Association of Professional Rental Organizations (APRO)
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Legislative Conference

Planning for LegCon 2027 is underway, with dates to be announced. This page will be updated as details are confirmed, so check back periodically for the latest information on upcoming opportunities to connect with industry leaders in Washington, D.C.

You can also sign up for our APRO Today newsletter to make sure you don’t miss the official announcement when it’s released.

Why Attend LegCon?

Each spring, APRO members from across the country head to Washington, D.C., to share the rent-to-own story with federal lawmakers during the APRO Legislative Conference. This three-day experience brings together RTO professionals to meet face-to-face with U.S. senators, representatives, and legislative staff, creating space for meaningful conversations and long-term relationship building.

APRO’s Legislative Conference is the premier opportunity for rent-to-own professionals to build and strengthen those relationships. While the policy landscape evolves from year to year, one constant remains – strong, informed connections are essential to ensuring our industry is understood and represented.

LegCon gives attendees a chance to share their story, highlight the value of the rent-to-own model, and engage in thoughtful conversations that build awareness and trust on Capitol Hill. Through face-to-face meetings, participants form lasting connections and help ensure the rent-to-own industry is understood by the people shaping policy.

Whether you’re an experienced advocate or new to this kind of outreach, LegCon is designed to support you every step of the way. APRO provides tools, training, and team-based guidance so attendees can communicate clearly and confidently about the impact of rent-to-own on businesses, employees, customers, and communities.

All APRO members are encouraged to participate – from store-level employees and owners to vendors and industry partners. Your perspective matters, and your presence on Capitol Hill helps strengthen the industry’s voice through connection, visibility, and shared experience.

Questions about the conference or how to get involved? Contact us at info@rtohq.org.

Hear From LegCon Fellows

Go behind the scenes of APRO’s 2026 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., through the eyes of our Legislative Fellows. Hear from both first-time and returning Fellows as they share what they learned on Capitol Hill, the relationships they built, and why advocating for the rent-to-own industry is an experience that keeps them coming back.

Video courtesy of Nationwide Marketing Group

Photos from 2026 Legislative Conference

Upcoming Events

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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.