Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM NOVEMBER 2020 36 "Since we operate on very remote islands, it is difficult and expensive for the staff to attend APRO events. With a virtual event, all of our managers could attend and see the business side of RTO. The cost of travel would have reached into the tens of thousands of dollars normally. This virtual event made learning affordable," said Daniel Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Dial Rent To Own, whose stores are based in Aruba, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. "Our managers were able to gain valuable ideas and insight. The management team was motivated to put into practice the ideas they learned. And our managers were able to meet the vendors in person, which helped foster friendship and loyalty. They enjoyed the solidarity of the entire Dial Team being one in this event." "RTO World turned out to be a tremendous success for the O'Rourke Sales Company," said Bill French, vice president of Rent-to-Own Sales from O'Rourke Sales Company. "The staffs at both APRO and TRIB did a great job of helping us prepare for the unknown." "As an exhibitor, we felt the conference was well organized and we still were able to participate in many of the events we would have wanted to attend in person," said Kim Cardenas, CPA at Rivero, Gordimer & Company P.A. "You could still feel that sense of collaboration throughout those in the industry even though everyone wasn't able to be together in one room, which is one of the aspects we have enjoyed most about this conference over the years." The last event of day two for RTO World was the Emerging Professionals Networking Social, hosted by the APRO Emerging Leaders Council (ELC) and sponsored by Nationwide RentDirect. The up-and-comers to the rent-to-own industry who attended the event had the chance to connect with others, play some fun Zoom games and win prizes. "The Emerging Professionals Networking Social was a good time. I enjoyed playing games, giving out prizes and getting to know everyone," said Jessica Mahon, marketing director of Countryside Rentals Inc., dba Rent-2-Own, ELC member and event organizer. "We were all able to engage with everyone. No groups, no cliques, we were able to see and talk to everyone." With her excellent recall ability, Candace Hill beat everyone at a memory-related game, while Amberlee Maya hustled to locate obscure items to beat everyone in a group scavenger hunt. Hill and Maya each won a Visa Gift Card, along with drawing winners Casey Al-Sawalha, Danny Lastra and Michael Skehan. T R A D E S H O W N E W S (continued) Marketing Professionals Meetup, one of five Meetup peer groups participating in the virtual RTO World 2020

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