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Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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    • About APRO
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  • Home
  • About
    • About APRO
    • APRO Committees
    • Board & Staff
    • Vendor Advisory Committee
    • State Associations & Leadership
  • Membership
    • Join APRO
    • Membership Benefits
    • Code of Ethics
    • Engagement Opportunities
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  • Advocacy
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  • Events
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  • Foundation
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    • RTO Employees Disaster Relief Fund
    • APRO Scholarship Fund
  • News
    • Industry News
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    • RTOHQ: The Magazine
    • APRO Today E-newsletter
    • Share Your Member News
  • Resources
    • RTO Legends Take the Mic
    • The RTO Show Podcast – Listen Here!
    • The RTO Insight Review Blog
    • The Rent-to-Own Revolution Book
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      • AI Resource Hub
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  • Home
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    • About APRO
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    • Board & Staff
    • Vendor Advisory Committee
    • State Associations & Leadership
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    • Share Your Member News
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    • The RTO Insight Review Blog
    • The Rent-to-Own Revolution Book
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25 events found.

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Today
  • March 2024

  • Tue 12
    March 12, 2024 - March 14, 2024

    2024 Rent One Annual Meeting

    Chase Park Plaza 212 N Kingshighway, St. Louis, Missouri
  • Sun 17
    March 17, 2024 - March 20, 2024

    TRIB Meeting of the Minds

    Alburquerque, NM Alburquerque, NM, United States
  • April 2024

  • Sat 13
    April 13, 2024 - April 17, 2024

    Highpoint Furniture Market

    Greensboro, NC Greensboro, NC, United States
  • Tue 16
    April 16, 2024 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

    Boost Your AI Knowledge from Literally Zero to Organizational Hero Webinar

    Zoom Link

    Join us for an eye-opening webinar where we'll teach your team the basics of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This webinar is designed for AI newbies who haven’t had a chance to catch up with this new technology that is changing the way we work as we speak! Hear from Bruce Ellis, the Executive Director of the […]

  • Wed 24
    April 24, 2024 - April 26, 2024

    APRO Legislative Conference

    Washington, DC DC, United States
  • Mon 29
    April 29, 2024 - May 1, 2024

    Heartland of America Regional RTO Trade Show and Seminar

    Lodge of the Four Seasons 315 Four Seasons Drive, Lake Ozark, Missouri
  • May 2024

  • Thu 16
    May 16, 2024 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

    Multi-Unit Leadership Book Club

    Zoom Link

    Join us for an enlightening webinar where we'll dive into the core principles of effective leadership across multiple units in the Rent to Own (RTO) sector. This webinar is perfect for those who haven't yet had the opportunity to explore this crucial aspect of management in a way that’s straightforward and impactful! Hear from Chris […]

  • June 2024

  • Fri 7
    June 7, 2024 - June 14, 2024

    TRIB Retreat

    Alaskan Cruise , United States
  • Tue 25
    June 25, 2024

    Pennsylvania Association of Rental Dealers (PARD) Annual Meeting

    Harrisburg Hilton Hotel One North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, United States

    Date: June 25, 2024 Location: Harrisburg Hilton Hotel | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania PARD will host its annual meeting on June 25, 2024, 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.

  • Tue 25
    June 25, 2024 - June 26, 2024

    Tennessee Rental Dealers Association (TRDA) Annual Meeting

    Courtyard Marriott Nashville Downtown 170 4th Avenue North, Nashville, TN, United States

    Date: June 25-26, 2024 Location: Courtyard Marriott Nashville Downtown | Nashville, Tennessee TRDA cordially invites you to join its Annual Membership Meeting on June 25-26, 2024 at the Courtyard Marriott Nashville Downtown. The meeting will be fun and informative, featuring popular speakers and industry vendors eager to share current products and trends. To attend, email […]

  • 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 to preview Darwill's production center will shed new light on their services and the complexities of print production. The deadline to register is July 14, […]

  • 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 compelling market experience. Located on a world-class, state-of-the-art campus, LVMKT provides thousands of cross-category furniture, gift and home decor resources, as well as access to […]

  • 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, this is your chance to join the biggest event of the year. Connect with industry leaders, explore new opportunities, and be part of the excitement. […]

  • 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 more than 60 events. This event features more than 85 hours of forward-thinking education, millions in cash back for product purchases at the show, networking […]

  • 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 lobbying firms, as well as wisdom from distinguished speakers. To attend, email Brian Luksetich.

  • 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 and manufacturers. We are back and ready to train and network at one of the best regional RTO tradeshows in America! Join us on September […]

  • 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 serving their best nuggets in this one-hour mini-recap that will supercharge your learning! Joe Fischer, Eagle Rental-Purchase Money Ball: How to Fill the Holes in Your […]

  • 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 and raise your local awareness. After blowing everyone away with helpful marketing tips and tricks in his RTO World session, we’re repeating and expanding it! […]

  • 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 collaborative meeting provides an opportunity for board members to connect, evaluate progress, and set the course for APRO’s continued success in the year ahead.

  • 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, 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. […]

  • 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 Adam Ball will paint a vivid picture of everyday challenges faced by businesses, such as stagnant foot traffic and the struggle to garner online reviews, […]

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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.