Rent-to-own News - MRDA elects new leaders at highly attended business meeting

New MRDA Officers: president J.C. Cox, secretary/treasurer Cindy Boyers, vice president Macy Mitchell.

Close to 100 rent to own professionals from across Missouri turned out Wednesday for an information packed business meeting that concluded with the election of a new board of directors and association officers.

Outgoing MRDA President "Tiger" John Cleek Jr. -- of Cleek's dba Aaron's -- welcomed guests and recapped some of the highlights of the association over the past year including a successful "Computers for Kidz" campaign, a highly attended Heartland of America Tradeshow and being named again as APRO's State Association of the Year.

"All the accomplishments of this association has been through the hard work of our officers and board members and executive director," Cleek said. "I have these people to thank for a very successful four years."

New MRDA officers, elected at the end of the meeting, include president J.C. Cox (Gateway Rent To Own), vice president Macy Mitchell (All American Rental) and secretary/treasurer Cindy Boyers (Heartland Furniture and Appliance).

"I'm very excited about this opportunity," said Cox, a general manager for Gateway who has served as MRDA vice president since 2007. "My goal is to keep up the great work of all the past presidents. They are all great guys and I hope we can retain the state association of the year honor. I also hope to generate the largest attendance ever at the Heartland Show this June."

MRDA lobbyist Jim Durham gave a clean bill of health to Missouri's state legislative scene as it relates to negative RTO bills and attributes that to the proactive stance of Missouri's rental dealers.

"There is literally nothing being introduced that would impact the rent to own business at this time," Durham said.

"Tiger" John Cleek, a past APRO and MRDA president, updated attendees on the past progress of rent to own legislation on Capitol Hill and encouraged MRDA members to attend APRO's 2011 Legislative Conference May 2-5.

"This is a new Congress and despite our successes in the past, we have to start all over this year," Cleek said.

Attendees also heard from keynote speaker Kelly McDonald of McDonald Marketing on "How to Keep Customers Rushing Back for More". McDonald explained how the best and smartest companies are listening more to what their customers want and delivering on a promise to provide it.

"Price is not the final point to hang your hat on," McDonald said. "Someone can always beat you on price. Today people want to be taken care of beyond a low price point. And of all the things you can't control -- the economy, wholesale pricing -- customer service is the one thing you can."

MRDA Board Members include: John Cleek Jr., John Cleek Sr., Dan Cole (National Rent To Own), Mary Hazel (Rent-A-Center), Chuck Kuluva (Rental City), Joe Laney (Rent-A-Center), Scott Mitchell (All American Rental), Jerry Pinkley (Show Me Rent To Own), Gary Romine (Show Me Rent To Own), Eric Simmons (Rent One), Aaron Windsor (National TV Sales and Rental), Mark Windsor (National TV Sales and Rental).

See photo gallery here.