Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO)
For this webinar, the focus will be the most recent updates from the PPP Loan Forgiveness Application including a review of the rules, definitions and schedules from each section. Are you unclear on some of the recently released PPP changes? Mike Helton, a tax shareholder at Rivero, Gordimer & Company P.A. and CPA will also […]
Hear directly from Brenda Hernandez, a Community Outreach and Resource Planning Specialist with the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor, about frequently asked compliance questions and misconceptions about policies and enforcement. Topics will include: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) - topics such as overtime, minimum wage, youth employment, and recordkeeping Family Medical […]
RTO World 2021, the national rent-to-own convention and tradeshow, is expected to occur August 23 - 25, 2021 at the Tampa Convention Center.
Mark Kirby, a Cybersecurity Advisor for the CISA, will walk participants through some common IT security vulnerabilities and provide actionable guidance you can use to protect your business. Kirby, a retired Air Force veteran, has led engineering teams and projects to expand cyber access and identify single points of failure worldwide. The presentation will be followed by […]
RTO World™ 2022, the national rent-to-own convention and tradeshow, is expected to occur on August 10 - 12, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
