APRO Courses for Your Team
APRO is excited to introduce the launch of a new series of online training courses designed to support employee development across the rent-to-own industry.
The first course, Intro to RTO, is now available to help your new team members learn the fundamentals of rent-to-own as part of their onboarding experience. Click the button below to access the course.
2026 APRO Webinars
2026 APRO Webinars
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Presented By: Charles Smitherman, PhD, JD, MSt, CAE
Defining RTO in an AI-Driven World
Artificial intelligence is already shaping how consumers, journalists, and policymakers understand rent-to-own – and how individual dealers are discovered, described, or overlooked. This webinar is not about learning how to use AI tools. It is about understanding how AI systems form answers today, why definition and consistency matter more than ever, and how rent-to-own businesses can influence what those systems retrieve and repeat.
Drawing on The RTO Revolution and APRO’s soon-to-be-released GEO Toolkit, this session explains the real risk facing the industry in an AI-driven information environment: not declining demand, but losing control of how rent-to-own is defined. When AI systems misclassify RTO, customers never see it as an option – and policymakers start from the wrong assumptions.
The webinar will walk through the Four Core Truths of rent-to-own, explain how dealer websites, reviews, listings, and everyday language shape AI understanding, and outline practical steps dealers and vendors can take to protect the industry narrative while improving their own local visibility and trust. The session will give attendees a chance to ask real-world questions about AI, GEO, and what this shift means for your business.
Resources:
The Rent-to-Own Revolution: The Definitive Industry History of Advocacy and Consumer Access is now available:
Presented By: Charles Smitherman & Ryan Krass
The RTO Revolution
Join co-authors Charles Smitherman and Ryan Krass for a fireside chat introducing The RTO Revolution—a sweeping history of the rent-to-own industry and a case for why its story matters now. Written to preserve the industry’s institutional memory, challenge narratives, and give dealers, advocates, and policymakers a common factual foundation, the book traces how RTO evolved, why it endures, and where it is evolving next.
In this conversation, the authors will discuss why they took on the project, the voices and stories that shaped it, and how they hope the book will be used—as an advocacy tool, an educational resource, a point of pride for those in the business, and a way to ensure the industry defines itself before others do.
Resources:
The Rent-to-Own Revolution: The Definitive Industry History of Advocacy and Consumer Access is now available:
Presented By: Paul Metivier
The Don’ts: What Not to Do
In this session, Impact RTO Holdings President Paul Metivier draws on his quarter-century of industry experience to explore common pain points he and his company have faced, how to avoid them, and how to respond when they arise. Blending real-world stories with insights from influential books, Paul offers valuable lessons to help attendees lead more productive stores, territories, companies, and personal lives.
Resources:
2025 APRO Webinars
2025 APRO Webinars
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Sponsored Content
Presented By: Eric Grindley and Adam Ball
The Hidden Cost of Ad Fraud
Digital advertising has never been more essential — or more vulnerable. In this APRO Mini Session, Esquire Advertising CEO Eric Grindley and Director of National Sales Adam Ball break down one of the biggest and least understood threats facing advertisers today: ad fraud.
From bots and crawlers to fake social accounts and made-for-advertising sites, fraudulent traffic silently drains campaign budgets, inflates metrics, and disrupts business decisions. Drawing on real data, industry experience, and years of managing digital campaigns, Eric and Adam explain how fraud works, why it keeps growing, and how it directly impacts rent-to-own dealers every day.
This fast, practical session reveals what’s really happening behind the scenes of your online advertising — and what to do about it.
You’ll Learn:
How bots, crawlers, and AI scrapers now make up nearly one-third of all internet traffic
Why “good-looking” ads with high click-through rates may signal fraud, not success
How fake accounts on social platforms distort ad delivery and hurt performance
What MFAs (made-for-advertising sites) are and why they create worthless impressions
How algorithms accidentally push your ads deeper into fraudulent traffic streams
Practical ways to monitor for fraud and test campaigns before scaling
Why removing fraudulent traffic leads to more efficient spending and better results
Walk away with a clear understanding of how ad fraud works, how it impacts your store’s advertising performance, and the steps you can take to protect your marketing dollars.
Presented By: Ryan Krass
Beyond Keywords: How AI Is Reshaping Consumer Behavior and the Future of SEO
Artificial intelligence is changing everything about how consumers search, evaluate, and make buying decisions. From zero-click searches to AI-generated results, the traditional SEO playbook no longer applies.
In this session, marketing and technology expert Ryan Krass explores how generative AI is redefining visibility and trust in the digital marketplace — and what that means for rent-to-own dealers.
You’ll learn:
How AI-powered search changes the path to discovery and purchase
Why zero-click searches and AI answers are replacing traditional results
How to create content that aligns with evolving consumer behavior
Where to focus your marketing strategy in an AI-driven landscape
Practical steps to future-proof your online visibility and customer engagement
Walk away with a clear understanding of how to position your business for growth, trust, and relevance as AI continues to reshape the consumer journey.
Additional Resource Referenced:
About the Speaker
Ryan Krass is the founder of WOW Brands, a marketing and technology agency helping rent-to-own dealers and local businesses grow through digital lead generation, data insights, and AI-driven tools. Since its founding in 2008, WOW Brands has focused on helping local companies compete online by blending smart marketing with technology and measurable results.
Presented By: Dave Arnold
Inside a Live Phishing Attack
Phishing attacks are more advanced than ever, targeting not only passwords but also multi-factor authentication (MFA) tokens. In this session, cybersecurity expert Dave Arnold demonstrates a live phishing attack and reveals how easily criminals can trick users into handing over login credentials.
You’ll learn:
The difference between junk mail and phishing emails, and how attackers impersonate executives, vendors, or trusted contacts
How AI-driven tools like Graphis flag spoofed emails and protect employees
Why monitoring account activity and “impossible travel” is critical for detecting ransomware attempts
How hackers bypass MFA using open-source tools to hijack entire sessions
Practical strategies for training staff, running phishing simulations, and strengthening real-time defenses
This session shows just how quickly attackers can compromise accounts – and what organizations can do to stay ahead of them.
Additional Resource Referenced:
About the Speaker
Dave Arnold founded e-Coast Systems in 2006, building on deep experience in the Rent-to-Own industry, where Showplace Rent-To-Own has been a client for more than 20 years. Based in Charleston, SC, e-Coast specializes in cybersecurity and collaboration solutions for payment and multi-location businesses.
Presented by: Michael Strong
Speakers: Will Jackson, Joe Luczak, Andrew Terry
Best of RTO World 2025
Presented by Michael Strong, this encore webinar brings you the Best of RTO World 2025! Back by popular demand, you’ll revisit three of the event’s most talked-about sessions and take away powerful insights to boost your business.
Featured Sessions:
Will Jackson, RNR Tire Express – How to Use the F-WORD (Feedback)
Joe Luczak, Blue Ocean Brands dba Majik Rent-To-Own – Cracking the Sales Personality Code
Andrew Terry, O’Rourke Sales Company – Industry Trends & Tariffs
Get ready for a knowledge-packed replay filled with fresh strategies, practical tools, and big ideas from some of the RTO industry’s top voices. Don’t miss this chance to relive the best moments from Omaha!
Explore More from RTO World 2025:
Check out the Event Highlights to revisit the stories and moments that defined this year’s gathering.
Watch even more Education Session Recordings to keep learning and growing with insights from industry leaders.
Sponsored Content
Presented by: Larry and Steven Carrico
Real Estate: A Strategic Look at Leasing, Buying, and Protecting Your Store Locations
Over the past 30+ years, the Carrico team has developed over 750,000 square feet of rental assets across the Midwest. But it all started with a fire in 1996—and nowhere to go.
In this session, Larry and Steven Carrico will share how that pivotal moment sparked a journey into real estate that transformed their business. You’ll learn how to:
- Negotiate a lease versus a property purchase—and avoid the common ‘gotchas’
- Create a competitive advantage that banks actually want to see when financing real estate
- Calculate a CAP rate to better understand and evaluate one of your most prominent assets
- Avoid personal guarantees, lower your NNN expenses, and secure long-term renewals
- Protect your core RTO business while using property ownership to enhance your balance sheet
These strategies—and answers to many real-world real estate questions—will help you win in today’s market. Let’s talk strategy!
Additional Resource Referenced:
Presented by: Katie Marie Meyer
People Power: HR Best Practices to Attract, Retain & Develop Top Talent
As a business owner, human resources (HR) is key to building a thriving company. Katie Marie Meyer, a former HR Director for an RTO company, has made a career out of helping businesses strengthen their HR foundations and grow their teams.
In this session, Katie will share real-world HR strategies and best practices that she’s seen work across the industry. Whether you’re building your first team or refining a seasoned one, this webinar will give you the tools to:
- Hire the right candidates who align with your values and goals
- Create and maintain a positive, productive company culture
- Address employee performance issues with clarity and confidence
It’s about more than filling roles—it’s about building a culture that thrives. Come learn from one of our own and take your HR game to the next level.
Additional Resource Referenced:
Presented by: Jason and Enjoli Sextion, Titan Tech; Miguel Guhlin, TCEA
AI in Action: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Power Your Business in 2025
Step into the future and explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the business landscape in 2025. From long-trusted tools to cutting-edge innovations, this session dives into the AI technologies that are driving real-world impact—today and tomorrow.
Jason and Enjoli Sextion from Titan Tech, along with Miguel Guhlin from TCEA, will guide you through practical applications of AI that are accessible and powerful—no matter your industry or company size. You’ll learn how to:
- Automate repetitive, time-consuming tasks to boost productivity
- Revolutionize customer experience with smarter, faster service
- Integrate AI tools into your existing business operations—without the overwhelm
Whether you’re a small business owner or a corporate executive, you’ll leave with tools, tips, and confidence to begin or enhance your AI strategy.
Additional Resource Referenced:
Presented by: Mike Helton, Rivero, Gordimer & Company P.A.
Financial Focus: Understanding the Value of Your Business
Unlock the true potential of your business by gaining a deeper understanding of its value and financial health. In this session, Mike Helton—Tax Shareholder at Rivero, Gordimer & Company P.A.—will guide you through the key elements of business valuation, helping you turn financial insight into strategic advantage.
You’ll learn how to:
- Analyze your financial statements to reveal hidden strengths and weaknesses
- Evaluate profitability, cash flow, and long-term growth potential
- Track the most critical financial metrics to drive smarter business decisions
Whether you’re planning for expansion, attracting investors, or preparing for a future sale, this workshop will equip you with the tools and knowledge needed to confidently manage and grow your business.
Additional Resource Referenced:
