The conference, including hotel rooms, golf tournament and scheduled receptions and meals are being sponsored by Nationwide Southwest.

LRDA member Courtney Engerean, owner of Slidell, Louisiana based National Home Furnishings.

Listen to podcast interview with Courtney Engeran, owner of National Home Furnishings.

The 2008 Louisiana Rental Dealers Association (LRDA) Annual Membership Conference will be held April 22-23, 2008 at Paragon Casino and Resort in Marksville, LA. The conference, including hotel rooms, golf tournament and scheduled receptions and meals are being sponsored by Nationwide Southwest. Nationwide Southwest recently sponsored a golf tournament a the RentDirect buying show in Dallas Texas (see story).

RTO Online will cover the event from Marksville publishing interviews, podcasts and photo galleries. Check www.rtoonline.com for updates.

The two-day event will kickoff with a Golf Tournament at 1:00 pm April 22 at Tamahka Trails Golf Club followed by a Cocktail Reception.

Day two will begin with a breakfast at 8:00 am followed by the Membership meeting at 8:30.

Advance registration is required. RSVP today by contacting Jeff White at jwrentone@msn.com of by calling 318-742-8650. Hotel reservation deadline is April 8.

LRDA Leadership:

Louisiana Rental Dealers Association Officers - left to right - Vice President Dave Boggan, VP Mississippi Valley Operations for Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership; President Jeff White, owner of Rent One; Treasurer Jean Poulin, owner of Express Rental Purchase.

President - Jeff White, owner of Rent One, was elected President in 2007, replacing Tom Neyhart who led the group since 1998. White said he was excited to see LRDA becoming active again. There are nearly 100 independently owned rent to own companies in Louisiana.

Vice President - David A. Boggan, Vice President of Mississippi Valley Operations for Aaron's. Boggan began his career with Aaron's in 1998 as a District Manager in Atlanta after 24 years of middle and upper management experience in the industry. In 2000 he was promoted to Regional Manager of the Mississippi Valley Region. Boggan was appointed Vice President, Marketing and Merchandising in 2003 and the served as Vice President, Merchandising and Distribution.

Treasurer - Jean Poulin, owner of Express Rental Purchase in Hammond, Louisiana. Poulin, a 20 year rent to own industry veteran began his career in 1986 with Rent A Center in upstate New York. After serving several companies, he opened Express Rental Purchase in 2004. Express Rental Purchase has a big footprint operation - 11,000 square feet. Poulin says that, as a result, furniture rentals account for 75% of agreements.

Lisa Neyhart, owner of Success Rentals and her newest store manager John Gaines.

RTO Online conducted 4 podcast interviews at the 2007 LRDA meeting.

RTO Online Podcasts from 2007 LRDA:
Listen to the podcasts in your default MP3 player.
-Courtney Engeran, owner of National Home Furnishings.
-Jean Poulin, owner of Express Rental Purchase.
-Tom Neyhart, outgoing President of LRDA an owner of Success Rentals (ColorTyme).
-Joint interview with Lisa Neyhart, owner of Success Rentals and her newest store manager John Gaines.

Photo Galleries:
LRDA Meeting (28)