In addition to in-depth manager training seminars, Rent One will name it's Manager of the Year, Store of the Year, Employee of the Year, and Vendor of the Year.

photo © RTO Online Inc. Flashback - Feb-2006: John Claar (left) seen here with company owner Larry Carrico, was  2005's Rent One Manager of the Year. Listen to audio of the presentation (2:44). See an entire photo gallery of last year's award ceremony, the casino-night that followed, as well as other photos from the 2006 conference at Rent One 2006 Conference Gallery (93).

Rent One, one of the largest independently owned rent to own companies in the United States, will hold it's 4th Annual Managers Conference Tuesday through Thursday, February 6-8, 2007 at the Drury Plaza in St. Louis, Missouri.

Rent One operates 43 rental purchase locations. The company focuses on rural markets in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas. Company owner Larry Carrico told RTO Online in 2006 that smaller towns allow Rent One to focus on service, products and general benefits for employees and the community. "When we were in the larger towns, we spent 80% of our time on 20% of the business. We now focus on the things that matter; making a difference."

Rent One donates heavily to local charities throughout its four-state service area. Over 100 Rent One employees, vendors and community leaders helped raise $15,000 for Ronald McDonald House, South County Youth and Day Care Program at the company's 2006 Vendor Appreciation Golf Outing (see story).

In addition to in-depth manager training seminars, Rent One will name it's Manager of the Year, Store of the Year, Employee of the Year, and Vendor of the Year. The criteria for Manager of the Year consists of 6 key factors;

• Increase in YTD business over last year
• Profitability
• Lower turn over in employees compared to company
• Mentoring
• Community Involvement
• Willingness to share inventories and knowledge

Rent One's Manager of the Year for 2005 was John Claar. Before earning the award, John and his crew received 6 store of the month awards, 2 store of the quarter awards, and beat 2004 in every category from customer growth to revenue. John's store also led the entire company in 2005 with a same store sales increase of 20%.

RTO Online will report from the conference in St. Louis. We will publish photo galleries, interviews and podcasts beginning Tuesday, February 6th. Please check RTO Online (www.rtoonline.com) for updates.