Speakers

Click on the links below for more information about each speaker.

• Wednesday
• Thursday

Keynote Speaker

• George P. Nassos
  

  George P. Nassos currently serves as an Industry Associate Professor and Director of the Master of Science program in Environmental Management and Sustainability program at the Stuart School of Business at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. He is also the Director of the Center for Sustainable Enterprise, a center founded at Stuart as a resource for projects directed toward achieving sustainability in Chicago’s economic community.
  
  Prior to joining IIT-Stuart, Dr. Nassos spent 16 years in the chemical industry with International Minerals & Chemical Corporation, which included being the Managing Director of the IMC Dutch and German subsidiaries over a four-year period. He later spent the next 16 years of his career in the environmental industry working for the chemical waste management subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc. His last position with Waste Management, Inc. was General Manager of the Fiber Fuels Division of the Cemtech LP subsidiary. He was responsible for developing a business for the production of a solid fuel from renewable resources such as non-recyclable fibers and plastic film, which was used as a coal substitute.
  
  Currently, his primary focus is developing and teaching sustainable strategies for companies to create a competitive advantage without negatively impacting the environment. As Director of the Center for Sustainable Enterprise, he leads numerous research projects; organizes conferences, seminars and short courses; and help found the Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance. Dr. Nassos has also conducted short courses on sustainable strategies internationally. His research activities include developing small wind turbine technology and other renewable energy technologies.
  
  In addition to various environmental activities, Dr. Nassos serves on the Board of Directors for the Lake Michigan States Section of the Air & Waste Management Association, and the American Quality Schools, a nonprofit organization that operates charter schools. He is also a past president of the Orthodox Christian Alumni Association at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a member of the Energy, Environment and Economics subcommittee of the Archdiocesan Advisory Committee for Science and Technology, an advisory committee to the Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of America. For the past five years, he has written a column for the monthly newspaper A Sustainable Environment: Our Obligation to Protect God’s Gift.
  
  Dr. Nassos earned his BS degree from the University of Illinois, and received his MS and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering, and MBA from Northwestern University in Chicago.

Educational Sessions

• Peggy Artz
  

  Since joining IAB in 1995, Peggy Artz has held a wide range of field and corporate management positions. She was promoted through the ranks to her current position of Corporate Vice President in 2002. With a degree in accounting and a strong background in accounts receivable and deduction management, Peggy successfully manages the operations of the Midwest region. Along with her education and excellent ethical standards, Peggy brings extensive experience in the consumer and commercial products industries, as well as the transportation, healthcare industries. Peggy supports her experience with strong analytical and technical skills that result in maximum efficiency and positive results in deduction and A/R management.
  
  In addition to her operational responsibility, Peggy attends credit conferences throughout the United States effectively networking and sharing best practices with the credit community. She is committed to, and has been successful in creating, supporting and sustaining long term relationships with present and future clients.
  
  Peggy may be contacted at IAB’s corporate offices in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania

• Diana Crowe
  

  Since joining IAB in 1995, Diana Crowe has held a wide variety of field and corporate positions. She presently serves as Manager of Regional Operations for the Midwest area. Diana holds a B.S. degree in Management. Along with her education, she has a strong background in accounts receivable, including credit management, collections and deduction experience in a multitude of industries.
  
  In addition to her operational experience, Diana has a strong background in training and Human Resources. She served as Corporate Trainer at IAB and was responsible for developing and instituting a new employee orientation session as well as being an implementer for IAB’s deduction management software. Along with being a regular presenter at IAB Annual Meetings, she has provided on-site training in a wide variety of subjects for IAB clients and various trade groups.
  
  Diana can be contacted at the IAB corporate office at 570-587-1000 in Clarks Summit, Pa.

• Karen Drennan
  

  Karen Drennan is the Corporate Controller for Composites One LLC and Director of Financial Services for Great Lakes Synergy. She has been with C1 and GLS for the past 16 years. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with majors in accounting and finance, she also earned an MBA in the same areas and is a CTP, and CPA. Her main responsibilities include managing the finance staff of 18 people in credit and accounting.
  
  Karen’s areas of expertise are in credit management, process improvement and operational efficiencies and cash management. During her tenure at Composites One, she implemented a cash management process, professionalized the credit department, and installed auto cash, auto vouchering, purchasing card and T&E card programs. She also has experience in budgeting, forecasting and strategic planning.
  
  

• Matt Fluegge
  

  Matt Fluegge is an Assistant Vice President with Fifth Third Processing Solutions (FTPS). Matt is in his seventh year working in the FTPS Commercial Merchant New Sales division, and he specializes in credit card acceptance in the business-to-business market segments. His success in this market segment has earned him entrance into Fifth Third’s President’s Circle the last three years, which is awarded to the company’s top performers.
  
  Matt has a BBA degree in finance. Prior to joining FTPS in 2002, he was a Manager and Manager Trainer for eight years with a national sporting goods retailer, Champs Sports. During his time with Champs Sports, Matt was awarded Manager of the Year for two years.
  
  

• Melody Hart
  

  Melody Joy Hart, CPA, CTP is Director of Creditor Relations for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Previously, she was Assistant Treasurer at ArvinMeritor. She has over 20 years experience in Capital Markets, Cash Management, Foreign Exchange, Bank and Rating Agency Relations, Structured Finance, Accounting, Sarbanes-Oxley, and consulting. She has served on the Government Relations Committee, Working Capital Task Force, and the Conference Planning Committee. She is a CPA and a CTP. Hart earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Bradley University, and her MBA degree from Keller Graduate School.

• John Jaeger, CCE
  

  John Jaeger, CCE, currently serves the Manager of Credit and Accounts Receivable for Follett Higher Education Group in River Grove, Ill. He has been in Credit Management for over 20 years and has worked for four different companies in various industries, servicing both domestic and international customers.
  
  Prior to receiving his CCE designation in November 1999, he earned his MBA degree from Northern Illinois University in De Kalb, Ill., and his BA degree in management from Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa.
  
  Throughout his career, he has been an active member of the Association. He is a past chair of the NACM Midwest Board of Directors. He also serves as an instructor for the Midwest School of Credit.

• George A. Schnupp, CCE
  

  George A. Schnupp, CCE, is the U.S. Director of Credit at Anixter Inc., which is the global leader in supply chain services and distribution of wire, cable and communications and physical security products, fasteners; and class “C” components. “Best Practices” in the credit profession. With 28 years of experience in the credit field, he has implemented various PC-based credit processes, eliminating numerous routine repetitive tasks performed by credit personnel. Mr. Schnupp is an instructor: NACM/Chicago-Midwest (Chicago Institute of Credit), William Rainey Harper College and the National Association of Credit Management’s Mid-Career School. He has taught Principles of Business Credit, Basic Financial Accounting, Financial Statement Analysis I, Financial Statements (Intermediate): Interpretation and Credit Risk Assessment and Essentials of Finance. He is a graduate of the NACM Graduate School of Credit & Financial Management. He has authored the course material for the CCE Prep Course that is offered at Credit Congress.
  
  He is also a core contributor to the “Principles of Business Credit” book used in the Credit Administration Program. Mr. Schnupp serves on four National Committees: National Accreditation Committee, National Education Committee, National Credit Administration Program Committee, and is the Chairman of the National Advanced Credit Administration Program Instructors Committee. He was also named the NACM and Robert Half/Account-temps Instructor of the Year. George has been the recipient of the NACM Midwest Credit Executive of the Year award and was named the NACM National Credit Executive of the Year Award in 2008.

• Byron M. Shoulton
  

  Byron M. Shoulton is the International Economist at FCIA Management Co., Inc., in New York. FCIA, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Great American Insurance Company, and has underwritten trade credit and political risk insurance for over 45 years. FCIA policies provides coverage against commercial and political non-payment risks for companies and financial institutions around the world.
  
  Byron joined FCIA in 1980 with a focus on the Latin America debt crisis. Later on he assumed the responsibility for global country risk analysis for the FCIA credit and political risk portfolio. Byron monitors ongoing global, economic, trade and political trends impacting trade finance risks. He also conducts quarterly country rankings, and travels globally to assess country conditions. Byron speaks regularly at various trade seminars.
  
  In addition, Byron publishes Major Country Developments, a monthly publication available to FCIA brokers and policyholders, which is posted on the FCIA Web site.
  
  Byron is a graduate of the John's Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C.

• Deborah L. Thorne
  

  Deborah L. Thorne is a partner in the Chicago office of Barnes &Thornburg. She concentrates her practice in the areas of creditors' rights, bankruptcy, financial restructurings, and commercial transactions encompassing all phases of restructuring of corporate clients, commercial litigation and representation of creditors seeking recovery for breach of contract and other claims; negotiation of restructuring plans, financing and other disputes; representation of secured creditors in UCC foreclosures, replevins of personal property, work-outs of non-performing loans, and representation of various parties in assignments for benefit of creditors. Her clients have included financial institutions, corporations, and partnerships in a variety of industries including healthcare, truck manufacturing, retail, advertising, and franchisees. Ms. Thorne is a frequent lecturer and has authored numerous articles for legal and business publications.
  
  She is Bankruptcy chair of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association and formerly served as chair of the Chicago Bar Association Bankruptcy and Reorganization Committee, and as a member of the Board of Governors of the Chicago Council on Lawyers. She is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, serving on the Editorial Board of ABI World. Her community activities include past president of the Evanston United Way Board as well as board member of the United Way of Suburban Chicago and Evanston Human Relations Commission. She is a member of the Board of the Women Employed Institute. Ms. Thorne received her B. A. degree in history from Macalester College in 1975, her M.A.T. degree from Duke University in 1976, and her J.D. with honors in 1983 from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago Kent College of Law. She is admitted to practice before all Illinois state courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois and the Northern District of Indiana.

• Michael Williams
  

  AMERICAN CHECK MANAGEMENT and it's President, Dean Middleton, welcomed Michael Williams to it's leadership in 1996 as Senior Vice President. Michael has been personally responsible for negotiations with credit and treasury professionals from major nationwide corporations. ACM has greatly benefited from Michael's diversified sales background in that even though he has the ability to deal with the largest corporations within the NACM, he also has the ability to personally advise and offer guidance to a small startup company.
  
  Michael is always ready to speak to the NACM membership and share his expertise in check and credit card fraud as well as discussing the use of technology to improve cash flow. Whether in an individual industry group meeting, or at an annual meeting, Michael is right at home sharing his enthusiasm for the credit industry, as well as his expertise in the credit arena.

• Tom Wuich, CCE
  

  Since August 2005, Tom Wuich, CCE has served as Director of Credit and Risk Management for Anixter, Inc., in Glenview, Ill. Prior to being appointed to this position, he was the Director of Credit at Mosaic, which was formerly IMC Fertilizer in Lake Forest, Ill for 20 years.
  
  In addition to being a CCE, he is also a Certified Expert Witness, and has successfully completed the Graduate School of Credit-Dartmouth in addition to receiving his MBA from Northern Illinois University.
  
  For over 15 years, he has been an instructor for financial statement analysis and business management class for NACM Midwest. He has also taught financial statement analysis at NACM-National Credit Congress and previous NACM Midwest Credit Conferences.
  
  He is a former NACM Midwest Board member, and has served as Chairperson for the Association’s Web site and Education Committees.

• Vivian Van Keuren
  

  Vivian Van Keuren has over 20 years in the financial services industry. She has served as a Credit Manager, as well as Controller and understands the challenges many of us face each day. Currently, she is the Vice President of Fifth Third Processing Solutions, one of the nation’s largest credit card processors. Vivian works in the Chicagoland region and is an expert in the business-to-business area, specializing in Level II and Level III Interchange.
  
  As a featured speaker at many NACM Industry Credit Group meetings throughout the nation, she is well versed in credit card processing interchange, and the current rules and regulations to include PCI Compliance.
  
  Her services can help you can expand your payment options and better understand the credit card processing industry. Vivian can be contacted at 219-660-4717, via e-mail at vivian.vankeuren@53.com.

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Thursday

Keynote Speaker

• William A. Strauss
  

  Since 1982, William A. Strauss has been with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. In his current role as a Senior Economist and Economic Advisor in the Research Department, he is mostly responsible for analyzing the current performance of the Midwest economy and the manufacturing sector for use in monetary policy. He also produces the Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index, a monthly estimate by major industry of manufacturing output in the Seventh Federal Reserve District states of lllinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin, in addition to organizing the Bank’s Economic Outlook Symposium and Auto Outlook Symposium.
  
  He has taught as an adjunct faculty member for Loyola University and Webster University in Chicago. He currently teaches at Graham School of General Studies at the University of Chicago and Kellstatdt Graduate School of Business. at DePaul University. Mr. Strauss also conducts several economic workshops and industrial roundtables throughout the year, and has been interviewed on numerous television and radio shows and quoted in major business magazines and newspapers.
  
  His research includes analysis of the manufacturing and auto sectors, Midwest regional economy, rade-weighted dollar, business cycles and Federal Reserve payments operations.
  
  Throughout his career, he has been active in various professional organizations. He is a past president of the Chicago Association of Business Economists, currently serves on the National Association for Business Economics Board of Directors and a member of the Advisory Council for the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Center for Economic Education.
  
  He earned his BA degree in economics and geography from the University at Buffalo, and his MA degree in economics from Northwestern University.

Education Sessions

• Shelly DeRousse
  

  Shelly DeRousse is a partner of Stahl Cowen Crowley Addis LLC in Chicago, concentrating on commercial litigation and corporate restructuring. Sh has represented clients ranging from large fortune 500 corporations to mid-sized companies in both commercial transactions and litigation of disputes. Her experience also includes extensive creditor’s rights work for banks, vendors and service providers, landlords and lessees, and other creditors and lenders. Shelly has also taught Secured Transactions at DePaul University College of Law.

• Frank Dispensa
  

  Frank has been active in the credit information/commercial debt collection industry for the past 20 years, holding positions in customer service and education, sales, collections and general management. He has held the position of Vice President - Midwest Operations for the last 13 years.
  
  He is a member of the Commercial Law League of America and has been awarded an advanced certification as a Senior Certified Collection Professional by the Agency Association of the Commercial Law League of America. He is also a member of the International Association of Commercial Collectors and is currently designated as a Collection Service Location Manager by the State of Tennessee.
  
  Frank holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in Business Administration and Psychology and a Masters Degree of Business Administration with concentrations in Marketing and Human Resource Management.

• Mark Humrichouser
  

  Mr. Humrichouser has over 15 years of experience in sales, technology and the audio industry. In his current role, he leads the overall business for North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean. Prior to joining Shure Incorporated in 2006, Mr. Humrichouser was Team Manager for Professional Systems and the Music Industry at Sennheiser, following a number of years as a Regional Sales Manager and Regional Market Development Manager. Prior to his tenure at Sennheiser, Mr. Humrichouser spent four years at Systems Wireless in Herndon, VA as a Sales Manager and Sales Engineer, and became the second Sales Manager in the Company’s 25-year history. Mr. Humrichouser received a Bachelor’s degree in marketing from Radford University in Virginia in 1989.

• Dale Joerling
  

  Dale Joerling is a partner in the law firm of Thompson Coburn LLP in St. Louis, Mo., and chairs the firm's Antitrust Practice Section. Mr. Joerling is also Chair of the Antitrust Committee of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Before joining Thompson Coburn, Mr. Joerling was a trial attorney at the Federal Trade Commission in Washington D.C. where he was involved in domestic and international antitrust matters.
  Since returning to St. Louis, Mr. Joerling has focused his practice on antitrust counseling and litigation. Mr. Joerling is listed in the 2009 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America for Antitrust Law.

• Michele Pancotto, CCE, CICP
  

  Since September 2002, Michele Pancotto, CCE has been with Andrew LLC, which was acquired by CommScope Company in December 2007. She currently serves as the Credit and Collection Supervisor for the Americas Region where she responsible for financial analysis, setting and monitoring credit lines for over 700 customers along with supervising a staff of collectors. Prior to joining Andrew, she was at QST Industries for over 20 years most recently as Credit Manager.
  
  Michele obtained her CCE in 2005 and CICP in 2007 and has is a former NACM Midwest Chairperson and served as a Board member from 1998 to 2008.

• David M. Rownd
  

  David M. Rownd practices in Thompson Coburn Fagel Haber's Litigation Department, focusing on business litigation. He regularly advises business clients on issues relating to the avoidance of problems with accounts receivable and represents clients pursuing remedies to obtain collection of accounts in default. His practice includes proceedings for emergency relief, trials and appeals in state and federal courts, hearings before administrative agencies, as well as arbitrations and mediations before alternative dispute resolution tribunals.

• Bruce Skof
  

  Bruce Skof has over 15 years of corporate finance experience. He joined Shure in 2000 and has been responsible for financial analysis, treasury/cash management, payroll, internal auditing, and budgeting/forecasting during his tenure at Shure. Prior to Shure, Bruce worked in the distribution industry as a Finance Manager at Ameriserve Distribution, a distributor of food, supplies, and equipment to the restaurant industry. Prior to Ameriserve, Bruce worked for Marriott Distribution Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Marriott International and a distributor of food and supplies to the hospitality industry, as a Plant Controller. Bruce received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota.

• Jay Snyder
  

  Jay Snyder has been involved with Credit, Collections and Risk Management for 19 years. Joining Shure in 2006, Jay is responsible for the Credit and Sales Accounting Groups including the responsibilities of collections, risk management, cash application and general sales accounting. Prior to Shure, Jay served in similar roles as the Director of Credit & Collections for Midas International, Corporate Credit Manager for US Robotics, Credit Manager for Wilson Sporting Goods and General Manager for Stanley Works. Jay holds an accounting degree from the Dorsey School of Business, and a Bachelors Degree in Business Management, with an emphasis in Global Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

• Gloria Jean Waber
  

  For more than four years, Gloria Jean H. Waber has been with Corrective Solutions, the leading company in diversion programs. She works exclusively with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Bad Check Restitution Program—the second largest county in the United States. She has worked in both the corporate and non-profit sectors with over 20 years of experience in public relations, marketing, community relations and investor relations for a Fortune 500 company. She also has experience interacting with governmental agencies and how companies benefit from these partnerships. She is a graduate of DePaul University and Roosevelt University, and a Chicago native.

• Derek Wasson
  

  As product line manager for Equifax Commercial Information Solutions for that past five years, Derek Wasson has primary responsibility for oversight of Equifax’s commercial portfolio management and fraud solutions. In addition, he is responsible for managing the Equifax National Telecommunications Data Exchange, a data repository of telecommunication and utility company accounts receivable data.
  
  Prior to joining Equifax in 2005, he spent eight years in various positions within the retirement plan administration industry.
  
  Derek has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Georgia.

• Norman Zusevics
  

  Norm Zusevics has 30 years of experience in country risk and credit analysis in manufacturing, financial and service industries. Norm joined Shure in 2005, and was instrumental in the development of the Shure Risk Model in use today. Norm also is responsible for preparing regular economic updates for all of the countries which are part of Shure’s global presence. Prior to Shure, Norm has worked for the Harris Bank, Maytag International and Transamerica Finance, among others, where he was mainly responsible for international customers, as well as domestic markets. Norm has earned an MBA degree from Northwestern University, as well as an MA from the University of Chicago and a BSFS in international economics from Georgetown University. Norm has been a long-time member of FCIB, a sister company of the NACM.

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