A new law in California went into effect July 1, increasing regulations on business-to-business transactions by broadening consumer protection laws to include the commercial debts of small businesses. While credit professionals with customers in California are familiar with the RFDCPA, the newly expanded scope of the law places commercial creditors in unfamiliar terrain, prompting the need to reconsider California debt collection practices.

For Heather Re-DeGunia, CBF, CCRA, senior credit representative at Ag Processing, Inc. (Omaha, NE), earning her Certified Credit and Risk Analyst (CCRA) designation provided a strong foundation in financial statement analysis, including how to properly evaluate and interpret financial data.

At the start of the year, the Chilean economy faced rising inflation, external risks and political instability. Despite these challenges, there was hope for recovery, and by May, the economy had performed better than expected, supported by increased domestic demand.

Years ago, while working for an electrical wholesale supplier, Shane Inglesby, CCE, corporate credit manager at Geneva Rock Products (Salt Lake City, UT), was required to attend an industry trade group meeting. Inglesby, who was new to the profession, had not yet been introduced to NACM, but after attending the meeting, he developed a relationship with the organization that would span his decades-long credit career.  

Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed how the world operates, integrating itself into nearly every facet of business. For credit departments, AI is being used to enhance email communication, draft demand letters, review contracts and even predict collection trends. As AI continues to evolve and expand across industries, many organizations are developing formal policies and procedures to guide its use. 

In a profession as data-reliant as credit management, it can be easy to get lost in a mess of spreadsheets. With so much data to consider with every credit decision, it is vital that credit managers have a dashboard that clearly presents pertinent data not just for them, but for their companies.  

Melissa Monroe, CBA, accounts receivable lead at Team Fishel (Columbus, OH), took this to heart. Encouraged by her manager, Monroe enrolled in NACM and FCIB’s Professional Certification Program and recently earned her Credit Business Associate (CBA), a milestone she describes as both fulfilling and empowering.

In the dynamic, ever-changing world of business credit, a designation is not only a testament to a certain level of expertise, but a demonstration of a credit professional’s dedication to furthering their career.

China’s economy showed stable growth in May, despite the pinch from tariffs and the ongoing trade war with the United States.