RTOHQ: The Magazine, May-June 2017

4 RTOHQ The Magazine Volume 9 Number 6 Published by the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations the official voice of the rent to own industry Editor Art Director Neil Ferguson Executive Editor Ed Winn III Senior Director Sales Marketing Advertising Cindy Ferguson CEM CMP Executive Director Jill McClure CAE Contributors Kristen Card Cindy Ferguson Laurie Hill Shelley Martinek Richard May Jill McClure Valerie Villarreal and Tulisha Wendele Director of Circulation Laurie Hill Editorial and Advertising Offices 1504 Robinhood Trail Austin Texas 78703 5127940095 nferguson@ rtohq org www rtohq org APRO 2017 18 Officers and Directors ACTING PRESIDENT AND FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Louis Garcia SECOND VICE PRESIDENT David Harrison SECRETARY Jonathan Rose TREASURER Trent Agin IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Mark Connelly DIRECTORS Dennis Adams Larry Carrico David P David Sandi Frye Bill French Matt Grynwald Chris Kale Sr Robert Kamerschen Ernie Lewallen Gopal Reddy Cathy Skula James Slatton and Charles Smithgall IV RTOHQ The Magazine is published bimonthly in February April June August October and December by the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations at 1504 Robinhood Trail Austin Texas 78703 5127940095 Copyright 2017 by APRO All rights reserved Cover and contents may not be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission For subscription change of address or back issues write to the above address Three weeks required for changes on orders Allow six to eight weeks for the first subscription copy to be shipped APRO Safeguards the RTO Industry T he Association of Progressive Rental Organizations protects your business continuously monitoring all laws legislation and regulations that affect the rentto own industry Whether its activity on Capitol Hill at the Internal Revenue Service in state legislatures city halls or local state and federal regulatory agencies APRO keeps tabs informs members and takes action to safeguard the rentto own transaction Over the past three decades numerous federal bills have been introduced that would have crippled or destroyed the RTO industry invalidating every state rent to own law that currently protects the right to conduct business In each case actions by the industrys opponents were thwarted APRO also monitors of state regulations to help ensure that your business is operating in compliance with state laws and offers data on the economic impact of rent to own in each state an excellent resource for communicating the RTO industrys value to the American economy Not an APRO member Click the Join APRO button on the www rtohq org homepage or contact APRO at 8002042776 ext 109 smartinek@ rtohq org WHAT ELSE DOES APRO DO Ignites new ideas and innovations at Fuse APROs National Convention Trade Show Improves business by providing unparalleled networking opportunities Keeps members informed with RTOHQ The Magazine RTO Today the associations digital newsletter RTO Almanac RTOHQ website and industry news alerts Awards scholarships every year to RTO professionals and their family members Connects members to customers via ShopRTO com Provides five star exposure helping members convey a positive message in their communities Helps develop innovative strategies through extensive market research Offers RTO legal advice wage and hour consulting and commercial insurance programs Part One WHAT DOES APRO DO FOR ITS MEMBERS AND THE RENT TO OWN INDUSTRY