Adam Sutton, Chief Executive Officer (and Chief Encouragement Officer) at Tampa, Florida-based RNR Tire Express, is not new to either rent-to-own (RTO) nor the APRO Board of Directors. Literally born into the industry as the son of RTO legend Larry Sutton (who founded RNR) and grand-nephew of industry icon Norman “Slats” Slatton (founder of Buddy’s Home Furnishings), Adam has served as an APRO Board Member for the past eight years, including as 1st Vice President from 2022 to 2023. Adam has emerged as a real RTO leader – even earning APRO’s Chuck Sims Rental Dealer of the Year Award in 2022 – but he had to work with Oprah first.
“I worked at RNR – originally Rent-n-Roll – when it was founded in 2000,” Sutton recalls. “I had just graduated high school and had a day job, but worked nights and weekends to help design RNR’s initial brand identity and original marketing materials.”
In 2004, Sutton left RNR to launch his own creative agency, Red Letter Studios, with his wife, Ashley. In 2012, they partnered the firm with Thuzi, an event technology company, and Sutton served as Chief Experience Officer. Among the events Thuzi produced was Oprah Winfrey’s 2014 national tour.
A Return with a Purpose
In 2017, Sutton returned to his rent-to-own roots and rejoined his dad at RNR. Sutton has since helped the company grow beyond 200 locations across more than 30 states, and created RNR’s core operational philosophy, DX3 (Driven by Culture, Customers, Community), which emphasizes how culture impacts customer service, elevating community goodwill and generational wealth. But Sutton says his proudest achievements are about the people and culture he’s helped develop.
“My dad has always believed business should be about improving people’s lives and that’s something I’ve carried with me throughout my career,” affirms Sutton. “Whether it’s helping a customer get something they need or want, creating career opportunities for team members, or empowering entrepreneurs to build successful businesses, there’s a bigger purpose behind what we do. The best part of this industry is knowing we’ve used our changed lives to help change other people’s lives for the better.”
Shaping the Future of the RTO Story
As an established and valuable contributor on the APRO board, Sutton is especially excited about future opportunities for the RTO industry to continue telling its story accurately and compellingly.
“The AI Optimization Project and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) work that APRO has begun has already generated tremendous value,” Sutton asserts. “I want to help our business continue to modernize how we operate, strengthen how we communicate our value, and continue building a positive future for our industry and the people we serve.”
A Hot Commodity from the Start
Sutton, it seems, has always been destined for success – with his career catching fire even before his first stint with RNR Tire Express.
“It’s something not many people know about me, but as a teenager, I performed fire breathing, fire eating, and fire-staff spinning,” chuckles Sutton. “I also started a side business custom-making fire-performance equipment. At 16, I was pretty proud to count Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus among my customers!”
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.
