Our Blog

Welcome to the NACM Commercial Services Credit Blog—your resource for insights, updates, and expert advice on credit management. Explore articles, case studies, and tools to stay informed, enhance your skills, and succeed in the evolving world of credit management.

4 Things I Hear From Millennials On Leadership

September 27, 2024

Written By: Dr. Jeremy Graves Let’s get one thing out in the open. I am not a Millennial; I have never been a Millennial and I don’t claim to speak for them. I have, however, spent the last 10 years

The Transformative Power of NACM’s Thought Leadership Forums

September 27, 2024

Jamilex Gotay, senior editorial associate In an ever-changing and often volatile economy, the B2B credit sector is constantly evolving, demanding that professionals adapt and innovate. However, staying ahead of the curve can be challenging without the right resources. NACM’s Thought

Member Spotlight – Holly S. McAndrew

May 23, 2024

How to build your “Credit”-ability

March 28, 2024

Kendall Payton, editorial associate Credibility (or “credit”-ability for credit managers) helps establish trust and confidence with your customers, colleagues and upper management. In an industry where decisions can have significant financial implications, mere competence is often not enough to inspire

Clear Communication Between Creditors and Customers

January 15, 2020

“The art of communication is the language of leadership.” –James Humes, five-time presidential speechwriter Credit managers are the heroes on the frontlines to protect a company’s financial wellbeing. Whether assessing credit decisions or following up with customers on payment, credit

Spotlight on Brett Hanft, CBA the New CFDD National Chairman

July 16, 2019

NACM Commercial Services wants to congratulate Brett Hanft, CBA on his new position as CFDD National Chairman. Brett puts in an incredible amount of his time into CFDD and NACM and we want to recognize him for that. We asked

How to Have a Difficult Conversation at Work

May 15, 2019

By: Erin Bair, Director, Training & Organization Development, Cascade Employers Association Perhaps your direct report’s performance has not been meeting your expectations or is engaging in behavior that you find troubling. Maybe that’s the case, but it’s not your direct

4 Commonly Overlooked Reasons Why Creative Leaders Succeed

March 21, 2019

By: Courtney Feider, Executive Coach, Behavioral Facilitator, and the Author of “I Heart Creativity” Creative professionals used to be a specific category of worker in the knowledge economy, confined to their own imaginative roles and asked to do whatever upper

New Year’s Resolution: Reinventing Yourself for 2019 Conquering Your Everest!

January 22, 2019

Before formulating new resolutions for 2019 and before trying to reinvent yourself, you need to stop and make sure that you are in good health, personally and professionally. In fact, many of us will go to the doctor once a

The 21st Century Global Credit Professional: Secrets of Success

November 12, 2018

Albert Einstein once said: “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” As global credit professionals, we need to change and adapt if we are to succeed in a global world environment. But change does not mean to empty

CFDD & NACM: Supporting Both Organizations

November 15, 2018

Republished from the CFDD National Newsletter Having served on both my local NACM Affiliate Board and CFDD Chapter’s Board, you might think I would have a unique perspective on both organizations, but actually, there are quite a few CFDD Portland

Rod Wheeland’s Retirement Party

November 6, 2018

Thank you to everyone who attended and sent their congratulations to Rod. We know there were many people who wanted to attend but could not make it. We wanted to share the slideshow we showed at the party and also

How to C.A.P.T.U.R.E. Your Own Communication Skills

May 15, 2018

Every day, people communicate with one another. Whether it’s face to face, over the phone or through social media, people are constantly engaging to accomplish daily tasks. For credit managers, Syntesis Global LLC President and CEO Rick Hernandez says communication

A “Good to Great” Credit Manager!

January 8, 2018

By: Patrick Spargur, ICCE Every year I worked as a credit and collections manager, my boss would send me a Goal Setting Form to complete. The form had two sections: one for me to list five personal goals for the new year, the other

Member Spotlight – Julie Anderson

July 11, 2017

It is no small endeavor to be recognized and awarded an NACM National award! It takes strong commitment, dedication, encouragement, persistence, and perseverance. Just ask Julie A. Anderson, CBF, CCRA of Stoneway Electric, who was awarded the 2017 CBF Designation

Company Changes Require Strong Relationships

July 11, 2017

Business relationships are important in any department, but perhaps more so for credit professionals, who come into contact with just about every other team in a company. Those relationships may become stressed when changes occur in a company, such as

NACM Northwest Foundation Fundraiser

January 3, 2017

Written by Rick Weisman, CCE The NACM Northwest Foundation is coming into 2017 with great anticipation and expectation. Just as NACM Oregon and NACM Inland Northwest merged in 2016, so also has the NACM Oregon Foundation been recently reorganized and

The Right Approach to Conflict

October 6, 2016

There are five primary approaches to dealing with conflict: 1) Authority, 2) Compromise, 3) Avoidance, 4) Accommodation, and 5) Collaboration. Many people are comfortable with a few of these approaches but not with all five. If you misuse, overuse, or

A Word From Our Members

One thing that I'm thankful for is the variety of credit reports that I'm able to obtain from NACM. It helps to make credit decisions and having those tools at my fingertips is just another reason why NACM is so valuable.

Having quick, complete, and accurate credit information at my fingertips is an absolute necessity in today’s ever-changing environment. Experian provides the tools we need to determine credit risk and make sound credit decisions for the wellness of my company.

In order to do a complete and thorough job on risk analysis, I need quick and reliable information, Experian provides me with both and helps me to quickly determine a business’s creditworthiness which gives a more consistent track record for credit decisions.

Utilizing NACM’s international credit reports is essential for mitigating risk within our international portfolio. NACM simplifies the ordering process and ensures prompt, courteous service.

NACM’s National Trade Credit Reports are an integral part of our credit decision making process. Doing a routine credit check on a “good-paying customer” has led to unexpected red flags that have assisted in our ability to act quicker than we otherwise would have.

Utilizing D&B Solutions helps our company manage our portfolio. We can review our risk exposure at any time with a click of a button. The information provided is accurate and current.

NACM Commercial Services has proven to be a vital partner in today’s business environment. Membership in the specialized industry groups provides invaluable networking and credit information exchange all within a controlled setting while the vast educational offerings help to broaden your personal horizons.

My introduction into NACM began with taking advantage of many continuing educational sessions I needed to learn the basics of credit and collections. After being actively involved in the credit and finance profession for 30 years, NACM continues to provide invaluable resources and services that benefits me.

Working with NACM for over 20+ years has been fantastic. NACMCS has many different tools to use throughout credit making decisions and I highly recommend them!

The most beneficial things about KTP’s membership with NACMCS are the ability to get accurate information from credit reporting, peers in our industry, and the relationships with other credit managers across the nation.

NACM has allowed me to build many relationships and grow in my career. Credit has so many ups and downs that you build a different type of bond with the people you work and collaborate with, starting with one of their very own, Clara Nemeth. Thank you for always being a great resource on which I know I can depend.

As a member of NACM, I have always enjoyed the great networking opportunities that allow me to learn and grow alongside other credit professionals. No credit reports or textbooks can replace the immense knowledge shared at industry groups and conferences.

Having been a member of NACM for over 10 years, I am still amazed at how many resources are available to the membership free of charge, from the basics of a credit policy to free legal advice. It is evident that NACM cares about being a vital part of the business organizations it serves.

Our NACM CS membership has been invaluable, providing us with critical industry intelligence and trends through insightful group meetings. Additionally, the strong relationships we’ve built with fellow members provide opportunities to share and collaborate on new industry technologies and changes.

NACM’s education surrounding Credit Best Practices and Credit, Business and Lien Laws has been a tremendous help in my credit career. The personal growth I have experienced by attending the CFDD meetings has helped me to be a leader.

I am thankful for the exceptional education courses and being awarded a scholarship that made the recent experience of earning my CBA designation the best. I am grateful to be a part of such a wonderful organization!

Continuing credit education and ongoing training is paramount to the success of everyone on our team! NACM Commercial Services is a good partner to help us accomplish these needs.

NACM Collectors helped us recover bad debt from a sticky situation and they handled it like a Pro!

Participating in NACM’s Regional Metals industry trade group has been an invaluable resource, providing access to current customer payment trends, networking opportunities, and professional development.

As an NACM trade group member, I’ve gained valuable insights beyond what credit reports offer. With our collective years of experience in Credit Management, it is a pleasure working with my peers and has truly been both encouraging and supportive.

Being a member of our industry group has been invaluable to me. The networking opportunities, knowledge sharing, and support from fellow members have significantly contributed to my professional growth and success.

Thank you so much Kendall. I always appreciate the quick responses, your excellent customer service, and how solution-oriented you are!

Masons Supply has relied on NACM’s Experian credit reports for years for all credit decisions. They help us minimize risk, understand growth opportunities, and troubleshoot issues, making NACM our preferred solution.

I find the quick and easy access to credit reports essential in making accurate decisions.

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A Word From Our Members