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Some people leave a résumé. Others leave a wake of better days behind them. That’s the kind of legacy we’re talking about with Cecilia Kay as she shares the story of her late husband, Kirk Kay, a rent-to-own leader remembered for putting people first long before it was a slogan.

We trace Kirk’s path from First American Rental in Atlanta to opening Gator Rents in Daytona Beach, including what it really takes to jump from corporate operations into ownership. Cecilia explains how Kirk built a store from the ground up with a business plan, funding, renovations, branding, and a family-first approach that made customers feel like neighbors. Along the way, we dig into his leadership style: high expectations paired with real encouragement, mentorship, and the belief that relationships matter more than spreadsheets.

Then we get to the heart of why FRDA honors him through the Kirk Kaye Volunteer Award. Cecilia shares what she learned after his sudden passing, the calls and stories that revealed how widely he was loved, and how she and her children now choose the award recipient each year based on character and the underlying spirit of service. We also talk about the roots of his giving, his commitment to Big Brothers Big Sisters, quiet acts of generosity, and the conviction that led him to mission trips to Haiti.

If you care about the rent-to-own industry, customer relationships, community service, and the kind of leadership people actually remember, this conversation will stick with you. Subscribe, share the episode with someone who leads a team, and leave a review to help more people find these stories.

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