. 

The presidents agreed to meet in November to focus specifically on legislation in the coming year. In addition, Smitherman asked that the presidents please provide contact information for collections and bankruptcy attorneys they work with in their states. These attorneys will help form another important professional network for APRO and its state associations, similar to the network of state lobbyists APRO has convened annually in recent years.

APRO thanks all state association presidents for volunteering their time and leadership in support of the rent-to-own industry at the state and local levels.

Upcoming Events

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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.