The RTO Show: "Let's talk Rent to Own"

The RTO Show Podcast is the podcast for the rent-to-own industry, hosted by Pete Shau, an industry insider with more than 20 years of experience in RTO operations, sales, leadership, marketing, and store growth.

Each episode brings candid conversations, practical insights, and real stories from the people shaping the RTO community, including operators, vendors, association leaders, store teams, industry veterans, and innovators helping move rent-to-own forward.

Pete’s conversations are built for seasoned veterans, newcomers, owners, managers, vendors, and anyone who wants to learn from the shared experiences, hard-earned lessons, and fresh perspectives inside the rent-to-own industry.

From lead generation, lead management, customer behavior, store traffic, door swings, sales process, collections, training, recruitment, and leadership development to technology, CRM integration, mobile-first shopping, Google ranking, Facebook ads, video marketing, advocacy, APRO, TRIB Group, RTO World, LegCon, and the future of the rent-to-own business model, The RTO Show helps listeners understand what is really happening in RTO.

If you work in RTO, serve the RTO industry, or want to better understand the people, challenges, trends, and opportunities behind rent-to-own, The RTO Show Podcast is your insider’s guide to the industry’s pulse.

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Guest

Charles Smitherman, PhD, JD, MSt, CAE

Charles Smitherman, JD, PhD, CAE, is the CEO of APRO (Association of Professional Rental Organizations), the only national trade association for the rent-to-own industry. Smitherman became APRO's sixth CEO in 2023, coming from PTS Financial Services where he served as General Counsel, COO, and Vice President over 8.5 years.

An attorney with two decades of experience across RTO, consumer financial services, antitrust, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, franchise law, and privacy law, he earned his law degree from the University of Georgia and a Master of Legal Studies and PhD from the University of Oxford. He is also a co-author of The Rent-to-Own Revolution, the definitive history of the RTO industry.

Outside of work, Charles is a former Ironman competitor, an avid ultra runner, and reads more than a book a week.

https://RTOHQ.org

The RTO Show: "Let's talk Rent to Own"

Charles Smitherman, PhD, JD, MSt, CAE

Guest appearance on: