Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO)
JOIN APRO
JOIN APRO

Aaron’s Franchisees Celebrate Being Better Together

Aaron’s Franchisee Todd Wilkins (C) received the Operational Excellence Award for consistent performance, a people-focused approach, and continued advocacy for the Aaron’s franchise system.

APRO Member Aaron’s, LLC, recently held its annual Franchisee Meeting at Hilton Beachfront Resort & Spa on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Almost 165 attendees enjoyed the event’s golf tournament, vendor fair, awards celebration, and warm welcome from APRO CEO Charles Smitherman – all under the meeting’s umbrella theme of Better Together.

“Better Together isn’t just a theme,” said Steve Olsen, Aaron’s Chief Operating Officer. “It reflects how we operate at our best. Our franchise partners bring tremendous experience, local knowledge, and commitment to their communities. When we come together to share ideas and learn from each other, we make the entire Aaron’s business stronger.”

Sharing Successes

Aaron’s annual Fall Meeting brings the company’s Franchise Principals and Home Office team members together to share best practices and develop strategies for the future.

The event also highlighted the franchise community’s support for Nationwide Children’s Hospital through Aaron’s Ribbons for Research campaign. A fundraiser held during the Franchise Meeting raised $36,500 for the hospital.

Congratulations to all the Aaron’s Franchisees who received well-earned honors at the meeting:

  • Best in Class Award – Tim Howard
  • Brand Ambassador Award – Spencer Smith
  • Culture Keeper Award – Brent Smith
  • Customer Ambassador Award – Cindy Clark
  • Franchise Accelerator Award – Randy Brown
  • Franchise Support Hero Award – Sarah Vincent
  • Industry Ambassador Award – Gopal Reddy
  • Longevity and Consistency Award – Jeff Furlin and Rafael Collazo
  • Operational Excellence Award – Todd Wilkins
  • Pacesetter Award – Allan Day
  • Pillar of the Community Award – Paul Morgan & Nathan Tooker
  • Rising Star Award – Jack and Courtney Hamilton
  • Store Excellence Award – Ross Thomason
  • Trailblazer Award – David Holland

Aaron’s franchise representatives pose with Rafael Collazo, recipient of the Longevity & Consistency Award, during the company’s annual Franchisee Meeting on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Aaron’s Franchisee Rafael Collazo (C) earned the Longevity & Consistency Award for consistent year-over-year performance.
Aaron’s Franchisee Courtney Hamilton (C), along with her husband Jack, earned the Rising Star Award for their commitment to growth and expansion.
Aaron’s franchise representatives pose with Nathan Tooker, recipient of the Pillar of the Community Award, during the company’s annual Franchisee Meeting on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Aaron’s Franchisee Nathan Tooker (C) received the Pillar of the Community Award for consistently supporting his community through volunteerism, donations, and other contributions.
Aaron’s franchise representatives pose with Ross Thomason, recipient of the Store Excellence Award, during the company’s annual Franchisee Meeting on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Aaron’s Franchisee Ross Thomason (C) earned the Store Excellence Award for 29 years of operating with a focus on people and the Aaron’s program.
Aaron’s franchise representatives pose with Spencer Smith, recipient of the Brand Ambassador Award, during the company’s annual Franchisee Meeting on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Aaron’s Franchisee Brent Smith (C) received the Culture Keeper Award for maintaining a strong culture across the system’s oldest franchise stores.
Aaron’s franchise representatives pose with Gopal Reddy, recipient of the Industry Ambassador Award, during the company’s annual Franchisee Meeting on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Aaron’s Franchisee Gopal Reddy (C, with his wife Tulasi) received the Industry Ambassador Award for bringing greater awareness to the RTO industry while maintaining a people-first approach.

About Aaron’s, LLC

Aaron’s, LLC provides a direct-to-consumer lease-to-own solution through its approximately 1,200 company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform, Aarons.com. Aaron’s, LLC has been an APRO member since 2004.

Upcoming Events

View Calendar


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.