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.

Laura Jensen joined Absolute Resolutions Corp., a leading purchaser of distressed consumer assets in the U.S., in 2012 as its VP of Business Development. She has served in progressively more senior roles and was appointed as Chief Acquisitions Officer in 2019.

During her tenure in the ARM industry, Laura has been responsible for many areas of business operations including business development, portfolio sales and acquisitions, vendor management, recovery management, project management, compliance, and client services.

Laura received her Certified Receivables Compliance Professional certification in 2019. She served as a member of the 2013 CFPB Rule Making Taskforce and has participated in several advocacy days in Washington, D.C.  Laura was elected to the RMAI Board of Directors in 2020. As a key employee of a medium sized industry participant with a long tenure and extensive professional network, she fills an important role within the trade organization advancing the broad needs of its membership.

Her professional and volunteer experience has given her a substantial understanding of the challenges within the ARM industry. She is an ardent supporter of the industry engaging in and managing to the ever-changing regulatory environment.

James J. “Jim” Mastriani is President of Velocity Portfolio Group, Inc. Founded in 2003, the company is in the business of acquiring assets originated by federal and state banks, the fintech marketplace and other creditors for the purpose of generating income and cash flow from the management and collection of these assets. The company also provides outsourced legal collection solutions for credit grantors, debt buyers, and other owners and originators of consumer receivables.

From 1998 until joining Velocity in 2004, he practiced at the New York office of international law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP, where he was responsible for providing legal and regulatory advice to clients in the financial services and consumer finance industries. In addition to having served as President of RMAI, he has spent several years chairing the RMAI Federal Legislative and Regulatory Committee.

Vaishali Rao, a partner in Hinshaw & Culbertson’s Chicago office, leads the Regulatory & Compliance practice in Consumer Financial Services. She frequently represents the ARM industry in supervisory exams, enforcement proceedings and on compliance issues. Prior to joining Hinshaw, Vaishali was a supervising attorney in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General for 8 years, where she managed high stakes fraud investigations and litigation, including over the financial crisis years. She coordinated and led national litigation teams of Attorneys General around the country, and worked closely with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, among other agencies. Prior to working for the Attorney General, she served as Assistant Counsel to the Speaker in the Illinois House of Representatives, including on the impeachment trial of former Illinois Governor, Rod R. Blagojevich.

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.

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.

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.

Ryan Carney is a Government Affairs Advisor and a member of the Public Policy and Law practice. Prior to joining the firm, Ryan served as the chief of staff for two members of Congress. Through these roles, he excelled in strategic planning, campaign messaging, and leading high-performing teams. Additionally, he served as a staff director for a Congressional committee, delivered several key bills into public law, and raised funds for political candidates’ campaigns.

Don Maurice is a partner at Maurice Wutscher LLP representing the financial services industry in compliance matters, bench trials, jury trials and appeals of individual and class actions. 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. Don serves as outside counsel to RMAI. 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). He is a frequent speaker and author on ethics, financial services, and privacy law. His many articles on consumer financial services law 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.