The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
Ever wondered how a $8.5 billion industry keeps millions of Americans lounging in style? Step into "The RTO Show Podcast" – where the mysterious world of Rent to Own furniture finally spills its secrets! Your host Pete Shau isn't just any industry veteran – he's spent 20 years in the trenches, collecting the kind of stories that'll make you laugh, gasp, and maybe even rethink everything you knew about that couch you're sitting on.
From wild customer tales to industry shake-ups that'll knock your rented socks off, Pete brings the seemingly mundane world of furniture financing to vibrant life. Warning: This isn't your typical business podcast – expect real talk, unexpected laughs, and "aha!" moments that'll have you looking at every lease agreement in a whole new light.
Whether you're an RTO pro who knows your depreciation schedules by heart, or you're just curious about how that fancy sectional ended up in your living room, Pete's got the inside scoop you never knew you needed. Tune in and discover why the furniture business is anything but boring!
The RTO Show "Let's talk Rent to Own"
"Hello Omaha!" with APRO CEO Charles Smitherman
When Charles Smitherman accidentally booked the wrong hotel for a Nebraska meeting, he stumbled upon what would become one of the most celebrated RTO World venues in recent memory. Omaha surprised everyone with its vibrant downtown, beautiful riverfront, and perfect convention facilities—proving that sometimes the best discoveries happen by chance.
This year's event brought together over 700 industry professionals and 100 vendors for what many described as the strongest educational lineup ever assembled. From standing-room-only sessions with industry veterans like Mike Tissot to fresh perspectives from outside speakers including former Nebraska football player Aaron Davis, the educational offerings created genuine value that participants could immediately apply to their businesses.
What makes the rent-to-own industry truly special—and what was on full display in Omaha—is the remarkable willingness of successful operators to share their knowledge openly. Unlike other financial sectors where competitive secrecy reigns, RTO professionals actively help each other succeed. This collaborative spirit creates an environment where, as one first-time attendee told Charles, "I came in feeling like I had a job, but after seeing all this, I know I have a career."
The conference featured several significant moments, including Dan Fisher's installation as APRO president and Charles Smitherman receiving the President's Award in a genuinely emotional surprise. Looking ahead, West Palm Beach will host RTO World 2026, while the crucial Legislative Conference in Washington DC (April 15-17) represents the industry's next major gathering. The Legislative Fellows program aims to bring 20 first-timers to experience advocacy firsthand—because if we don't tell our industry's story in Washington, someone else will.
Whether you're a veteran operator or considering your first industry event, these gatherings transform individual stores into a connected community with shared purpose. Check out the recorded sessions coming soon, and make plans to join us in DC this spring and West Palm Beach in 2026. Your business isn't just a job—it's part of an industry with deep roots and an exciting future.
www.TheRTOshowPodcast.com For swag and information
Pete@thertoshowpodcast.com
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Hello, welcome to the RTO Show. I'm your host, dean Schauff. Today we're having Hello Omaha. Now you guys know we do this section every year right after RTO World, because there's so much going on, there's so many differences, there's so many new things going on and the things that we want to talk about. Because there's so much going on, there's so many differences, there's so many new things going on, the things that we want to talk about, charles Smitherman, the doctor that we never call the doctor. He's here with me, phd JD. Charles. Like I got to say and I'm going to tell you I've heard this probably 10, 12 times Omaha shot it through the like.
Speaker 1:I had a lot of people tell we didn't see this coming. We didn't see this coming. We didn't think it was going to be like this. We loved omaha. We got to get that in the cycle and I was like, listen, I got nothing to do with that part, but it was. It was so good. I mean, the nightlife was there, the city's absolutely beautiful, the heat was down. So you know, when you come down florida sometimes there's a heat index. Not that I never wanted to Florida, but it was just like. It was just an amazing venue the way, the shops, the people. It was a great job, charles. Where did that come from? Where'd the idea of Omaha come from?
Speaker 2:I mean honestly it was an accident Planned out and everything. So I guess my two years ago my first year, really first few months on the job I got invited out to the Iowa-Nebraska Real Doers Association meeting to be held in Omaha. It was the first time I had ever been and so I had kind of the same expectations I think most people did. Well, I didn't look at the invite that closely and it said NBC Suites Omaha. So I go online, book a hotel at the room at the NBC Suites Omaha and then I get to the hotel the day before the event and look to see okay, what time is everything starting? How long is it going to take me to walk over to?
Speaker 1:the room.
Speaker 2:That kind of thing. And I noticed the line said NBC Suites, omaha Wells, palmas or somewhere that's 25 minutes away from where I'm from. So I was in the room and I'm down here at this point and so I got to enjoy downtown that afternoon evening and I was just blown away with it. I mean I had the same ride as everyone else did, right beside that huge convention center of the hotel with the bridge attached to it. And so you know we've got kind of core things we look for in venues and those two things being really important high up on that priority list. And then you add in the whole downtown scene with all the nice local restaurants, the bars, just kind of the general atmosphere, the cleanliness of the city. It checked every single box we had and so that was the approach from wherever I'm texting Lisa on our team and saying would we ever thought about Omaha?
Speaker 2:Why don't we look into this and then, literally a month later, we're back out there doing a site visit. And it just turned, you know, checked every box we needed and I think the show kind of showed that in the end.
Speaker 1:Well, I think Lynn Leach was happy that he didn't have to travel. We did something a little close to home, you know, and then, looking at it, the, the downtown space was really nice. We saw a lot, of, a lot of water right on the river. If you guys haven't seen, it's right there on the missouri river and you kind of get to cross over to another state. It has this bridge, uh, and not the one that charles about, but it has the bridge. There's a convention center and a hotel and you got this bridge, so there's that. There's also the walking bridge and at night it was lit up. It was absolutely beautiful. I took a couple of tours, I rode a couple of scooters, I did a couple of things. It was nice.
Speaker 1:Now, the showroom was definitely, I should say the expo area was definitely the right size. It was huge. It actually held the RTO Show podcast live with Charles and three different guests this year, which we were able to put out. It's already on YouTube. So if you guys want to check that out, check out the RTO Show channel and take a look at what we had to say. But really good guests on there Mike Walls was on there, jeff Smith, andrew Hajduk. We kind of covered a lot of different areas. I mean, I think the best thing about it I was excited just to have Mike Walls on there. Somebody from Aaron's was able to come on and kind of really talk to us about the advocacy thing that we really really need right now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and Michael's one of the best. Yeah, and Michael's one of the best. He's got just a ton of experience. I enjoy getting to do this stuff with him and learn from him. Really he's very good. He's now on the APRO board and so we're lucky to have him and his skill set and knowledge too. It's exciting. He was great on the show too.
Speaker 1:That was well planned. So let me ask you a question, some of the things that we go through. First off, I did not get to attend a couple of meetings this year. I was kind of going back and forth and we have this really big thing going on with the Legends this year, but we'll talk about that in a minute. How was the Women's Forum? This is something that's really I look forward to it. I didn't get a chance to attend it this year, but I look forward to it from the time beforehand and hearing about it and afterwards, because these are the people who are really the salt of the earth, kind of coming in here, the women get together and kind of show just how valuable they are in the rental-owned space and what we probably couldn't do without them. How did that end up being? I heard it was an amazing show.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think it was great this year. You know, we're trying, particularly with APRO and this is just a major place we can do it is to create that community and even the communities within the community. And so the Women's Forum is one of those ideas of trying to bring really just kind of common ideas, common causes together and really create those connections. I mean we get really focused on the education and the expo portion of RTO World, but the connection and the community building, all the networking that goes on, is really the glue that holds it all together, and so we're just kind of looking for more and more ways to build that. And the Women's Forum is really a good way.
Speaker 2:You know this was the second year of it. We take a very iterative approach to everything we do. Where that we try something, we see what worked and see what didn't. We evolve and we try more. And so this was the second year. I'm really looking forward to kind of some of the ideas that are coming out of this one and how we're going to make it even better next year.
Speaker 1:Absolutely Now talking about. There were a couple of people this year that were not directly related with RTO, but they had some great messages. We had a keynote speaker. How did that go? Who was that and what was really the message that he was getting across in the keynote speaking?
Speaker 2:For the opening session with Aaron Davis? Yeah, so this is a process and we're starting this now. For next year, we're looking for a keynote. We try to bring somebody, ideally someone local. We alluded to last year a former Disney guy when we were in Orlando, so Aaron Davis is a. That was a different view.
Speaker 1:If you guys didn't see that, that was a different view. There was a couple of slides on there. I was like, oh dude, this guy's wild, but it was good to see.
Speaker 2:It was really good to see. Yeah, and Aaron was a local. He was a former Nebraska football player. He lives in Lincoln. We saw his reel. He just had the energy and the message that we thought would resonate with our group, and so he was a great pick, a great guy. I got to spend a little bit of time with him before he stuck around and did a deep dive session, after which we're trying to kind of do a little bit more. So, hey, if you didn't get enough from the keynote, you can go spend another hour with them for 45 minutes in the next session and, you know, in a smaller, more casual space. And so he, he was great, he was, I think everyone in the room kind of left pretty pumped up after his message and it was a great start for that day of education.
Speaker 1:I know there was one later on in the meetings and I believe it was your inner superpower. I have to kind of get that together. But it was also another great lesson for people in RTO from somebody who wasn't in the RTO space, and I love that idea. I love the idea of kind of having these outside people come in and help influence us in the ways that we really need, because sometimes we have a lot of ourselves kind of you know, it goes around the table and I'm not saying that it is. Which you don't want is you don't want an echo chamber, and it's really great to hear these people come out from outside and say, hey, this is what you're doing, this is how I can help you, this is the mindset that I can help give you, or the direction or whatever the case is that they do. And it's really great to hear other people kind of discuss what we're doing and how we're doing it and how it's perceived, and maybe just put something a little bit on twisted or put it on its ear and go. You know, if you tried this and I love those ideas.
Speaker 1:So for the people who might want to be involved next year, how's the process of of getting to be able to speak. Now you had joe luxick there. I love joe. I I couldn't miss what he had to say you. You know, ryan Kras. How do people get to the front stage and say you know what, charles? I think I have something to give. I would really like to present this.
Speaker 2:You know, in the past we've kind of done open calls for proposals and that type of thing. This year we really kind of tried to create what we wanted for the whole format and then found people to fill those spaces. This year we're going to have what I think is going to be a pre-active education committee to help put that together and so, yeah, we're going to be looking for it. I'm not sure if we're going to do like a call for proposals or if we're going to do a call for interest or something like that. I think that you know, if you're listening on this and you have something you want to give and are interested in doing, you know, reach out to me, reach out to Jen, just let us know so we can put it on the radar. For right now, I can tell you one thing that's a really high priority for us is to get these planned well out in advance. If you notice, this year and I think we've managed this the past two years whenever you go in to register, you're going to have a full schedule and you're going to be able to go ahead and pick which education sessions you're going to be doing. I think that's really needed and it helps a lot of you all, particularly owners that are trying to decide, hey, I'm going to go bring one guy or I'm going to bring 10 guys or 10 of my employees to what's being offered and what value is going to come by it. And so the education is just, it's an important day. That's why we're kind of bleeding over into the day before with the Women's Forum and the Legal Summit too, and you know we take this really seriously. We're trying to do better and better every year. Right now we're digesting the reviews from this year. We've got some ideas on some new tracks. I mean, you know, I think we're always going to be very much.
Speaker 2:The strength of this industry is the willingness of everyone to interact, to give back, to say here's what's working for me and to share that knowledge. And that's just so unique I mean I say this all the time that this is not go over some of these other finance spaces and that is not the way this. That's not normal, um, and that's. We're going to continue to leverage that because I think it does make the industry better. You get, uh, the lineup we we had the best lineup I think we've ever had this year. I can emphatically state that, um, and you go and you see like, uh, mike tisots, with the tisot talk we did on Thursday, it was standing room only in a room that had seating for 120 or 130 people. And so you know, you've got a guy like that. That's been very successful, that captivates an audience because they want to listen and he's willing to share, which is what's incredible. He's willing to go in there and say, yeah, I'll do this, I'll take this on and I'll address this. And we've got so many people like that that have different skill sets, different visions, different things that are working, and we have just a range of that with our sessions this year, and so we're going to continue to do that. I think we do.
Speaker 2:The idea of bringing in some outside people just to get some outside ideas. I mean, you know, the concept here is to provide as much of a range where that you know, like I said at the beginning of the conference, like we're going to make this really hard for you to choose, because there's this is going to be the problem, and I'm fine with that feedback of, well, there were too many choices and I wanted to be in three places at one time. We've recorded it. We're going to continue to record it. We're going to continue to get better with those video productions. They'll be coming out soon. You're going to be able to go in and spend you know, micro-learning spending a few minutes a day on this. You can go in and do a deep dive all day and really get the whole experience of that entire day. That's something we're going to continue to improve on and evolve. So kind of stay tuned for that full day of education and those videos coming out really soon. We're kind of working on it. The RTO.
Speaker 1:World Sessions are coming to you. I love that idea. This is a new thing, right? This is not something that we've done in the past, but this is something that we're putting together now so that we have the ability, not only for the people.
Speaker 1:Now, guys, I always tell you, if you can experience it live, that's what you want to do. If you can get a ticket, if you can show up, if you can be in that space with your fellow rental-owned industry people and just kind of understand what's going on, there's nothing like it. But if you can't make it, because listen, we also understand the stores still have to open, they still got to function, we got customers to take care of, we got deliveries to do so there's a fair share of people that don't get to make it. But let me tell you there is a different world out there and, as a matter of fact, I'm talking to a few people this week about how they have perceived going to RTO World, how they perceived going to some of the RDAs when they've never done it before and going oh my God, there is a world of rent to own that I just did not know.
Speaker 1:This is going to be the way for you guys to go out there and see exactly what we do inside of space, who we're talking to, how the networking happens and, more importantly, the subject matter that they're covering, that you can take back to your guys and say, hey, listen, the big guy didn't just hear about this, I got to see this firsthand your guys, your drivers, your delivery everybody, your salespeople, your collection people and see what the future coming out of this show is and what the thought processes are. I love the idea. I love the idea.
Speaker 2:The thought processes are. I love the idea. I love the idea. I would say to that too that you know, being at the show it's so easy, like you know where we are would kind of get in our own little environments and you, you know, you don't. This show offers the opportunity to see the industry on full display and everyone in the industry that, uh, there, I mean we bring in, uh, the majority of the dealers that are represented there. Uh, you know, we had over 700 people there this year. We've got a hundred vendors. Uh, you bring in and you see that whole experience.
Speaker 2:I have one person come up to me, um, uh, and said you know, uh, before, uh, he had never been, never been before was a manager in a store. He said, you know, when I came into this, I was excited to come to the convention, whatever, but I had, you know, I felt like I had a job. I had a job at my store, had a job in rent zone. He said, after seeing this, I've got a career, I'm all in this industry, what it is, and that's a huge value, just kind of the pride I think that you can have by coming in and being in this environment, being around, what this show does, what it brings, and just the great energy that was just there, the whole from the day we opened until the tour down on Thursday.
Speaker 2:Uh, and you know that's a. I don't think that's unique to Omaha, I think that's a. There's a, there's a magic there that we're trying to fine tune and enhance and create every year, and I'm, I'm sure that, um, west Palm is going to be even better. Uh, and we're you've got a lot of people concentrating and working and committed to making that happen right now, and we're already starting looking at next year as we close the page on this or turn the page on this one.
Speaker 1:Well, rto World 2026 is coming down to Florida again. I really, I really love it when they're in Florida. Listen, I know, I know that it's because of where I live, but I enjoy it because it's nice and sunny and hopefully no hurricanes. But I can tell you right now, west Palm Beach. I am so looking forward to that. So if you guys didn't know, 2026 RTO World they're going to be in West Palm Beach and so will you hopefully Get your opportunity to come down here, enjoy the beaches, enjoy sunny Florida and get your education on.
Speaker 1:And part of the whole experience really is not only to learn. It's not only to meet the vendors face-to-face and say, hey, let me build a relationship with you. It's to meet the giants of the industry and this is something that really kind of changes everything To hear that somebody values it so much to say they went from a job to a career. You want to know why. Because you get to hear people who have done this for 30, 40, almost 50 years, where they have themselves in it. They have a second line that's in it. They have people that have worked with them for 20, 25 years. When you hear Gary Fairman and his son kind of taking over. When you hear about Lynn Leach and his son, when you hear about what's going on in the world, what doesn't work, you know what Doesn't work over here. Well, you know what it works over here. Try this, try that. And, truthfully, in any other industry, everybody I want to say everybody's against each other, but it's like, hey, it's a race, okay, this is NASCAR and my job is to do one thing and that's beat you. True, but in the RTO industry, as they're winning, because everybody here wants to win, they will look back and tell you you need to try a different tire size, you need to try this, you need to try that.
Speaker 1:Well, how about this? Have you put this in the front door? Have you tried emailing these people? Have you tried this sales approach? Let go of what doesn't work and work on what does. This is coming in the next couple of years. Let me forecast to you this and how it works. And hearing it from people is one thing. Hearing it from people who actually do it every single day, people that have tried and true, been successful over the years. They're forecasting what's coming and right now they're involved. It's something to behold, talk about right now. There were some changes. There were some things that happened on stage. Number one Dan Fisher is now the president of APRO. Is that correct?
Speaker 2:That's right yeah.
Speaker 1:One of my favorite people, dan Fisher, is now the president. He is the most calm, laid-back guy. You wouldn't think that he'd be president, but he is and he's going to do a great job I know he will. So you had Michael Bennett who kind of stepped back. You have Fisher who decided to step up. That was a process. That happened there. That was great. That also happened there. That was great that also happened there.
Speaker 2:Somebody else got an award there, charles. Why don't you tell me about that, tell me about your award and where that came from, and did you really not see it coming? No, I didn't, and I'll be honest, I told my staff after. Well, I got it. I've got so many touch points for the reviewing things, the involvement in the process, even from helping run the awards committee that selects these. We kept it secret from the guy who's on the awards committee. That's what I told him. I'm really impressed that you kept it secret and managed to, but I'm really kind of worried also that you managed to do that. So, no, I, I know, I think my, you know, my, my reaction probably belied that too, but it was, yeah, I mean it was, it was emotional, I mean I, like you know, I, I, I really enjoy what I do and to kind of have a that. That kind of recognition and acknowledgement was at that moment too, with particularly being just kind of out of nowhere, a surprise, but was very special and it really did mean a lot to me.
Speaker 1:So for everybody listening, what was the title of the award that you got?
Speaker 2:So it was the President's Award, the next one Every year the board president gets to choose him or him herself gets to choose that award. And so you know, it was really special with Michael particularly. I mean Michael was, he chaired the hiring committee, that that that ended up hiring me. So he was the, he was the phone call I got whenever I got the job. Michael I had been involved with Buddies going back years and so I've known Michael for a long time and I've had a good working relationship with him.
Speaker 2:And so, you know, to me just coming in with him particularly, there were so many things like with this role that and that was kind of the case that I made to the hiring committee.
Speaker 2:It was like we've got so much alignment here of what you need and what I can bring, and that was, you know, with the two of us being able to really hit the ground running.
Speaker 2:You know, running like running an association like APRO, where the the board president and, uh, the CEO or executive director that's sitting in my seat, you're kind of co-pilots of a plane, uh, and there's so much of a partnership that really uh helps and Michael's just been, you know, just an incredible friend and uh, uh, mentor for me over the past. Uh, you know two well, going on three years that he took on that role and he had stayed in it. Really, as part of that, I think that you know he inherited a tricky situation whenever, with the resignation of the former director, and got to basically spend most of that first year of his presidency working on the hiring process, and so he wanted to stick around for the fun part and so it was great just having him, having his guidance and being able to bounce ideas with him and come up with solutions, and so, yeah, it was very special that getting that award from Michael, that he chose this moment as he was stepping back and he's still around. He just got reelected to the board and he's still serving as past president, so that means he's on the executive committee. We've got it for a couple more years, I'm sure. I don't think he's going anywhere anytime soon.
Speaker 1:So Well, it was one of those moments that it felt real because it was and I know that sounds kind of crazy, but sometimes you see those moments and you're like that almost seems scripted, like they're not really surprised, you know, like, and it doesn't take away from the moment in the sense that it's not important, but when it has that real, genuine feel, somebody gets caught in their feelings on stage. Now, the reason I'm saying that everybody is because, listen, taken back, I don't see. I don't see how charles didn't see it coming, considering how many touch points he does have. But he didn't. So he's on stage and he kind of gets you you know for lack of a better term side blinded about you know, about this award that they actually hid underneath the table. So they're on stage kind of getting it out. And and you know it's gotta be hard, I mean you gotta, you gotta understand guys, this is the CEO of April. It's kind of hard to say you can't, you can't know about this, but the genuine feelings that came out of it, you know the speech, it was great to see, it was really nice. Charles, congratulations again on the President's Award. I think you deserve it. If you guys don't know anything about what's going on.
Speaker 1:In the last two years, april has definitely changed course. Now it's not that we're going in a whole different direction. I just think that we went from a steamboat to a real streamliner whole different direction. I just think that we went from a steamboat to a real streamliner and things have really kind of caught up. I want to say I don't want to say that it's been, you know, getting modernized, but there's just so many different aspects of it. There's so many different ways that it's coming out. There's so many different things that are happening, like being able to see the show afterwards, like being able to be a part of these sessions, like bringing in people who aren't from rent to own to kind of talk to us about things that we can. We can kind of get better and do better. That's what we're talking about.
Speaker 1:Great venues Listen, omaha, out the park. I mean we had everybody say great job. West Palm beach next year. I love the idea. It's nice. It's going to be sunny Guys, I'm telling you to bring your sunscreen and wear shorts but it's going to be a blast. I'm looking forward to it. The RTO show is going to be there. Listen, because of our sponsors, we have had a better show every single year, this next year actually planning on being even better, and then this kind of rounds out what's happening, right, this kind of rounds out our year as far as April concerns, and then we get ready for DC next year. Is that the next really big, you know April event?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean that's our, you know our yes, the legislative conference April 15th through 17th. We're already planning and looking forward to that and you know just kind of it's our annual visit up there to advocate and promote for Red Zone. If you've never done this, the experience is potentially life-changing, or at least light or eye-opening as to what being involved, seeing what that process actually looks like In a lot of ways, just seeing how you kind of have this perception that these guys and women at DC know everything. I'm a senator, I'm a representative, I'm a representative, you know I'm on this elevated knowledge of things they don't. I mean they don't the you know we don't have many that have had experience with our industry. You know, have many that really know much about it other than what a simple Google search and what's a simple chat GBT search that's happening now would tell them. And you know that we've got to, we've got a duty. I mean it's an obligation. Not only is that, I mean that's our mission for the association, but I think it's to promote and protect the industry of sharing that message, because if we're not up there doing it, someone else is telling it and no one's telling our message and our narrative the way we are, because we know it, we live it, and so it's just an important time. I can tell you one thing I'm really excited about and, just if you're listening, I would really encourage you to consider this.
Speaker 2:We're really hoping to expand our legislative fellow program this year. Our goal is to bring up 20 new fellows this year. We started with 10. We had 15 last year. 20 is the next step.
Speaker 2:But this program is really designed for people that have never been before. It provides basically scholarship funding. We pay for your hotel and registration. It helps a little bit on the travel around DC cost of it, just to bring you up there to have experience of it. While RTO World and being around that environment really opened your eyes to how big this industry is and how important it is. Dc is kind of just a different level of being able to be that hands-on involved on navigating for what we do, and really not only it used to be about the survival of the industry. I think it's about the thriving of the industry. Yes, I agree, and uh, that that's the message we're trying to trying to put out. Uh, so, yeah, april, uh, 15th through 17th next year uh, we'll be back up there. Keep an eye on the fellowship program if you be a first timer and have interest in going.
Speaker 1:April 15th to the 17th. Guys next year, put it on your calendars. You need to go. Do you want to know how important it is to us? I've got two pictures here, and I think Charles does too. Listen, guys, I think you've got a few back here.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you've got a few up there.
Speaker 1:Well, I've only got two because I only went to two, but I will say that listen, guys, it is that important. It's great to see you, it's great to network, it's great to learn, it's great to meet the vendors, but this is what it's all about right here. Get yourself ready to go to DC. We need as many of us as possible. Listen, the fellowship program has been great. The fellows program it's great. Let's make it bigger this year. If you guys can add to your list, please do. If you know anybody who wants to come on and be evolved when that opens up, go to rtohqorg, be available, take a look at it and see who can you know. If you know somebody who are kind of on the fence, get them to sign up for the fellows program. It only makes it better. It only makes it better.
Speaker 1:Listen, charles, I appreciate you being on the show. It's been a great God every time, every time our tier world comes around. I love the hello series. I love kind of covering everything we do, just kind of saying guys, get to the show, get to see what this is about, turn your job into a career, get to see the people that have really helped shape this industry and learn from them directly. You can watch Charles on stage and get all kinds of things that he didn't know he was going to get. You can see the RTO show live. You can also have the ability to kind of see what it is that they put together every single year just for the RTO industry. And it is that they put together every single year just for the RTO industry. And it is amazing. Also, every year coming up, we've got DC. So the legislative conference is the other part, the other side of the year that APRO puts things together to win in the advocacy. And it would be great to not only see you at RTO World but to see you in DC.
Speaker 1:I always keep it PC here and I'll tell you guys. You know that there's a lot going on in DC. It doesn't matter what side of the fence you're on. We're probably falling through the crack somewhere. Somebody's probably not talking about to rent, to own the way they should, because of what's going on over there. And every issue is important. So is yours and so is ours. Let's be heard together. So, charles, I appreciate you being on the show this morning. I appreciate you being able to kind of share with us that momentous, heartfelt occasion that you had to go through and I look forward to what's going to happen in 2026 at West Palm Beach. I can also tell you, guys, we are working on a legends program. April has got some stuff going on. It is going to be monumentous coming the beginning of next year. You don't want to miss it.
Speaker 2:Charles.
Speaker 1:I appreciate you being with us. And is there? Is there anything that you got to say leaving Omaha, going to West Palm?
Speaker 2:I'm just excited. I think we're on a really operating on a really high level right now Our, our partnership with trip group and Dennis and his team. It's it's showing each, each of these, and so we're just going to continue to make it better and better, and I can't wait to to do it all again. I know If you guys don't know behind the scenes it's a rat race.
Speaker 1:He's really, really busy. It doesn't show. He kind of puts on a good face, but it's a lot of work to put this on, but we do appreciate it. Charles, thank you for being on the show. Listen, guys. I want to tell you if you guys want to reach out. Please, pete at TheRTOShowPodcastcom, hit me up on the email. You can also go to the website at TheRTOShowPodcastcom. Hit us up on the DMs. We've got Facebook, instagram, linkedin and YouTube where you're going to see this. Don't forget to subscribe. Make sure you go online, buy some swag from the show. That always helps out Sponsors. We, we do love our sponsors and I will tell you guys, as always, get your collections low to get your sales high. Have a great one. Thanks, steve.
