CHICAGO Regional Meeting | Itasca | April 23
On your mark! NACM Connect is heading to the starting gate in Chicago, IL, for our 2026 Regional Meeting. Round up your crew for an elite educational agenda and pre-race networking festivities on us! We’ll see you at the finish line on April 23.
For more information please contact Bob Rabe at bob.rabe@nacmconnect.org.
9:30 – 9:45 A.M.
Opening Remarks
Phil Lattanzio, NACM Connect
9:45 – 10:45 A.M.
Risk Profile Deep Dive: Key Trends Shaping Future
Outlook
Conrad Ragan, Director, Corporate Restructuring, Alvarez & Marsal; Rich Newman, Managing Director, UCC Practice Co-Chair, Alvarez & Marsal
As economic volatility persists and pressure mounts across supply chains, credit, and consumer sentiment, understanding your risk exposure in real time is more critical than ever. In this session, experts from Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) will dissect the evolving 2026 risk landscape — highlighting the macroeconomic signals, sector-specific stress points, and behavioral shifts that should be on every finance leader’s radar.
11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Change Management with a Technology Twist
Staci Cima, CCE, Director of Credit, Echo Electric
Change is inevitable—but success is not. In today’s fast-moving business environment, organizations are under constant pressure to transform while keeping operations running, cash flowing, and people engaged. This session explores what change management really looks like when technology and automation are introduced into mission-critical functions like credit, order-to-cash, and finance.
Drawing on real-world experiences, this session goes beyond theory to address the human, operational, and technological realities of transformation. Attendees will hear practical “war stories” that highlight why even well-planned initiatives can struggle—and what separates
successful change from stalled adoption. The discussion will cover common barriers such as fear, resistance, communication overload, and competing priorities, as
well as proven strategies to overcome them.
1:00 — 2:15 P.M.
Strategic Credit Leadership: Claiming Your Seat with the C-Suite
Brittany Acone CBA, CICP, Seaboard International Forest Products; Erica White, CCE, Ferguson; Caroline Perkins, CCE, Mickey Thompson Tires
We will explore why credit teams deserve a strategic voice along the C-Suite and how their insights directly influence growth, risk management, and long-term profitability. The presenters will walk through practical steps credit managers can take to elevate their role – from leveraging data to demonstrate impact, to building cross-functional partnerships that position credit as a proactive business driver. Together, we’ll outline a clear path for transforming credit from a back-office function into a strategic powerhouse.
2:30 – 3:30 P.M.
Understanding State Laws: Must-Have Tools and
Resources for Credit Managers
Thomas Fawkes, Partner, Tucker Ellis LLP; Brian Jackiw, Partner, Tucker Ellis LLP
In the ever-evolving landscape of credit management, staying informed about state laws is crucial for compliance and effective decision-making. This session offers credit managers valuable and essential tools and resources tailored to understanding state-specific regulations. Whether you’re managing collections, assessing risk, or ensuring compliance, you will be equipped with the expertise and knowledge to make informed choices that align with legal requirements and best practices in credit management.