Stirling Capital Management to Become Stirling Capital Advisors

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Stirling Capital Management, LLC formally announced this week that the company will officially be changing its name to Stirling Capital Advisors.

Founder Edward S. Forbes explained that the new name would more appropriately reflect the evolving focus and direction of the company, adding, “Stirling Capital has established a well-respected advisory service that serves credit issuers with asset disposition needs, as well as select portfolio purchasers with new purchase opportunities and recovery management solutions. This change will reflect our expertise in these areas and that we are much more than simply a debt trading platform.” 

This is only the first of many changes to Stirling’s branding and marketing over the next few months” said Managing Member Michael P. Woodyshek. “We are also making changes to our existing buyer approval process, as well as making substantial investments in new technology and compliance monitoring systems. We have listened carefully to our Clients’ ever-changing needs and are working to deliver a best-in-class solution for the Receivables Management Industry.”

About Stirling Capital Management

Stirling Capital Management was formed in 2008 to provide personalized debt sale and consulting services to credit issuers and select national portfolio owners. Over the past 10 years, Stirling’s Principals have worked exclusively with several nationally-recognized credit issuers using flexible process integration to deliver effective sales and recovery solutions. 

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Michael Woodyshek at 561.901.9756 or email at mikew@stirlingcm.com.

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LiveVox Discusses How Cloud is Embedding Multichannel Consent in the Contact Center

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — LiveVox Inc., a leading provider of cloud channel of choice communications solutions, announced that it will host a webinar discussing how cloud is accelerating multichannel adoption by embedding and centralizing multichannel consent management functions across customer touchpoints. Led by LiveVox legal counsel alongside digital and operations experts, the webinar takes place Thursday, February 15th at 11am PT/ 2pm ET. To register, click here. 

On the event, Boris Grinshpun, GM of CRM Product Group, states, At LiveVox, we’ve recognized that customer consent management is key to unlocking multichannel adoption for contact centers in highly regulated environments. One of the fundamental challenges hindering an effective solution has been the siloed and layered approach to multichannel outreach. This lack of integration has not only resulted in a disconnected multichannel experience, but also makes it virtually impossible for contact centers to manage compounding channel preferences. I’m excited to share how cloud is paving a new, accelerated path to addressing these issues.”

Amid the mounting pressure of multichannel demand, don’t get left behind, register for the webinar today! Register here.

About the event:

  • EVENT: Components of Multichannel Consent Management 
  • DATE/TIME: Thursday, February 15th, 2018 at 11:00am PT / 2pm ET
  • SPEAKERS:
    • Mark Mallah, General Counsel, LiveVox, Inc.
    • Boris Grinshpun, General Manager of CRM Product Group, LiveVox, Inc
    • Dusty Whitesell, Chief Evangelist, LiveVox, Inc.

About LiveVox, Inc.

LiveVox is a leading provider of enterprise cloud contact center solutions, managing more than 9 billion interactions a year across a multichannel environment. With over 15 years of pure cloud expertise, we empower contact center leaders to drive effective engagement strategies on the consumer’s channel of choice. Our leading-edge risk mitigation and security capabilities help clients quickly adapt to a changing business environment. With new features released quarterly, LiveVox remains at the forefront of cloud contact center innovation. Supported by over 450 employees and rapidly growing, we are headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Atlanta, Bangalore, and Colombia. To learn more, visit LiveVox.com or email us at Info@LiveVox.com

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RMA Elects Directors and Officers

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Members of Receivables Management Association International (RMA) elected Directors and Officers to its Board last week at the association’s annual conference. Of the ten-member Board, nine are continuing service from the previous year (some in new roles) and one is serving his first term. The 2018 Directors and Officers are:

Mark Naiman, Absolute Resolutions Corp., President
Marian Sangalang, The Bureaus, Inc., President Elect
James Mastriani, Velocity Portfolio Group, Treasurer
Adam Parks, Investment Retrievers, Secretary
Todd Lansky, Resurgence Capital, LLC, Past President
Kelly Knepper-Stephens, Stoneleigh Recovery Associates, Director
Jon Mazzoli, Resurgent Capital Services, Director
Brett Soldevila, Security Credit Services, LLC, Director
Phillip Stenger, Capital Alliance Financial, LLC, Director
Anne Thomas, Cavalry Portfolio Services, LLC, Director

Mark Naiman, President and CEO of Absolute Resolutions Corp. in San Diego, California, will serve another year as Board President. “In serving another year on the Board of Directors, I will be able to maintain the personal relationships developed over the last few years in D.C.,” Naiman stated. “Continuity of both voice and message demonstrates the association’s commitment to ensuring that our members benefit the most from a unified message, and our ability to be meaningfully involved in any potential changes.”

In the year to come, Naiman seeks to work on further cooperation with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) as a means to continue the productive discussions that benefit all members, coupled with the invitations RMA has recently received to share those thoughts.

Other association goals for 2018 include continued outreach and cooperation with other trade associations, leading to not just unified and cooperative efforts on state and federal issues, but also networking and business opportunities for members.

Revisions to the Certification Program will continue in the coming year, allowing for more streamlined and cost-effective measures to assist member companies of all sizes.

“The receivables management industry has cause to be optimistic. This, combined with the Board of Directors’ clear mission, will steer the association on a successful course,” said Jan Stieger, RMA Executive Director. “Our members can look forward to more opportunities for growth, as well as continued advocacy for regulation and legislation that is fair, balanced, and consistent.”

About Receivables Management Association International

Receivables Management Association International (RMA) is the nonprofit trade association that represents more than 550 companies that purchase or support the purchase of performing and nonperforming receivables on the secondary market. The Receivables Management Certification Program and Code of Ethics set the global standard within the receivables industry due to its rigorous uniform industry standards of best practice which focus on the protection of the consumer. RMA provides its members with extensive networking, educational, and business development opportunities in asset classes that span numerous industries. The association continually sets the standard in the receivables management industry through its highly effective grassroots advocacy, conferences, committees, task forces, publications, webinars, teleconferences, and breaking news alerts. Founded in 1997 as the Debt Buyers Association, RMA is headquartered in Sacramento, California.

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5 Common Problems and 5 Easy Solutions to ADA Accessibility and Compliance

This is part two of a three-part series. Read part one here. Part three will be posted next week. The articles first appeared on the Ontario Systems Blog and are republished here with permission.

We already learned who must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the reasons why our industry must understand how the ADA impacts a consumer-facing website. But what particular, major problems do websites present to people with vision and auditory disabilities? More importantly, what are the solutions that solve each? Here are 5:

Problem #1: Images Without Text Equivalents
Solution: Add a Text Equivalent to Every Image

Blind people, those with low vision, and people with other disabilities that affect their ability to read a computer display often use different technologies so they can access the information displayed on a webpage. These assistive technologies read text. They cannot translate images into speech or Braille, even if words appear in the images. For this reason, screen readers and refreshable Braille displays cannot interpret photographs, charts, color-coded information, or other graphic elements on a webpage.

Adding a line of simple HTML code to provide text for each image and graphic will enable a user with a vision disability to understand what it is. Add a type of HTML tag, such as an “alt” tag for brief amounts of text, or a “longdesc” tag for large amounts, to each image and graphic on your agency’s website.

The words in the tag should be more than a description. They should provide a text equivalent of the image. In other words, the tag should include the same meaningful information that other users obtain by looking at the image. In the example of a picture, adding an “alt” tag with the words “Photograph of __________” provides a meaningful description. 

Problem #2: Documents Are Not Posted in an Accessible Format
Solution: Post Documents in a Text-Based Format

ARM agencies, and Federal, State and local governments will often post documents on their websites using Portable Document Format (PDF). But PDF documents, or those in other image based formats, are often not accessible to blind people who use screen readers and people with low vision who use text enlargement programs or different color and font settings to read computer displays.

Always provide documents in an alternative text-based format, such as HTML or RTF (Rich Text Format), in addition to PDF. Text-based formats are the most compatible with assistive technologies.

Third party debt collectors seeking to display documents, validation notices, payment arrangements and the like on their consumer web portal should pay attention to the problems associated with PDF for reasons that extend beyond the ADA. In addition to the problem PDFs pose to the blind or people with low vision, PDF’s require access to programs like Adobe Acrobat which may be deemed an unfair practice or worse an insufficient way to provide a consumer with a copy of required disclosures under the FDCPA. 

Problem #3: Specifying Colors and Font Sizes
Solution: Avoid Dictating Colors and Font Settings

Webpage designers often have aesthetic preferences and may want everyone to see their webpages in the same color, size and layout. But because of their disability, many people with low vision do not see webpages the same as other people. Some see only small portions of a computer display at one time. Others cannot see text or images that are too small. Still others can only see website content if it appears in specific colors. For these reasons, many people with low vision use specific color and font settings when they access the Internet – settings that are often very different from those most people use. For example, many people with low vision need to use high contrast settings, such as bold white or yellow letters on a black background. Others need just the opposite – bold black text on a white or yellow background. And, many must use softer, more subtle color combinations.

Users need to be able to manipulate color and font settings in their web browsers and operating systems to make pages readable. Some webpages, however, are designed so that changing the color and font settings is impossible.

Websites should be designed so they can be viewed with the color and font sizes set in users’ web browsers and operating systems. Users with low vision must be able to specify the text and background colors as well as the font sizes needed to see webpage content. 

Problem #4: Videos and Other Multimedia Lack Accessible Features
Solution: Include Audio Descriptions and Captions

Due to increasing bandwidth and connection speeds, videos and other multimedia are becoming more common on state and local government websites. These and other types of multimedia can present two distinct problems for people with different disabilities. People who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can generally see the information presented on webpages. But a deaf person or someone who is hard of hearing may not be able to hear a video’s audio track. On the other hand, persons who are blind or have low vision are frequently unable to see the video images but can hear the audio track.

Videos need to incorporate features that make them accessible to everyone. Provide audio descriptions of images (including changes in setting, gestures, and other details) to make videos accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. Provide text captions synchronized with the video images to make videos and audio tracks accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Problem #5: Failure to Provide Skip Navigation
Solution: Include a “skip navigation” link at the top of webpages

People who use screen readers benefit from a link at the top of webpages that allows them to ignore navigation links and skip directly to webpage content. Also keep in mind the goal to minimize blinking, flashing, or other distracting features at every opportunity. If they must be included, ensure that moving, blinking, or auto-updating objects or pages may be paused or stopped.

For those collection agencies and governmental bodies who offer consumers an option to apply for assistance, e-sign a payment arrangement or complete a financial assistance plan, take the step to include descriptive HTML tags that provide persons with disabilities the information they need to complete and submit the forms.

You may also want to include visual notification and transcripts if sounds automatically play. Do this out of respect for the user and to avoid inadvertent law violations such as the unauthorized disclosure of a debt to a third party that may result from an audio announcement, “This is a communication from a debt collector.” 

Technology is changing, and many website designers are using creative and innovative ways to present web-based materials. These changes may involve new and different access problems and solutions for people with disabilities, but with appropriate attention paid to your compliance policy, they can certainly be overcome.

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Are You Missing Value-Based Payments? Patient Experience Is Key

This article originally appeared on the Ontario Systems Blog. It is republished here with permission.

The 2016 InstaMed Trends in Healthcare Payments Report indicates 58% of patients polled wanted to pay their healthcare bills online, and 61% were interested in using mobile payment methods like Android or Apple Pay to pay their healthcare bill. In this day and age of electronic convenience, patients want more from their healthcare providers. And yet 86% of the same patients surveyed say they still receive their bills through the mail.

As value-based payments continue to grow, patient experience becomes key. How do you ensure each patient has the same experience as they communicate with your business office?  This can be difficult with disparate patient accounting systems and differences in quality measurement tools. Yet patients expect more, and providers need to provide the same conveniences other businesses do. To do so, you need to follow these three disciplines:

1. Provide multiple patient communication mediums: The digital age is here and consumers want the same conveniences they get with every other business. This means providing multiple communication mediums to the patient. Only having an inbound call center plus web portal is no longer acceptable. Patients interact with IVR, mobile sites, text and e-mail too. The technology to provide them with these channels exists today – so leverage it to provide the complete patient experience.  Not only does this make for a happier patient, it also reduces cost as fewer people will be forced to call into the call center for answers. Happier patients mean more repeat business, loyalty that is important in a much more competitive marketplace.

2. Aggregate data for one patient view: As you build out multiple mediums for the patient to interact with you, be sure they can see a complete picture of every account they have with you. If you have different patient accounting systems with multiple CBOs, you need to combine the data into one database so you can present a single unified view to the patient, and show them a complete picture of what they owe. Patients should not only see self-pay balances but those pending insurance resolution and denial appeals as well. If you do not provide this view, then patient frustration will rise, leading to more complaints and calls to your call center.

3. Embedded quality system: After creating a single database and the channels for patients to interact, it will be important to monitor quality. Typically, every provider uses scripting to handle patients who call in. The key is to ensure each interaction is as uniform as possible. With an embedded quality system recording calls and attaching them to the account, your supervisor can perform quality audits and score accounts based on required actions for each call. This should feed into a dashboard and subsequent reporting that leadership can see each month. With this data, you can now target key areas where training has the biggest impact. By taking one to two of these each quarter and providing specific training programs, your patient experience can continue to be the same across all your agents.

Managing the patient experience to provide all the channels they want, showing the complete picture of what the patient has open, and managing quality for human interactions are all keys to being successful. This leads to more repeat business, referrals and reduced staffing cost in call centers. Patients want the same experience as they have with other businesses through the same channels they use today.

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Will 2018 Be the Year States Shore Up Balance Billing Legislation?

Continuing the trend of steadily increasing attention to the issue of balance billing, 2018 has wasted no time kicking off activity to move the needle in the direction of more comprehensive state legislation. Balance billing is the process by which patients receive higher-than-expected bills from healthcare providers, often due to having unknowingly received out-of-network care. Physicians’ lobbies, state-level insurance departments, and state politicians have begun what is sure to be a year full of activity. 

Physicians weigh in

Recently, Physicians for Fair Coverage (PFC), a coalition of physician working on policy issues including balance billing, has weighed in on the balance billing issue by advocating that consumers be kept out of the issue between insurers and physicians. PFC recommends an appropriate and fair standard for out-of-network services using a reimbursement schedule connected to an independently recognized and verified charge-based database. To benchmark physician fees, PFC recommends FAIR Health, which it says maintains the largest collection of private insurance claims in the United States.

According to its website, PFC is actively working on state-level efforts around balance billing, and supports legislative efforts that would require:

  • A minimum benefit standard for out-of-network care with transparent, predictable and fair pricing for medical services so patients aren’t surprised about their health insurance coverage.
  • An adequate number of doctors and clinicians in health plan networks, especially in the emergency department, to serve the number of patients in that network.
  • In-network rates for patients who encounter unexpected out-of-network care.
  • Protections for patients so they are removed from payment disputes between clinicians and insurance companies.
  • A mediation process that a patient or clinician can initiate with resolution within 30 days.
  • Requirements to prevent insurers from providing false, misleading or confusing information.
  • Strong penalties for insurers and clinicians who violate the patient coverage protections in the law.

The group has even created model legislation based on successful bills passed in states like New York, and is monitoring legislation that seeks to correct the gaps in consumer protection at the state level.

More states tackle balance billing

As insideARM has recently reportedthere is still a lack of balance billing legislation in many states. However, legislative bodies in at least two states — New Hampshire and Washington — have kicked off 2018 with efforts to relieve the burden of balance billing.

New Hampshire is considering two bills this year related to balance billing. HB 1643 and HB 1809 focus on balance billing when a patient goes to an in-network facility but receives treatment from an out-of-network doctor, but only apply to anesthesiology, radiology, emergency medicine, or pathology services. The bills have so far won the support of the New Hampshire Insurance Department. Opponents of of the two bills argue that the problem won’t be solved with balance billing legislation, but instead must be solved as part of expanding New Hampshire’s inadequate health insurance network. In 2014, New Hampshire’s health insurance exchange launched with just one narrow-network plan.

In Washington, House Bill 2114 was reintroduced in January, and is winding its way through the House Rules Committee. If passed, it would require facilities, providers and insurers to disclose their network status. The legislation also allows for arbitration and mediation when disputes arise, and addresses the issue of consumers being charged for out-of-network providers staffing the emergency department, where most people have no control over who provides their care.

Despite the recent proposed bills in Washington and New Hampshire, there has been little progress at the state level in passing comprehensive balance billing laws. Last summer, the Commonwealth Fund published a helpful grid showing each state’s current status regarding balance billing legislation; not much has changed since then. This round-up is helpful in that it details the elements of state laws currently in place, and shows features of state protections in direct comparison to one another:

 

Source of data:  K. Lucia, J. Hoadley, and A. Williams, Balance Billing by Health Care Providers: Assessing Consumer Protections Across States, The Commonwealth Fund, June 2017.

insideARM will continue to monitor the balance billing issue, including how hospital revenue cycle executives and physician practices are doing their part to cope operationally period of great flux, as the entire healthcare community faces the fallout of unpaid out-of-pocket medical bills.

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Neeb to Take Helm at ACA International

Mark Neeb

ACA International announced yesterday the appointment of Mark Neeb as chief executive officer, starting next Monday, February 12.  He takes over following the departure late last year of Pat Morris, who led the association for six years. 

According to the announcement,
 
Mark Neeb brings to the association nearly forty years of corporate strategy experience including 28 years specifically working in the credit and collection industry.  Mark is intimately familiar with ACA International having been a member for many years and serving on the ACA Executive Committee and as ACA President from 2011 to 2012.  Mark is a high energy executive and entrepreneur that understands the industry and will lead ACA International into the future.
 
ACA International President, Rick Perr said “After conducting a rigorous search, it was clear to the Board that Mark’s leadership and considerable experience in the credit and collection industry combined with his extensive familiarity with our great association made him the outstanding candidate for this position.  He has a proven track record of success throughout his career and is a perfect fit to lead our industry.”
 
Mark currently serves as the President and CEO of neebEDU a debt recovery company he founded in 2014 that exclusively focuses on the education industry. 
 
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Previously, Mark served as the President and CEO of The Affiliated Group (TAG), a company he bought, built and sold over a period of twenty years.  The Affiliated Group is a nationally licensed receivables management firm, specializing in all facets of the revenue cycle, receivables recovery and debt portfolio management.  In previous positions Mark served as Audit Manager for Clifton, Larson, Allen CPA’s and as the CFO for a large receivables management firm based in Minnesota.
 
Throughout his career Mark has been very active in the collections industry, at both the local and national levels.  Mark has chaired numerous national committees including the ACA Healthcare Debt Sales & Collection Services Task Force which developed guidelines for collection agencies and healthcare facilities on best practices on the sale and collection of healthcare debt.  From 2002 to 2007, he served as a National Director of ACA International.  Mark also frequently speaks at industry events throughout the country.

Mark is a Certified Public Accountant having received his Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from St. Cloud State University and received his Masters of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas. 

insideARM Perspective

insideARM congratulates Mark on his new role and this exciting new phase for ACA. I met Mark for the first time about five years ago and found him to be energetic, personable, and passionate about the business. I have no doubt he will serve the industry well, and I look forward to working together.  

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The ADA Matters When It Comes to Consumer Web Portals

This is part one of a three-part series. Read part two here. Part three will be posted next week. The articles first appeared on the Ontario Systems Blog and are republished here with permission.

It’s true: When it comes to efficient receivables management, consumer web portals are all the rage.  While web-based interactions with consumers are second nature to most businesses, the ARM industry has been slow to adapt. That’s changing, as many outsourcers have begun to embrace newer tools to manage consumer communications and collect payments.

Consumer preferences are the reason for this shift. Web portals present the communication options consumers want and demand. They function as live associates, available 24/7 to take payments. They provide consumers with the means to pay; the documents they need; the reminders they want; and the voice they demand to express consent, ask questions or even register a complaint.

But with every new opportunity comes a cost. Websites trigger unique, complicated compliance requirements for businesses, nonprofits, Federal, state and local governments including third-party collection agencies and those who collect Federal, state or local government debt. One of the most confusing and misunderstood set of consumer web site requirements is driven by Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Here are the highlights you need to know:

The ADA in Brief

The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, communication, and access to services, goods, and public accommodations.

Public Accommodation

The ADA was originally enacted in 1990 to ensure, among other things, persons with physical disabilities could access public places. This public access requirement is referred to as the public accommodations provision of the ADA and applies to any nonprofit group, governmental body, public service organization or private place of business that is open to the public for the sale or lease of goods or services.

When the ADA was enacted, the reference to public accommodation applied to public places that were not accessible to persons with physical disabilities. Doorways, aisles, stairs and walkways are some of the more obvious examples of impediments to the physically disabled originally contemplated by the public accommodation provision of the ADA.

Today, due to the proliferation of the use of websites by brick and mortar organizations that provide goods and services to the general public, the ADA is being used to ensure persons with physical disabilities can reasonably access the web presence of these organizations.

Risk and Liability

Failure to take the ADA seriously can expose you to consumer law suits as well as administrative actions by the Department of Justice. In 2006, private litigants and the DOJ began filing or threatening to file legal actions based on allegedly inaccessible websites (and eventually also including mobile applications) and the trend continues today.

The Third, Ninth, and Eleventh Circuit courts apply the ADA only to websites that have a connection to goods and services available at a physical location, like a retail store. The First, Second, and Seventh Circuit courts apply the ADA more broadly to include all websites that offer direct sale of goods or services, even those that lack “some connection to physical space.” Click here for additional information.

Websites intended solely for B2B purposes likely pose less of a litigation risk than those websites that drive consumer services and interaction. As collection agencies increase their use of websites to interact with consumers, provide required documentation of the debt, arrange payment plans, process payments and receive complaints so too will the need to comply with ADA requirements increase.

Online Barriers

Poorly-designed websites can create unnecessary barriers for people with disabilities, just as poorly-designed buildings prevent some people with disabilities from entering. Access problems often occur because website designers mistakenly assume that everyone sees and accesses a webpage in the same way. This mistaken assumption can frustrate assistive technologies and their users. Accessible website design recognizes these differences and does not require people to see, hear, or use a standard mouse to access the information and services provided.

Be aware, many people with disabilities use assistive technology that enables them to use computers. Some assistive technology involves separate computer programs or devices, including screen readers, text enlargement software, and computer programs that enable people to control the computer with their voice. Other assistive technology is built into computer operating systems. For example, basic accessibility features in computer operating systems enable some people with low vision to see computer displays by simply adjusting color schemes, contrast settings, and font sizes. Operating systems enable people with limited manual dexterity to move the mouse pointer using key strokes instead of a standard mouse.

Rules to Follow

There are no current laws or regulations defining what is required to bring a website into compliance with the ADA. There are voluntary guidelines developed by W3C, an international consortium that develops web standards.  The most recent version is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0. I personally find the information provided at www.ada.gov to be the most helpful.

Proposed rules have been in the works for over seven years by the Department of Justice but have been delayed several times. See www.ada.gov for more information about the proposed rules for ADA website compliance and guidance on ADA requirements.

How do you take these issues into account with your own business? Addressing ADA compliance solutions for consumer websites means following a consumer website checklist to support your compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Regulation E, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act and state licensing requirements.

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Credit Adjustments, Inc. to Add 500 Jobs in Toledo

DEFIANCE, Ohio — Credit Adjustments, Inc. (CAI), a national ARM company, is planning to expand operations to Toledo, OH, adding 500 jobs over the next three years. Although best known as a leader in healthcare and higher education receivables, CAI utilizes its human talent and automation technologies to provide a full range of contact management solutions. Based in Defiance, OH, CAI also has an office in Manchester, NH. 

“Our business continues to grow and we feel that Toledo offers a great opportunity for us,” said Michael Osborne, Chairman of the Board, CAI. “We just celebrated the grand opening of our first Toledo location on the third floor of ProMedica’s Ebeid Institute. This location will house up to 60 of our new employees, but it is only the beginning.”

As a faith-based company, CAI looked at not only the economic factors in expanding to Toledo, but also the social issues. “We feel that we have a responsibility to improve the lives in the communities we serve,” shared Mr. Osborne. “It’s about the EROI – the eternal return on investment.”

CAI has partnered with Cherry Street Mission Ministries’ Life Revitalization Center (LRC) on a call center training program. The goal is to offer individuals who successfully complete the training program an opportunity to be employed in the same community. Through this partnership, eight of the 17 employees starting in the new office graduated from this program. This training program is one of the reasons that expanding further in Toledo makes sense. In addition, discussions with JobsOhio and local government entities have begun and certain project details are contingent on state and local incentives.

CAI believes that others will follow and move businesses to the area as a trained workforce develops. By adding the 500 jobs, including management positions, to the uptown/downtown area of Toledo, CAI hopes to witness a positive impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. Programs like the LRC and ProMedica’s Ebeid Financial Opportunity Center also provide those necessary support and wrap-around services to the employees. 

CAI’s commitment to Defiance still remains strong as plans for a new corporate headquarters are being finalized and additional jobs continue to be added in Defiance and Manchester as well.

 

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CMC Completes SOC 2 Audit

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Credit Management Company today announced receipt of its Service Organization Controls No. 2 (“SOC 2”) Type II independent service auditor’s report.

This report illustrates the independent validation that Credit Management Company’s internal security controls are in accordance with TSP Section 100, Trust Services Principles and Criteria for Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy (“applicable trust services criteria”) during the period July 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017.

The report, prepared by I.S. Partners, LLC, evaluated Credit Management Company’s system and other relevant aspects of the CMC control environment, risk assessment process, information and communication systems and monitoring controls.

The review process confirmed Credit Management Company’s adherence to the standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) related to security controls. The AICPA created the SOC 2 guidelines to provide an authoritative benchmark for service organizations to demonstrate implementation of proper control procedures and practices. Type II reports include detailed testing of the operational effectiveness of the described system’s security controls.

SOC 2 compliance ensures the ongoing security of confidential information within CMC’s systems. This also provides a solid foundation and outlook of their view on protecting client and consumer information. 

About Credit Management Company (CMC)

CMC has been providing full service accounts receivable and collection management programs across several industry segments since 1966. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, CMC’s clients reside in the healthcare, government, education, and consumer industry sectors. CMC’s customized outsourcing processes deliver solutions that will accelerate cash flow, lower operating expenses, reduce customer delinquency, and improve customer care and support. All of CMC’s vast client network has benefited from either CMC’s standard or customized outsourcing programs to improve their bottom line. 

CMC is proud of the partnerships they have cultivated over the years. Each business relationship is approached in a collaborative style, and always involves listening and responding to client’s needs.

Learn more at CreditManagementCompany.com and the CMC blog.

Follow updates on social media:
Twitter: @CreditMgmtCmpny
Facebook: @creditmanagementcompany
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/1957919/

Credit Management Company Contact:
Brady Dolan
Sales Support Manager
Credit Management Company
bdolan@creditmanagementcompany.com 

About I.S. Partners

I.S. Partners, LLC is the first and only firm with the “seal of excellence” that is granted to SOC 2 Type I and II recipients with unqualified audit opinions. The SOC 2 seal is granted in accordance with TSP Section 100, Trust Services Principles, Criteria, and Illustrations for Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy to Type I and Type II recipients with unqualified audit opinions. 

I.S. Partners Contact:
Joseph A. DeRose
Vice President of Client Acquisitions
I.S. Partners
jderose@ispartnersllc.com

CMC Completes SOC 2 Audit
http://www.insidearm.com/news/00043680-cmc-completes-soc-2-audit/
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