Rent-to-own News - NEW VIDEO: Fally is employee of the year, voters cast ballots for APRO Board

APRO's 2011 Employee of the Year Donna Fally with Rent One owner Larry Carrico (L) and APRO President Robert Briley. Click to watch Donna Fally video.

APRO'S 2011 General Session in Little Rock echoed the convention's "Family Reunion" theme underscoring the industry's unique collaborative, collegial quality and collective accomplishments over the past year both legislatively and charitably.

Chief among those recognized was Rent One's corporate financial manager, Donna Fally, APRO's 2011 Employee of the year. Fally is the first woman to ever win the prestigious award.

"If there is one thing I can say up here," Fally told the packed audience of rent to own professionals, "it's to remind you to be grateful for what you have and remember to try to give a little bit back."

Fally has been giving back for years.

Watch Donna Fally video.

She is an active member of her community as a 16-year member of the Rome Community Consolidated School Board where she began when her son was in the fifth grade. Never one to leave a job unfinished, Fally continued on the board helping see through a number of instructional and technological advancements at the small district.

She is also a long-time volunteer with the United Way of South Central Illinois and serves as an officer with the Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity where she is still treasurer seven years and 13 homes later.

She enjoys cooking meals for the Habitat crews when a home is being built.
Fally served on the organizing committee that is bringing a homeless shelter to Mt. Vernon. It is one of her proudest accomplishments.

APRO Public Relations Committee Chairman Larry Carrico introduced the crowd to the 14 scholarship winners who were collectively awarded $30,000 in scholarships from the APRO Scholarship foundation. See story.

Carrico then urged rental dealers to help drive the fund perpetually by contributing a small amount per employee each quarter.

Rent-n-Roll Custom Wheels and Performance Tires President Larry Sutton then took the stage with his sister Judy Garrison and cousin Jamie Slatton of Buddy's to discuss the RNR Scholarship fund which the company began this year in the name of Sutton's mother Faye Sutton, who passed away earlier this year.

This year RNR awarded two $2,500 scholarships to two deserving students from the RNR family. Read full story.

The membership then voted to fill eight seats on the APRO Board of Directors. See declared candidates here.

One nomination was made from the floor -- Dave Scarafiotti -- a 25-year industry veteran and now a Buddy's franchisee. He is president of 5-store investment group called ArkLaTex. Read more about Scarafiotti here.

The general session wrapped with a motivational talk by renown author and speaker Bill Taylor who discussed the importance of differentiating companies by "mission" rather than solely by profit motivation and traditional retail competition.

"Just having a better price is no longer enough," Taylor said. "You have to stand for something your customers believe in."

Read more about Taylor here.

See general session photo gallery here.

See APRO Trade Show photos here.