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Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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  • About
    • About APRO
    • APRO Committees
    • Board & Staff
    • Vendor Advisory Committee
    • State Associations & Leadership
  • Membership
    • Join APRO
    • Membership Benefits
    • Code of Ethics
    • Engagement Opportunities
    • Hall of Honor
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  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy Resource Hub
    • Legislative Conference
    • Legislative Meeting Debrief Form
  • Events
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Legislative Conference
    • RTO World
    • Share Your Events
  • Foundation
    • About the Foundation
    • RTO Employees Disaster Relief Fund
    • APRO Scholarship Fund
  • News
    • Industry News
    • Community Outreach
    • 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
    • Resource Hubs
      • Advocacy Resource Hub
      • AI Resource Hub
      • Business Resource Hub
      • Cybersecurity Hub
      • Educational Resources
      • Legal Resource Hub
    • Charles’ Monthly Health Tip
    • LEAP Portal
    • Legal Hotline
    • Rent-to-Own Industry Health Summary
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Legal Hotline
JOIN APRO
  • Home
  • About
    • About APRO
    • APRO Committees
    • Board & Staff
    • Vendor Advisory Committee
    • State Associations & Leadership
  • Membership
    • Join APRO
    • Membership Benefits
    • Code of Ethics
    • Engagement Opportunities
    • Hall of Honor
    • Member Directory
    • Member Login
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy Resource Hub
    • Legislative Conference
    • Legislative Meeting Debrief Form
  • Events
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Legislative Conference
    • RTO World
    • Share Your Events
  • Foundation
    • About the Foundation
    • RTO Employees Disaster Relief Fund
    • APRO Scholarship Fund
  • News
    • Industry News
    • Community Outreach
    • 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
    • Resource Hubs
      • Advocacy Resource Hub
      • AI Resource Hub
      • Business Resource Hub
      • Cybersecurity Hub
      • Educational Resources
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    • Charles’ Monthly Health Tip
    • LEAP Portal
    • Legal Hotline
    • Rent-to-Own Industry Health Summary
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Legal Hotline
  • Home
  • About
    • About APRO
    • APRO Committees
    • Board & Staff
    • Vendor Advisory Committee
    • State Associations & Leadership
  • Membership
    • Join APRO
    • Membership Benefits
    • Code of Ethics
    • Engagement Opportunities
    • Hall of Honor
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  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy Resource Hub
    • Legislative Conference
    • Legislative Meeting Debrief Form
  • Events
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Legislative Conference
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    • Share Your Events
  • Foundation
    • About the Foundation
    • RTO Employees Disaster Relief Fund
    • APRO Scholarship Fund
  • News
    • Industry News
    • Community Outreach
    • 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
    • Resource Hubs
      • Advocacy Resource Hub
      • AI Resource Hub
      • Business Resource Hub
      • Cybersecurity Hub
      • Educational Resources
      • Legal Resource Hub
    • Charles’ Monthly Health Tip
    • LEAP Portal
    • Legal Hotline
    • Rent-to-Own Industry Health Summary
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    • Contact Us
    • Legal Hotline
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25 events found.

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Today
  • October 2018

  • Sat 13
    October 13, 2018 - October 17, 2018

    High Point Furniture Market Fall 2018

    High Point Market Authority 164 South Main Street, Suite 700, High Point, NC, United States
  • January 2019

  • Mon 7
    January 7, 2019 - January 9, 2019

    RNR Tire Express’ 16th Annual Conference & Expo

    Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel 4200 Jim Walter Blvd, Tampa, FL, United States
  • Tue 8
    January 8, 2019 - January 11, 2019

    Consumer Electronics Show 2019

    Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, NV, United States
  • Sat 12
    January 12, 2019 - January 13, 2019

    The Premier Companies National Convention

    TBA
  • Mon 14
    January 14, 2019 - January 17, 2019

    The Premier Companies Celebration

    TBA
  • Sun 27
    January 27, 2019 - January 31, 2019

    Las Vegas Market Winter 2019

    World Market Center Las Vegas 475 S Grand Central Parkway Suite 1615, Las Vegas, NV, United States
  • February 2019

  • Sun 10
    February 10, 2019 - February 13, 2019

    RentDirect Nationwide PrimeTime!

    The Venetian 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV, United States
  • March 2019

  • Fri 1
    March 1, 2019

    The Premier Companies Dealer Retreat & Marketing Workshop

    Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN, United States
  • Fri 1
    March 1, 2019 - March 4, 2019

    TRIB Group/BrandSource the Summit & Expo

    Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN, United States
  • Tue 19
    March 19, 2019

    The Premier Companies Discovery Day

    The Premier Companies Corporate Office 5510 FM 1765, Texas City, TX, United States
  • April 2019

  • Sat 6
    April 6, 2019 - April 10, 2019

    High Point Furniture Market Spring 2019

    High Point Market Authority 164 South Main Street, Suite 700, High Point, NC, United States
  • Tue 16
    April 16, 2019

    The Premier Companies Discovery Day

    The Premier Companies Corporate Office 5510 FM 1765, Texas City, TX, United States
  • Tue 23
    April 23, 2019 - April 24, 2019

    Kansas Rental Dealers Association 2019 Annual Meeting

    DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Wichita Airport 2098 Airport Road, Wichita, KS, United States

    For more information, please contact Angela Strong-McCool (620) 474-5603.

  • Tue 30
    April 30, 2019

    Pennsylvania Association of Rental Dealers Annual Meeting

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

    Room block if booked by April 1, 2019, with code PARD3.

  • May 2019

  • Wed 8
    May 8, 2019

    Illinois Rental/Purchase Dealers Association Legislative Meeting

    Illinois State Capitol 301 S. 2nd St., Springfield, IL, United States
  • Wed 15
    May 15, 2019

    Arkansas Rental Dealers Association Annual Meeting

    Embassy Suites by Hilton Little Rock 11301 Financial Centre Pkwy, Little Rock, AR, United States
  • Tue 21
    May 21, 2019

    The Premier Companies Discovery Day

    The Premier Companies Corporate Office 5510 FM 1765, Texas City, TX, United States
  • June 2019

  • Tue 11
    June 11, 2019 - June 13, 2019

    Missouri Rental Dealers Association Heartland of America Trade Show and Seminar

    The Lodge of Four Seasons 315 Four Seasons Drive, Lake Ozark, MO, United States

       

  • Tue 25
    June 25, 2019

    The Premier Companies Discovery Day

    The Premier Companies Corporate Office 5510 FM 1765, Texas City, TX, United States
  • Wed 26
    June 26, 2019 - June 27, 2019

    Tennessee Rental Dealers Association 2019 Membership Meeting

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

    A block of discounted rooms is available if reserved by June 5. To make reservations online, click here. For more information about TRDA, how to join or about registering for the annual meeting, contact Chris Bolin at 931/906-2066, bolinrto@cdelightband.net.

  • July 2019

  • Tue 16
    July 16, 2019

    The Premier Companies Discovery Day

    The Premier Companies Corporate Office 5510 FM 1765, Texas City, TX, United States
  • Fri 19
    July 19, 2019 - July 20, 2019

    Full-O-Pep Annual Trade Expo and Golf Tournament

    The Seasons Lodge in Nashville, Indiana 560 St. Rd. 46 E., Nashville, IN, United States
  • Sun 28
    July 28, 2019 - August 1, 2019

    Las Vegas Market Summer 2019

    World Market Center Las Vegas 475 S Grand Central Parkway Suite 1615, Las Vegas, NV, United States
  • August 2019

  • Mon 5
    August 5, 2019

    The Premier Companies Dealer Retreat & Marketing Workshop

    TBA
  • Tue 6
    August 6, 2019 - August 8, 2019

    RTO World 2019

    TBA
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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.