After experiencing an economic slowdown, the highly industrialized country of South Korea has transitioned into a period of economic expansion. In the third quarter of 2025, the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.3%, its sharpest contraction since 2020. This downturn was largely the result of U.S.-imposed tariffs and heightened political uncertainty following the impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Seok Yeol.

The National Association of Credit Management (NACM) is pleased to announce that Steve Shivak, CAE, will assume the role of President effective March 2, 2026. Following an exhaustive search led by a professional recruiting firm, the NACM Board of Directors selected Steve to lead the organization into its next chapter of growth and innovation.

Business-to-business (B2B) credit management is a field rooted in tradition, shaped by the leadership and institutional knowledge of those who came before us. Much of what makes a credit professional successful—risk assessment, negotiation, relationship-building and sound judgment—is not learned in isolation. It is developed over time, often with the guidance of someone who has navigated similar challenges.

In credit management, your day-to-day work varies. One day you might spend hours determining the best terms for a customer with a rocky credit history while on others you might be settling a mounting pile of disputes. No matter what the day brings you, data is likely playing an important role in how you make those tough credit decisions.

In this special member spotlight, we’re highlighting Heather Re-DeGunia, CBF, CCRA, senior credit representative at Ag Processing, Inc. (Omaha, NE). As her retirement approaches, she reflects on a distinguished credit career, the lessons learned along the way and the lasting impact of NACM. 

Mexico’s economy swerved away from a recession at the close of 2025, with rebounding gross domestic product (GDP) in the final quarter due to trade growth and strong industrial and manufacturing sectors pushing the country forward.

For credit professionals ready to transition from tactical execution to strategic leadership, the Certified Credit Executive (CCE) earned through NACM and FCIB’s six-level Professional Certification Program provides the knowledge, credibility and network needed to make that transition. 

Having a customer who consistently pays on time and represents a large portion of a company’s earnings may be a dream for the sales team, but for credit managers, a single customer dominating their accounts receivable prompts concerns about concentration risk.

Certifications build credentials. Webinars deliver focused learning. Conferences forge connections. Yet for many credit professionals, deeper understanding comes from everyday conversations with peers. When colleagues are spread across distances, continuing that dialogue between events can be a challenge.