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

Midwest Expo Hits Record High Attendance Mark 

A man wearing a bright shirt and blue jeans holds a microphone while standing up on a stage in front of a crowd, with a giant projection of the Midwest RTO Training Expo logo behind him.
ORDA President Keith Ferriman welcomes his neighbors and colleagues to the 2026 Midwest RTO Training Expo in Florence, Indiana. 

The 2026 Midwest RTO Training Expo was held mid-September at the Belterra Casino Resort, nestled along the scenic Ohio River in Florence, Indiana. The two-day event – sponsored by the Ohio Rental Dealers Association (ORDA) and considered one of America’s best regional rent-to-own (RTO) tradeshows – achieved all-time high attendance numbers, with almost 230 rental dealers and industry vendors registered. 

“We were able to give the RTO show experience to more folks than ever before,” said ORDA President Keith Ferriman of APRO member Showplace Inc. “That’s really what this show is about – offering more of our folks the opportunity for good training and great camaraderie alongside some of the best RTO folks in the region – or the country!” 

A Full House for RTO Connections 

The four-star resort and riverboat casino served as a spirited backdrop for the Expo’s education roundtables, vendor presentations, bustling tradeshow, and delicious meals. Education roundtables included “Leading at Every Level,” led by Dale Anderson and David Lewis of Jaguar Holdings LLC dba Eagle Rental-Purchase; “Consistency Creates Growth,” presented by Joe Adams and Jeff Johnson of Showplace Inc.; and a session led by Mike Tissot of Countryside Rentals Inc. dba Rent-2-Own, focused on best practices for renting more. 

Vendor presentations included trainings led by Ashley Furniture Industries, O’Rourke Sales Company, Whirlpool Corporation, and wowbrands. 

“Our RTO vendors came strong to support us,” Ferriman said. “Without them, this experience wouldn’t be available to so many great rental professionals. A big thank-you to all the vendors who supported us.” 

Ferriman also expressed gratitude to event sponsors Benefit Marketing Solutions, C&L Supply Inc., Darwill, Dorrance Supply Company, e-Coast Systems, JLR America, Nav-Air Corporation, RTO Reinsurance Concepts, TRIB Group, and Whirlpool Corporation. 

Two men wearing logo shirts and nametags stand together smiling, as others converse behind them.
APRO CEO Charles Smitherman (L) and President of the Rental Purchase Dealers Association of Indiana Dennis Adams (R) tour the tradeshow floor during the Midwest Expo. 
A group of men sit and stand around a long table full of dishes and glasses, all smiling.
Good food, good drinks, and good times are always essential elements at the Midwest Expo. 
The selection and quality of mattress vendors at this year’s Midwest Expo proves impressive to George Harrigan from Showplace. 
A young woman wearing all black stands by a few tables full of products, singing into a microphone.
Kristina McDaniel of Rent-2-Own wows the tradeshow crowds with her karaoke performance in the O’Rourke Sales Company booth. 
Two men stand with their faces close to each other, smiling broadly.
Kevin Silvers (L) of New Generations Diamond & Jewelry Co. and presenter Mike Tissot of Rent-2-Own (R) share a laugh during the Midwest Expo. 
Three women stand with their arms around each other, two of them showing ‘peace’ fingers, and smiling, with a table full of jewelry displayed in front of them.
Rent-2-Own’s Alicia Craycraft, Kayle Brussell, and Rhawny Zinck (L to R) strike a pose during the Midwest Expo.

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.