07/22/2020 09:00 AM
Tags/Topics: News
Minneapolis, July 22, 2020 – ACA International, the association of credit and collection professionals, elected new officers and members to its Board of Directors on July 14, 2020, including 2020/21 Board President G. Scott Purcell.
Purcell was first elected to ACA’s board in 2017. He is president of Professional Credit in Springfield, Oregon.
As a leader, Purcell is focused on optimizing efficiency and continuous improvement. He helped create Professional Credit’s leadership development program, LeaderU, and enthusiastically embraces new technology. Purcell earned his B.S. in accounting from Oregon State University.
As ACA International’s new president, Purcell is committed to doing everything he can to help members succeed and to highlight the ways the accounts receivable management (ARM) industry benefits consumers and the economy.
Some of these benefits are reflected in the 2020 State of the Industry Report by ACA International and Kaulkin Ginsberg, which Purcell cited in his first speech as ACA president.
“Our clients in both the public and private sectors, who are providing valuable goods and services, need us more than ever now,” Purcell said. “Part of our economy is functioning in a healthy way, and part is not. We have the expertise to address issues that consumers have in both parts of the economy, which, in turn, helps our clients and the economy as a whole. Every American family stands to lose $709 per year by the increase in the cost of goods and services if we don’t return the $90 billion back to creditors that the industry typically collects.”
As ACA president, Purcell is focused on working with regulators and legislators to promote greater equity in the tools used by consumers in collections compared to the tools used by people not in collections.
“There is no reason why people with accounts in collections should be treated lesser than by legislators by limiting the communication channels they can use,” Purcell said. “I don’t think it’s intentional, but it is happening the way our laws and regulations are currently written. This is an equity lens issue that has been exposed even more during the pandemic.”
ACA International has built relationships with legislators on both sides of the aisle and Purcell is focused on continuing those relationships and ensuring the ARM industry has a seat at the table.
“We, members, are the constituents. We are the ones that legislators need and want to hear from,” he said. “I want to engage our members in the political process and the education process.”
Purcell is the recipient of ACA International’s Fellow Designation, Scholar Designation and Warren Siem Award for innovation.
ACA International’s Board of Directors is made up of 15 elected association members who serve three-year terms. Officers serve one-year terms.
ACA International (ACA), the association of credit and collection professionals, is the largest membership organization in the accounts receivable management industry. Founded in 1939, ACA brings together third-party collection agencies, law firms, asset buying companies, creditors and vendor affiliates representing industry professionals. ACA produces a wide variety of products, services and publications, including educational and compliance-related information; and articulates the value of the accounts receivable management industry to businesses, policymakers and consumers. www.acainternational.org.