Tag: Leadership

When most people think of a credit professional, they picture someone focused on collecting payments and monitoring customer balances or credit scores. In reality, the job extends far beyond credit and collections. From negotiating terms and managing customer relationships to training and developing their teams, credit professionals juggle many responsibilities. The higher their position, the more hats they wear.

To help professionals succeed in this demanding field, NACM and FCIB’s Professional Certification Program offers a structured path to develop core competencies. With six designations available, the program provides the knowledge base and tools necessary for long-term success in credit management. 

Picture this: a scout leader perched at a mountaintop, shouting directions through a megaphone. The team reaches the summit quickly, but they’re exhausted, disoriented and less prepared for the next climb.  

Good leadership is like a relay race—those who pass the baton to the next runner ensure that the whole team keeps moving forward. In the credit industry, where much of the expertise comes from hands-on experience, leaders have a responsibility to actively fill knowledge gaps and guide newer credit professionals. 

As a credit professional, conflict comes with the territory of credit management; you can’t always avoid it. It becomes even more challenging when customers are being uncooperative or responding with aggression. In these situations, credit professionals can either react emotionally or take a strategic approach to work toward a solution that benefits both the customer and the business. 

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.

Credit professionals do more than manage risk and protect their companies’ bottom lines, they often serve as mentors, leaders and changemakers. Today, we celebrate those who not only excel in their own careers but also uplift others along the way. These credit professionals make a lasting impact on the people and organizations around them. We’re proud to recognize Michelle Riepe, CCE, credit support manager at Ben E. Keith Company (Fort Worth, TX), recipient of the GSCFM Student Leader Award from NACM’s National Honors and Awards Program.  

Tracy Mitchell, CBA, director of accounts receivable at Trinity Logistics (Seaford, DE) is this year’s recipient of the CBA Designation of Excellence Award, granted to credit professionals who have both attained the Credit Business Associate (CBA) and shown a commitment to excellence through continuous learning and sharing knowledge by speaking, teaching or mentoring.

The ability to lead exists in all of us. You don’t need a title to make an impact—it’s about how you show up. But what sets great leaders apart from average ones? Over the past year, we’ve navigated economic uncertainty, from supply chain disruptions to looming trade war threats. During times like these, teams are looking to their leaders for direction.