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For a lot of people in this industry, Washington DC exists somewhere in the background — a place where policy gets made while operators focus on customers, staff, and the day-to-day grind of running a business. But spend a few days at LegCon and that changes. Pete Shau sits down with Lauren Talicska, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Arona Home Essentials, right after she returned from LegCon 2026, and the energy she brought back says everything.

Lauren walks through what APRO-led advocacy actually looks like up close — and why the experience is more accessible than most people assume. It's not reserved for attorneys, executives, or political insiders. Through the fellowship program, store managers, marketers, and operators are getting in front of legislators and telling the rent-to-own story in their own words. Lauren explains how the days are structured, how teams find their rhythm in those meetings, and how keeping the message focused — sometimes down to a single economic impact sheet — makes all the difference.

What stands out most is the power of a customer's own words. Lauren describes using Google reviews as a form of written testimony — reviews where customers talk about a rent-to-own purchase being the first furniture they've ever owned. The conversation also gets into what the alternatives actually look like for someone with limited or damaged credit: the uncertainty of marketplace transactions, the long shadow of credit card debt, and how rent-to-own provides a level of service and protection those options simply don't offer.

The episode rounds out with a broader look at leadership development, the women's forum, mentorship inside the industry, and why the relationships built in this space tend to outlast everything else.

Subscribe, pass this episode along to someone on your team who could use a reminder of the bigger picture, and leave a review to help more operators find it. What part of the rent-to-own story do you think deserves more attention?

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Pete Shau sits down with Amberlee Maya and Charles Smitherman to recap LegCon 2026, APRO’s legislative conference in Washington, D.C. They discuss the power of industry advocacy, the growth of first-time attendees, the importance of building relationships with lawmakers and staffers, and why the rent-to-own industry must continue telling its own story with one clear voice.

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A tire shop can sell rubber all day and still lose the customer the moment service feels cold, slow, or unsafe. We bring on Jason Shuey from RNR Tire Express to explain how a fast-growing rent-to-own automotive franchise builds loyalty with training, systems, and real customer care that feels personal the second you walk through the door.

We talk about Jason’s path from Sears Auto Center into leadership, why ASE certification can matter, and why hands-on coaching beats “read the book and take a test” training when real cars and real families are on the line. Jason breaks down the service manager role his group is rolling out across stores, how an MIT program rotates future leaders through the shop and accounts, and why account management is where you truly learn the RTO transaction and earn long-term trust.

Then we get practical on operations: what RNR Tire Express includes for customers, how the business expands beyond wheels into alignments, brakes, suspension, and lift kits, and how digital workflow tools like Shopmonkey help balance speed, quality, and safety in high-volume locations. We also look ahead at tire and wheel industry trends like AI-enabled tools, electric vehicle lift-point risks, and the next wave of Bluetooth TPMS sensors.

If you care about customer retention, technician training, safety culture, and scalable processes in the rent-to-own industry, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a leader in your shop, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

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Some people leave a company behind. Others leave an industry stronger than they found it. We’re closing the first RTO Legends series with a tribute to Ernie Lewallen, a rent-to-own leader whose influence reached far beyond the stores he operated and into the standards, relationships, and advocacy that protect RTO for the next generation.

We walk through Ernie’s story, from entering the rent-to-own industry in 1986 to building a decades-long reputation for showing up, doing the work, and doing it with integrity. His service record speaks volumes: years on the APRO Board of Directors, time on the executive committee, a term as APRO president, and consistent presence at legislative conferences in Washington to help lawmakers understand what rent-to-own really is and why it matters to customers.

Then we step back and let the people who knew him best fill in what a resume can’t. You’ll hear stories of a larger-than-life presence, a firm point of view, and a surprising tenderness underneath it all. Colleagues describe how he welcomed newcomers, mentored leaders, and pushed for decisions that were right for the industry even when they were hard. Along the way, we share the personal details that kept him grounded: family first, a love of travel and road trips, and the Beatles turned up loud.

If you care about rent-to-own leadership, industry advocacy, or the RTO Industry History Project, this tribute is a reminder that the best legacies are carried forward. Subscribe for more stories that preserve RTO history, share this with someone who worked alongside Ernie, and leave a review to help others find the series—what lesson about leadership are you taking from his example?

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In this Legend Series episode of The RTO Show, Pete Shau sits down with David Paul David of Ful-Pep, one of the most influential operators and advocates the rent-to-own industry has ever seen.

From working the family farm as a child to scaling a multi-state operation, David shares how discipline, people-first leadership, and relentless consistency shaped Ful-Pep’s growth. The conversation explores early store expansion, acquisitions, culture building, association leadership, and decades of advocacy through state and national organizations.

This episode highlights what separates longevity from short-term success—and why investing in employees, community, and industry leadership continues to pay dividends. For operators, leaders, and anyone passionate about the future of rent-to-own, this is a masterclass in doing business the right way.

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This Legend Series episode of The RTO Show features John Cleek Jr. of Cleek's RTO, reflecting on the life, leadership, and lasting industry impact of his father, John “Tiger” Cleek.

From the early days of a family appliance business to decades of service through state and national associations, this conversation highlights what it means to lead with conviction, integrity, and heart. John shares how his father’s commitment to community, advocacy, and people-first leadership helped shape not only Cleek's RTO, but the rent-to-own industry as a whole.

This episode is a powerful reminder that true leadership isn’t measured by store count or titles—but by the lives you touch, the standards you set, and the legacy you leave behind.

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In this episode of The RTO Show, Pete Shau sits down with Kevin Silvers to trace a career built on relationships, adaptability, and a genuine love for people. Kevin shares stories from his early days around golf legends like Arnold Palmer and Michael Jordan, his transition into the jewelry business, his deep involvement in rent-to-own, and the path that led to King of Promotions. Along the way, he talks about training, leadership, vendor longevity, and why knowing people matters more than making the pitch. This is a conversation about staying curious, showing up, and building a reputation that lasts.

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A rent-to-own business doesn’t last 40 years by accident and it definitely doesn’t start with perfect funding. I’m joined by Mike Tissett to tell the story behind Daryl Tissett’s legacy, from a small-town Ohio beginning to a blueprint that helped shape the rent-to-own industry and a company built on trust, service, and steady growth. If you’ve ever wondered what really creates long-term customers in RTO, this conversation gets specific fast.

We talk through the real mechanics: early financing challenges, why collections discipline matters when cash is tight, and why Daryl’s “months to recover” metric still influences how Mike thinks about inventory, pricing, and reinvestment. We also dig into leadership principles that scale, especially the idea that the best decisions happen close to the customer. Empowerment at the store level, strong training, and clear standards beat motivational posters every time.

From there, we zoom out to strategy and innovation: why small towns and county seats can be the perfect fit for rent-to-own, how free delivery and setup create loyalty, and why trying new products early (furniture, computers, gaming) can separate leaders from followers. Mike also shares how technology, CRM, online leads, and even AI are becoming practical tools for modern rent-to-own retail without losing the relationship-based foundation that makes the model work.

We close with Daryl’s industry impact through APRO, TRIB, Ohio advocacy, and the Midwest Expo, plus a powerful reminder that legacy is people, not trophies. Subscribe for more Legends stories, share this with someone building a customer-first business, and leave a review with the one principle you’re taking into next week.

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