CMA Daily News

Terry Harries, Outgoing Chairman Video Message

Terry Harries, CMA's 2007-2008 Board Chairman, making his outgoing speech at CMA's Annual Meeting.

Terry Harries, CMA Outgoing Chairman from CMA Business Credit Services on Vimeo.

Congratulations!!! On a very successful WRCC

A very special thank you and congratulations to the CMA staff and all those that made this years Western Region Credit Conference a GREAT SUCCESS! 

Thanks to the hard work of Jodi Owens, Dina Amadril, Kim Lamberty and many others behind, and in front of the scenes, we had some great Key Note Speakers and session leaders that really gave us the added value that we look for at WRCC.  Thanks also to the volunteer workers that participated, and to the sponsors and exhibitors that gave us great support this year, and every year. 

Not only did we learn a lot but we had fun in the process.  Thanks to Raul Mendoza for heading up a great group of staff members, including our President, Mike Mitchell, himself, to put on a fun and entertaining, last night “PARTY GRAS”.  Contrary to rumors, that might be going around, yours truly did not win the dance off contest.  I’m fully convinced that aliens from outer space took control of my body and caused me to exhibit moves and gyrations that my body is not physically capable of doing, normally.  The following morning confirmed that.

The Monte Carlo Hotel in Las Vegas provided a terrific venue and the rooms, service and food proved to be top quality.

If you missed it this year, you missed out on a very valuable part of being a member of this great association, and I hope you will start planning for next years Western Region Credit Conference.  It truly is worth the money spent.  So dig into that education budget and make it pay for itself.

Again GREAT JOB on a GREAT EVENT!!!

Sincerely,

Terry Harries
CMA Chairman of the Board, 2007 -2008

October is INDUSTRY CREDIT GROUP MONTH

We have set the month of October to focus on attendance at Industry Credit Group meetings. Let’s see how many group members will attend your specific Industry Credit Group meeting(s) this month. 

I know there are many of you that have been letting the meetings slip by because you were “just too busy to get away” for that hour or two,  “someone has been out sick” or any number of other excuses that get easier and easier to make.  But this month we would like you to really make a concerted effort to make the meeting.  Not just to please us, at CMA, but for you and your company.  We would like everyone to remember what it’s like to have full participation in a group meeting, to be able see old friends that you haven’t seen for a while, and most importantly to hear the verbal information that you can only receive when you attend the meetings in person. 

I know many of you have stories of how you went to a meeting and heard some information that eventually helped you save some money for you company.  If you think about it, you only need one situation like that and it probably will pay for your membership many times over. 

Those of us that have been around for a few years (or decades) can remember when the industry credit groups and the value we received was the one thing the brought us to the dance, so to speak.  Well for me, and I know I’m not alone, that value hasn’t changed.  At almost every meeting, I get good information that I would not have gotten if I didn’t attend.  I think sometimes we forget that value or forget to look for it, and I would like to see what happens when we shoot for 100% turnout. 

I think everyone will be pleasantly reminded of the value of Industry Credit Group meetings.  So I have asked the Staff and Board Members to help bring awareness to the Industry Credit Groups in October and I hope all of you will join in the effort and attend this month. Let’s see what a difference the group meeting can make in your life as a Credit Professional.

I appreciate your effort,

Terry Harries
CMA Chairman of the Board 2007 - 2008

August was a GOOD News Month

And a good September morning to you all.  Hopefully everyone had a good Holiday weekend over Labor Day and you are refreshed and ready to jump back into the work routine!!!  RIGHT!!!!!!!!!.  Is it just me or does a three day weekend go faster than the two days?  Sure feels like it to me.

Anyway, I heard through the grapevine that a lot of good stuff was happening around the Association in August.  It turned out to be a record month for growing in New Members. That is particularly great news as this was one of topics of planning, for this year, at the Think Tank Conference for the Board and Staff members of the Association.NACM is one of the oldest trade organizations around and since CMA Business Credit Services is the largest affiliate of NACM, we want to make sure we continue to provide services and tools and benefits that will attract new members.  I was told we had twenty (20) new members joining CMA in August.  That really is GOOD news and I hope you will all continue to help the association grow by telling everyone you know about our great association and the many benefits that are available.  This is particularly true for the Industry Trade Groups.  If you think about it the more members you have in your group meetings the more information will be available for everyone.  So if you know of a company that should be in your group and is not.  Don’t hesitate to contact them yourself and invite them to join or at least tell your group secretary and let them make the contact.

August was also good, in that all the work was put in place for the launch of the new “RFI for Everyone” on 9/4/07.  Now everyone can use the RFI program, even if you are not currently a member of a specific trade group.  Again the more information we receive into the Associations data base the better the reports and overall information will be. 

Don’t forget about all the other valuable services that are available to members.  Like the Collection Division, Construction Forms Filing, The Auction Services and Adjustment Bureau for those customers that are looking for alternatives to Bankruptcy. 

And finally, on the subject of Don’t Forget.  If you have not registered for the upcoming Western Region Credit Conference (WRCC) on October 17 – 19, your time is running out to get the best prices on rooms and registration.  This year promises to be one of the best.  It’s our 20th Anniversary and the Staff is working hard to make it even more enjoyable than usual, so don’t miss it.

Here’s wishing you an enjoyable and prosperous September as well as the rest of 2007.

Sincerely,

Terry D. Harries
CMA Chairman of the Board 2007 - 2008 

A Busy Month - Full of Surprises

The month of June proved to be a busy month, for me personally.  I had several meetings and conventions and on a personal note was the recipient of a surprise birthday party where about 70 of my closest friends and relatives took over a restaurant in Tracy, CA., and got me good.  It was a very enjoyable and up lifting experience, for me, and a birthday that I will remember for a long time.

Another very enjoyable experience was attending the NACM’s National Credit Congress and Expo that was held at Bally’s & Paris Hotel’s in Las Vegas.  It had been several years since I attended the National Convention and I was so glad that I went this year.  I’m told, by many that attend regularly, that this year was one of the best ever for both attendance, as well as content and exhibits.  I was impressed, particularly with the educational sessions that were made available, and the numerous choices that were offered.  Everything from testing for your CCE, or CBA, or CBF, to just brushing up on your Excel skills, or how to Negotiate with customers, and so much more.  I found it hard sometimes to decide which session to attend, because of having too many good choices at the same time slot.  I understand the attendance was somewhere in the area of 2,800 this year, and I believe that was a record.

For those who missed going this year, or for those that wish they could go again, there is a second chance for you coming up in October.  The WESTERN REGION CREDIT CONFERENCE to be held at the Monte Carlo Hotel and Convention Center also in Las Vegas, NV.  From the 17th through the 19th of October.  I know that a lot of work is being done, as I write this, to prepare for another great annual event, and you will soon be receiving the information and details for registration. 

The Staff at CMA always does a great job putting this together for us.  I would encourage anyone that is interested in getting valuable information, and finding tools to help you and your company manage Credit and Collections and Accounts Receivable along with other General management skill techniques, to attend this event.  I’m convinced you will get more good information in a short two or three days, than you would get in weeks of attending individual classes and seminars and training sessions.  All of which is presented by seasoned and very experienced and educated professionals. 

We are all fortunate to be a part of CMA Business Credit Services (NACM Affiliate), and to have valuable events like WESTERN REGION available to us, and it would be a shame not to take advantage. 

I will be there for sure to welcome each of you, and I hope you will come up and say hello, and let me the other Board Members and Staff know what we can do to make your experience better.  We are always looking for feedback so we can continue to improve YOUR association, and we welcome your suggestions.

Enjoy the upcoming summer months and I look forward to seeing all of you soon.    

Best Wishes,

Terry Harries
CMA Chairman of the Board

Move forward but don’t forget the past

Terry D. Harries, CMA Chairman of the Board 2007 - 2008

I recently began my term as Chairman of the Board of CMA Business Credit Services. The first order of business was to plan and participate in the annual “Think Tank Conference” This use to be called the Board Retreat.  The purpose of this event is for the Board of Directors of CMA, along with members of the senior staff of CMA to get together and plan / talk / discuss / think about strategic “STUFF” connected with the CMA association.  Most of the tools and programs and information available to you today through CMA Business Credit Services, has, in the past, come out of this annual meeting of the minds.   

The attempt is to keep the association moving forward and keeping up with the changing times and technologies.  I am so proud of the efforts and accomplishments of the past participants and leaders of this organization, I can’t even begin to tell you.  All you have to do is look on anscers.com to see what I am talking about.  But, it goes beyond that.  The way that the staff of CMA has stepped up, over the last several years, to do what they can to make this organization the best it can be.  Not to mention the Educational Program that has given us the new webinars and courses available to all.  In addition you have the Encyclopedia of Credit and the Community Bulletin Board to get whatever information you might need.  It is no wonder CMA is recognized throughout the NACM organization as a trail blazer and leader in the Credit Industry, and I for one am proud to be a part of it.

This year at the Think Tank the major discussion seemed to surround the INDUSTRY CREDIT GROUPS.  This is an area that has been losing membership, not just at CMA, but, in other associations and organizations that have similar programs.  One of the reasons for this decline was thought to be, that maybe we have done such a good job of developing new technology that gives us real time information, that we no longer need to have the groups, as we have known them in the past, to get valuable information.  But, are we really considering the value of having that face to face meeting with other credit personnel from other companies?  How many times have we all gone to an ICG meeting and have heard some information about a common account that came out of a simple discussion at the meeting, that we wouldn’t have received on a written report.  How much money has been saved because we remembered some information that eventually kept us from sending out that order that we probably wouldn’t have been paid on.  Or to a company that we heard was maybe moving or going out of business or wasn’t making payroll.  Not to mention the value that you get just from networking with experienced Credit Managers and others in the Credit world.  How about the trust, and friendships, that have developed over the years.  There is also the educational value at meetings that have seen fit to implement that into their programs.

I know personally that there is a large representation of our membership that recognizes the value of the I.C.G.’s and the fact that many of us joined the organization just for that value.  Let me appeal to those of you who do not want to risk losing this valuable program.  We can save it and we can improve on it and it has to come from the members.  We need to continuously stress and inform those around us of the importance of attending these group meetings and contributing information and mentoring our less experienced members as to how to pass that importance on to those around us.  I would like to put out a challenge to all the Chairmen and Vice Chairs and to the Group Secretaries to find just one additional member that should be attending your group meeting.  Then find out from your specific group members what additional value they would like to receive from these meetings and try to fulfill that need.  I feel if we can’t accomplish strengthening this program, we could find our organization changing in a way that would be different than what we have found so enjoyable in the past years.

Whatever happens, I assure you we will continue to move forward and stay a leader in the industry, but let’s try to remember the past and what got us to dance and bring it along with us.

I’m looking forward to a great year and I hope you will all join me towards that goal.

Terry Harries, CMA Board Chairman Speech - VIDEO

Terry Harries, CMA's Board Chairman for 2007-2008, told us of his goals and hopes for CMA this year. The audience at CMA's Annual Meeting echoed Terry's new tagline for the year, "Let's Getter Done!"

If you would like to volunteer for a leadership position in CMA please contact any CMA Staff member or email Terry direct at terryh@coastaluminum.com.

And now the end is near...

by: Roy Stout, CMA Board Chairman

I am dumbfounded that 12 months has come and gone since I became Chairman.  Where does the time go?  I honestly believe that time flies when you are having fun and as I have said before, I had a ball this year.  I am also one of those sick individuals who have a great deal of fun and derive a great deal of satisfaction from hard work.  I know the Board, the Staff and I all worked very hard this year to make sure we continued to deliver the products and services needed by our members to perform their jobs.

In the past 12 months, we gained a renewed respect for the value of Industry Credit Groups (ICG) and the important functions that they fill.  We have spent a great deal of time renewing our efforts to modernize and improve the ICG’s to reflect the vitality and demographics of our members.  Specifically, we have started an ICG Guerilla Marketing Group which meets regularly to evaluate the progress that we have made. 

We have developed some important alliances during the last year.  One of the most notably was an alliance with Q2C.  This organization provided significant support of our educational offerings during a very successful Western Region Credit Conference this last October.  Q2C has also had an impact on both the quality and quantity of webnairs we have been able to provide to our members.  Q2C should continue to be an important partner for the future success of our Association.

Speaking of online educational opportunities; this year for the first time ever, through the tenacity and dedication of our education people; we were able to receive accreditation from the National Association of Credit Management for our online courses.  This was a huge victory, for we can now provide our members the courses necessary, for the certification that they deserve, on their own time and from the comfort of their office or home.  It will not be necessary to drive to a classroom at some distant designated location.  Considering the cost of gas and where it is likely to go in the future, this is a huge win for our membership.

Although we stumbled a little at the launch of anscers v2.0, I feel we have now made a full recovery.  I also believe we have only scratched the surface of what this venue has to offer in growth and value for not only our members but for the users from all over the world.  The continued development and enhancement of this marvelous tool cannot be set aside for it has the capacity to be the guide and monitor for CMA Business Credit Services for the foreseeable future.

This year we introduced CMA Daily News, the daily blast of thoughts, trends and news important to the credit professional.  I love receiving important tidbits affecting my profession and work environment on a daily basis; this is the one e-mail that I do not mind receiving.

It was not all roses this year as I had to say goodbye to one of the true treasures of CMA Business Credit Services.  Erna Ohlsson retired after dedicating her heart and soul to this organization for forty plus years.  Good people come and go in any organization but some leave such voids that their departure is hard to accept.  The mark left by Erna on our Association will not soon fade away and we will all miss her.  I wish her well in all her future endeavors, for I know she will accept tasks in the future with the same dedication that she gave to us for all those years.

I want to extend my sincerest thanks to the many, many people who lent a hand and offered encouragement and support throughout my year.  I appreciate everything you did for me that made my job that much easier.  Together, I think we created an Association that is stronger today than it was when I took office a year ago.

The future of our Association looks very bright.  We have a new Chairman and a new Board who are very qualified to carry on as I am sure they are eager to do.  Our Staff and Officers of the Association are more engaged and more dedicated than ever to the service of our members and I am sure that will continue.   

So, it is time for me to step aside and let the new regime take its place.  Remember tired old Chairmen never die but rather they just fade away into the background from where they came.

Until our paths cross again, here’s hoping this year was as rewarding for you as it was for me.

It's February Already, Time to Ramp Up

From Roy Stout, CMA Board Chairman

This time of the year the activities at your association really begin to ramp up.  I am here to tell you that things are moving at a very fast pace.

Our Education Department is working overtime to keep the Association’s calendar full with webinars, seminars and group meetings right through the first quarter of 2007.  One of many noteworthy programs is the 3-part webinar series “Success Mastery” to assist you in managing work and life challenges.  The series was first presented in November 2006.  It was so popular and so well received by the audience, we could not help but to present it again.  This webinar series is presented by Jodi Walker, an outstanding speaker.  Many of us had the opportunity to hear Ms. Walker in Las Vegas at the Western Region Credit Conference.  Her presentations are filled with sound advice and practical applications.  If you have not heard her before, take this opportunity to get acquainted with her works.  For more information about this series and the other educational opportunities, check the “Events” tab on our website anscers.com, or click here.

Speaking of the Western Region Credit Conference, you will be happy to know that the planning is well underway for this coming year’s conference where we will be celebrating the 25th Year Anniversary of the conference.  Please let us know how we can make an already very good conference into a great conference which you will not want to miss.  We would love to hear from you.

This is also the time of year that we nominate one of our own to be honored as the California or Nevada Credit Executive of the Year.  We are searching for that individual who has made your work in the credit profession just that much better.  A mentor possibly, an outstanding leader, a constant contributor to the field of credit professionalism, a caring teacher, a dedicated colleague; you know who they are.  Why not nominate them for the Credit Executive of the Year Award which will be presented at the respective California and Nevada Annual Meetings by last year’s winners.  Further information about nominations and deadlines is available by clicking this link.

I would like to thank the nominating committee for completing their task.  I believe they have chosen a panel of very qualified individuals to be the Directors and Officers of your Association for the year 2007-2008.  The slate of selected candidates will be published soon.  I hope all of you will join me in giving our continued support to their future efforts in maintaining our status as one of the finest credit professional organizations in the country.  I wish to send my personal congratulations to the newly selected Directors and Officers.  I know from your resumes that you are all highly qualified and will do an excellent job.

I also want to extend my personal congratulations to our Collection Division.  Rich DeOcampo and his staff just recently accomplished an unbelievable 80% recovery rate on international claims.  Good job collection crew, keep up the good work.  It almost makes me wish I had some troubled international accounts.  If you do, make sure you consider our Collection Division for some seriously good results. 

And now for something entirely different, I hope everyone is as ready as I am to watch the Super Bowl this weekend.  As a Midwest boy, the game could not have played out any better with both Chicago and Indianapolis playing the big game.  It would be wrong for me to use this forum to promote any particular bias or preferences, so I just have one thing to say, “dah Bears”.  Seriously, be sure to take time off from the pressures of our jobs and have a really wonderful time at the Super Bowl party of your choosing.

Until our paths cross again, keep your eye on the ball and keep moving forward on the field of life...

Happy New Year ??

From Roy Stout, CMA Chairman of the Board

As I prepare to move forward with my planning for the year 2007, I wonder what direction our economic fortunes will take us this year.  It seems as though each article I have read has a different outlook or a similar outlook with a different twist.  Several CFO and other credit professionals that I have spoken with on this subject provide a similar pattern of opinions.  Each person seems to have a slightly different take on what the year 2007 has in store for us.  But my best guess at this point is, as the attorneys say, “well it depends”.

After digesting all the material that I have read and the opinions (solicited or unsolicited) that I have received, I would have to say that at least most authorities predict the changes will be moderate in nature.  Some people feel that we will experience a slight but important downturn in the economy.  But more people think that the economic growth will continue but at a much slower rate than in the past few years. 

My personal observations and projections (I hope nobody holds me to this) are that sales and revenues, much to my surprise, will continue to grow at a strong and steady pace.  There will be many more new customers with significant requests for increased availability of credit.  But I also feel more small businesses and financially challenged businesses will experience dramatic setbacks or complete failure.  I feel that the number of new Bankruptcies will rise notably in 2007. This, unfortunately, will be followed by an increased rise in bad debt losses.  These predictions will put an increased amount of pressure upon all of us to be at the top of our game.

In the early fall, I read several articles which stated that most CFO’s were budgeting for increased staffing in accounting personnel and specifically in credit and collection positions.  This would seem to be consistent with some of the ideas mentioned above.  But I noticed that as the end of the year approached, those same CFO’s reported that they had reduced their original projections for hiring in 2007.  Although they still planned increases in credit and collection staffing, it would be on a much smaller scale than originally predicted.  I also recently read that hiring of mid to upper level managers in the credit and collections field would be flat or possibly down slightly.  I am not sure I know what this information is trying to tell us. 

I am also very aware that the predictions continue to be that the traditional credit manager’s role is dramatically changing.  I think the prognosticators are right on the money with this prediction.  “Even when you are on the right track, going the right direction, if you are not moving forward, you will get run over.”  Education and training will be more critical than ever.  Don’t get left behind. Make sure you keep us at CMA informed of your needs.  We will do everything in our power to help you keep on the forefront of changes in our profession.   

I can’t help but think that the recent mid-term elections will be a factor in the economic conditions of 2007.  I think the election results have already been somewhat factored into the economic forecasting.  Unless something totally unexpected happens, I think a lot of the effect of the elections may have been already absorbed and they may not be a very big factor.

The biggest factor for the nation’s and the world’s economy has to be the Iraq war.  Unfortunately, the war is also the biggest wild card.  I can’t imagine what the future hold for everyone in that part of the world or what effect it will continue to have worldwide.  With Saddam Hussein execution this past weekend, I have to believe it is going to be a whole different ball game. 

I just know that I hope the very best outcome for all of the men and women who are in harm’s way as they serve their country in Iraq.  I have the same high hopes and best wishes for all the Iraq citizens who are working so hard to have a normal, peaceful life in a very troubled area.  As I celebrated the New Year this past weekend, I couldn’t help thinking wouldn’t it be wonderful if 2007 was the year that we finally achieve worldwide peace.

Until our paths cross once again in this New Year, have a prosperous and emotionally rewarding 2007.