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Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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  • Home
  • About
    • About APRO
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  • Resources
    • RTO Legends Take the Mic
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25 events found.

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Today
  • July 2024

  • Fri 19
    July 19, 2024 - July 20, 2024

    Full-O-Pep

    Nashville, Indiana Nashville, IN, United States
  • Tue 23
    July 23, 2024 - July 24, 2024

    TRIB Think Tank (Darwill)

    Date: July 23-24, 2024 Location: Hillside, IL TRIB Group is excited to offer their members a chance to visit the Darwill Production Center for their Think Tank. This unique opportunity […]

  • Sun 28
    July 28, 2024 - August 1, 2024

    Las Vegas Summer Furniture Market 2024

    Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, NV, United States

    Date: July 28 - August 1, 2024 Location: The EXPO at World Market Center | Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas Market offers buyers, designers and exhibitors an efficient, effective and […]

  • August 2024

  • Tue 6
    August 6, 2024 - August 8, 2024

    RTO World 2024

    Universal Studios Orlando, FL, United States

    Date: August 6-8, 2024 Location: Loews Universal Resorts | Orlando, Florida Get ready for the ultimate rent-to-own experience at RTO World 2024, co-hosted by APRO and TRIB Group! From August 6-8, 2024, in sunny Orlando, Florida, […]

  • Sun 11
    August 11, 2024 - August 14, 2024

    Nationwide PrimeTime

    The Venetian 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV, United States

    Date: August 11-14, 2024 Location: Venetian Convention and Expo Center | Las Vegas, Nevada Nationwide Marketing Group has hosted their biannual Member conference and tradeshow for over 30 years and […]

  • Tue 20
    August 20, 2024 - August 21, 2024

    Buddy’s Leadership Conference 2024

    Orlando, FL Orlando, FL, United States

    Date: August 20-21, 2024 Location: Loews Universal Resorts | Orlando, Florida

  • Sun 25
    August 25, 2024 - August 28, 2024

    2024 BrandSource Convention

    Gaylord Texan 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine, TX, United States

    Date: August 25-28, 2024  Location: Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center | Dallas, TX Learn More and Register

  • September 2024

  • Thu 12
    September 12, 2024

    2024 Iowa Nebraska Rental Dealers Association (INRDA) Annual Meeting

    Hilton Garden Inn 8600 Northpark Dr., Johnston, IA, United States

    Join us for INRDA's highly anticipated Annual Meeting on September 12, 2024, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, followed by lunch. The meeting will feature insightful discussions with Iowa- and Nebraska-based […]

  • Tue 17
    September 17, 2024 - September 18, 2024

    2024 Midwest Expo

    Crowne Plaza Columbus North-Worthington 6500 Doubletree Avenue, Columbus, OH, United States

    The 2024 Midwest RTO Training Expo, hosted by the Ohio Rental Dealers Association, is a long-standing RTO event where employees receive top-shelf training on cutting-edge products directly from the vendors […]

  • Thu 19
    September 19, 2024

    2024 Best of RTO World Webinar

    APRO Webinar

    You’re Invited to join the Best of RTO World 2024 Webinar, featuring speakers from the education sessions you may have missed or just want to learn more from! We’ll host four speakers […]

  • Tue 24
    September 24, 2024 - September 26, 2024

    2024 Aaron’s Franchisee Meeting

    Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta, GA, United States
  • October 2024

  • Thu 3
    October 3, 2024

    2024 Marketing is a Verb Webinar

    APRO Webinar

    It’s time to stop being waiters and start being hunters. From around the corner to top of mind, Andrew Hajduk, President of Vox-Pop-Uli, has strategies to help you cultivate customers […]

  • Wed 16
    October 16, 2024 - October 17, 2024

    2024 APRO Fall Board Meeting

    Austin, Texas Austin, TX, United States

    The APRO Fall Board Meeting is a key gathering where the APRO Board of Directors come together to discuss important strategies, share insights, and shape the future of rent-to-own. This […]

  • Sat 26
    October 26, 2024 - October 30, 2024

    2024 Fall High Point Furniture Market

    High Point Market Authority 164 South Main Street, Suite 700, High Point, NC, United States

    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, […]

  • November 2024

  • Thu 14
    November 14, 2024 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

    2024 Marketing Tactics and Hidden Secrets No One Tells You

    APRO Webinar

    Learn the untold secrets of effective marketing strategy in Esquire Advertising’s upcoming presentation, "Marketing Tactics and Hidden Secrets No One Tells You." Esquire Advertising Founder Eric Grindley and Sales Executive […]

  • December 2024

  • Tue 10
    December 10, 2024 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

    2024 Wage and Hour Update: What RTO Dealers Need to Know

    APRO Webinar

    Join APRO Wage and Hour Attorney Brian Farrington for an important webinar on navigating the evolving Department of Labor (DOL) rules and wage and hour considerations. Designed for rent-to-own dealer owners and […]

  • January 2025

  • Sat 11
    January 11 - January 12

    2025 Premier Companies National Convention

    Marriott Miami Airport 1201 NW Le Jeune Road, Miami, FL, United States

    The Premier Companies National Convention is an annual event that brings together team members, leaders, and industry partners from across the nation to celebrate the company's successes, recognize top performers, […]

  • Thu 16
    January 16 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

    2025 Financial Focus: Understanding the Value of Your Business Webinar

    APRO Webinar

    Speaker: Mike Helton; Rivero, Gordimer & Company, P.A. Unlock the true potential of your business by gaining a deeper understanding of its value and financial health. This webinar will share […]

  • Sun 26
    January 26 - January 30

    2025 Las Vegas Winter Market

    Las Vegas Furniture Market 475 S. Grand Central Pkwy, Suite 1615, Las Vegas, NV, United States

    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 […]

  • February 2025

  • Mon 3
    February 3 - February 4

    2025 NYRDA Meeting & Legislative Day

    NY State Capitol and Legislative Offices 198 State Street, Albany, NY, United States

    The New York Rental Dealers Association (NYRDA) will host an in-person membership meeting and Hill Day in Albany, New York, on February 3-4, 2025. NYRDA anticipates the reintroduction of reclassification […]

  • Thu 20
    February 20 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

    2025 New Year, New Commitment to Using AI Webinar

    APRO Webinar

    Step into the future and discover how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the business landscape in 2025. Our collection of speakers will walk through the latest AI technologies (some golden […]

  • Sat 22
    February 22 - February 24

    2025 TRIB Meeting of the Minds

    Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

    Forward... It's not just the tagline, but the reality of the format and topics for our 2025 Meeting of the Minds! If you haven't attended our Meeting of the Minds […]

  • Sat 22
    February 22 - February 24

    2025 RNR Franchise Conference

    Disney's Coronado Springs Resort 1001 W Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL, United States

    The 2025 RNR Franchise Conference will be held in Orlando, FL at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort. Owners, Operators, Executive Team Members, and Managers will gather to share ideas, participate […]

  • March 2025

  • Tue 11
    March 11 - March 13

    2025 Rent One & RNR Midwest Annual Meeting

    Chase Park Plaza Hotel 212 N Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, Missouri
  • Tue 11
    March 11 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

    LEAP Session 2: Commitment Continuum

    LEAP Program

    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 […]

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Mike Lewis

Central Properties dba Premier Rental-Purchase

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.