To say most people’s plates are full is likely an understatement. The reality is today’s living requires attention and efforts be divided between demanding jobs, essential caregiving, social gatherings, and perhaps even fulfilling political and community engagements. This is a full schedule even before fitting in hobbies, outdoor fun, or other creative endeavors. A recent article I read quoted Pew Research Center surveys, saying 60 percent of adults said they were often too busy to enjoy life. Busy-ness unsurprisingly, intensifies once you have kids: 74 percent of parents with children under the age of 18 reported being too busy to enjoy life’s pleasures. I can confess to the fact it is difficult to ‘stop and smell the roses’ in life with family and career demands.… Read the rest

Written by: Heidi Lindgren-Boyce, CCE
At this year’s Credit Congress in Louisville KY, I was awarded the 2022 Credit Executive of Distinction Honoring O.D. Glaus. How did that even happen? How did I get here from where I started in my career in Credit Management? I’ll tell you: Taking advantage of all NACM & CFDD have to offer, staying educated, volunteering locally & nationally, and helping others.

Way back in the “olden days” before PC’s were on everyone’s desk. I was working for a small subcontractor as their receptionist, billing clerk, AP clerk, and payroll clerk using one of those awesome technological wonders – the IBM Selectric typewriter (does anyone even remember those?).
That employer provided absolutely NO education or training, and you had to learn by the ‘seat of your pants’ or you got the ‘pink slip’—very cutthroat days.… Read the rest

Written by: Nicholas Luzania, CCE

It took me about 3.5 years to get all of my certifications. I began taking courses in November 2018 when I started in credit. I took Business Credit Principals and Financial Statement Analysis online through the Credit Learning Center, and was able to use the accounting class I took in college to satisfy the accounting requirement. I passed my CBA on 3/4/19. I attended the Financial Statement Analysis 2 class at Credit Congress in 2019, and received my CCRA on 6/14/19. I took my Business and Credit Law classes at the same time online, and passed by CBF on 7/22/19. I was finally able to receive enough roadmap points, and received my CCE at Credit Congress this year.… Read the rest

Written by: Alaina Worden, CCE

I’m overjoyed and humbled to have received the CFDD Distinguished Member Achievement Award (DMA) for 2021. To be nominated for such a prestigious award was exciting, to receive the award in person was icing on the cake. I cannot begin to express all the value I have received from being a member of both NACM and CFDD. The growth, the education, the mentorship, and friendships that have developed over the years is unspeakable. I am beyond grateful to be part of such an outstanding organization!

Written by: Rodney Wheeland, CCE
This Federal Act (1977) attempts to address “abusive collection practices”. Specifically, this Act addresses third parties collecting consumer debt, such as Consumer Collection Agencies, or Creditors using a different name.

Trade Credit managers often note that FDCPA does apply to B2B collections. While this is generally accurate, Trade Credit operations should avoid actions that might be considered harassment or abusive if B2B collections were covered by FDCPA provisions.

The Act has several sections addressing the collection process. Regarding communications with any specific Debtor, the Act requires the Collector to identify by name, although a “professional name” may be used. The Collector may not communicate or discuss the debt with third-parties, with the exception of the Debtor’s Attorney, the Collector’s Attorney, and credit reporting agencies.… Read the rest

Cindy Lee, associate, Troutman Pepper – Republished from NACM National eNEWS

Most are familiar with California’s harsh penalty for unlicensed contractor work. California Business and Professions Code Section 7031 (Section 7031) bars any recovery for compensation for work performed by an unlicensed contractor under any theory of recovery “regardless of the merits of the cause of action.” Cal. Bus. and Prof. Code § 7031(a). It is well-established that subcontractors are covered by Section 7031 from recovering from owners and general contractors if not properly licensed. See Cal. Bus. and Prof. Code § 7026. However, in Kim v. TWA Construction, Inc., 78 Cal.App.5th 808 (2022), the California Court of Appeal, in a matter of first impression, expanded the effect of Section 7031(a) to bar a licensed general contractor recovering from an owner for work completed by an unlicensed subcontractor.… Read the rest

Annacaroline Caruso, editorial associate, NACM National

A shift in the workplace is happening and businesses must decide whether to jump on board or get left behind. What was once important to job seekers no longer matters, and employees have changed their priorities.

“We are never going back to what we used to call normal and there is good reason for that,” said Mark Babbitt, speaker and co-author of best-selling book Good Comes First, in a recent episode of Extra Credit, NACM’s new podcast. “Because to be honest, the old normal for many people sucked, and 56 million people in the last 15 months made it clear the old normal sucked for them as well because they voluntarily left their jobs.… Read the rest