Rent-to-own professionals from across the country gathered March 3-6 in Nashville for the 2018 Meeting of the Minds & Expo hosted by TRIB Group. The event included a hot show, Buy Fair Expo, and a member dinner at the Wild Horse Saloon.
Digital Marketing Panel including Kelly Martin, Shirin Kanji and Erika Sparrow
This year’s agenda included two back-to-back days of rent-to-own open discussions, panels and breakout sessions that covered topics such as company culture, engagement, cash flow, Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRMs), digital marketing and tires in a traditional RTO store.
APRO Executive Director Jill McClure led a Young Professionals breakout session and discussion focused on the next generation of rent-to-own leaders, followed by her APRO association update in the Ryman ballroom. McClure challenged attendees to become advocates for rent-to-own, sharing how visiting lawmakers in Washington is an essential part of industry efforts to safeguard against harmful legislation. She also talked about investing in the industry’s young professionals. “We’re having ongoing discussions with the RTO YP group as we identify ways to engage and serve them. There’s a strong group forming, and the best way to retain our young professionals is to provide them with connection, education and opportunities for leadership,” says McClure.
TRIB Group President Dan Fisher awards TRIB Group Past President Shannon Strunk with the President’s Award.
At the Hot Show, a special tribute was made to APRO member, TRIB Group board member and Smart Way owner Ben Bost who suffered two strokes in November that left him a quadriplegic. The buying group raised more than $56,000 to help fund a specialty van for Bost.
Another highlight of the event included the announcement of the buying group’s President’s Award recipient, Shannon Strunk. “Shannon Strunk has selflessly given his time and efforts to the rent-to-own industry for many years, both in his role as board member and president of APRO as well as board member and President of TRIB. His efforts towards establishing the APRO Education Foundation Scholarship Fund has led to 177 recipients being awarded nearly $700,000 in scholarships,” says TRIB Group President Dan Fisher. “When I first joined the TRIB board, Shannon took a personal interest in mentoring me and helping me gain confidence in my contributions. I am by nature a relatively introverted person and he helped me believe that I could contribute as a leader even without being a dynamic speaker. I grew to respect him even more and I realized how hard he worked to advocate for our members, especially the members who own 1-5 stores that comprise the majority of TRIB Group. His passion for this industry and for helping others which is always under the radar, never seeking recognition, is an inspiration to me.” This year’s Hot Show saw $7.3 million in sales with Lyn Leach as the auctioneer.
APRO Executive Director Jill McClure (center) with APRO members Larkin Mott, David Bauer and Trooper Earle.
Additional Speakers included APRO Members SKC Enterprises, dba Rent One’s Mark Williams; Benefit Marketing’s Brad Denison and Susan Matthews; Jaguar Holdings LLC, dba Eagle Rental Purchase’s Joe Fischer; Premier Rental-Purchase/Ultima Gemini Group’s Trinidad Rubio; Rent-2-Own’s Mike Tissot; Happy’s Home Centers’ Chris Kale Jr. and Jeff Kale; Majik Rent-to-Own’s Dan Fisher and Scott Waltman; ACE Rent-to-Own’s Lyn Leach and Frank Rotert; Preferred Sales and Leasing, dba Buddy’s Home Furnishings’ Todd Homberger; Growby’s Rent-to-Own’s Eric Grow; Rent-A-Center, dba Impact Holdings’ Paul Metivier; and Whirlpool’s Nick Wuesthoff. Also in attendance were APRO board members President Louis Garcia, Second Vice President Chris Kale Sr., Treasurer Trent Agin, Dennis Adams, Larry Carrico, David P. David, Sandi Frye, and Vendor Liaison Bill French.
Click here to see more photos of TRIB Group’s 2018 Meeting of the Minds & Expo.
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.
