Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO)
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2023 Winter Magazine: Welcome Letter

Dear APRO members,

I can’t begin to express my excitement and pride to be part of APRO as your new CEO. While I’m far from new to the rent-to-own industry – having previously served as both a vendor and service provider – it is an absolute honor to be taking on this new role and contributing to this award-winning publication! I’ve definitely enjoyed connecting with many of you over the past few months at company events, state association meetings, and especially during our time together at RTO World 2023 in San Antonio, Texas.

RTO World, incidentally, was a spectacular success. This issue of the magazine offers several in-depth features, numbers reports, and, of course, plenty of pics from the year’s biggest industry event. San Antonio lived up to its hype as a stunning convention location (and hot summer destination), and your feedback and survey results were overwhelmingly positive, while also providing us with great ideas we can work on to make RTO World 2024 the best one ever! Save the dates now: August 6-8th at the Loew’s Universal Resort in Orlando, Florida – it’ll be an excellent opportunity to bring your family and/or extended groups of employees along to share the fun and delight of this premier destination.

“You’ll see enhanced engagement and presence from APRO, as we work to make the most of your member benefits and our member service in our role as the protector and voice of the RTO industry.“

Charles Smitherman, PhD, JD, MSt, CAE

Even before the curtain came down and the final box was packed, APRO’s attention had already turned to what’s next. I’m happy to announce the APRO Legislative Conference is back as a permanent fixture on the RTO industry calendar – the 2024 conference is scheduled for April 24-26th on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. This next conference will be amplified by the launch of our new APRO Advocate program – an initiative to help you be prepared for Congressional meetings, share your positive rent-to-own stories, and improve your experience overall.


Between now and our Legislative Conference and RTO World 2024, you’ll see enhanced engagement and presence from APRO, as we work to make the most of your member benefits and our member service in our role as the protector and voice of the RTO industry. We’ll be hosting quarterly webinars on critical and timely topics related to your business, expanding our educational and resource offerings, and enriching your APRO membership as a whole. Additionally, the next year will bring the conclusion of our current three-year Strategic Plan and the development of the next version, which was begun by the APRO Board of Directors during its autumn meeting.


Over the coming months, I will continue to travel the country to be with you all in my “listening and learning tour,” engaging you in conversations, listening to your concerns, and gathering your perspectives, input, and ideas about the future of APRO – and how we fulfill our mission to safeguard the rent-to-own industry and maximize the value of your APRO membership experience.
Wishing you all a greatly successful 2024,

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.