Like it or not, we all rely on technology. At its best, it makes life easier and safer. At its worst, it frustrates us with constant updates, costs, and quirks. In the coming months, we’ll be talking a lot more about how technology is shaping the work lives of credit managers. You all have stories to tell, I know! (And if you haven’t already, please register for the W. WA Fall Credit Forum at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Automation will be a hot topic there!)

In the August eNews, I wrote about the strategic plan that your NACM BCS Board of Directors approved in May. Today, I want to highlight the first of the six strategies in that plan—our focus on technology. We wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t think about it, provide resources to help you make decisions about it, and use it to serve you better.

The first step is strengthening our own systems. Like many smaller nonprofits, we’ve been slower to adopt new tools, and it’s time to modernize. We’re reviewing the processes we use and identifying where technology could help. For example, we currently manage events—both in-person and virtual—mostly with spreadsheets and email. There are tools that could make this far more efficient and user-friendly.

Later in this newsletter, you’ll see a piece about the new user sign-on approach for accessing NACM’s core system. This is the first of several changes you’ll see from us—some visible, others behind the scenes. Our goal is to make them as seamless and frustration-free as possible.



I look forward to seeing many of you on November 5 at the Museum of Flight. Let’s continue learning together how to make technology work for us—not against us! I’d also love to hear from you: what technology do you love, and what drives you crazy? Write me at lauram@nacmbcs.org. I promise to reply.

We will be conducting a 2026 compensation survey and are joining all the NACM affiliates across the country. Similar to our first effort in 2024, the intent is to gather data about salaries and benefits for credit professionals locally and at member companies across the nation. A lot was learned in the first study two years ago, and we are hoping to grow member participation and information this year. Participating members will receive the final report at no cost.

One lesson learned in 2024: This survey will likely require the assistance of your Human Resources professionals to ensure that we receive the best comparative data. We learned that many of our credit professionals did not have a full view of the requested information. While the results were satisfactory, if you can enlist the help of your HR colleagues, we expect even better information to share with you.

The survey will be distributed via email on October 15th will follow-ups throughout the month into early November. It is being conducted by a third party who respects privacy as well as the intricacies of compensation studies. The survey will include the benefit questions from last survey. Please participate and start by asking your HR office for help.

Education

Seattle, WA | Wednesday, Nov 5, 2025 | 9am-6pm

Seattle's Museum of Flight

Fasten your seatbelts and prepare for a full day of insight, strategy, and connection at the Western Washington Credit Forum, a premier conference designed for today’s B2B credit professionals. Held at Seattle’s stunning Museum of Flight, this event offers a rare opportunity to elevate your perspective—both literally and professionally—amid the backdrop of aviation history. Whether you’re navigating headwinds or cruising toward growth, this conference will equip you with the tools and knowledge to stay ahead of the curve.

Expect engaging sessions, practical takeaways, and plenty of time to network with fellow credit leaders—all while enjoying the inspiring surroundings of one of Seattle’s most iconic venues. It’s time to take your credit strategy to new heights!

Early Bird pricing extended to October 10!

Member Rate – $195 Early Bird / $225 Regular

Non-Member Rate – $230 Early Bird / $260 Regular

 Second Attendee Rate: Bring additional members of your team for only $145 each!

Includes: morning pastries with coffee & tea, lunch buffet, afternoon snack,

cocktail reception with light appetizers, and museum admission!

For more information on speakers and to register, click the button below.

October Webinars

How to Read and When to Pull an 

Experian Business Credit Report

Tuesday, October 14 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Members – FREE / Non Members – $25

Join industry experts Jan Minniti and Heidi Lindgren-Boyce as they guide you through How to Read and When to Pull an Experian Business Credit Report. Topics include:

How to Read it

An Experian Business Credit Report provides a snapshot of a company’s financial health and creditworthiness. Our presenters will go over all the key issues contained within a credit report.

When to Pull it

Pull an Experian Business Credit Report when you’re evaluating a company for credit terms, forming a new partnership, making large sales, assessing suppliers, or during routine risk management checks. It’s especially important before extending trade credit or entering high-value agreements.

We are pleased to announce a new partnership with a new educational resource created just for credit professionals. The new Trade Credit & Liquidity Management (TCLM) provides a wide range of resources, best practices, and community features, as well as economic and technology trends for the benefit of credit, treasury, and finance professionals. The articles, webinars, and podcasts are designed to help our NACm BCS members and customers meet their company’s trade credit and liquidity challenges and uncover opportunities as forward-thinking, value-added advisors.

This new benefit to membership in our affiliate is being offered at a special subscription rate just for members and customers of NACM Business Credit Services. Take it for a test drive. If you like what you see, you will soon be invited to subscribe to this new service at special NACM BCS rate.

Here's a sample article from the current edition that will be a good example of what's to come. Click on the title below to see what TCLM is all about.

Ten Reasons Your AR Portfolio May Be Under-Performing

We are excited to offer this to you and hope you find it useful. Look for more information soon.

Aloha! Register today

October 17th, Waikiki Yacht Club, Honolulu.

Join us for excellent professional education by taking advantage of our new quarterly program. And meet new professional colleagues. For more information and to register...

Click on the pineapple below:

CREDIT CONGRESS 2026 Registration is NOW OPEN!

We’re excited to introduce Billfire, our newest partner. Their flagship product, Valet 360, simplifies billing and payments through automation—helping companies reduce manual work, speed up collections, and strengthen cash flow.

With user-friendly tools that integrate easily with existing accounting systems, Billfire makes accounts receivable management more efficient. We believe this straightforward, easy-to-use solution could be a game-changer for many of our members. We have been actively seeking new opportunities like this and are pleased this has come together for you.

👉 Special note for UTA users: Billfire and UTA are actively working on ways to connect their systems when customers want that integration.

Learn More

Join us on Monday, November 17 at 1:00 p.m. PDT for a webinar to see Billfire in action and learn how it could benefit your business. We look forward to seeing you there!

New Access Codes Coming Your Way

We’re making an important update to how you access the NACM Core System.

Some of you log in regularly to look up collections or participate in Industry Groups, while others rarely use it. In the months ahead, we’ll be adding more members-only resources—and eventually everyone will want to log in.

What’s Changing

• We’re moving from shared logins to individual user accounts.
• Your current team access code will be retired.
• Each team member will receive their own unique access code.

Why It’s Changing

• Stronger security for member data.
• A more personalized experience for each user.
• Better support for new members-only resources.

What to Expect

• You’ll receive your new access code along with easy-to-follow instructions.
• If you need help, clear support contacts will be provided.
• New codes will roll out gradually—everyone will have theirs by January 2026.

We expect the transition to go smoothly, and once complete, you’ll have more secure and seamless access to NACM’s resources. Stay tuned for updates—and thank you for helping us take this important step forward!

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