What makes a credit professional stand out amongst the crowd? One great example is late leader and visionary O. D. Glaus, who embodied vision, energy, commitment and love for the credit profession. He blazed such a trail that NACM honored him by creating the NACM Credit Executive of Distinction, awarded to those who embodied that same spirit as exemplary professionals within the field of credit.
Kenny Wine, CCE, director of credit-South/East at Joseph T Ryerson & Son, Inc. (Little Rock, AR) just so happens to be this year's recipient of the O.D. Glaus Credit Executive of Distinction award. "It's really humbling to be recognized by my peers and I certainly don't feel worthy of it," he said. "But to accept it is to accept it for the people around me."Wine gives thanks to those who helped him along his 30-year-long journey. "Thanks to my great bosses such as Al Hall at L'Oreal who introduced me to NACM and the credit profession," Wine said. "I've had great mentors throughout my career like Jackie Mulligan at P&G and Dottie Smith at NACM Southwest who've motivated me and Frank Cook at Phoenix who showed me how to be a true credit professional."
Wine doesn't forget the people he's worked with as they also attributed to his success. "It's the people in our credit and cash application group, sales team and management team that give us the resources to be successful," he said. He gives special thanks to Chris Myers, CEO and president at Professional Alternatives (Houston, TX), who pushed him to grow, question the status quo and find different ways to benefit others.
"I also want to thank the NACM Southwest Board of Directors," Wine said. "I thought I knew what credit was about until I got on the local board several years back. There, I got a chance to work with and learn from really smart and driven individuals."