The InterConnection VOLUME 8
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ISSUE 3
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MAY/JUNE 2020
State of the Association Remarks Phil Lattanzio, CCE President & COO
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s we bring this year to a close in a manner that wasn’t even a thought when it started, I’m sure you all share the same feeling of surrealism that has overtaken the emotions of NACM Connect. During this time of the year we should be meeting with members in various cities throughout our now seventeen state territory at our annual meetings; and, I should be delivering these remarks in person. But for now that can’t happen but I can reassure you that the Association is going on in as full force as we can, and like all of you, look forward to a day when we can return to the normalcy we now so deeply cherish. The NACM/Chicago-Midwest Board of Directors, and me, personally as your President, experienced the remarkable leadership of Erica White, CCE, Ferguson Enterprises and I would be remiss to not start my State of the Association remarks with extending
Phil Lattanzio, CCE, President and COO NACM Connect via a ZOOM screen shot.
to her a deep gratitude for her governance and friendship. Working with Erica both on our Board and on the Board of NACM National gives me great faith that the entire NACM is in great hands as our younger members step up to leadership roles. I’d also like to thank the entire Board of Directors for their guidance through this remarkable year. As seemingly become habit, our Association grew again this year through the mergers and acquisitions of additional states within our
territories. We began the year with the acquisition of the Western Pennsylvania affiliate, based in Pittsburgh, and including West Virginia. And we ended the year with the acquisition of the six states that make up New England. Through our acquisition of Pittsburgh we were able to grow our footprint in the Industry Group arena, collections services and education. Enthusiastic members have demonstrated support for our efforts and we look forward to strengthening our bonds there. In a different sort of acquisition, we are basically starting from scratch in the New England states but look forward to becoming the premier credit association there. Our Membership Consulting team was able to bring in 139 new members this year and maintain 91% of all members. We have also added a benefit this year in establishing a Mentoring Program that crosses all regions and is free to members. Despite a drop of 3.5% in revenue from our prior fiscal year, we remained Continued on page 4 >>
Notes from the Outgoing and Incoming Chairs Incoming Chair, Patrick Nelson, MBA I want to start by wishing everyone well and I hope all our members and their families, friends and coworkers are happy and healthy during this time. I started volunteering with the NACM Board over 5 years ago as the Emerging Leader board member. This new initiative was created to bring a new generation of credit professionals into NACM that will be the future of the organization. The board had identified a need to bring in members beginning
their credit career as the rate of those retiring were not being backfilled. I’m proud that I was able to help lead that initiative for my first three years and while I now find myself “aged out” of that group the responsibility has moved onto a new, younger group that I’m confident will continue to lead the initiative. I remember sitting at my first board meeting and the excitement I felt being part of such instrumental organization with a long history. NACM Connect has been instrumental in my credit career and over the years
and has helped me grow personally and professionally through the many benefits it offers. With that said, reflecting on my prior years with NACM seems like a distant memory compared to the world today. When I accepted the Chairman role, I never expected it to be during a time when all our lives would be so dramatically changed. Most of us have had to rapidly move towards working from home, virtual meetings and Continued on page 6 >>