Speaker: Katie Marie Meyer As a business owner, Human Resources (HR) is key to building a thriving company. Katie Marie, a former HR Director for an RTO company, has made a career out of helping lots of companies improve their HR function. She will share some of the best practices she’s seen and learned to […]
Speaker: Charles Smitherman, APRO CEO NOTE: This webinar is only for those attending APRO’s 2025 Legislative Conference in April and is required viewing. If you haven't already registered for Legislative Conference, you may do so by clicking here. Join us for this advocacy training webinar designed to equip you with the tools and strategies needed […]
Save the dates April 8-10, 2025, to join your fellow APRO members at the 2025 Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. This is your chance to meet with lawmakers, share the vital importance of rent-to-own, and make your voice heard on the issues that matter most. Each year, your presence in the nation’s capital helps shape […]
Welcome to LEAP, an exciting new leadership development program brought to you by APRO and TRIB Group. LEAP is designed to cultivate leadership skills within the RTO industry. Each month, we’ll explore a new leadership topic through live Zoom sessions or in-person at Meeting of the Minds and RTO World. This program is open to both current and aspiring […]
High Point Market is the ultimate destination for all things design, offering endless product options and unexpected moments of joy. It’s not just about products, but also about the experience, with exciting events and opportunities that spark inspiration. Market week feels like a homecoming for industry professionals, making it easy to connect and build relationships. […]
The Texas Association of Rental Agencies (TARA) will be hosting a Legislative Day on April 28, 2025. Click here to Register Now!
The Illinois Rental Dealers Association (IRDA) will be hosting a Legislative Day on April 29, 2025. For more information, please contact Kelly Martin.
The next TRIB Retreat will be an amazing, all-inclusive Royalton Resort in amazing St. Lucia from May 3-8, 2025. With its breathtaking beauty, mountainous terrain, and small luxurious resorts, St. Lucia is a lush, verdant island with an under-the-radar reputation. Nestled on the northern tip of one of the most picturesque Caribbean islands, the Royalton […]
Welcome to LEAP, an exciting new leadership development program brought to you by APRO and TRIB Group. LEAP is designed to cultivate leadership skills within the RTO industry. Each month, we’ll explore a new leadership topic through live Zoom sessions or in-person at Meeting of the Minds and RTO World. This program is open to both current and aspiring […]
We invite you to join fellow Florida rental dealers for some great networking and big ideas! Join us on May 14 & 15, 2025 at the Hotel Haya for a welcome social, vendor show, and annual meeting! Get ready for an exciting meeting with new ideas, vendor presentations, and a chance to reconnect with colleagues! […]
Speakers: Larry & Steven Carrico, SKC Enterprises Inc. dba Rent One and RNR of Missouri LLC dba RNR Tire Express Larry and Steven Carrico will share how, over the past 30+ years, their team has created over 750,000 square feet of rental assets throughout the Midwest. It all started with a fire in 1996 and […]
The VersiRent User Conference enables attendees to gain firsthand knowledge and experience working with the many features VersiRent currently offers. They also will learn about new features that will soon be available. These conferences are specifically designed for those who work with VersiRent on a daily basis - dealers and their key personnel.
The annual Heartland of America Tradeshow and Seminar, hosted by the Missouri Rental Dealers Association (MRDA), brings together rent-to-own professionals from across the region for a day of networking, educational seminars, and industry insights. Attendees enjoy a tradeshow featuring key vendors and a variety of sessions designed to enhance business growth and collaboration within the […]
Welcome to LEAP, an exciting new leadership development program brought to you by APRO and TRIB Group. LEAP is designed to cultivate leadership skills within the RTO industry. Each month, we’ll explore a new leadership topic through live Zoom sessions or in-person at Meeting of the Minds and RTO World. This program is open to both current and aspiring […]
Speaker: Justin Hosie & Dailey Wilson, Hudson Cook LLP Don’t miss this live, interactive Legal Town Hall where our legal experts – Justin Hosie & Dailey Wilson – will address your pressing questions about the rent-to-own (RTO) industry. From navigating complex compliance issues to managing contracts and minimizing risk, this session offers practical, real-world insights […]
Date: June 18, 2025 Location: Harrisburg Hilton Hotel | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania PARD will host its annual meeting on June 18, 2025, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM at the Harrisburg Hilton Hotel. The meeting will feature guest speakers, PARD elections, and lots of networking. If you’re interested in attending, please email Sandi Frye. To book your […]
This event is from 2:00pm to 3:00pm on July 8, 2025.
This event is all day starting on July 18 and ending on July 19, 2025.
TRDA would like to invite you to attend our 2025 annual Membership Meeting, July 23-24, 2025, at the Courtyard Marriot Nashville Downtown. This meeting should be fun, informative, and well attended. Attendees can arrive Wednesday afternoon at the Courtyard Hotel, gather in Gannon’s around 5:00 PM, and then walk to a special group dinner around 6:30 PM. Afterwards, […]
Las Vegas Market is the premier furniture, home decor, and gift trade show on the West Coast, hosted at the World Market Center in Las Vegas. The event offers an extensive range of products from global exhibitors and provides industry professionals with opportunities to network, explore new trends, and discover the latest innovations in the […]
The AVB BrandSource Annual Convention is a premier event for appliance, electronics, and home furnishings retailers. It offers valuable networking, educational sessions, product showcases, and innovative retail solutions to help businesses thrive. The convention brings together industry leaders and provides tools to drive growth and success in the competitive retail landscape.
This event is all day starting on August 11 and ending on August 14, 2025.
Hosted for over 30 years and more than 60 events, PrimeTime, Nationwide Marketing Group's biannual Member conference and tradeshow, is an event for Independent retailers looking to improve their results quickly. Featuring more than 85 hours of forward-thinking education, millions in Cash Back for product purchases at the show, networking and roundtables with peers from […]
The annual Buddy’s Leadership Conference is a premier gathering where leaders from across the Buddy’s Home Furnishings network come together to share insights, collaborate, and explore new ways to make Buddy’s better. This dynamic event fosters innovation, strengthens leadership, and drives business growth through engaging discussions and strategic initiatives. Hosted at the beautiful Loews Royal […]
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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!
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!).
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.
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.
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.
