RNR Tire Express Franchisees Roll into a Prosperous 2018
APRO board members Jonathan Rose, Jamie Slatton, David Harrison and David P. David with RNR Tire Express Founder and President and longtime APRO member Larry Sutton.RNR Tire Express held its 15th Annual Franchise Conference this week in Tampa, Florida at the Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel. RNR franchisees and managers from across the country gathered to celebrate last year’s successes as well as prepare for the upcoming year with the company’s 2018 vision in mind. The three-day event included a welcome reception, two days of informative general sessions, a vendor hall and an awards banquet.
During the conference, owners and managers attended two days of general sessions designed to bring attendees up to speed with the company’s goals for 2018. Presentations by RNR Tire Express Founder and President Larry Sutton, Executive Vice President Adam Sutton, Vice President of Franchising Vince Ficarrotta and Director of Digital Marketing Randy Cabrera covered impressive statistics and growth from the past year as well as announcing various additions to the company’s Resource Center, a tool available to RNR’s owner’s and managers to help streamline their businesses. In 2017, the company reached 111 stores with 22 franchisees while bringing in $128.5 million in total revenue making RNR the 14th largest tire dealer in America. Guest speakers included Joe Pici of Pici & Pici Inc. as well as longtime APRO members and board members David Harrison and Jamie Slatton. Also in attendance were APRO board members Larry Carrico, David P. David, Ernie Lewallen and Jonathan Rose.
The 2018 Franchise Conference closed with an awards banquet where Sutton shared hat he was most proud of the lives the company has changed philanthropic efforts. RNR donated more than $35,000 to hurricane victims as well as distributed relief items shipped to Puerto Rico along with $20,000. RNR also donated more than $5,000 to an associate diagnosed with breast cancer as well as providing 130 days of paid vacation.
Sutton concluded the event by honoring RNR’s 2017 all stars: David Harrison, Rental Concepts, LCC, Franchisee of the Year; Ed Milani, Vendor of the Year; Jimmy Gypin, Manager of the Year; Michael Davis, Rookie of the Year; Danny Wright, Dustin Wright and Misti Wright, Wright Leasing, LLC, Best New Franchise; John Lyon, Best Performance New Store; Chris Richey, Most Improved Store; and Matt King and West Market, Multi-Unit Operator of the Year.
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.
