Why Community Matters

Whether you are an introvert (someone who recharges alone) or an extravert (someone who gains energy from others), research consistently shows that strong social connections are essential to both emotional and physical health.

Yet in today’s busy, tech-focused world, building real community—beyond online connections—can be challenging.

Community at NACM BCS

We often focus on the education, tools, and problem-solving resources that NACM BCS provides. But community is another important part of who we are.

Depending on your level of involvement, you may or may not think of NACM BCS as your community. I know from conversations with members, however, that many of you find great value in the connections you’ve built here—and some of you have made lifelong friends through NACM.

Given how important—and increasingly difficult—community building has become, we want to create more opportunities for all members to strengthen existing connections and build new ones. To support meaningful relationships across our membership, we are excited to introduce a new offering this year:

Introducing: Credit on Tap

To support meaningful connections among our members, we are excited to introduce a new offering this year:  Credit on Tap — an informal, no-cost gathering of credit professionals, coming to a location near you.

Upcoming events:

• Seattle –February 26, 4–6 p.m. at the Duke’s at Southcenter
• Anchorage – April 16, 4–6 p.m. (location TBD)
• Honolulu – May 8, 4–6 p.m. (location TBD)
• Seattle – August 27, 4–6 p.m. (location TBD)

Each event will include:

• A best practices discussion during the first hour, and
• A social hour to connect and network

NACM BCS will provide snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Other drinks will be available for purchase.

Join Us

Please mark your calendar and visit the Events page on our website for registration information.

Don’t be shy—make building community a priority and join us. I’m confident you’ll make connections that could grow into lasting friendships and professional relationships that serve you well for years to come.

If you have questions, or ideas for other ways NACM BCS can support you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at lauram@nacmbcs.org.

Excel Calculations and Charts Introduction

Online Class

February 10, 2026 @ 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Registration Fee $135



This course provides a comprehensive introduction to performing calculations and creating charts in Excel. Students will explore the benefits of leveraging Excel for mathematical operations, learn various methods for executing calculations, and understand how to display and interpret formulas. Additionally, they will gain the skills needed to create dynamic charts for impactful visual data representation.

Outlook – Simplify, Organize, and Boost Productivity

Tuesday, 2/24/2026 from 8:00AM-12:00PM PT

Registration Fee $135

This course empowers students to go beyond using Outlook as a simple email client, transforming it into a powerful productivity tool. Students will unlock hidden features, discover proven strategies, and adopt best practices for streamlining their daily tasks. By mastering advanced tools and techniques, they’ll learn how to manage emails, calendars, and tasks in a way that saves time and enhances overall efficiency, helping them work smarter, stay organized, and communicate more effectively.

Register today for the Big Credit Event of the year.

National Credit Congress goes to St. Louis and is sure to be fully of education and networking opportunities. If you're a first timer, you will have a great experience. If you're a veteran and haven't attended since before COVID, you will find that it's time to get re-engaged in our profession. Sign up today!

Join our good friend and credit expert Thea Dudley for a practical discussion on protecting your bottom line by addressing payment fraud within vendor networks. This session will provide an overview of common vulnerabilities, emerging trends, and proactive steps to help reduce risk and strengthen vendor relationships. Learn how awareness and preparation can make a meaningful difference for your organization’s financial health.

Cost: Members – FREE / Non-Members – $25

Presented By: Thea Dudley, The Credit Overlord

Young Credit Professionals Focus Group

Are you a credit professional between the ages of 23 and 43?

Join us on Thursday, Feb 12 for an interactive morning focus group in the greater Seattle area (exact location to be announced soon), where you’ll have the opportunity to shape the future of NACM Business Credit Services. This is your chance to share insights, exchange ideas, and influence the direction of your professional association.

Enjoy coffee and refreshments as you connect with other young professionals in the credit field. It’s more than a meeting — it’s a conversation that could define the next chapter of our industry.

Credit on Tap

Thursday, February 26

4:00PM – 6:00PM

Duke’s Seafood Southcenter

Tukwila, WA

Are you trying to fill or find a position? Use our Job Center!

Take advantage of the Job Center at nacmbcs.org. If you're having trouble filling a position in your company or looking for a new job, use this opportunity to reach a lot of people!

It's easy to post an opening. Just fill out the form. After that, the most viewed part of our website will get attention to your needs. If you're looking for a job, the list of openings we know about is updated regularly.

Best of all, it's a free service that comes with membership in NACM BCS. Check it out today.

Click here for the Job Center

Washington businesses paid 50% of all state and local taxes in 2024

Crunching the numbers: Businesses in Washington pay half of all state and local taxes — and that tax burden keeps getting heavier following last year’s historically large tax increases. The new policy brief from the Washington Research Council lays out the data:

• Business & occupation tax revenues jumped by more than 250% over the past 25 years.
• Washington businesses pay $10,400 in state and local taxes per employee. This is the 11th highest amount among the states, and 20.9% higher than the $8,600 average paid nationally.
• Washington businesses paid 50% of all state and local taxes in 2024 — the 18th highest share among the states and higher than the national average of 45.8%, according to the Council on State Taxation.

The bottom line: Washington’s tax structure has become less competitive over the past several years. Washington has many advantages as a state, but the tax burden is increasingly a counterbalance.

www.nacmbcs.org

800-423-5710

Serving the commercial credit profession since 1899