The National Association of Credit Management (NACM) is a nonprofit organization based in Columbia, MD (USA) that promotes standards for the business-to-business credit profession. Founded in 1896, NACM has more than 15,000 members, primarily of credit and financial executives representing manufacturers, wholesalers, financial institutions, and a wide range of service organizations. The trade association specializes in education for its membership, advancement of best credit industry practices as well as products and services designed to improve business credit and accounts receivable management.
NACM has been active in its advocacy agenda for more than 100 years in Washington, DC, playing a role in lobbying during the crafting of legislation pertinent to business credit and corporate bankruptcy. Among recent federal legislative issues worked on by NACM are bankruptcy reform, the Federal Trade Commission’s “Red Flags Rules” and the 3% withholding tax issues.
NACM’s education, training and professional certification program include the Credit Business Associate (CBA), Credit Business Fellow (CBF), and Certified Credit Executive (CCE) designations, among others. It has also credentialed Certified Expert Witnesses (CEW) in the area of business bankruptcies and preferences.
The association’s international arm is FCIB, the association of executives in Finance, Credit & International Business. FCIB provides education, seminars, credit groups and reporting designed for the international credit professional. In 2011, the division launched its “Doing Business in…” series to highlight key details of credit and collections dealings in nations around the globe, notably emerging economies such as Brazil, China and South Korea. The newest NACM division is its Mechanic’s Lien & Bond Services (MLBS) division, which includes information and services pertaining to various commercial construction-related matters as well as state and federal laws governing lien and bond rights and processes.
NACM’s annual conference, Credit Congress, is the largest gathering of credit professionals in the industry. The last Credit Congress was held in Nashville, TN. The 2012 conference will be in Dallas, TX, from June 12-14. Robin Schauseil, CAE is the president of NACM. The current national chairman is Kathy Tomlin, CCE.
Credit professionals pledge to: