Architect’s drawing shows what the Hindu Temple of Greater Springfield will look like when it’s built on the western edge of Chatham, Illinois.
APRO Board Member and Action Development Corp., dba Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership President and CEO Gopal Reddy is serving as Chairman of the Board for the Hindu Temple of Greater Springfield and leading an 8,500 square-foot temple project in Chatham, Illinois. With a groundbreaking ceremony held on April 21, the temple is one step closer to completion.
“It’s a dream come true now that it’s a reality” shares Reddy. “We’re all excited, and the community will be more excited when they see this happen.”
The public groundbreaking ceremony, Bhoomi Puja, is a religious ceremony conducted by Hindu priests asking for pardon for disturbing the earth. Bhoomi Puja is performed on the construction site where the building is to be constructed to help break new ground and appease positive energies while honoring mother earth.
The public groundbreaking ceremony, Bhoomi Puja, is a religious ceremony conducted by Hindu priests asking for pardon for disturbing the earth.
Former committee president and temple champion Dr. Krishna Rao, Reddy and others believe the new temple is an important mile marker for the Hindu community in the Springfield area that populates more than 350 families and 250 students at the University of Illinois. “It’s a Hindu coming of age,” says Rao. “A temple brings people together otherwise, where do we meet?” adds Reddy. “We’re there to pray and socialize…it’s a ‘we’re all in the same community’ kind of feeling. Hopefully, it will help the kids and grandkids realize the culture and religion. At least we’re exposing it to them. Now they can see it, there wasn’t an option before.”
In 2007, Rao proposed fundraising to purchase property for a temple and in 2008, a deal was made to acquire the former Judson Baptist Church and 9.4 acres in Chatham, Illinois. After a six-month renovation, the group moved in with the intention of building a more permanent temple on the acquired land but the structure of the building did not comply with the stringent rules of temple design. The committee worked with India-based architect Kalyanasundaram Sthapathi to iron out the details of the $2 million project. “The temple will stand out in a positive way,” says Rao. “It’s a tremendous cultural enhancement and a further way to integrating into the community.” They expect the new temple to be complete in 2020.
The Hindu Temple of Greater Springfield project was recognized by NPR Illinois, click here to read the story.
The groundbreaking ceremony was also recognized local television station WICS, click here to view the news story.
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.
