Association of Progressive Rental Organizations

APRO Scholarship Star: Tanner Nolte

Tanner Nolte | 2023 APRO Scholarship Star

For more than a dozen years, the APRO Charitable Foundation has annually provided scholarships to rent-to-own professionals and their families. APRO members have contributed generously to the APRO Scholarship Fund – awarding 483 scholarships totaling $1,099,250 to date – empowering students connected with RTO to pursue college degrees and successful futures.

Missouri native Tanner Nolte – one of the 36 deserving 2023 APRO Scholarship recipients – is also the the Tiger Cleek Memorial Scholarship awardee. The Cleek family – of Cleek’s Home Furnishings/Rental & Sales – established this special scholarship to honor rent-to-own legend “Tiger” John Cleek.

Tanner’s mother, Kimberly Nolte, began her rent-to-own career after she and her son moved to Columbia, Missouri, in 2016, and she joined Cleek’s as Office Manager. Over the past eight years, Kimberly has moved up in the company and today serves as Human Resources Manager – thanks to certification through a program paid for by Cleek’s.

Tanner attends the State Technical College of Missouri, where he’s earning his associate degree in Precision Machining and Technology. Tanner intends to pursue a career as a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining operator or programmer; CNC machining is a manufacturing process in which pre-programmed computer software dictates the movement of factory tools and machinery.

“Precision machining wasn’t even on my radar until I toured the program at State Tech,” Tanner says. “After looking around the shop and talking with some of the instructors, I knew machining was what I wanted to pursue. I enjoy the problem-solving involved in machining and programming, especially creating parts and assemblies from start to finish.”

Tanner’s curriculum includes about eight projects to complete every semester, with only about seven days permitted for each. Tanner is one of the few students who consistently completes all projects on-time and fully within tolerance (the permittable deviation from desired part dimensions), working hard to maintain high marks.

Tanner is also a nationally registered and Missouri-licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), using his free weekends to get in time on the ambulance as a driver and patient-care provider. Additionally, Tanner is the Vice President of State Tech’s Machine Tool Club, and practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu through the college’s Leadership, Strength, and Respect Club.

“I’ve been practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for four years,” says Tanner. “It emphasizes removing all ego and anger before participating, and respecting your opponents, win or lose. It helps improve physical and mental strength, and through student-led lessons, the club helps students become better leaders and teachers, too.”

Tanner is aiming to get through college debt-free, with help from his mom, A+ grants, and scholarships like the APRO/Cleek’s one. Tanner says the Tiger Cleek Memorial Scholarship is just the company’s latest, greatest way of supporting his mom and him.

“The owners at Cleek’s support their employees both at work and at home,” he concludes. “My mom’s job provides good pay, security, and flexibility – she’s always been able to support my extracurricular activities, thanks to the company’s family values. The RTO industry has been vital to not only my mom’s success, but to mine, as well.”

Tanner’s is one of the dozens of positive stories that generous donations from the RTO community make happen each year. Click here to learn more and contribute to this invaluable industry effort.

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Mike Lewis

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.