Offering women and young professionals enhanced leadership development opportunities and peer engagement proved successful at the 2019 Convention & Expo.
7/16/2019 9:00
As part of its ongoing effort to engage and encourage diversity within the industry and its membership, ACA’s Convention highlighted sessions and events focused on promoting women and young professionals as they move forward in their careers. It started Sunday evening with an extremely well-attended Women4Women reception and continued throughout the Convention with a reception for young professionals and other sessions focused on topics relevant to these audiences.
On Monday, a panel of accomplished women who serve in various leadership roles shared their experiences overcoming gender stereotypes, finding their leadership styles, lessons they have learned throughout their careers, as well as tips for networking and mentoring other women.
Women make up 70% of the accounts receivable management industry, compared to roughly 47% of the overall workforce, according to the ACA International white paper, “Small Businesses in the Collection Industry,” noted panelist Lauren J. Valenzuela, compliance counsel, Performant Recovery Inc.
Valenzuela, along with Lisa Bloomfield, president, Credit Adjustments Inc.; Lisa Im, CEO-president, Performant Recovery Inc.; Kim Phan, partner at Ballard Spahr; and Melissa Kirk, vice president of IT, BillingTree; focused their interactive session on overcoming challenges and finding your voice and path as a leader.
Leadership is based on engagement, Im added. According to Kirk, good leaders can put challenges they face in perspective to overcome an obstacle.
Developing Young Business Leaders
David Kelley, CEO and president of The Preferred Group of Tampa, captivated an audience of attendees Monday afternoon in an energetic presentation about developing and mentoring the next generation of leaders. Young professionals are essential to the future of your operation and our industry, Kelley told a crowd gathered in a room to hear his well-received message.
Leadership is simply influence, Kelley said, noting the tools necessary to create a management training program and to provide support for continuing engagement and success.
More to Follow
ACA International Board Member Anita Manghisi is leading the group Women4Women with the support of ACA staff Leah Dempsey, vice president and senior counsel, federal affairs; Mary Thao, director of meetings and events; Kari Barber, corporate counsel; and Kim Coghill, vice president of communications. Additional information about this group is forthcoming (#ACAWomen4Women). Watch for updates in ACA Daily.
The Young Professionals (#YPGroup) group, geared toward the next generation of leaders, gathered for its first reception at the Convention Monday evening. For additional information on this group and becoming an active participant, contact Mary Thao at [email protected].
Thank you to the attendees, sponsors and speakers. Watch for additional convention news and photos in ACA Daily and share your experience on social media @ACAIntl using #ACAConv19.