St. Louis Biographies

Nir Bashan

Nir is a top business speaker leading innovation for high-performing leaders and individuals around the globe. As founder and CEO of The Creator Mindset® LLC, he helps organizations and leaders foster a culture of innovation with his groundbreaking creativity and problem-solving keynote speeches that supercharge business models to improve profitability, increase sales, and boost customer service. He speaks at conferences and events on the creative potential in every single human being on earth. He is represented by 6 speaking bureaus and is consistently ranked as a top innovation keynote speaker. As an invited guest, he regularly speaks to some of the most beloved brands on earth, such as Rolex and Porsche, and many, many more.
Nir Bashan speaks about creativity, innovation, and problem-solving at work. His superpower is transforming your audience into creative and innovative problem solvers — no matter who they are! He has spent many years working in Hollywood, advertising agencies, and writing best-selling books on the topic, and now he brings laughter, energy, and motivation to your conference keynote. Nir’s biggest compliment comes from attendees using the items they learned about in the keynote immediately when they get back to work and for years after. He lives in Orlando with his family and two fluffy Bernedoodles named Waylon Jennings and Pee Paws (don’t ask).

Nir Bashan speaks about creativity, innovation and problem solving at work. His superpower is transforming your audience into creative and innovative problem solvers — no matter who they are! He has spent many years working in Hollywood, advertising agencies and writing best selling books on the topic and now he brings laughter, energy and motivation to your conference keynote. Nir’s biggest compliment comes from attendees using the items they learned about in the keynote immediately when they get back to work and for years after. He lives in Orlando with his family and two fluffy Bernedoodles named Waylon Jennings and Pee Paws (don’t ask).

Jason Mott, CCE
MFA Incorporated

Jason Mott lives near Clark, Missouri, where he and his wife Becky, along with his grown sons and their families, own and operate a small Polled Hereford and Wagyu cattle operation.  After graduating from the University of Missouri in 1996 with a degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition, he worked for the Farm Credit System in West Central Missouri for over nine years before moving to Central Missouri in 2007. Mott worked in commercial banking in the Columbia, Missouri area until 2014 when he joined MFA Incorporated as Retail Credit Manager. Mott earned his CCE Professional Designation through NACM in 2016 and has been in the role of Corporate Credit Manager for MFA since 2017.  He serves as Chair-Elect on the National Association of Credit Management National Board and is a member of the NACM Heartland Affiliate Board, the Missouri Agricultural Leadership of Tomorrow (ALOT) Board, and the Finance Committee for the Mizzou Alumni Association. Mott’s hobbies include spending time with his granddaughters on the farm, watching Mizzou football & basketball, the Kansas City Royals, and the Kansas City Chiefs. He also enjoys hunting and fishing with his family and friends.

Curtis Litchfield, CCE
Land O Lakes/Purina

For the majority of my 37-year career with Land O’Lakes / Purina Animal Nutrition, I have held various roles in Customer Financial Services after starting my career in sales and business development. Within Customer Financial Services, my roles have involved managing a centralized and decentralized credit department where my team handles all functions of the credit department, from approving new customers, collecting past due balances, and working closely with our business partners, sales, and marketing. In addition to managing credit, I have managed our cash application team and our invoice and document delivery process. I attended the NACM Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management, where I obtained my CCE designation. For the last 12 years, I have been an instructor for NACM Connect in St. Louis. Received the Credit Excellence Award in 2017.

Sohini Chowdhury, PhD, FRM, Senior Director

Senior Director
Moody’s Analytics

Dr. Sohini Chowdhury is a Senior Director with Moody’s Analytics. She specializes in applying macroeconomic forecasts, scenarios, and models in different industries such as banking, insurance, government, and asset management. These applications include stress testing such as CCAR/DFAST and ORSA, impairment accounting such as CECL/IFRS9, and asset allocation.

An experienced speaker, Sohini often presents at global industry conferences and roundtables on topics such as economic outlook, industry best practices for managing credit and market risks, portfolio modeling and regulatory mandates. Sohini holds a PhD and a master’s degree in economics from Purdue University, and a master’s degree in applied statistics from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. She is a GARP® certified Financial Risk Manager (FRM) and has been working at Moody’s Analytics since 2011.

Diana Crowe
NACM Southwest

Diana Crowe of The PowerUp Mindset and Regional Director for NACM Southwest, creates an inspired and motivated learning environment to bring focused training for professionals looking to advance their careers, improve customer relationships (both internal and external), effectively communicate, and add to and improve their power skills! In addition to her over thirty years in a variety of corporate cultures, Diana holds a Bachelor’s in Organizational Management and, under her pen name, she has published several full-length novels and is a USA Today Best-Selling Author. She has been featured in podcasts and published articles in NACM Business Credit Magazine and Credit Research Foundation.

Brian Jackiw, Partner
Tucker Ellis LLP

Brian Jackiw is a partner with the law firm of Tucker Ellis LLP. Brian is experienced in bankruptcy and commercial litigation, practicing in courts throughout the country. He has represented plaintiffs and defendants in avoidance actions, complex bankruptcy claim disputes, breach of fiduciary duty actions, and bankruptcy fraud litigation. Beyond litigation in the bankruptcy courts, Brian has experience in general collections and commercial law litigation. Brian has also spent significant time advocating on behalf of general unsecured creditors through his representation of official committees of unsecured creditors. Before becoming an attorney, Brian served as an Officer in the U.S. Army.

Thomas Fawkes, Partner
Tucker Ellis LLP

Thomas Fawkes is a partner with the law firm of Tucker Ellis LLP in its Chicago office. Tom focuses his practice on bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, and financial restructuring matters, representing official committees, unsecured and secured creditors, debtors, financial institutions, post-confirmation trustees, and asset purchasers in chapter 11 and 7 bankruptcy cases, out-of-court restructurings, and liquidation proceedings throughout the United States. Tom also assists his clients in structuring commercial transactions with a view towards mitigating the risk of future bankruptcy and insolvency losses. Among other honors, Tom has been recognized as an Illinois Leading Lawyer in Bankruptcy & Workout Law: Commercial, and by Chambers and Partners as one of the leading bankruptcy and restructuring attorneys in Illinois.

Rich Steinkoenig
NACM Connect

Rich has been with NACM Connect since 2018 and serves the association as the National Sales Manager. Before the NACM, Rich was a risk specialist at the national account level at Dun & Bradstreet. He was also the Global Accounts Receivable Manager at Maui Jim Sunglasses for 13 years. And prior to that, he worked at Dun & Bradstreet as a senior business analyst. Rich has a degree in finance from Western Illinois University.

Dallas Kleiboeker, CBF
MFA Incorporated

Dallas grew up on a small farm in Southwest Missouri before heading to the University of Missouri. While on campus, he studied Agribusiness Management and worked as a Defensive Student Assistant for the football team as well as a Covid Screener at the VA hospital. After graduating in 2021, he started his career with MFA Incorporated as an Input Finance Loan Specialist, and in 2023, he accepted the position of Retail Credit and Membership Manager, which allowed him to get involved in NACM. Dallas obtained his CBA certification in 2024 and his CBF certification a few months ago. He also serves on the Gateway Education Committee, and he is a member of the NACM National Emerging Leaders Thought Discussion Group.

Victoria Simpson, Credit Analyst
Echo Electric

Victoria Simpson is a Credit Analyst at Echo Electric whose focus is on Customer Service.

“You can defeat anything with Kindness” is one of her favorite quotes. With a detail-oriented approach. She is dedicated to moving the finance field forward.

Prior to starting at NACM Connect, she worked at AccountResource, a staffing agency specializing in accounting and finance placements.  She managed two branch offices, opened 3 additional branch offices, including one in Michigan, and pioneered a new division for them specializing in the banking industry.

Zeb Miller, CCRA, Senior Manager, Credit and Vendor Maintenance
TricorBraun Inc.

Zeb Miller is currently a Senior Manager of Credit and Vendor Maintenance with TricorBraun Inc., a global packaging leader since 1902 that offers custom and stock packaging solutions.  Zeb has over 18 years of experience in the credit and commercial collections industry.  Zeb has been involved with NACM since 2016 and is a former Emerging Leader of NACM Connect St Louis. Zeb has served on the Education and Scholarship committees and was elected to the NACM Chicago Board of Directors in 2024.

Andrew Behlmann, Partner
Lowenstein Sandler LLP

Andrew Behlmann leverages his background in corporate finance and management to approach restructuring problems, both in and out of court, from a practical, results-oriented perspective. With a focus on building consensus among multiple parties that have competing priorities, Andrew is equally at home both in and out of the courtroom, and he has a track record of turning financial distress into positive business outcomes. Clients value his counsel in complex Chapter 11 cases, where he represents debtors, creditors’ committees, purchasers, and investors. Andrew writes and speaks frequently about bankruptcy matters and financial issues.

Colleen Restel, Partner
Lowenstein Sandler LLP

Colleen Restel advises clients on all aspects of complex financial restructuring matters. She represents creditors’ committees, tort claimant committees, individual creditors, post-confirmation fiduciaries, securities plaintiffs, and other interested parties, whom she guides through the development and implementation of innovative solutions and strategies aimed at maximizing recoveries and achieving results. Colleen has a strong track record in bankruptcy-related litigation, involving the investigation, prosecution, and defense of actions against officers, directors, and lenders, including fraudulent transfer actions, as well as representing clients in contested confirmation hearings.

Wanda Borges, Esq.
Borges & Associates LLC

WANDA BORGES, ESQ.  is the principal member of Borges & Associates, LLC, a law firm based in Syosset, New York.  For more than forty-five years, Ms. Borges has concentrated her practice on commercial litigation and creditors’ rights in bankruptcy matters, representing corporate clients and creditors’ committees throughout the United States in Chapter 11 proceedings, out-of-court settlements, commercial transactions, and preference litigation; and serves as compliance counsel to corporations and associations.  She is a member and Past President of the CLLA and Past Chair of its Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Sections.  She is a member of several bar associations, including the ABA, the ABI, and the NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers.  Ms. Borges serves on the Board of Directors of the IACC. She is an internationally recognized lecturer and author for attorneys and trade credit grantors on various legal topics, including Bankruptcy Issues, the UCC, ECOA, FCRA, antitrust law, and current legal issues such as Credit Card Surcharge issues, Social Media, Cybersecurity and Ethics, and Artificial Intelligence.   Ms. Borges is a published author and has received awards for excellence, dedication to her profession, and leadership from several organizations.

Matt Fluegge
United Tranzactions LLC

Matt Fluegge is the Vice President of Sales and Strategic Partnerships with United TranzActions (UTA), and prior to that, was an Executive Consultant with Worldpay. UTA is the nation’s largest check and ACH guarantee payments provider, and Worldpay is the world’s 2nd largest credit card processor.  Matt is a 23-year industry veteran with considerable payment processing and credit card surcharging expertise.  He has a Business Administration degree in Finance.  In addition to being a national presenter on payment processing topics, Matt works one-on-one with B2B and B2C merchants to provide payment processing services that reduce risk and costs and improve security and operational efficiency.

At Uline, he leads a team responsible for reviewing Uline’s highest-risk customers and presents to executive management on a bi-weekly basis. He works with management to create new efficiencies for the department and helps develop the analytical skills of team members.

Chris Ring
NACM’s Secured Transaction Services

Chris Ring, the National Sales Representative for NACM’s Secured Transaction Services, specializes in assisting credit professionals secure their receivables using Mechanics’ Lien Laws and Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. Chris consults with members daily, leading them to find the best way to use these credit tools to ensure that they are in the best possible position to get paid.  Since 2002, Chris has presented seminars and webinars on both Mechanics’ Liens and UCC Filings for companies, NACM Affiliate Credit Conferences, NACM Industry Credit Groups, and CFDD Meetings.

Marc Davenport
Caine & Weiner

Marc Davenport is a serial entrepreneur, wealth strategist, and business leader with over five decades of experience helping organizations improve sales, performance, and profitability. He has successfully raised capital for entrepreneurs, bringing innovative products, services, and production methods to market, driving growth through strategic commercialization.

As AVP of Customer Experience at Caine & Weiner, Marc partners with finance, credit, and collections leaders to uncover the root causes of receivables challenges—whether it’s aging A/R, post-acquisition disruption, or limited internal resources. His approach goes beyond traditional vendor relationships, delivering strategic solutions that protect cash flow while preserving valuable customer relationships.

Staci Cima, CCE
Echo Electric

Staci Cima is the Director of Credit for Echo Electric and is now on her fourth department transformation. She has over 25 years of experience in public accounting, finance management, and Order-to-Cash management. Staci is a frequent speaker and panelist with an emphasis on process improvement, change management, and technology. Staci has been a member or vendor of NACM Connect for 15 years, participating in various committees and sitting on the Connect governing board, and was selected as Connect member of the year.

Erica White, CCE
Ferguson

Erica is a graduate of University of Missouri, Columbia, and has been with Ferguson since 2005 in 20 years, she has had the opportunity to serve the Credit Department in a variety of roles, most recently as Regional Credit Manager.  Erica is also heavily involved in NACM by previously serving as Chair of NACM Connect and was on the NACM National Board. She has also completed her CBA, CBF, and CCE and is a graduate of NACM’s Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management.  In 2019, Erica was bestowed with the NACM CCE Designation of Excellence Award for her contribution to the credit industry.  In 2020, Erica was bestowed with NACM Connect Credit Executive of the Year award.

Brian Suthoff
Truverto

Brian Suthoff is the founder and President of Truverto. For small and midsize businesses that extend trade credit to their customers, Truverto provides credit information that saves time and protects privacy through integrated systems. Prior to Truverto, Brian’s passion to help businesses innovate using data motivated him to start other businesses. Tally Street provided thousands of accountants and SMBs with customer insights, and Localytics grew to a mobile engagement solution deployed on 2 billion devices. Brian has an MBA from The George Washington University and a Finance & Economics degree from Rockhurst University.

Keith Prather, Managing Director,
Armada Corporate Intelligence

Mr. Keith Prather is a Managing Director and Co-founder of Armada Corporate Intelligence. During his 24 years with Armada, he has briefed Fortune 500 firms providing corporate intelligence, economic forecasting, and insights on changing global dynamics, geopolitics, supply chain issues, and other factors that affect the corporate operating environment.

Keith is a former CFO and is the chief editor for the Flagship, an “Officer of the Watch Report” read by more than 18,000 corporate executives weekly. He and co-founder Chris Kuehl present keynotes on the economy at more than 120 events a year.

OPENING Keynote Speaker

MILANO I  |  September 10

8:15 – 9:15 A.M. CT

Nir Bashan

Nir is a top business speaker leading innovation for high-performing leaders and individuals around the globe. As founder and CEO of The Creator Mindset® LLC, he helps organizations and leaders foster a culture of innovation with his groundbreaking creativity and problem-solving keynote speeches that supercharge business models to improve profitability, increase sales, and boost customer service. He speaks at conferences and events on the creative potential in every single human being on earth. He is represented by 6 speaking bureaus and is consistently ranked as a top innovation keynote speaker. As an invited guest, he regularly speaks to some of the most beloved brands on earth, such as Rolex and Porsche, and many, many more.
Nir Bashan speaks about creativity, innovation, and problem-solving at work. His superpower is transforming your audience into creative and innovative problem solvers — no matter who they are! He has spent many years working in Hollywood, advertising agencies, and writing best-selling books on the topic, and now he brings laughter, energy, and motivation to your conference keynote. Nir’s biggest compliment comes from attendees using the items they learned about in the keynote immediately when they get back to work and for years after. He lives in Orlando with his family and two fluffy Bernedoodles named Waylon Jennings and Pee Paws (don’t ask).

Building a Championship Credit Team

MILANO I  |  September 10

9:45 — 11:00 A.M. CT

Mike Hill, CCE
MiTek Inc.

Mike Hill is a Certified Credit Executive (CCE) who is the Director of Credit for a Berkshire Hathaway company MiTek Inc., where he has worked since 2008.  He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.  Mike attended the National Association of Credit Management (NACM)-Graduate School of Credit & Financial Management at Dartmouth College in 2015.  He previously served as Chairperson of both NACM-Gateway in 2014 and NACM-Connect in 2021.  Mike currently serves on the NACM-Connect Board as the National Board Representative and is serving his second term as a Director on the NACM Board.  He was awarded the NACM-Gateway Member of the Year in 2014, the NACM-Connect Robert M. Healy Award as Credit Executive of the Year in 2021, and the NACM CCE Designation of Excellence in 2023.  In May of 2025, it was announced at NACM Credit Congress that the National Board voted Mike as Chair-Elect for 2026.  He will serve as NACM Chairperson in 2027.

Building a Championship Credit Team

MILANO I  |  September 10

9:45 — 11:00 A.M. CT

Jason Mott, CCE
MFA Incorporated

Jason Mott lives near Clark, Missouri, where he and his wife Becky, along with his grown sons and their families, own and operate a small Polled Hereford and Wagyu cattle operation.  After graduating from the University of Missouri in 1996 with a degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition, he worked for the Farm Credit System in West Central Missouri for over nine years before moving to Central Missouri in 2007. Mott worked in commercial banking in the Columbia, Missouri area until 2014 when he joined MFA Incorporated as Retail Credit Manager. Mott earned his CCE Professional Designation through NACM in 2016 and has been in the role of Corporate Credit Manager for MFA since 2017.  He serves as Chair-Elect on the National Association of Credit Management National Board and is a member of the NACM Heartland Affiliate Board, the Missouri Agricultural Leadership of Tomorrow (ALOT) Board, and the Finance Committee for the Mizzou Alumni Association. Mott’s hobbies include spending time with his granddaughters on the farm, watching Mizzou football & basketball, the Kansas City Royals, and the Kansas City Chiefs. He also enjoys hunting and fishing with his family and friends.

Terms of Sale and Cost of AR

MILANO II  |  September 10

9:45 — 11:00 A.M. CT

Financial Statement Analysis

MILANO I  |  September 11

10:15 — 11:30 A.M. CT

Curtis Litchfield, CCE
Land O Lakes/Purina

For the majority of my 37-year career with Land O’Lakes / Purina Animal Nutrition, I have held various roles in Customer Financial Services after starting my career in sales and business development. Within Customer Financial Services, my roles have involved managing a centralized and decentralized credit department where my team handles all functions of the credit department, from approving new customers, collecting past due balances, and working closely with our business partners, sales, and marketing. In addition to managing credit, I have managed our cash application team and our invoice and document delivery process. I attended the NACM Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management, where I obtained my CCE designation. For the last 12 years, I have been an instructor for NACM Connect in St. Louis. Received the Credit Excellence Award in 2017.

Scenario Analysis as an Essential Tool
for Credit Risk Management

MILANO I  |  September 10

11:30 A.M. — 12:30 P.M. CT

Sohini Chowdhury, PhD, FRM, Senior Director

Senior Director
Moody’s Analytics

Dr. Sohini Chowdhury is a Senior Director with Moody’s Analytics. She specializes in applying macroeconomic forecasts, scenarios, and models in different industries such as banking, insurance, government, and asset management. These applications include stress testing such as CCAR/DFAST and ORSA, impairment accounting such as CECL/IFRS9, and asset allocation.

An experienced speaker, Sohini often presents at global industry conferences and roundtables on topics such as economic outlook, industry best practices for managing credit and market risks, portfolio modeling and regulatory mandates. Sohini holds a PhD and a master’s degree in economics from Purdue University, and a master’s degree in applied statistics from West Chester University in Pennsylvania. She is a GARP® certified Financial Risk Manager (FRM) and has been working at Moody’s Analytics since 2011.

How to Handle Difficult Conversations

MILANO II  |  September 10

11:30 A.M. — 12:30 P.M. CT

Diana Crowe
NACM Southwest

Diana Crowe of The PowerUp Mindset and Regional Director for NACM Southwest, creates an inspired and motivated learning environment to bring focused training for professionals looking to advance their careers, improve customer relationships (both internal and external), effectively communicate, and add to and improve their power skills! In addition to her over thirty years in a variety of corporate cultures, Diana holds a Bachelor’s in Organizational Management and, under her pen name, she has published several full-length novels and is a USA Today Best-Selling Author. She has been featured in podcasts and published articles in NACM Business Credit Magazine and Credit Research Foundation.

Standby Letters of Credit Bootcamp

MILANO I  |  September 10

1:30 P.M. — 2:45 P.M.  CT

Brian Jackiw, Partner
Tucker Ellis LLP

Brian Jackiw is a partner with the law firm of Tucker Ellis LLP. Brian is experienced in bankruptcy and commercial litigation, practicing in courts throughout the country. He has represented plaintiffs and defendants in avoidance actions, complex bankruptcy claim disputes, breach of fiduciary duty actions, and bankruptcy fraud litigation. Beyond litigation in the bankruptcy courts, Brian has experience in general collections and commercial law litigation. Brian has also spent significant time advocating on behalf of general unsecured creditors through his representation of official committees of unsecured creditors. Before becoming an attorney, Brian served as an Officer in the U.S. Army.

Standby Letters of Credit Bootcamp

MILANO I  |  September 10

1:30 P.M. — 2:45 P.M.  CT

Thomas Fawkes, Partner
Tucker Ellis LLP

Thomas Fawkes is a partner with the law firm of Tucker Ellis LLP in its Chicago office. Tom focuses his practice on bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, and financial restructuring matters, representing official committees, unsecured and secured creditors, debtors, financial institutions, post-confirmation trustees, and asset purchasers in chapter 11 and 7 bankruptcy cases, out-of-court restructurings, and liquidation proceedings throughout the United States. Tom also assists his clients in structuring commercial transactions with a view towards mitigating the risk of future bankruptcy and insolvency losses. Among other honors, Tom has been recognized as an Illinois Leading Lawyer in Bankruptcy & Workout Law: Commercial, and by Chambers and Partners as one of the leading bankruptcy and restructuring attorneys in Illinois.

Cost-Effective and Efficient Ways to
Mitigate Risk and Prioritize Collections

MILANO II  |  September 10

1:30 — 2:45 P.M. CT

Rich Steinkoenig
NACM Connect

Rich has been with NACM Connect since 2018 and serves the association as the National Sales Manager. Before the NACM, Rich was a risk specialist at the national account level at Dun & Bradstreet. He was also the Global Accounts Receivable Manager at Maui Jim Sunglasses for 13 years. And prior to that, he worked at Dun & Bradstreet as a senior business analyst. Rich has a degree in finance from Western Illinois University.

Challenges & Successes of Emerging Leaders

MILANO I  |  September 10

3:15 – 4:30 P.M. CT

Dallas Kleiboeker, CBF
MFA Incorporated

Dallas grew up on a small farm in Southwest Missouri before heading to the University of Missouri. While on campus, he studied Agribusiness Management and worked as a Defensive Student Assistant for the football team as well as a Covid Screener at the VA hospital. After graduating in 2021, he started his career with MFA Incorporated as an Input Finance Loan Specialist, and in 2023, he accepted the position of Retail Credit and Membership Manager, which allowed him to get involved in NACM. Dallas obtained his CBA certification in 2024 and his CBF certification a few months ago. He also serves on the Gateway Education Committee, and he is a member of the NACM National Emerging Leaders Thought Discussion Group.

Challenges & Successes of Emerging Leaders

MILANO I  |  September 10

3:15 – 4:30 P.M. CT

Victoria Simpson, Credit Analyst
Echo Electric

Victoria Simpson is a Credit Analyst at Echo Electric whose focus is on Customer Service.

“You can defeat anything with Kindness” is one of her favorite quotes. With a detail-oriented approach. She is dedicated to moving the finance field forward.

Prior to starting at NACM Connect, she worked at AccountResource, a staffing agency specializing in accounting and finance placements.  She managed two branch offices, opened 3 additional branch offices, including one in Michigan, and pioneered a new division for them specializing in the banking industry.

Challenges & Successes of Emerging Leaders

MILANO I  |  September 10

3:15 – 4:30 P.M. CT

Zeb Miller, CCRA, Senior Manager, Credit and Vendor Maintenance
TricorBraun Inc.

Zeb Miller is currently a Senior Manager of Credit and Vendor Maintenance with TricorBraun Inc., a global packaging leader since 1902 that offers custom and stock packaging solutions.  Zeb has over 18 years of experience in the credit and commercial collections industry.  Zeb has been involved with NACM since 2016 and is a former Emerging Leader of NACM Connect St Louis. Zeb has served on the Education and Scholarship committees and was elected to the NACM Chicago Board of Directors in 2024.

Where is Chapter 11 Headed in 2026 and Beyond?

MILANO II  |  September 10

3:15 — 4:30 P.M. CT

Andrew Behlman, Partner
Lowenstein Sandler LLP

Andrew Behlmann leverages his background in corporate finance and management to approach restructuring problems, both in and out of court, from a practical, results-oriented perspective. With a focus on building consensus among multiple parties that have competing priorities, Andrew is equally at home both in and out of the courtroom, and he has a track record of turning financial distress into positive business outcomes. Clients value his counsel in complex Chapter 11 cases, where he represents debtors, creditors’ committees, purchasers, and investors. Andrew writes and speaks frequently about bankruptcy matters and financial issues.

Where is Chapter 11 Headed in 2026 and Beyond?

MILANO II  |  September 10

3:15 — 4:30 P.M. CT

Colleen Restel, Partner
Lowenstein Sandler LLP

Colleen Restel advises clients on all aspects of complex financial restructuring matters. She represents creditors’ committees, tort claimant committees, individual creditors, post-confirmation fiduciaries, securities plaintiffs, and other interested parties, whom she guides through the development and implementation of innovative solutions and strategies aimed at maximizing recoveries and achieving results. Colleen has a strong track record in bankruptcy-related litigation, involving the investigation, prosecution, and defense of actions against officers, directors, and lenders, including fraudulent transfer actions, as well as representing clients in contested confirmation hearings.

Fraud Unmasked: Detecting the Signs –
Preventing the Crime

MILANO I  |  September 11

8:30 — 9:45 A.M. CT

Wanda Borges, Esq.
Borges & Associates LLC

WANDA BORGES, ESQ.  is the principal member of Borges & Associates, LLC, a law firm based in Syosset, New York.  For more than forty-five years, Ms. Borges has concentrated her practice on commercial litigation and creditors’ rights in bankruptcy matters, representing corporate clients and creditors’ committees throughout the United States in Chapter 11 proceedings, out-of-court settlements, commercial transactions, and preference litigation; and serves as compliance counsel to corporations and associations.  She is a member and Past President of the CLLA and Past Chair of its Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Sections.  She is a member of several bar associations, including the ABA, the ABI, and the NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers.  Ms. Borges serves on the Board of Directors of the IACC. She is an internationally recognized lecturer and author for attorneys and trade credit grantors on various legal topics, including Bankruptcy Issues, the UCC, ECOA, FCRA, antitrust law, and current legal issues such as Credit Card Surcharge issues, Social Media, Cybersecurity and Ethics, and Artificial Intelligence.   Ms. Borges is a published author and has received awards for excellence, dedication to her profession, and leadership from several organizations.

Fraud Unmasked: Detecting the Signs –
Preventing the Crime

MILANO I  |  September 11

8:30 — 9:45 A.M. CT

Matt Fluegge
United Tranzactions LLC

Matt Fluegge is the Vice President of Sales and Strategic Partnerships with United TranzActions (UTA), and prior to that, was an Executive Consultant with Worldpay. UTA is the nation’s largest check and ACH guarantee payments provider, and Worldpay is the world’s 2nd largest credit card processor.  Matt is a 23-year industry veteran with considerable payment processing and credit card surcharging expertise.  He has a Business Administration degree in Finance.  In addition to being a national presenter on payment processing topics, Matt works one-on-one with B2B and B2C merchants to provide payment processing services that reduce risk and costs and improve security and operational efficiency.

At Uline, he leads a team responsible for reviewing Uline’s highest-risk customers and presents to executive management on a bi-weekly basis. He works with management to create new efficiencies for the department and helps develop the analytical skills of team members.

Automation in Construction Credit

MILANO II  |  September 11

8:30 – 9:45 A.M. CT

Chris Ring
NACM’s Secured Transaction Services

Chris Ring, the National Sales Representative for NACM’s Secured Transaction Services, specializes in assisting credit professionals secure their receivables using Mechanics’ Lien Laws and Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. Chris consults with members daily, leading them to find the best way to use these credit tools to ensure that they are in the best possible position to get paid.  Since 2002, Chris has presented seminars and webinars on both Mechanics’ Liens and UCC Filings for companies, NACM Affiliate Credit Conferences, NACM Industry Credit Groups, and CFDD Meetings.

The Art of Negotiation

MILANO II  |  September 11

10:15 — 11:30 A.M. CT

Marc Davenport
Caine & Weiner

Marc Davenport is a serial entrepreneur, wealth strategist, and business leader with over five decades of experience helping organizations improve sales, performance, and profitability. He has successfully raised capital for entrepreneurs, bringing innovative products, services, and production methods to market, driving growth through strategic commercialization.

As AVP of Customer Experience at Caine & Weiner, Marc partners with finance, credit, and collections leaders to uncover the root causes of receivables challenges—whether it’s aging A/R, post-acquisition disruption, or limited internal resources. His approach goes beyond traditional vendor relationships, delivering strategic solutions that protect cash flow while preserving valuable customer relationships.

Technology: Moving Forward with AI

MILANO I  |  September 11

12:45 — 2:00 P.M. CT

Staci Cima, CCE
Echo Electric

Staci Cima is the Director of Credit for Echo Electric and is now on her fourth department transformation. She has over 25 years of experience in public accounting, finance management, and Order-to-Cash management. Staci is a frequent speaker and panelist with an emphasis on process improvement, change management, and technology. Staci has been a member or vendor of NACM Connect for 15 years, participating in various committees and sitting on the Connect governing board, and was selected as Connect member of the year.

Technology: Moving Forward with AI

MILANO I  |  September 11

12:45 — 2:00 P.M. CT

Erica White, CCE
Ferguson

Erica is a graduate of University of Missouri, Columbia, and has been with Ferguson since 2005 in 20 years, she has had the opportunity to serve the Credit Department in a variety of roles, most recently as Regional Credit Manager.  Erica is also heavily involved in NACM by previously serving as Chair of NACM Connect and was on the NACM National Board. She has also completed her CBA, CBF, and CCE and is a graduate of NACM’s Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management.  In 2019, Erica was bestowed with the NACM CCE Designation of Excellence Award for her contribution to the credit industry.  In 2020, Erica was bestowed with NACM Connect Credit Executive of the Year award. 

Use Data to Align Management and Boost Your Value

MILANO II  |  September 11

12:45 — 2:00 P.M. CT

Brian Suthoff
Truverto

Brian Suthoff is the founder and President of Truverto. For small and midsize businesses that extend trade credit to their customers, Truverto provides credit information that saves time and protects privacy through integrated systems. Prior to Truverto, Brian’s passion to help businesses innovate using data motivated him to start other businesses. Tally Street provided thousands of accountants and SMBs with customer insights, and Localytics grew to a mobile engagement solution deployed on 2 billion devices. Brian has an MBA from The George Washington University and a Finance & Economics degree from Rockhurst University.

CLOSING Keynote Speaker

MILANO I  |  September 11

2:15 – 3:30 P.M. CT

Keith Prather, Managing Director,
Armada Corporate Intelligence

Mr. Keith Prather is a Managing Director and Co-founder of Armada Corporate Intelligence. During his 24 years with Armada, he has briefed Fortune 500 firms providing corporate intelligence, economic forecasting, and insights on changing global dynamics, geopolitics, supply chain issues, and other factors that affect the corporate operating environment.

Keith is a former CFO and is the chief editor for the Flagship, an “Officer of the Watch Report” read by more than 18,000 corporate executives weekly. He and co-founder Chris Kuehl present keynotes on the economy at more than 120 events a year.