Board of Directors elects G. Scott Purcell to serve as president-elect while Kevin Baich is elected treasurer.
7/15/2019 9:00
Roger Weiss, IFCCE, ascended to the position of ACA International Board of Directors president as G. Scott Purcell was elected president-elect and Kevin Baich emerged as the treasurer. These elections occurred following the Council of Delegates’ meeting Sunday, July 14, in San Diego to elect the 2019/2020 Board of Directors.
“I’m honored and privileged to serve as president alongside some of the industry’s most talented, experienced and dedicated professionals. I look forward to building upon the outstanding work of current and previous leadership to ensure that the accounts receivable management industry is empowered to help members succeed and grow beyond expectations. ACA International members are committed to the highest ethical practices and conduct which results in favorable outcomes for consumers and the overall economy. I’m truly excited to lead ACA to great heights in the next year.”
Weiss, an industry veteran and leading advocate of continuous industry education, is president of CACi, a St. Louis-based debt collection company specializing in health care, utilities and student loans. He is highly regarded as an outstanding leader and communicator who regularly presents at ACA’s conferences and events. His company, CACi, was the 26th agency to achieve ACA’s Professional Practice Management System certification.
In a recent interview with Anne Rosso May, managing editor of Collector magazine, Weiss said he believes ACA belongs to its members, and he advocates tirelessly to ensure members receive strong value from the association.
“We have a phenomenal team in place right now at ACA, and there’s a renewed sense of spirit and motivation that runs through the association, in both the staff and the membership,” he told Rosso May. “In the coming year, you’ll hear a lot from me about the anagram EMGAM, which stands for Every Member Get a Member. What that means is that I want every member to take on the accountability of getting another member or reengaging an inactive member.”
Looking ahead, Weiss is excited about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s proposed rule for the debt collection industry, and encourages ACA members to make sure they understand how these changes could positively impact their businesses.
“It’s refreshing to hear the CFPB director make the statement that they are there to protect all consumers,” he said. “[Kathy Kraninger] and the bureau understand that people have to pay their just debts and if not, it costs all consumers money. I’m very excited about moving forward with that understanding.”
To read Rosso May’s entire profile on Weiss, check out the August issue of Collector magazine, scheduled to reach your mailbox in the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, Purcell and Baich are also well-known ARM professionals.
Purcell, president of Professional Credit Service, of Eugene, Oregon, is an enthusiastic supporter of the accounts receivable management industry who was initially elected to the ACA Board of Directors in 2017.
He has been honored with ACA’s Warren Siem Award for innovation and has earned the Fellow, Scholar, Healthcare Collection Management and Professional Collection Specialist designations. He graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and worked as a CPA and chief financial officer for several organizations.
Purcell believes all agencies can engage with their legislators, especially at the state level. He played in integral role in the Institute for Collection Leadership’s development of the “Collect the Truth” campaign, and believes agencies of all sizes can use this resource in telling the story of the significant impact the accounts receivable management industry has, especially to legislators.
Baich is also a passionate advocate for the accounts receivable management industry who understands the value and importance of working with elected officials. He has engaged with various members of Congress to explain the Catch 22 collectors face when leaving voicemails for consumers, the impact of TCPA requirements on the industry, and the need for FCC reform. Some of the members he has met with include reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.), Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), Billy Long (R-Mo.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.)
Baich, who has earned ACA’s Scholar designation, is an active ACA member who has served on several committees, including ACA’s Judicial and Audit committees. He served on the board of the Missouri Collectors Association, including several terms as treasurer. In 2014, he was recognized in the Who’s Who in Collections in Collection Advisor magazine.
Weiss, Purcell and Baich will be sworn in Tuesday, July 16, during the closing ceremony.
Pictured: ACA CEO Mark Neeb, Board President-Elect G. Scott Purcell, Board President Roger Weiss, Board Treasurer Kevin Baich.