Summer is here
News, Information and Commentary
July 2018
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A few thoughts from
Jon Flora, President & CEO
July is a special month in Seattle
I’m writing this month leveled off at 35,000 feet on my way home from National Credit Congress. If you were there, especially for our exclusive kick-off party, thanks for coming. I hope you enjoyed the speakers and presentations.
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Reading the inflight magazine, I noted that our member
Alaska Airlines and several other NACM BCS members are sponsoring the
2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle, July 1-6. It’s a
BIG deal to have 4,000 Special Olympics athletes come to Seattle from across America.
Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown to include more than 5.7 million athletes and unified partners from 172 countries. The organization, locally and globally, has given the disabled an opportunity to be active and competitive. For sure, these athletes
are competitive!
As the parent of a daughter with special needs, I’ve had the opportunity over the last several years to see her and her classmates from Seattle’s Ingraham High School participate in our local Special Olympics activities. It is amazing to see what these young people do in a competitive environment. They want to win and work incredibly hard at it.
In my daughter’s case, she had been involved with therapeutic horseback riding through the
Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in Redmond, WA. The chemistry that develops between a horse and its rider is remarkable. I was stunned the first time I saw my kid drive a half-ton animal! She and the horse understood one another. The consistent movement of the horse was instrumental in her overcoming some physical development issues. The experience has also taught her to focus on the responsibility of working with a horse.
These national Special Olympic Games in Seattle served as a catalyst for establishing a new equestrian competition in Washington. Although not part of the national games this time, the first statewide competition was held on June 30
th. I’m proud to say that my daughter was part of this program, aboard Nellie (as in,
Whoaaa).
This is more than just blue ribbons and platitudes, though. The athletes’ drive to win and succeed carries over to the rest of their lives. Many Special Olympians enter the work place as committed, hard working employees. They are grateful for the opportunity to have a job, show up on time, and believe in the companies that hire them. The look in their eyes when they get their first paycheck is indescribable.
If you are in Seattle this coming week, I encourage you to head out to Husky Stadium on Sunday and see it for yourself. Then talk with your Human Resources staff about the possibility of your company hiring people with disabilities. In a time when it’s hard to find good employees, this workforce remains largely untapped and brings a wide variety of skills. Yes, you may have to do things a little differently to accommodate them but you will be rewarded with amazing productivity and genuine commitment. We can all learn a lesson of gratitude from them. You may also find your outlook on life to be changed for the positive.
Have a great Independence Day and, as always, thanks for being part of NACM Business Credit Services.
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MEMBERS SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY
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The following members of
NACM Business Credit Services are sponsors and partners of the
Special Olympics 2018 Games in Seattle. Thanks for your involvement!
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We are excited to offer our congratulations to one of our active members::
Michelle Lindsay, Crowley Fuels LLC, Anchorage, AK, has been promoted to Manager of Credit Collections.
Well done, Michelle!
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Ask-an-Expert is one of the best member services available to you
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Your membership in our association brings you a number of cool benefits. One of the most valuable is Ask-an-Expert. If you have a question or issue you need to solve, a panel of seasoned credit professionals is ready to help you. And they rarely get stumped!
Just go to our website and click on "Contact". You'll see a link and from there, just ask your question. We typically get responses back from panel members within 24-48 hours. It's a free resource for NACM BCS members and a great tool.
If you would like to be on the panel of Experts and help other members, drop us a line at:
[email protected].
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Try NACM Collections and WIN!
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If you used us for Collections in the past and decided to go a different direction, we want you back in our family.
Now is the time to try us again.
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Send us a trial batch of your Collection accounts and see how we do. If we knock it out of the park, then come on home! When you give us a try, you will be entered into a drawing for an Alexa from Amazon.
If you've
never tried NACM BCS Collections, this is a great time to see if we might work for you. And join in the drawing, too!
But, wait there's more! If you're a current customer and refer someone to our Collections team, you can be included in the contest, too!
Our Collections effort now reaches all of North America, Europe and some of Asia. Don't be shy. We will consider any request.
Whether you're a returning customer, a first-timer, or referring someone, you'll be entered into a drawing for an Amazon Alexa. As a member of NACM BCS, there is no cost to your company to try us.
The drawing will be held on October 1st, so give us a call today! For more information, call us at 800-423-5710 or email us at:
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Christopher Ng, Esq.
is an equity partner of Gibbs Giden Locher Turner Senet & Wittbrodt, LLP, Los Angeles. Chris is a member of the firm's Business and Commercial Law and Construction Law Departments where he primarily represents private and publicly-held companies in a wide range of business, commercial and construction transactions and disputes.
He is a graduate of the Pepperdine University School of Law
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Online Webinar - July 11th
Defining Terms and Credit Policies
July 11 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
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The best tool in a credit professional’s toolbox is an effective credit application, which specifies your company’s terms and policies for assigning business credit. Join speaker
Christopher Ng, Esq.
, who will explain the elements of a bulletproof credit application, helping you efficiently collect the monies owed to your company
This webinar is
free for NACM BCS members. Click below to sign-up.
July 11th
12:00 p.m. West Coast
11:00 a.m. Alaska
9:00 a.m. Hawaii
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5 questions you must ask before granting business credit
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All business customers are not created equal. Even companies that look solid at first glance can hide festering problems that eventually can impact your bottom line. Successful credit management requires you to carefully evaluate the financial health of every business that asks for credit terms. Our partners at Experian have 5 questions you should be able to answer before extending business credit. Click below for more information:
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File Unclaimed Property by 11/1/18
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Unclaimed property laws are complex, and identifying the states that require reporting is rarely straightforward.
Moss Adams addresses the steps you can take to determine whether your business has property subject to unclaimed property laws, identify due diligence and filing requirements specific to your circumstances, and avoid costly penalties.
Click below for more:
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How bubbles and risk came together to cause the panic
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As D.C. deregulates banking again, research on what went wrong on the eve of the Great Recession gains urgency. John Talton of the
Seattle Times takes a look at a new study about 2009.
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Save the date and register today
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The annual Western Region Credit Conference lands in Salt Lake City this October. Click on the link below to learn more about what's happening in Utah.
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BUSINESS NEWS OF INTEREST
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Microsoft developing cashier-less shopping technology
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Microsoft is testing technology that will track what items people pick up while shopping, and another Redmond company is working with Microsoft on the technology for physical stores, news services reported.
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Supreme Court rules for American Express in credit card case
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The Supreme Court handed American Express a win Monday in a lawsuit over rules it imposes on merchants who accept its cards. Click below for more:
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Alexa, I want room service!
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NACM customer, Amazon,
is launching Alexa for Hospitality
to bring the voice-activated device to hotel rooms and vacation rentals. Marriott is the launch customer.
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Supreme Court tax decision
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states can require internet retailers to collect sales taxes, even if the merchant doesn't have a physical presence there. Here's a look at what it means
If you need help figuring out how to accurately calculate sales tax, see the story below about our partners at Avalara.
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WASHINGTON: Seattle's streak in home-price increases tied for 2nd in history
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Greater Seattle has now led the nation in home price increases for 20 months in a row, tied for the second-longest streak.
Click below for the story:
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HAWAII: Allied Pacific Builders awarded $8.16 million contract with Marines
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Allied Pacific Builders
has been awarded a task order
worth $8.16 million for major repairs to a building at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows in Windward Oahu.
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ALASKA: The state's newest mega-ship docks in Juneau for the first time
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The 4,000-passenger
Norwegian Bliss
was specially designed for sailing in Alaska waters and will be making weekly stops in Juneau through the season. The ship is homeported in Seattle.
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EVENT & INDUSTRY GROUP CALENDARS
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Puget Sound Area
July 12
11:30 a.m. Floor -
Duke's Chowderhouse
July 17
11:30 a.m. HVAC -
Duke's Chowderhouse
July 18
11:30 a.m. Food - Duke's Chowderhouse
11:30 a.m. Tacoma Construction -
Johnny's Dock
July 19
11:30 a.m. Ad Media -
CBS-KSTW
11:30 a.m. Eastside Construction -
13 Coins, Bellevue
11:30 a.m. Wiring -
Duke's Chowderhouse
Anchorage
July 18
12:00 p.m. Alaska Suppliers & Food -
Doriola's
Honolulu
July 17
Hawaii Hospitality -
Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel
July 18
Hawaii Food -
Waikiki Yacht Club
July 20
Hawaii Building
- Waikiki Yacht Club
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Upcoming Professional Programs
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2018
Online Webinars - Save the Dates!
12:00-1:00 p.m. FREE - Registration Required
November 7 - Managing Stress in the Credit Department
12:00-1:00 p.m. FREE - Registration Required
Seminars & Conferences
October 10-12
- NACM Western Region Credit Conference
Salt Lake City, UT
2019
May 19- 22, 2019 -
NACM National Credit Congress
Denver, CO
August 12-14, 2019 -
Credit Research Foundation
Forum & Expo
Seattle, WA
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Coast to coast & around the world:
Call us for the best prices and service on the best credit reports
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Whether you need credit reports for a customer down the street or somewhere around the globe, NACM BCS has resources to help you. Call us anytime for help with your reporting needs.
1-800-423-5710
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Need help calculating sales tax?
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NACM-member Avalara can help you calculate the proper sales tax amount for invoices no matter where the customer is located. If you're interested in learning more about how to solve this challenging issue, give us a call at
800-423-5710 and we'll connect you with our tax partners at Avalara.
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Need help with credit card, check and payment processing, or surcharging?
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Our partners at UTA and Vanitiv are ready to help you with special NACM rates and service.
To learn more and to arrange a personal visit, contact your NACM Account Executive or call our toll-free number
Best rates, best service, best partners,
1-800-423-5710
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Help Hint: Don't wait too long
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NACM BCS reminds you to call in our Collections team before the debts get too old or become uncollectible. The Great Recession taught us to stay on top of A/R and not let it sit too long before calling in the professionals. NACM BCS has great success collecting on behalf of our customers, so call on us sooner than later.
1-800-423-5710
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Looking for a job? Trying to fill an opening?
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Check out the Job Bank!
If you are needing to fill a position or are looking for a job, the
NACM Job Bank
is for you. It gets a lot of traffic and - best of all - it's a
FREE
service for our members!
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In a hot market, unemployed workers might be wondering what's wrong with them. The answer is probably...nothing.
Looking for a job is hard work. You might need to implement some new approaches. Click below for some ideas.
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Please note that NACM Business Credit Services will be closed on July 4th in observance of Independence Day. Happy Birthday, America!
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Serving credit professionals since 1899
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