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RNR of Virginia Helps Feed Hungry Children

APRO member RNR of Virginia LLC dba RNR Tire Express is showing its commitment to the communities it serves by supporting local foodbanks – vital organizations working to prevent hunger and promote nutrition.

RNR of Virginia recently celebrated another successful day of giving back at the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, where the RNR team packed backpacks full of healthy foods for hungry children. The Food for Kids Backpack Program is one of the Foodbank’s childhood hunger initiatives, providing food-insecure children nutritious and easy-to-make food to take home on weekends and extended school holidays.

The RNR team lent a hand at the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank to fill backpacks for hungry children.

“We proudly offer our time and energy to help fight childhood hunger,” says RNR of Virginia’s Chief Operating Officer and APRO Secretary Jonathan Rose. “Our latest effort was sending food home with kids for the weekend in discreetly packed backpacks. Sadly, many disadvantaged kids miss meals when school is out, including on weekends.”

In addition to hands-on help, RNR of Virginia stores have been collecting food donations to deliver to local foodbanks. The company encourages everyone in their communities to drop off food items, regardless of whether they’re RNR Express customers. The company is also donating $1 from every tire they rent or sell to local foodbanks. With each dollar donated, foodbanks can provide up to four healthy meals for local families – meaning a full set of new tires can purchase 16 nutritious meals for families in need.

“RNR of Virginia searches for ways to give back to all of the communities we serve – especially when children are in need,” says Rose. “When we contribute $1 for every tire we rent or sell, we know these special organizations can stretch our $1 into $5 and offer food, nourishment, love, and hope to local folks who need a helping hand.”

Since 2018, RNR has contributed more than $160,000 to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, providing well over a half-million meals for local families. Established in 1986, the Foodbank serves as the leading hunger-relief organization across the greater Peninsula area.

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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.