Michael Cassidy is the Chief Operating Officer with Velocity Portfolio Group. Michael has spent over 20 years in executive and leadership positions within the financial services industry. Prior to joining Velocity, Michael co-founded a fintech consulting firm, Maxwell & Graves Solutions, and was responsible for building and leading Collections & Recovery at Prosper Marketplace.

Kelly Knepper-Stephens is the Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel at TrueAccord Corp. She is a passionate advocate for making the law (and legal advice) interesting for everyone. Her work focuses on government regulation, compliance, and civil litigation. She advises on the intersection of innovation in technology with consumer protection statutes such as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, privacy and security laws and other federal and state regulations.   Kelly serves on the Board of Directors for the Receivables Management Association International, is an ACA-Certified Instructor, and serves on the Steering Committee for the Consumer Relations Consortium. She also served as a SER for the Arbitration and Debt Collection Rulemakings. FinTech Magazine named Kelly one of the Top 100 Women in FinTech in 2022 and Collection Advisor Magazine named Kelly one of the 20 Most Powerful Women in Collections in 2018 and 2016.

Bekah Luebcke is Executive Vice President of Operations at Crown Asset Management, LLC, where she has served since 2017. She brings more than 25 years of experience across the receivables management industry, with leadership roles spanning operations, vendor management, debt buying, recovery, payment processing, and revenue cycle management. Bekah is an RMAI Certified Receivables Compliance Professional and currently serves as Chair of RMAI’s Industry Research Working Group.

As Vice President, Marian is chiefly responsible for the oversight and management of analysis and information technology systems of the Company. Her responsibilities span all of the Company’s varied business functions and she is a Certified Receivables Compliance Professional.

Through her 30+ years of industry experience, she has kept The Bureaus, Inc. at the forefront of technology, developing proprietary tools that include account-level net present value modeling and data management systems. Marian has pioneered many software suites popular in the ARM industry. She works closely with developers to improve the products for business use. Marian Sangalang served as the President of Receivables Management Association International in 2019 and was a member of the RMAI Board of Directors 2014-2022. Marian currently serves on the RMAI Certification Council and Chairs the Remediation Committee.

Wes Boyd is the Assistant General Counsel at Resurgent Capital Services, LP, where he manages a team responsible for a nationwide portfolio of class action and single-plaintiff consumer finance litigation. Wes joined Resurgent in 2017, having previously worked in private practice in consumer collections and general civil litigation. Wes obtained his J.D. in 2009 from Charleston School of Law, after graduating from Wofford College.

Manny Newburger leads the Consumer Financial Services Law Practice Group at Barron & Newburger, P.C. A frequent author and speaker on the FDCPA and other consumer protection laws, Mr. Newburger is known internationally for his expertise in consumer and commercial law, consulting on FDCPA, FCRA, and TCPA compliance across the globe and defending of individual and class consumer litigation and regulatory matters across the United States. His practice focuses on litigation, litigation management and strategy, regulatory defense, and compliance, and he serves as a settlement negotiator in complex cases. Mr. Newburger has consulted to collection industry members throughout the U.S., India, the Philippines, and Canada, and his clients include financial institutions, debt buyers, law firms, and collection agencies.

Scott Morris is a Managing Member of Tromberg, Miller, Morris & Partners, PLLC, a leading creditors’ rights firm specializing in consumer collections and foreclosure. With over two decades of experience, Scott has built a reputation for combining deep legal expertise with operational innovation. He previously served as Treasurer of the National Creditors Bar Association and currently sits on the Board of Directors of the New York State Creditors Bar Association, where he contributes to shaping industry standards and advancing best practices through leading the government affairs committee. Scott’s work spans complex regulatory matters involving the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), State Attorneys General, and federal, state, and local compliance frameworks. He has successfully implemented Compliance Management Systems, enhanced technological and operational processes, and provided strategic leadership to large teams of professionals. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from New York Law School (2004) and his B.L.A. from the University of Maryland, College Park (1998). Scott is admitted to practice law in New Jersey, New York, and Virginia.

Mark has been involved in the stratification of over 800 individual transactions, including the analysis behind the potential liquidation for over $20 Billion in purchased accounts. Mark is a frequent speaker on topics ranging from Data Security, Operational Best Practices, Historical Industry Analysis, Encryption Methodology, Risk Mitigation and Relationship Building.

He was appointed to serve on the task force committee that implemented certification within RMAI, a cornerstone of what inevitably became RMAI’s federally recognized compliance program. He was also a founding board member of the Certification Committee and continues to teach the introductory course for Certification. An RMAI Certified Receivables Compliance Professional, Mark was elected to the RMAI Board of Directors in 2014, and after serving two terms as President.

Brent Yarborough is a principal with Maurice Wutscher LLP and is based in the firm’s Birmingham, Alabama office. Brent advises banks, credit unions, fintech lenders, debt buyers, collection agencies, and law firms on matters related to compliance with federal and state consumer financial laws.

Andrew J. Blady, Esquire is General Counsel/Co-Founder of Spring Oaks Capital, a national accounts receivable debt buyer based in Chesapeake, VA. Andrew co-founded and joined Spring Oaks Capital with considerable experience in both consumer compliance and consumer litigation.  Prior to joining Spring Oaks Capital, Andrew spent several years serving  both as outside counsel and inside counsel, where his practice was concentrated in providing guidance in compliance to debt buyers and debt collectors along with providing litigation defense.

John McNamara is Chief Growth Officer for digital engagement provider, Avtal. Prior to joining Avtal, John was the Principal Assistant Director of Markets in the Research, Regulations, and Markets Division of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. There he led a team of subject matter experts and analysts covering credit card, payments, deposits, student, auto, small dollar, marketplace, and installment lending, credit reporting, debt collection, debt relief, fintech, mortgage, small business lending and the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning and Consumer Financial services. He also managed budgeting, staffing, and administration of the Bureau’s Markets Office. At the CFPB, John was a key member of the team that wrote Regulation F, the implementing regulation for the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

John Rossman is a founding partner at Rossman Kirk, PLLC with more than 31 years of successful experience representing debt buyers, debt collectors and creditors in litigation, regulatory enforcement actions and compliance matters.  Rossman is responsible for dozens of the most important debt collector victories in Courts throughout the United States. John recently launched a new podcast series focused on legal issues for debt buyers called The Collection Code after previously hosting a popular collection industry podcast series for more than a decade.

John H. Bedard, Jr. is the managing attorney of Bedard Law Group, P.C. located in Atlanta, Georgia.  John represents creditors, asset buyers, and debt collectors helping them stay in compliance with state and federal law.  He also manages the nationwide litigation for several collection agencies and focuses his litigation practice on FDCPA, TCPA, and FCRA defense.  John’s practice also focuses on defending regulatory actions including CFPB investigations and travels the country performing CFPB readiness assessments for the collection industry.  He received his law degree from the Syracuse University College of Law and his undergraduate degree in Economics from the Pennsylvania State University.

Susan Namm joined Velocity Portfolio Group in June 2023 and has been the Chief Compliance Officer since May 2024 and has been in the credit and collection industry since 1985 and has held prior positions with nationally known Fortune 500 credit issuers and collection and BPO organizations. Prior to joining Velocity, she was responsible for establishing a successful collection Vendor Oversight Program for a student loan lender/servicer that met the expectations of the CFPB and oversaw all aspects of the program, including call monitoring, audit and risk assessment functions.

Anne Thomas has been with Cavalry Portfolio Services for more than 15 years and has been in the debt collection industry for nearly 20 years. As part of her role, Anne is responsible for designing, implementing, and monitoring the Compliance Management System. In addition, she serves as a member of Cavalry’s Compliance Committee.

Lauren is a licensed attorney and a regulatory and compliance specialist for the financial services industry. Having served as general counsel for many years in the financial services industry, Lauren has a breadth of experience advising on compliance with federal and state consumer protection laws, government regulation and affairs, state licensing requirements, data privacy, litigation defense, labor and employment issues, transactional matters, and business strategy. Her background makes Lauren uniquely positioned to help companies operationalize compliance across an organization. Her hands-on experience leading cross-functional teams to design, implement, and test policies, procedures, processes, and compliance management systems gives Lauren a unique perspective that is sensitive to the realities companies face when determining how to best mitigate risks while optimizing resources.

Lauren is a leader in the accounts receivables industry. She serves on multiple committees for ACA International and RMAi, and is an ACA certified Credit and Collection Compliance Attorney. She has presented and/or written compliance commentary for InsideARM, ACA International, AccountsRecovery.Net, Receivables Info, and the California Association of Collectors (CAC). Lauren has also served as guest on multiple industry podcasts. She was recognized as a Top 50 Receivables Professional and a Top Women Leader in Accounts Receivable in 2019 by Receivables Advisor.

A passionate thought leader in the accounts receivables management industry, Sara is a highly sought-after compliance leader with a background in operational processes.

As the Owner and President of ARM Compliance Business Solutions, Sara Woggerman works with organizations to drive compliant business practices through her consulting solutions. Sara’s personalized approach prepares financial institutions for regulatory examinations, manage litigation risk, and improves the consumer experience. Sara is known for her passion in helping companies overcome their unique compliance and operational challenges through delivery of compliance risk assessments, policy development, service provider management and oversight, and executive level training programs designed to help financial services companies mitigate risk and maximize efficiency.

Prior to starting ARM Compliance Business Solutions, Sara led the Compliance Services Department at Ontario Systems, LLC.

John H. Bedard, Jr. is the managing attorney of Bedard Law Group, P.C. located in Atlanta, Georgia.  John represents creditors, asset buyers, and debt collectors helping them stay in compliance with state and federal law.  He also manages the nationwide litigation for several collection agencies and focuses his litigation practice on FDCPA, TCPA, and FCRA defense.  John’s practice also focuses on defending regulatory actions including CFPB investigations and travels the country performing CFPB readiness assessments for the collection industry.  He received his law degree from the Syracuse University College of Law and his undergraduate degree in Economics from the Pennsylvania State University.

Catherine Calko is the Chief Compliance Officer and Assistant General Counsel for Spring Oaks Capital. She joined the company in 2020 as the Director of Audit and Compliance, bringing with her an extensive career in compliance and operational controls from her previous roles at Bank of America (MBNA) and Wells Fargo. In recognition of her experience and leadership, Catherine was promoted to her current position in 2021.

At Bank of America, Catherine gained comprehensive experience across the entire credit life cycle, working in collections, credit, and customer service. She played a pivotal role in establishing a vendor controls and oversight program for legal and collections vendors. During her tenure at Wells Fargo, she served as a Business Risk and Controls Manager, supporting recovery, third-party collections, legal collections, and bankruptcy.

In addition to her corporate experience, Catherine has also served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. She holds a BA from Bowling Green State University and earned her law degree from the University of Akron.

Michelle is the Managing Partner and Chief Compliance Officer at Bridgeforce, a consulting firm focused on consumer lending, payments and deposits. She jointly oversees Bridgeforce’s U.S. practice and leads the Consumer Reporting Compliance practice. Michelle’s 35+ years of industry experience gives her a unique blend of working with the art of the possible while understanding the black and white necessities of compliance to protect both Bridgeforce and our clients. Her deep knowledge of consumer reporting, usage and disputes means that she is frequently tapped to share her expertise at high-profile industry conferences and webinars hosted by CDIA, CBA, SBFE, ARMLaw, AccountsRecovery.net, insideARM, NAFCU and ACA.

Joel Strickland serves as Director of Client Relations for Online Data Exchange LLC, and is responsible for client management with respect to Data Furnisher customers using e-OSCAR®. Mr. Strickland and his team work to monitor delivery against contractual obligations, ensures the platform is meeting the service needs of Data Furnishers, drives customer learning and outreach, supports key initiatives, and drives improvements in the areas of customer experience, control, receivables management and expense.

Kelly Knepper-Stephens is the Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel at TrueAccord Corp. She is a passionate advocate for making the law (and legal advice) interesting for everyone. Her work focuses on government regulation, compliance, and civil litigation. She advises on the intersection of innovation in technology with consumer protection statutes such as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, privacy and security laws and other federal and state regulations.   Kelly serves on the Board of Directors for the Receivables Management Association International, is an ACA-Certified Instructor, and serves on the Steering Committee for the Consumer Relations Consortium. She also served as a SER for the Arbitration and Debt Collection Rulemakings. FinTech Magazine named Kelly one of the Top 100 Women in FinTech in 2022 and Collection Advisor Magazine named Kelly one of the 20 Most Powerful Women in Collections in 2018 and 2016.

Don Maurice is a partner at Maurice Wutscher LLP representing the financial services industry in bench trials and jury trials of individual and class actions as well as appeals. He is admitted to the Bars of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia and has practiced law since 1988. Don has been inducted into the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers where he serves as Regent. He is outside counsel to the Receivables Management Association International. He is a fellow at the American Bar Foundation and chairs the Consumer Affairs Committee of the New York City Bar Association. He formerly chaired the Debt Collection Practices and Bankruptcy Subcommittee of the American Bar Association. He is certified as a Leadership Professional in Ethics and Compliance by the Ethics Compliance Initiative.  He is editor of the Consumer Financial Services Blog (cfsblog.com). A frequent speaker and author on ethics, financial services, and privacy law, his many articles on these topics have been published in law reviews and trade publications.

Emily serves as Vice President of Litigation at the Oxford, MS based Security Credit Services LLC. Emily oversees a comprehensive network of law firms and attorneys, ensuring high standards of compliance, efficiency, and performance across all jurisdictions. She manages litigation workflows, monitors case performance metrics, and has implemented best practices that align with both regulatory requirements and the company’s business goals. Emily is instrumental in optimizing legal operations through innovative strategies, including data-driven decision-making and legal tech adoption. Before joining Security Credit Services LLC, Emily held senior legal roles within the debt buying and financial services industry, developing a deep understanding of the regulatory landscape, risk mitigation, and multi-jurisdictional litigation management.

David Grassi is a partner with Frost Echols, LLC and focuses his practice on civil litigation, with an emphasis on defending the credit and collection industry in lawsuits brought under the FDCPA, FCRA, and other consumer protection statutes. As a seasoned litigator, David is often brought in to assist with the firm’s most difficult cases, including class actions and appeals. David also strives to provide clients with practical advice and assists them in finding creative solutions to their problems.

Justin is the owner and principal attorney at Hasson Law, LLC, based Vancouver, Washington and serving the Northwest region, representing clients in collection, defense, employment, and regulatory matters while also providing compliance, letter review, and HR consulting.  Prior to operating the firm, Justin was Associate General Counsel for Professional Credit Service, assisting the agency in litigation and regulatory matters while also handling contract review and negotiations, compliance management, and HR consulting.  Justin has served as Past President of the Washington Collectors Association, and is currently serves as a governor-appointed industry member on Washington’s state Collection Agency Board under the Department of Licensing.

Chantel Wonder is an experienced litigator who works in consumer financial services, employment defense, and insurance. Her background is quite extensive, having
represented clients in federal and state litigation, as well as class actions, appeals, and hundreds of bench trials. Well-connected in the financial services industry, Chantel
focuses her practice on debt buyer and mortgage work, with experience in credit cards, debt collection, bankruptcy, and the wide spectrum of financial services litigation. Many of her cases surround consumer protection litigation: Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Florida Deceptive And Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUPTA), and Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA).

Rebekah Henderson brings almost 25 years of industry experience, mostly in the legal network management space, to the team at Velocity Portfolio Group.  Before coming to Velocity, she started her career supporting defense litigation for regional financial institutions before moving onto call center strategy, legal strategy for two mid-sized debt buyers, and network/firm management for these debt buyers and, later, a large bank.  In 2023, Rebekah moved to Velocity to manage the growth of its legal outsourcing arm.

Michael R. Stillman is the founding principal of Stillman Law Office, a recognized full-service creditor’s rights law firm headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The Firm extends its operations across the country, while litigating in Michigan, Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Virginia, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Ohio. Personally licensed to practice in Michigan, Maryland, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia, Michael specializes in consumer and commercial collections, insurance subrogation, equipment lease litigation, and creditor’s rights in bankruptcy. He has lectured in the areas of collections, bankruptcy, landlord/tenant evictions, and foreclosures.

In his professional associations, Michael is (the immediate past President of The National Creditor’s Bar Association). His other affiliations include membership in the Commercial Collection Agencies of America, Commercial Law League of America, International Association of Commercial Collectors, American Bar Association, and the National Association of Subrogation Professionals. Additionally, he is a licensed Residential Builder and Real Estate Broker, as well as a Certified Receivables Compliance Professional (CRCP) with RMAI.

Gary Tier is president and publisher of The Forwarders List of Attorneys, a reliable, trusted listing and portfolio of qualified, reputable attorneys who specialize in all aspects of collections, including commercial and retail receivables. Gary is currently on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Commercial Collectors (IACC). He has also served two terms on the Board of Governors of the Commercial Law League of America (CLLA). Tier serves on key committees for the Receivables Management Association, Inc. (RMAI), the Commercial Collection Agencies of America (CCA of A) and the International Association of Commercial Collectors (IACC). He has been a presenter at dozens of industry conferences, including the IACC, CLLA, CCA of A, RMAI, National Creditors Bar Association (NCBA) and the American Collectors Association (ACA International.)

John Leer leads Morning Consult’s global economic research, overseeing the company’s economic data collection, validation and analysis. He is an authority on the effects of consumer preferences, expectations and experiences on purchasing patterns, prices and employment. John continues to advance scholarship in the field of economics, recently partnering with researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland to design a new approach to measuring consumers’ inflation expectations. This novel approach, now known as the Indirect Consumer Inflation Expectations measure, leverages Morning Consult’s high-frequency survey data to capture unique insights into consumers’ expectations for future inflation. Prior to Morning Consult, John worked for Promontory Financial Group, offering strategic solutions to financial services firms on matters including credit risk modeling and management, corporate governance, and compliance risk management.

PhD, University of Oxford; Fellow at Cambridge University; Special Counsel at Actuate Law; Advisory Services to EU, US, and UK governments; Certified Expert Advisor to European Commission

Dr. Ward helps governments, regulators, and enterprises evaluate, deploy, and critically assess artificial intelligence systems. A lawyer with Actuate Law, data strategist, and technologist with a PhD from Oxford, he operates at the intersection of technical architecture, law, and public accountability—building bridges between what’s possible, what’s legal, and what’s wise.

Drawing on experience across the technology, security, and regulatory sectors, Ward works with public and private leadership teams to:

• Evaluate AI platforms and vendors for safety, bias, resilience, and data integrity—cutting through hype to expose operational and legal risk.
• Design governance frameworks that move beyond slogans to measurable performance—translating “ethical AI” into enforceable metrics and outcomes.
• Deploy systems responsibly, integrating legal, technical, and organizational safeguards from inception to scale.
• Audit and stress-test existing AI deployments for accountability gaps, privacy failures, and security exposures.

Dan Crowley is a partner in K&L Gates’ Washington, D.C. office. He leads the firm’s global financial services policy practice. In the decade before joining K&L Gates, he led the government relations efforts at the Investment Company Institute, The Nasdaq Stock Market, and the National Association of Securities Dealers. Previously, he served as general counsel to then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and to House Oversight Committee Chairman Bill Thomas. Dan also serves as RMAI’s Federal Counsel.

Don Maurice is a partner at Maurice Wutscher LLP representing the financial services industry in bench trials and jury trials of individual and class actions as well as appeals. He is admitted to the Bars of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia and has practiced law since 1988. Don has been inducted into the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers where he serves as Regent. He is outside counsel to the Receivables Management Association International. He is a fellow at the American Bar Foundation and chairs the Consumer Affairs Committee of the New York City Bar Association. He formerly chaired the Debt Collection Practices and Bankruptcy Subcommittee of the American Bar Association. He is certified as a Leadership Professional in Ethics and Compliance by the Ethics Compliance Initiative.  He is editor of the Consumer Financial Services Blog (cfsblog.com). A frequent speaker and author on ethics, financial services, and privacy law, his many articles on these topics have been published in law reviews and trade publications.

David Reid serves as General Counsel for the Receivables Management Association International (RMAI). In this capacity, David manages the legal, state legislative, regulatory, and advocacy activities of the association. David also serves as staff liaison to the RMAI Certification Council and its Standards and Remediation Committees. David is a graduate of Canisius College and Albany Law School. He is admitted to the California, New Jersey, and New York bars.

Meghan draws on her first-hand experience in high-level consumer protection roles to counsel clients through state attorney general investigations and enforcement actions across several key industries, including education, financial services, health care, hospitality, pharmaceuticals, and telecommunications. Prior to entering private practice, Meghan served as chief of the Consumer Protection Division in the Office of the Nebraska Attorney General, a role in which she was responsible for the investigation and enforcement of state and federal laws related to deceptive and unfair trade practices, data privacy and security, antitrust, nonprofits, tobacco regulation, and charitable trusts. Meghan also served for nearly a decade in the consumer protection and antitrust division of the Office of the Kansas Attorney General.

Shantanu Gangal is the CEO and co-founder of Prodigal. Prodigal maximizes payments for lenders and debt collectors by building dynamic strategies and motivating consumers with highly engaging, personalized treatments. Building Prodigal is the culmination of Shantanu’s experience innovating at the intersection of finance and analytics. His professional background includes associate and analyst roles at Boston Consulting Group and Blackstone, and Head of Data Science and Analytics at Fundbox. Shantanu is a computer science gold medalist from IIT Bombay and holds an MBA from Wharton.

Kristyn Leffler is the Vice President of Digital Strategy and Operations for Resurgent Capital Services. Her teams are responsible for all aspects of Resurgent’s digital operations: strategic segmentation, content design and delivery, product management, execution, revenue performance, and oversight. Leading these efforts has given her a front-and-center view and renewed appreciation for the application of new and innovative technologies in the finance and fintech environment. Previous roles in her eleven years with Resurgent include portfolio and strategy analytics, inventory integration and segmentation, and non-performing judgment strategies. She holds an MS in Applied Economics and Experimental Statistics from Clemson University and a BS in Business Administration from Duquesne University.

Dan is a seasoned and result oriented Consumer Banking Credit, Risk and Collections Professional with over 20 years of successful risk-management, collections analytics and digital transformation experience in the USA, UK, Hungary and CIS countries, including managing positions in the leading collections agencies and international banks, such as Barclays and OTP Bank. Dan joined his current employer EXL in 2016 and in his current role is leading an advanced digital debt collections solution (EXL PayMentor™) that automates debt collections journey across all the communication channels by using Conversational and Generative AI and Deep Learning.

Bekah Luebcke is Executive Vice President of Operations at Crown Asset Management, LLC, where she has served since 2017. She brings more than 25 years of experience across the receivables management industry, with leadership roles spanning operations, vendor management, debt buying, recovery, payment processing, and revenue cycle management. Bekah is an RMAI Certified Receivables Compliance Professional and currently serves as Chair of RMAI’s Industry Research Working Group.

As Vice President, Marian is chiefly responsible for the oversight and management of analysis and information technology systems of the Company. Her responsibilities span all of the Company’s varied business functions and she is a Certified Receivables Compliance Professional.

Through her 30+ years of industry experience, she has kept The Bureaus, Inc. at the forefront of technology, developing proprietary tools that include account-level net present value modeling and data management systems. Marian has pioneered many software suites popular in the ARM industry. She works closely with developers to improve the products for business use. Marian Sangalang served as the President of Receivables Management Association International in 2019 and was a member of the RMAI Board of Directors 2014-2022. Marian currently serves on the RMAI Certification Council and Chairs the Remediation Committee.

Andy Carlson is a Partner at Garnet Capital Advisors and heads the firm’s Charged-Off and Bankruptcy Loan Sales Group. A leading figure in the charge-off marketplace, Andy has directed the sale of more than $30 billion in loan portfolios across the U.S. and Puerto Rico since joining Garnet in 2012. Over his career, he has overseen the execution of over $55 billion in consumer loan sales, purchases, and corporate capital transactions.

Before joining Garnet, Andy was Director of Portfolio Management at Jefferson Capital Systems, where he played a key role in steering one of the largest debt buyers in the U.S. and U.K. His deep industry insight and transactional expertise make him a trusted advisor to institutions navigating the evolving debt sale landscape.

Lou DiPalma brings 35 years of expertise in debt sales and is regarded as one of the industry’s foremost leaders. He began his career in investment banking in the 1980s and founded Garnet Capital Advisors in 2004. Today, Garnet is recognized as the most comprehensive and compliant loan sale advisory service in the market.

A trusted thought leader in the charge-off sector, Lou and his team monitor industry trends, launch innovative products, educate new market entrants, and publish a semi‑annual pricing review. Under his leadership, Garnet has executed more than 2,200 transactions, selling over $154 billion in loans across bulk and flow arrangements. The firm brokers both performing and nonperforming portfolios for the FDIC, NCUA, SBA, banks, credit unions, fintechs, hedge funds, and specialty finance companies.

Garnet’s unmatched product breadth, integrity, and analytical depth set it apart in the field. Lou’s insights have appeared in numerous industry publications, and he has presented at leading bank and fintech events nationwide.

Jared Forhan, CFA®, is a Senior Portfolio Analyst at Garnet Capital Advisors, working across the Charge‑Off, Commercial, and Residential loan sale businesses. Since joining Garnet in 2013, Jared has played a key role in facilitating the sale of more than $50 billion in loan portfolios across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Beyond his portfolio analysis responsibilities, Jared leads research and business development initiatives that help shape Garnet’s market strategy. He and his team systematically monitor financial disclosures, regulatory filings, and portfolio performance data to identify emerging industry trends and new opportunities for Garnet’s advisory services. Jared is also a co‑developer of the Garnet Market Monitor, a proprietary platform offering data‑driven insights into pricing and activity within a historically opaque and illiquid market.

Jeff Simmons is responsible for driving messaging initiatives across the wireless industry and for cultivating, implementing, and leading CTIA’s business development ventures. He currently directs technical and operational issues involving text messaging platforms and administers the Common Short Code program in the United States on behalf of the nationwide wireless providers. Prior to joining CTIA, Jeff held business development roles with other telecommunications companies including MCI and Verizon. Jeff has a Master of Business Administration degree from Wake Forest University and a Bachelor of Science in Business degree from Montana State University.

Jackson’s background includes over 27 years of legal and compliance experience in consumer finance and insurance organizations.  He began his career as a litigator and regulator before becoming a corporate attorney and business executive.  His experience includes working for both public and privately-held organizations in the insurance and consumer finance sectors.  Currently, Jackson serves as the General Counsel for Resurgent Capital Services.  Jackson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee, a Masters of Business Administration and Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Memphis.

Tom is General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President at National Loan Exchange, Inc. (“NLEX”), a subsidiary of Heritage Global Inc., a Nasdaq-listed asset disposition company. He leads NLEX’s legal, privacy, and compliance functions and supports broader operational leadership across the firm. Tom holds CIPP and CIPM privacy certifications, ACA International designations of CCCO, Fellow, and Scholar, and the CRCP designation from RMAI. He is active in various RMAI activities, including the AI Committee, Standards Committee, and the Certification Council.

Porter Heath Morgan is an attorney and advisor who partners with clients to help unlock their people and their leadership and compliance initiatives.  Heath is a third generation collection attorney who has grown up in the industry and has 19 years of in house counsel experience for collection agencies, collection law firms, debt buyers, healthcare providers and technology companies.

Heath is passionate about training and education and is a frequent speaker for ACA, NCBA, RMAI, and serves on the ACA Council of Delegates and is a founding member of the Colorado Creditors Bar Association where he serves on the board of directors and as the CLE Committee chair. Heath is licensed in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming and is a member of the Supreme Court Bar.

Kim is a partner in Troutman Pepper’s Privacy + Cyber Practice and Consumer Financial Services Groups, where she counsels companies on compliance with federal and state privacy and data security statutes and regulations. Her work encompasses strategic planning and guidance for companies to incorporate privacy and data security considerations throughout product development, marketing, and implementation. She also assists companies with data breach prevention and response.  Kim also provides extensive e-commerce and mobile counseling, including mobile app development, conducting online behavioral advertising assessments, enhancing website privacy policies, and advising on social media interactions with consumers.  Kim also provides guidance to clients on regulatory compliance matters, including supervisory and enforcement interactions with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), other federal regulatory agencies, and state attorneys general. Kim has been recognized in Chambers FinTech Legal USA and The Legal 500 and is a member of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers.

Scott E. Wortman is the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Bounce AI, an international fintech headquartered in NY, which uses proprietary and advanced AI technologies to set new standards for efficiency, growth, and innovation in the accounts receivable management marketplace, as well as, redefining what’s possible in the consumer financial services industry at large. Prior to going in-house at Bounce AI, Scott was a Financial Institutions Litigation and Regulatory Compliance Partner at Blank Rome LLP, achieving a hard-earned reputation as a persuasive, creative, and determined advocate for his clients. At Bounce AI, Scott manages the company’s legal and risk exposure framework, while overseeing new initiatives and safeguarding IP.

Brett Murray is the Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy & Analytics. He joined Crown in 2023 and works across the organization to advance initiatives that strengthen growth, agility, and performance. With nearly two decades of experience in Specialty Finance and Accounts Receivable, he has managed and analyzed a broad range of consumer credit assets. His expertise centers on leveraging data to drive clear, analytical decision-making. Brett holds a BS from Kennesaw State University.

Dan Simmons is Senior Director of Consulting – Financial Services at TransUnion. He’s responsible for providing insights on consumer credit risk management and recent trends in the lending industry. With nearly two decades experience in financial services, Simmons spent 12 years working on consulting projects in domestic and international locations (India, Israel, South Africa, United Kingdom and Vietnam) prior to joining TransUnion in Jan. 2020. In addition to his project work, his background includes directing fraud, collections, customer service and vendor management operations for credit card, retail, powersport and student loan portfolios. Simmons has an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Northern Illinois University.

Chris Brunner is the Founder and CEO of Authvia, the leading conversational commerce company transforming how businesses engage and get paid through messaging. With more than a decade of leadership in fintech and communications, he has built Authvia into a trusted platform integrated with over 250 payment processors and global messaging channels including RCS, SMS, and WhatsApp. A former executive at Qualcomm, CBS, Univision, and SITO Mobile, Chris combines deep industry expertise with a vision for secure, AI-driven, message-based payments that redefine digital customer engagement.

Glenn Walters serves as SVP of Strategy, Analytics and Transformation at PRA Group, where he is responsible for driving innovation, data-driven strategy and operational excellence. He brings deep expertise in consumer debt collections, advanced analytics and large-scale business transformation, with leadership experience at GE Capital, Bank of America and TrueML Products.  

Throughout his career, Glenn has led initiatives in portfolio strategy, machine learning adoption and performance optimization, with a particular focus on optimizing customer contact strategy across outbound calling and digital channels, including email and SMS. His work emphasizes balancing consumer experience, regulatory compliance and recovery performance through intelligent channel orchestration. Known for bridging strategy and operations, he partners effectively across departments to deliver sustainable results in complex and highly regulated business environments.

As Chief Cyber Resilience Officer & Field CTO, Tia Hopkins is focused on engaging with the cybersecurity community, providing thought leadership, supporting strategic customer and partner engagements, and working closely with the sales, marketing, product, engineering, and customer success teams to drive security outcome-focused initiatives.

She has spent the past 20+ years of her career in various IT and IT Security roles and has over a decade of experience in the managed services space. Outside of her role at eSentire, Tia is also an adjunct professor of Cybersecurity at Yeshiva University and is currently pursuing her PhD in Cybersecurity Leadership.

Tia holds a B.Sc. in Information Technology, M.Sc. in Information Security and Assurance, a M.Sc. in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, as well as a Master of Business Administration. She was recognized by SC Media as a 2019 Reboot Leadership Award recipient in the Outstanding Educator category. In 2020, Tia was awarded The Software Report’s Top 25 Women Leaders in Cybersecurity and the Cyber Defense Magazine’s Top 100 Women in Cybersecurity, and in 2021 was recognized by IFSEC Global as a top global influencer in the Security Executives category. Tia has been most recently recognized as Team Leader of the Year at the SANS Institute 2023 Difference Makers Awards.

Fred Langston, CISSP CCSK, has  over 30 years building security and compliance programs for Fortune 500s as well as SMBs and local government and has been a leader in securing organizations and helping them become compliant with security regulations and standards.  Fred has recently joined the Stillwater Group and brings the same set of consulting services he’s delivered to thousands of clients.  Fred has been contributed to the industry having built, influenced or been an SME on regulations and standards such as HIPAA, ISO 27002, and the original version of the HITRUST CSF and the Banking IT Security Forum’s (BITS, now Sharedassessments.org)  Financial Institution Shared Assessments Program (FISAP)  SIG 2.0 and AUP 2.0.

Anne Thomas has been with Cavalry Portfolio Services for more than 15 years and has been in the debt collection industry for nearly 20 years. As part of her role, Anne is responsible for designing, implementing, and monitoring the Compliance Management System. In addition, she serves as a member of Cavalry’s Compliance Committee.

Shelly Gensmer‑Cleek is an accomplished compliance and legal executive in the ARM and financial services industry. She currently serves as Chief Compliance Officer at Unifund and works independently as a contract compliance consultant focusing on career mentorship and helping organizations build cost‑efficient, regulation‑forward compliance frameworks. Shelly’s expertise is grounded in more than 20 years specializing in legal and compliance, data privacy and cyber security law. Shelly holds several industry recognized certifications as well as additional accreditations from her alma mater, Purdue Law School.

Jonathan L. Pompan is a Partner in Venable LLP’s Washington, DC office and co-chair of the firm’s consumer financial services practice group.  Jonathan has extensive experience representing companies before the FTC, CFPB, state attorneys general, and state regulators. His experience includes several CFPB investigations and enforcement matters, examination preparation and appeals, conducting compliance audits, obtaining licenses, and assisting in the formation and development of new products and services. In addition, he provides ongoing compliance and general counseling advice to clients in the consumer financial services sector, including debt buyers and collectors, loan originators, fintech service providers, and advertisers and marketers, including lead generators.  Jonathan is versatile and creative in addressing legal and business considerations, and in developing compliance programs and advice tailored to his client’s unique needs and meeting government expectations.

Nicole M. Strickler is a seasoned litigator focusing her practice in the defense of consumer financial services litigation throughout the country. This includes representing clients in both individual and class actions involving state and federal consumer protection laws, such as Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and similar state laws. Her clients include corporations, lending institutions, collection agencies, asset purchasers, lawyers as well as individuals. While she always strives to win prior to trial, Ms. Strickler has successfully defended numerous bench and jury trials on behalf of her clients, including class claims. She is routinely solicited to speak before national industry trade organizations, and in publications, concerning issues affecting the credit and collection industry.

Chuck Dodge is a partner in the Maine office of Hudson Cook, LLP.  Chuck is a member of RMAI and the ACA, as well as the Consumer Financial Services Committee of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association.  Chuck practices exclusively in the area of consumer credit regulatory compliance counseling.  His practice focuses on federal and state laws related to debt collection, account servicing, debt buying, foreclosure, repossession and the enforcement of creditors’ rights more generally.  Chuck’s practice also regularly involves assisting national, regional and local debt buyers and debt collectors, as well as their investors and lenders, with regulatory compliance matters related to licensing, conduct rules and recovery.

Amber Russo is President/Principal of Kino Financial Co., LLC., an RMAI Certified Debt Buyer. She is responsible for overseeing all facets of the portfolio acquisition process, agency and legal network management, and business operations. Amber has dedicated over nineteen years to the receivables management industry and is an advocate for state and regional debt buyers. Amber currently serves as President-Elect on the Board of Directors for Receivables Management Association International.

During the last 17 years with Cornerstone, Christy has formed and maintained valuable client relationships. In her current role she speaks with the collection industry’s leaders to navigate clients through new licensing based on agency activity, statutory compliance notifications regarding corporate changes and overall client expansion and development. Her passion to see her clients succeed calls for her to continuously study the latest state licensing requirements and regulations to ensure proper licensing.

Sarah Atwood is the Managing Attorney at Fair Fee Legal Services, a high-volume bankruptcy firm located in Las Vegas, Nevada. She represents debtors in both personal and business bankruptcies.  Prior to her work with debtors, Ms. Atwood was Senior Staff Attorney for Chapter 13 Trustee, Kathleen A. Leavitt, for over 16 years. In that role, she assisted the Trustee in the administration of Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases.

Ms. Atwood is admitted to practice in Nevada, U.S. District Court, District of Nevada, and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. She holds a Juris Doctorate from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Alan Hochheiser is a leading practitioner in the areas of creditors’ rights and bankruptcy law. He advises and represents businesses, regional and national banks, credit unions, equipment lessors and other lenders, as well as secured and unsecured creditors.  Among his accomplishments, he has successfully resolved non-dischargeable claims based upon fraud conversion and breach of fiduciary issues and has successfully handled the assumption of leases in the bankruptcy of a major airline. Al has been named to ALM’s list of Cleveland’s Top-Rated Lawyers and is peer-rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the worldwide guide to lawyers.

Senior Vice President, Bankruptcy Operations and Strategic Analytics … Bruce Jobe is responsible for the daily management and oversight of our Bankruptcy Servicing operations. Mr. Jobe joined us from Bank of America where he most recently served as Senior Vice President, Issues and Exam Management of Default Servicing.  Prior to that, Bruce had various responsibilities with Bank of America in Collections and Treasury Servicing.  Mr. Jobe also served as Vice President of Risk Management and other functions in credit policy, operations and audit/quality control for the US mortgage insurance businesses at Genworth and GE Capital.  Mr. Jobe was certified by GE as a  Six Sigma Master Black Belt.  Mr. Jobe graduated, with Distinction, with a BS in Mathematics from the U.S. Naval Academy, a MA from Oxford University and as a Fuqua Scholar from Fuqua School of Business at Duke University with an MBA.

Jeffrey G. Sloane is an esteemed attorney who has dedicated his career to the practice of law in Nevada since 1984. With a primary focus on creditor’s rights in bankruptcy proceedings and general civil litigation, he has established himself as a trusted advocate in the legal community. Alongside his thriving legal practice, Jeff actively contributes to the State Bar of Nevada’s disciplinary board and client security fund, demonstrating his commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards in the legal profession. He is also deeply passionate about serving his community, and does so by serving as a pro bono attorney with the Legal Aid of Southern Nevada.

Kat O’Brien has fifteen years of experience in the ARM industry translating complex legal requirements into compliant operational processes. She is Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel for United Holding Group, a national debt buyer, where she enjoys working with many Agencies, Collection Law Firms, Vendors, Financial Institutions, and FinTech Companies. Kat has earned ACA International’s distinguished Credit and Collection Compliance Attorney (CCCA) as well as RMAI’s Certified Receivables Compliance Professional (CRCP) Designation.

Anne Thomas has been with Cavalry Portfolio Services for more than 15 years and has been in the debt collection industry for nearly 20 years. As part of her role, Anne is responsible for designing, implementing, and monitoring the Compliance Management System. In addition, she serves as a member of Cavalry’s Compliance Committee.