Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

Know Before You Go – RTO World 2019 Essential Attendee Checklist

We look forward to seeing you at RTO World 2019 August 6-8 in Louisville, Kentucky! We offer this guide to ensure you’re ready for a successful event.

You can also stay in the loop and start planning with the RTO World 2019 App! 

You can find the mobile app by searching for “RTO World” in the Google Play Store/Apple App Store. Once installed, enter the email address you used for registration as your username and “rtoworld19” for your password (case sensitive). Only registered attendees will have access to the app. If you have any questions, please contact technology@rtohq.org.

EARLY REGISTRATION PICK-UP
Avoid the lines on Tuesday, and pick up your badge early on from 3:00 – 6:00 PM on Monday, August 5th, at the Kentucky International Convention Center on the upper concourse.

LOCATION
Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC)
221 S. 4th St.
Louisville, KY 40202

All events will take place at the convention center unless otherwise noted.

HOST HOTELS
Marriott Louisville Downtown
280 W Jefferson St, Louisville, KY 40202
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Hyatt Regency Downtown
320 W Jefferson St, Louisville, KY 40202
hyatt-regency-lousiville/

WHAT TO PACK – ATTIRE AND RECEPTIONS
What to wear to convention is one of our most frequently asked questions. RTO World meetings, APRO awards luncheon, trade show, general session, and education is business casual. We want you to be relaxed and ready to learn and connect, so wear something comfortable. We also recommend bringing a jacket or sweater as temperatures in meeting rooms can fluctuate.

  • Hot Show Welcome Reception & Sale
    Tuesday, 4:45 – 6:45 p.m. 
    Pick up your bidding paddle and enjoy a cocktail with rent-to-own colleagues, reconnect with old friends and make new ones, all while getting in on deals offered only at RTO World’s high-energy Hot Show. Business casual; complimentary bar.
  • Emerging Leaders Networking Social 
    Tuesday, 9:00 p.m.

    Industry newcomers are welcomed to come enjoy complimentary craft cocktails and tasty treats at one of the exciting Fourth Street venues while catching up with the next generation of RTO-industry leaders. Interested in attending? Email us at elc@rtohq.org for more info. Casual attire with comfortable shoes suggested. 
  • Louisville Experience | Fourth Street Live Party! 
    Wednesday, 7 – 9:30 p.m.

    The Louisville Experience makes RTO World 2019 the perfect opportunity to catch up with colleagues and enjoy delicious local fare and live entertainment. Food and drinks will be provided. Host hotels are conveniently located within steps of the Fourth Street area. Derby Casual attire; Bow ties, Dresses & Hats encouraged!

SMS MESSAGING – BE ON THE LOOKOUT
To keep you informed of any important changes during the conference, we’ve added a text messaging service for your convenience. To opt in, provide us with a mobile number and you will receive an SMS (text) message. Simply reply to that with the number “1” and any updates or changes in times or venues during the conference will be communicated to you via text.

PARKING
For the Marriott Downtown, RTO World attendees receive 30% off prevailing self-parking rates in the hotel’s attached parking garage, based upon availability. Regularly priced onsite parking is either $10 per hour or $29 per day.

For the Kentucky International Convention Center and the Hyatt Regency:

There are two parking garages: 

  • Cowger Garage is located at 4th & Market Street (directly next to Z’s Fusion Restaurant).
  • Commonwealth Garage is located on Jefferson Street (middle of block on the left-hand
    side) between 3rd & 4th Streets and connected to Hyatt Regency.

Each time a car enters the garage you will be given a parking ticket. Each time that car exits a validation sticker on the ticket in the area in the middle that says, “STICKER HERE”, otherwise you will have to pay.

Rates:
        $2 — 0 min to 1 hour
        $4 — 1 hour to 2 hours
        $6 — 2 Hours to 3 Hours
        $8 — 3 Hours to 8 Hours
        $10 — 8 Hours to 24 Hours

A lost parking ticket will result in a $20 charge per day. 

GENERAL INFORMATION
Time Zone
Louisville is Eastern Time Zone.

Share Your Experience
Post photos, thoughts, quotes and comments about your RTO World 2019 experience via social media. #RTOWorld19 is this year’s official hashtag. APRO social media channels are Facebook and Twitter, @RTOHQ. Be sure to include the hashtag in all of your social media and app experiences and see your activity appear on the official RTO World app!

Details and Schedule
Click here for a full RTO World 2019 schedule of events.
Click here for the Education Session Planning Guide

Questions? 
We’re here to help. Contact us at 1-800-204-2776, info@rtohq.org.

The cutoff date for host hotel room blocks has passed, but if you need assistance, contact us at 800/204-2776, info@rtohq.org. It’s not too late to register for both your hotel and the convention now to secure your spot at RTO World.

Upcoming Events




Mike Lewis

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.