Easygates names Ladd Welch, Chris Prater co-presidents

Company is franchisor for RTO merchant Easyhome

Larry Thomas -- Furniture Today, 11/18/2008 7:19:39 AM

WICHITA, Kan. — Easygates LLC, the U.S. franchisor for Canadian rent-to-own operator Easyhome, has promoted Ladd Welch and Chris Prater to co-presidents of the company.

Welch had been vice president of operations, while Prater had been vice president of finance.

Both report to Easygates Chairman Bud Gates, the former chairman of Rent-A-Center who founded Easygates in 2007.

Easygates has the exclusive rights to franchise or operate Easyhome stores in the 36 states that do not border Canada.

Welch and Prater worked for Gates at Rent-A-Center and its former parent company, Thorn Americas, from the late 1980s to the late 1990s.

Before joining Easygates last year, Welch had been president of Value Place Property Management. Prater had been vice president of finance and administration for the International Pizza Hut Franchise Holders Assn.