APRO's Exclusive Rent-to-own Audio and Podcasts

Rent to own Audio & Podcasts: John Cleek Jr., MRDA president

Exclusive RTOHQ.org Audio: John Cleek Jr., MRDA president February 19, 2009 Listen:

This Rent to Own Audio Podcast brought to you by APRO's RTOHQ.org

John Cleek Jr., an Aaron's franchisee, is serving his third year as president of the Missouri Rental Dealers Association.

In this exclusive podcast, Cleek discusses his take on the MRDA board's recent decision to add "vendor" training to the association's highly successful Heartland of America Tradeshow.

Cleek also discusses the recent conversion of Cleek's Lease or Own to Aaron's -- one of several high profile independent operator Aaron's conversions over the past several years.

Cleek and his father, "Tiger", have a close relationship that underscores their partnership as business owners and Cleek reflects on that relationship and what his father has taught him about leadership.

"Being a leader is also about doing the right thing and thinking how your actions affect other people," Cleek said. "If you can make somebody else's life better, the end result is it's going to come back to you. It's all about being active in your business, but also being active with your family too. We don't always agree, but it's kind of silly how much we think alike. I just feel very blessed to be able to work with my father."

APRO's 2010 Legislative
Conference!

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thank our attendees
for a great success!

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RTOHQ: The Magazine
RTOHQ: The Magazine is the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations' award-winning rent-to-own industry magazine, and it's available here.

Click the links below to download each article as a PDF

Complete issue of RTOHQ: The Magazine | January-February 2010
Download the entire January - February 2010 issue of RTOHQ: The Magazine by clicking on the link above (PDF).

The Year of the Tiger
by Kristen Card

According to Chinese astrology, the Year of the Tiger begins in February 2010. Tiger John Cleek is making the most of it as he winds down his two-year term as APRO’s president. He reflects on personal and industry-wide accomplishments and the love of family that sustains him.

Following the Leaders

In the 30-year history of the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations, 17 rental dealers have served as president. To mark APRO’s special anniversary, 15 of these leaders share their experiences in helping to shape the rent-to-own industry.

The Keep Rate Conundrum
by Ed Winn III

Calculating keep rate does not seem to improve the rent-to-own business in any discernible way—and yet this calculation, beyond all the others, has had enormous legal and political implications for rent-to-own almost since its inception.

Vendor Spotlight: What's in a Name?
by Neil Ferguson

These three departed rent-to-own vendors--Joe Eason, Tom Kitchens and Norm Smith--live on, their names indelibly linked to key industry events and honors.

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