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Ty Knox is Director of Credit and Risk for EFCO Corp in Des Moines, Iowa and has served on the NACM Heartland Board of Directors since 2004, currently as the Chairman. He served on the National Board from 2016 to 2022 and was elected as the National Chairman in 2018 and also assuming that role in 2020.
Born and raised in Des Moines, IA this is where Ty and his family continue to call home. His career has primarily involved credit and collections, coming to EFCO from Ruan Leasing Company as the Director of Corporate Credit and prior to that working as a financial data consultant for Dun & Bradstreet.
What drives your passion for the credit industry?
My passion for the credit industry is driven by its critical economic impact, the intellectual and analytical challenges it presents, the continuous opportunities for learning and innovation, the importance of building trust-based relationships, and the role it plays in maintaining financial stability. Coupled with the fact this industry is always changing is what makes it so interesting. From recessions to pandemics, we never know what challenges the next day will bring.
What is your long-term vision for the board?
My long-term vision for the NACM Heartland Board is centered around fostering sustainable growth, enhancing member value, and strengthening our industry influence. Here’s how I envision achieving this:
Strategic Innovation: I aim to drive strategic initiatives that embrace technological advancements and innovative practices. By leveraging data analytics (think CMI & ICE), AI, and other emerging technologies, we can improve our services, streamline operations, and provide actionable insights to our members.
Educational Excellence: Continuing education and professional development are crucial for our members. I would like to see us expand our educational programs, offering more diverse and comprehensive training opportunities that address current industry challenges and prepare members for future trends.
Member Engagement and Support: My vision includes a focus on member engagement. This involves not only listening to their needs and concerns but also actively involving them in decision-making processes through timely surveys. I propose establishing more interactive platforms for feedback and collaboration, ensuring our members feel valued and heard.
Advocacy and Networking: Strengthening our advocacy efforts to represent our members' interests at local and national levels is paramount. Additionally, fostering a strong network among members to facilitate knowledge sharing, mentorship, and business opportunities is a key component of my vision.
Financial Stability and Growth: Ensuring the financial health of the association is essential. I would like to explore new revenue streams and maintain transparency and accountability in our financial practices.
By focusing on these areas, my long-term vision is to position NACM Heartland as an indispensable resource for our members and a thought leader in the industry. This vision is not just about sustaining our current success but driving growth and making a lasting impact on the Credit & Risk industry and community.
What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I am an avid mountain biker and ride almost every day. I also recently started disc golfing (again) with my son.
Nate Yagle is the Vice President of Credit for Premier Companies and has served on the NACM Heartland Board of Directors since 2022, currently as the Vice Chair. He was instrumental in creating and growing the Ohio River Valley Group, serving as Vice Chair and Chair.
Born and raised in Sandborn, IN, this is where Nate continues to call home with his wife and two sons, 4 and 6 months. Nate’s journey to the credit industry was not a direct path, but his diverse background in banking, insurance, and ag equipment sales provided a strong foundation of financial expertise.
What drives your passion for the credit industry?
For me I enjoy being in the financial world. When I was in lending and underwriting I didn’t care for having to hit sales goals and also never had a huge desire to just do GL entries all day, so credit is the quirky place in the numbers world where if you like dealing with numbers but don’t want to be the accountant and at the same time want to be involved in sales and helping structure deals but not be responsible for monthly sales goals then it fits.
Credit allows you to engage in various areas of the company, often making a significant yet underappreciated impact until challenges arise. When I initially took over the credit department, there was a multi-million-dollar credit problem where the write off from the prior year made the company go from a year end profit to a loss. Being a part of a team that resolves those issues, implementing processes and systems to prevent future problems, is extremely satisfying. I enjoy problem-solving and helping customers find effective solutions.
What is your long-term vision for the board?
Growth of our credit groups. Expanding our credit groups is challenging in a mergers and acquisitions environment, but growth opportunities are there. Participation from members. I believe it’s a major responsibility of our board to find ways to add value for our members and increase participation rates. If you look at our national credit groups, they have members from all over the country. How do we find ways to drive engagement and participation? We need to focus on enhancing areas such as:
Education Opportunities, Networking Opportunities, Products/Services for our members, and Technology
What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
My extracurricular activities involve staying busy with my family, but if I do find time on my own I enjoy music, barbecuing, random road trips, and golf. I recently acquired a golfcart that I am looking forward to fixing up and have been making my wife nervous with my intense interest and studying of extreme Christmas light displays. I am ready for my Clark Griswold moment.
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