News, Information and Commentary
April 2018
STAY UP TO DATE
A few thoughts from
Jon Flora, President & CEO

Data. Oh, for the good old days.

Many of us have had some exposure to the Equifax data breech. Now, news of Facebook’s alleged mishandling of customer data has caught the attention of the Federal Trade Commission, Congress and others. 
And just a few days ago, word came that Boeing had been hacked. Ties with Russia? Impact on elections? Industrial espionage? This is the stuff of action movies.

What’s it all mean for you and me? Let’s take social media. NACM BCS was a late arrival on the social media scene somewhat intentionally. It takes some effort to make this avenue of communication truly effective. After considering our options, we beefed up our presence on LinkedIn and Facebook a couple of years ago. Many of you follow us regularly and have told us you appreciate our presence on these two sites. We have avoided Twitter and the litany of other sites mostly because you haven’t asked for them. So, don’t expect tweeting or twitter-pating from us!

We will be watching with great interest as Facebook and the others get grilled about their use of customer data for potentially nefarious activities. If we have to make any changes to protect our members, rest assured we will do so.

Regarding data for credit reports, the bureaus have become hyper-sensitive about how data is handled, stored, and used. This stems from the Equifax data breach and a desire by the competing bureaus to avoid a similar fate. NACM BCS and all other resellers are being required to regularly update customer forms, files and user information particularly as it relates to consumer data. This will require a different and costlier process on our end – which we are already beginning to implement – to ensure that you and all members/customers are compliant. As this continues to unfold, we appreciate your patience and help to make this all work because there really will be no choice if we want the information necessary to do our jobs.  Part of our new internal processes will be to make these requirements as easy as possible for you while keeping the bureaus happy. 

Aside from Russians, data breeches and hackers, please take note of three events:

  • Our Business Credit Principles Online Class begins April 5nd. If you forgot to register, we can still make it happen for you. See the article below.

  • Our Annual Seminar & Meeting on May 7th. We have a great half day of programming for you along with a complementary lunch. Details follow along with a link to register.

  • Finally, NACM National Credit Congress is in Phoenix in June. We already have a good size group of our members registered and invite you to join us, too.

Spring has finally arrived. Enjoy the longer days and sun. 
COMING SOON!
Keynote Speaker:

Thea Dudley
Vice President Financial Services
SRS Distribution
Join nationally-recognized leader in credit, Thea Dudley, as she brings her years of credit experience to Seattle. A regularly published expert on the subject of credit and finance, she will offer her views of credit today. She will address guiding your career, dos-and-don'ts, and changing expectations for credit professionals.

Thea leads the credit and finance part of SRS Distribution, a leader in roofing materials with more than 250 branches across America. SRS has been a member of NACM Business Credit Services since 1935.
Protecting data:
What's ahead for us in credit
Recent data breeches and misuse of data is making everyone extra careful about the handling, storage and use of information. The major credit bureaus are especially nervous and have put in place new requirements for resellers and customers.

Regional accounting firm Moss-Adams is an expert on this topic given their diverse portfolio of clients. Their representative will be presenting recommendations on how you can protect your company's data and your customers' information as our data-driven world experiences continued threats from a variety of sources.
Protecting ourselves:
Active Shooter Mitigation
We've had a large number of members ask us for a presentation to help prepare for the unlikely event of an Active Shooter in the workplace. This special presentation by the Seattle Police Department is designed to help us all be prepared for what we hope will never happen.

Join Officers Leroy Outlaw and Ed Anderson of the SPD as they bring their decades of law enforcement experience to this civilian training through NACM BCS.
Government Affairs Update
A lot has been happening in Washington's State capital the last several months. Much of it impacts business and ultimately commercial credit. Lobbyists Mark Gjurasic and Chester Baldwin will offer an update on this year's legislative session and prepare us for what's ahead in the coming year.
Location, time and costs
One of the benefits of NACM BCS membership is the FREE Annual Seminar. Other than parking, there is no cost to you for this program. Lunch is included with the program.

We return to the Hilton Seattle Airport Hotel and Conference Center for this year's meeting. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. with program beginning promptly at 11:00 a.m.

On-site parking is $10 for the day. Given our Puget Sound traffic, we always recommend carpooling, Also, Link Light Rail stops just a block away from the hotel.

IF YOU ARE COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN, please call us for hotel recommendations. We do not have a block reserved but we'll be glad to point you in the right direction.
BOARD ELECTIONS
We are pleased to congratulate our new and re-elected member of the affiliate Board of Directors. Your Board for 2018-19 is:

Leadership

Chairman: Doug Jacobson, CCE - SRS Distribution
Chair-Elect: Krystal Daughtery, CCE - Woleseley. Inc.
Immediate Past-Chair: Joshua Nolan, CCE - Oldcastle Precast, Inc.
President & CEO: Jon Flora - NACM Business Credit Services
Treasurer: Cortney Foster CPA
Secretary: Ricole Isbey-Johnson CGA

Board of Directors

Amy Amundsen - Charlie's Produce, Seattle, WA
Carrie Bratlie - FUNKO, LLC, Everett, WA
Tim Buckley - Lynden Inc., Seattle, WA
Dave Cunningham - Hawaiian Cement, Honolulu, HI
Steven Hopkins CCE, CCRA - Stoneway Electric, Kirkland, WA
Heidi Lindgren-Boyce, CCE - Star Rentals, Seattle, WA
Michelle Lindsay - Crowley Fuels, LLC, Anchorage, AK
Danial Pharris - Lasher Holzaphel Sperry & Ebberson, Seattle, WA
Cassie Sheehan - Carlile Transportation Systems, Tacoma, WA
Teresa White CCE, ICCE - P okémon Company International, Bellevue, WA
Will Young CCE - Physio-Control part of Stryker, Redmond, WA

Thank you for taking time to participate with your vote and for your commitment to NACM!
EDUCATION
Business Credit Principles Online class returns April 5th

Last Chance to Register
A growing number of our newer members have asked us to resume our Business Credit Principles Online course this spring. We're excited by this enthusiasm and are pleased to announce that it's back this Spring!!

Starting April 5th we will once again partner with Edmonds Community College to deliver this important professional credit class. Use it to work toward professional certification or - better yet - pursue a college degree if you don't yet have one.

Whether you're at the tundra, hanging out at Starbucks, or in the comfort of your home, you can log in for the class anytime, anywhere. Meet other members while you learn more about credit basics.

BCP may be the best class you will take so register today by clicking the button below.
BUSINESS NEWS OF INTEREST
brick-house-yard.jpg
Seattle area home prices up again; average price now $777,000
Seattle kicked off 2018 the same way it spent the prior year and a half, as the hottest real-estate market in the country, with no slowing down.

Read more from our local NACM member:


relax_pool.jpg
Hawaii Hotel Revenue Jumps 10%
Average revenue per available room for Hawaii hotels increased 10.5 percent to $252 in February, according to statistics released Wednesday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Alaska population declines; housing prices remain stable
Single-family home sales in Anchorage have remained relatively stable as people have trickled out of Alaska during the state's current recession. Read more below:

Toy company CEO leads effort to salvage Toys R Us
In an effort to support the toy industry, investors have pledged a total of $200 million and hope to raise four times that amount in crowdfunding in a bid to save potentially more than half of the 735 Toys R Us stores that will go dark in bankruptcy proceedings.

As Amazon steps up tax collections, cities are often left out
When Amazon agreed last year to begin collecting sales tax in New Mexico, state officials celebrated what they said could be tens of millions of dollars in annual tax revenue. But, cities? Not so much. Click below for the story.

How to sever your connection with Facebook, if you're concerned about use of your data
A growing number of people are deleting Facebook, or at least wrestling with whether they should, in light of its latest privacy debacle. Hard as it might seem to quit, it can be done.

EVENT & INDUSTRY GROUP CALENDARS
NACM BCS Annual Seminar

May 7, 2018
Hilton Seattle Airport Hotel and Conference Center
Presented by your affiliate:
NACM Business Credit Services

NACM National Credit Congress
It's time to start planning for NACM's National Credit Congress. Join the biggest conference of the year as we head for Phoenix June 10-13, 2018.

Three days of exemplary educational programs and networking with professional colleagues.

Be part of driving results for the credit profession. Come to Phoenix!

For more information about Credit Congress and to register, click below.

Kick Off Credit Congress right with the exclusive NACM BCS Member Party - atop the Hyatt Hotel
Be sure to join our affiliate's traditional Sunday night kick-off party at Congress. It's the only way to start off the biggest show of the year.

We have big plans to gather in the revolving lounge high atop the Hyatt Hotel in Phoenix. Plan to be part of this invitation-only introduction to the Valley of the Sun.

Stay tuned for more details coming soon!
Industry Trade Groups
Puget Sound Area

Apr. 12
11:30 a.m. Floor - Duke's Chowderhouse

Apr. 17
11:30 a.m. HVAC - Duke's Chowderhouse

Apr. 18
11:30 a.m. Food - Duke's Chowderhouse
11:30 a.m. Tacoma Construction - Johnny's Dock

Apr. 19
11:30 a.m. Ad Media - CBS-KSTW
11:30 a.m. Eastside Construction - 13 Coins, Bellevue
11:30 a.m. Wiriing - Duke's Chowderhouse


Anchorage   

Apr. 18  
12:00 p.m.  Alaska Suppliers & Food  - Doriola's


Honolulu     

Apr.17
Hawaii Hospitality - Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel

Apr. 18
Hawaii Food - Waikiki Yacht Club

Apr. 20
Hawaii Building - Waikiki Yacht Club


Upcoming Professional Programs
Online Class

Business Credit Principles Online
Taught by NACM Member, Joshua Nolan CCE, Oldcastle Precast, Inc.

Begins April 5th

Offered in conjunction with Edmunds Community College. Students may receive college credit toward a degree as well as credit toward professional certification.


Seminars & Conferences

April 4-5 - CreditScape 2018 presented by Credit Management Association
Garden Grove, CA

April 5-6 - Southwest Business Credit Services Construction Credit Conference
Phoenix, AZ

May 7 - NACM BCS Annual Seminar & Meeting
Seattle, WA

June 10-13 - NACM National Credit Congress
Phoenix, AZ

October 10-12 - NACM Western Region Credit Conference
Salt Lake City, UT
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Need help with credit card, check and payment processing, or surcharging?

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,

800-432-5710
It's tax time!

Do you need tax / accounting help?
With April 15th fast approaching, you and/or your company may have a need for sound tax and accounting advice. This could be especially true for your 2018 tax planning.

Foster + Co, CPAs is a preferred provider of accounting and tax service for NACM Business Credit Services. New for 2018, the firm is offering special pricing for members and customers.

No matter where you're located, if you need help or advice, take advantage of this new offering for our members and customers.

Contact Cortney Foster, CPA, for a free consultation. Call 206-448-7500 or drop an email via the following link:


Latest Job Opportunities
Looking for a job or trying to fill a position? 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! 
USE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO
BUILD YOUR PROFESSIONAL NETWORK TODAY

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Serving the commercial credit profession since 1899
800-423-5710       www.nacmbcs.org