2022 Gateway Credit Conference
It is with great anticipation that we look forward to building on the momentum of last year’s Gateway Conference and the 2022 Annual Meeting at this year’s Fall event, Credit on Tap. Things are changing so rapidly in the world of credit – come draw from the taps of knowledge from our speakers, exhibitors and fellow members as we attempt to craft a path to barrelling our companies through the mash.
The action begins brewing at Orlando’s Banquet and Event Center in Maryland Heights, MO on September 13th. The NACM/Chicago-Midwest Board of Directors, NACM Gateway Advisory Board and NACM Gateway Education Committee along with Association staff look forward to seeing you there.
For more information please contact Lillian Novak at lillian.novak@nacmconnect.org.
Orlando’s Banquet & Event Center | 2050 Dorsett Road
Maryland Heights, MO 63043
Andrew Behlmann
Counsel, Lowenstein Sandler
Andrew leverages his background in corporate finance and management to approach restructuring problems, both in and out of court, from a practical, results-oriented perspective. With a focus on building consensus among multiple parties that have competing priorities, Andrew is equally at home both in and out of the courtroom, and has a track record of turning financial distress into positive business outcomes. Clients value his counsel in complex Chapter 11 cases, where he represents debtors, creditors’ committees, purchasers, and investors. Andrew writes and speaks frequently about bankruptcy matters and financial issues. Before becoming a lawyer, he worked in senior financial management at a midsized, privately held company.
Staci Cima, CCE
Director of Credit, Huttig Building Products
Staci Cima is the Corporate Credit Manager for Hutting Building Products. Staci has more than twenty years experience in various accounting management and credit roles including public accounting, manufacturing and construction industries. She has been involved in several projects involving using software to improve productivity. Staci has been involved with the NACM for the last 11 years serving on local and Connect committees and board of directors. Staci is a graduate of The University of Missouri Central with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting.
Diana Crowe, CGA
Regional Director, NACM Southwest
Diana draws upon her experience in credit management, her deep understanding of collections and deductions management, along with her customer/member centric style to support the NACM membership. In addition to her operational experience, she is a sought after speaker and presenter, drawing upon her strong background in training and education. Diana has enjoyed leading webinars and on-site sessions on a wide variety of topics for many NACM industry credit groups, conferences and at NACM’s Credit Congress. From a credit management position in plumbing and electrical supply, Diana went on to work for IAB Solutions and HighRadius before joining NACM Southwest. Diana holds a BS in Organizational Management.
Thomas Fawkes, Esq.
Partner, Tucker Ellis LLP
Thomas Fawkes is with the law firm of Tucker Ellis LLP in its Chicago office. Tom focuses his practice on bankruptcy, creditors’ rights and financial restructuring matters, representing official committees, unsecured and secured creditors, debtors, financial institutions, post-confirmation trustees and asset purchasers in chapter 11 and 7 bankruptcy cases, out-of-court restructurings, and liquidation proceedings throughout the United States. Tom also assists his clients in structuring commercial transactions with a view towards mitigating risk of future bankruptcy and insolvency losses. Among other honors, Tom has been recognized as an Illinois Leading Lawyer in Bankruptcy & Workout Law: Commercial, and by Chambers and Partners as one of the leading bankruptcy and restructuring attorneys in Illinois.
Kim Flaugher, CCE
Senior Manager, Credit and Financial Analysis, Olin Corporation
In her current role as Senior Manager, Credit and Financial Analysis with Olin Corporation, she is responsible for managing credit, collections, cash application and accounts receivable along with pricing, financial analysis and reporting. She has recently been serving on a team focused on lifting people through work life harmony, employee fulfillment and recognition and lightening the load for employees. These efforts have been very successful in achieving wins for Olin and its employees by maximizing time spent on high value work, reducing unnecessary meetings and emails, streamlining work processes and decisions and enabling greater work life balance. She has been an active member of NACM since 2004 and has served on the board of several NACM national credit associations including: Home Centers Group, Consumer Products and Arms/Ammunition. In addition, she has served on NACM’s Gateway Board of Directors and Education Committee. In these roles, she worked with fellow board members to maximize the value of group membership and meetings for members. Ms. Flaugher holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration and an MBA from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She is also a graduate of NACM’s Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management and received her CCE designation in 2006.
Matt Fluegge
Executive Consultant, Worldpay
Matt Fluegge is a Certified Payments Professional and Executive Consultant with Worldpay, formerly known as Vantiv. Vantiv acquired Worldpay in 2018 and has changed its name to Worldpay due to its global recognition. Worldpay is the nation’s largest acquirer, processing more purchase transactions than any other processor. Matt has been with the company for 17 years and specializes in credit card acceptance and payment processing in the Business-to-Business industries. He has a Business Administration degree in Finance and manages Worldpay’s 21-year partnership with the NACM and UTA. Through the NACM Program, Matt works one-on-one with members to provide payment processing services that simplify payments and improve efficiency, security, and income.
Sam Incorvia
Credit Analyst, Builders First Source
Incorvia has served Builders First Source as a Credit Analyst for the past seven years, handling eight stores in three states. He began his career in the banking industry holding many positions in underwriting management. In 1999 Incorvia accepted a position as head underwriter with Novastar Mortgage where he rose to Supervisor and Corporate Trainer. In 2002 he was promoted to Corporate Credit Manager leading 45 underwriters and seven supervisors in six states and was transferred to Kansas City. In 2008 Incorvia became the Credit Manager at Roofing Supply Group and in 2015 he moved to Builders First Source. Incorvia was born in Cleveland, Ohio and is a graduate of Ohio Dominican College.
Brian Jackiw, Esq.
Counsel, Tucker Ellis LLP
Brian Jackiw is with the law firm of Tucker Ellis LLP. Brian is experienced in bankruptcy and commercial litigation, practicing in courts throughout the country. He has represented plaintiffs and defendants in avoidance actions, complex bankruptcy claim disputes, breach of fiduciary duty actions and bankruptcy fraud litigation. Beyond litigation in the bankruptcy courts, Brian has experience in general collection and commercial law litigation. Brian has also spent significant time advocating on behalf of general unsecured creditors through his representation of official committees of unsecured creditors. Before becoming an attorney, Brian served as an Officer in the U.S. Army.
Phillip J. Lattanzio, CCE
President & COO, NACM Connect
Phil Lattanzio, CCE, is the President and Chief Operating Officer of NACM/Chicago-Midwest and its operating affiliates in seventeen states. He has been with the National Association of Credit Management since 1999 and has been in the position of President since 2003. Under his direction, NACM/Chicago-Midwest has grown to the largest of the NACM affiliates. In his first few years with the Association, Lattanzio was able to return it to profitability; and, he continues to grow revenues and contain costs. Prior to this position, Lattanzio was the Corporate Credit Manager at Knaack Manufacturing Company in Crystal Lake, IL, where for seven years he was accountable for the credit and accounts receivable functions. Prior to Knaack, he worked in the credit departments for Scotsman Industries, Inc. and Union Oil Company of California. Lattanzio is a graduate of Bradley University in Peoria, IL. He currently serves as the Executive Vice President of the Commercial Law League of America.
Curtis Litchfield, CCE
Senior Credit Manager, Land O Lakes/Purina Mills
For the majority of my 30 year career with Purina Mills and Land O’Lakes, I have held various roles in Customer Financial Services. Within Customer Financial Services, my roles have involved managing a centralized and decentralized credit department where my team handles all functions of the credit department from approving new customers, collecting past due balances and working closely with our business partners, sales and marketing. In addition to managing credit, I also manage our cash application team and our invoicing and document delivery process. Prior to joining Customer Financial Services, I spent 10 years of my career in sales and business development where I prepared and presented financial and business analyses and assisted customers in developing business strategies. I attended the NACM Graduate School of Credit and Financial management where I obtained my CCE designation. For the last 8 years, I have been an instructor for NACM Connect and received the Credit Excellence Award in 2017 for NACM Connect St. Louis. In 2022 I was bestowed the Robert M. Healy Credit Executive of the Year Award for NACM Connect.
Dean Middleton
President, UnitedTranzactions
Richard Dean Middleton is President of United TranzActions (UTA), a company providing superior financial services to the business community such as check guarantee, online bill pay, credit card processing, remote deposit capture, electronic funds transfer (ACH), and automated A/R. UTA is headquartered in Miramar, FL with approximately 165 employees and is the largest company of its type, having processed in excess of $28 billion dollars during 2021.
Dean brings with him considerable knowledge in the Payment Processing industry from many years of experience. His vision is to focus UTA’s services to the business community as represented by the National Association of Credit Management (NACM). Dean takes great pride in the relationship that has developed between NACM and UTA, formerly known as American Check Management. One of the benefits resulting from this partnership is the recognition of United TranzActions by NACM, as a preferred provider of financial services to their members. This association has served both he and his company well over the years. As UTA continues persistent growth, so does the vision that Dean has for it.
Bruce Nathan, esq.
Partner, Lowenstein Sandler
With more than 40 years of experience in the bankruptcy and insolvency field, Bruce is a recognized leader nationwide in trade creditor rights and the representation of trade creditors in bankruptcy and other legal matters. He has represented trade and other unsecured creditors, unsecured creditors’ committees, secured creditors, and other interested parties in many of the larger Chapter 11 cases that have been filed. Bruce also handles letters of credit, guarantees, security, consignment, bailment, tolling, and other agreements and legal credit issues for the credit departments of institutional clients. Among his various legal recognitions, Bruce received the Top Hat Award in 2011, a prestigious annual award honoring extraordinary executives and professionals in the credit industry. He was co-chair of the Avoiding Powers Committee that worked with the American Bankruptcy Institute’s (ABI) Commission to Study the Reform of Chapter 11, participated in ABI’s Great Debates at their 2010 Annual Spring Meeting–arguing against repeal of the special BAPCPA protections for goods providers and commercial lessors–and was a panelist for a session sponsored by ABI. He is a frequent presenter at industry conferences throughout the country, as well as a prolific author regarding bankruptcy and creditors’ rights topics in various legal and trade publications. Bruce is a co-author of “Trade Creditor’s Risk-Mitigation Tools and Remedies Manual,” published by ABI in 2019. He has also contributed to ABI Journal and is a former member of ABI’s Board of Directors and former co-chair of ABI’s Unsecured Trade Creditors Committee.
Christopher Rios
Vice President, Finance Analytics, Dun & Bradstreet
Christopher brings over 20 years of financial operations experience to the Finance Solutions team at Dun & Bradstreet. He has experience across various industries including manufacturing, services, and security with a focus on organizational development and resourcing; strategic planning and technology management to build a global shared services model for finance operations.
Brad Shaffer
Vice President – Client Relations, Caine & Weiner
Brad has been a member of the Caine & Weiner family since 2003 and holds an active involvement in the Accounts Receivable management industry for 20+ years. He started out in the industry as a collector in 1985, his extensive experience in agency sales, collections, management, client relations, marketing, operations and public relations makes him a valuable asset to the Caine & Weiner team. Brad is currently focusing on sales team development, new business acquisition, client retention, client relations, alliance business partnerships, and strategic planning.
Rich Steinkoenig
Credit Solutions Consultant, NACM Connect
Rich has been with NACM Connect since 2018. His territory includes Missouri, Kansas, Central and Southern Illinois, Michigan, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Prior to the NACM, Rich was a risk specialist at the national account level at Dun & Bradstreet for four years. From 1999 to 2012 he was the Global Accounts Receivable Manager at Maui Jim Sunglasses. From 1992 to 1999 Rich worked at Dun & Bradstreet as a senior business analyst. Rich is a graduate of Western Illinois University.
Kevin Stinner, CCE, CCRA
Credit Manager, Simplot AB Retail Sub, Inc.
Kevin has been in the field of credit and collections since 2007. He earned his BA in Business Management and leadership in 2001 from Blackburn College, and a MBA with emphasis in management in 2004 from AIU. He earned his CBA designation in March 2010, CBF in May 2011, CCRA in August 2013, and CCE in November 2011. He is currently Chair of the NACM Gateway Advisory Board, and a member of the NACM Gateway Education Committee. He is also a member of the NACM/Chicago-Midwest governing board. Kevin has been published in Business Credit magazine and serves on their editorial board, has hosted webinars for NACM National, and has been a presenter at Credit Congress. At the 2022 Credit Congress this last June Kevin was bestowed the NACM CCE Designation of Excellence Award.
Derrick Swaney
Credit Specialist, MiTek USA, Inc.
Derrick joined MiTek in 2018 and has been a member of NACM Connect for three years. During his time at MiTek, Derrick has been working to integrate recently acquired software companies and their receivables. Prior to joining MiTek, Derrick graduated from Maryville University. While at Maryville University, he competed on the Division II wrestling team and studied finance and philosophy. At MiTek, Derrick has reported to Mike Hill and Dave Beckel, who are both longstanding NACM Connect members. Derrick is also part of the NACM Connect Elite Membership Group.
