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What happens when the rent to own industry stops reacting and starts leading the conversation in Washington, D.C.?

In this episode of The RTO Show Podcast, Pete Shau sits down with Charles Smitherman and Amberlee Maya to break down why APRO’s LegCon 2026 became one of the most important advocacy events in recent rent to own history. 

From legislative advocacy and consumer protection to virtual rent to own growth and industry storytelling, this conversation explains how rent to own leaders are shaping the future of the RTO transaction before outside groups define it for them.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why legislative advocacy is critical for protecting the rent to own transaction and preventing harmful federal overreach
• How APRO’s LegCon 2026 attracted more than 100 attendees, including 33 first time advocates from across the rent to own industry
• The real reason lawmakers and legislative staff often misunderstand rent to own and how industry leaders are changing that narrative
• How virtual rent to own, shed rental businesses, tire and wheel providers, and traditional RTO operators are working together under one industry voice
• What the New York legislative battle reveals about proactive advocacy, consumer protection policy, and the future of lease purchase regulation

Episode Highlights:

• 03:04 – Why LegCon 2026 became one of APRO’s strongest advocacy events in years
• 05:06 – How podcasts, newsletters, AI visibility, and digital communication are expanding the reach of the rent to own industry
• 07:25 – Why bringing 33 first time attendees to Capitol Hill was a major milestone for APRO advocacy
• 14:17 – The conversation with CFPB Deputy Director Jeff Gradler and what it means for the future of RTO regulation
• 20:26 – What advocacy meetings with legislators actually look like behind closed doors
• 36:19 – How virtual rent to own companies like Acima, Progressive, and Snap Finance are expanding the lease purchase market
• 51:24 – The growing concern around New York Senate Bill 1726 and Assembly Bill 4918
• 59:24 – The one message Charles Smitherman and Amberlee Maya want every RTO dealer to hear before LegCon 2027

Meet the Guests:

Charles Smitherman is the CEO of APRO and a leading advocate for the rent to own industry. He has helped shape legislative strategy, industry education, and state level regulatory efforts across the lease purchase sector. 

Amberlee Maya is APRO’s Director of Marketing and Communications and plays a major role in expanding industry visibility, advocacy messaging, and digital communication efforts for the modern rent to own industry. 

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:

• APRO Legislative Conference (LegCon)
•  APRO Legislative Fellows Program
•  Generative Engine Optimization for the RTO industry
•  APRO Code of Ethics and self regulation initiatives
•  State level lease purchase regulation frameworks
•  Virtual Rent to Own (VRTO) expansion strategy

Closing Insight:

“If we are not out there defining ourselves, someone else will.”

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