2021 Fall Conference

Event Date: Sep 12, 2021

Encore at the Wynn Conference

Conference Details

The AFCC 2021 Fall Conference was held September 12-13 at the Encore at Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Back by popular demand, experts from around the country kicked off the conference leading several roundtable discussions. Day two of the conference included a robust agenda beginning with a regulatory and compliance update from AFCC Board President Robby Birnbaum, a legislative update from AFCC legislative team members Steve Boms and Bob Linderman and two moderated panels of industry thought leaders., Professional speaker Elise Freedman from Korn Ferry led an interactive session to help company leaders navigate this changing world of remote work and a return to the office. We were excited to have California Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks join us virtually for a conversation with Steve Boms regarding the California debt settlement bill that recently became law. The conference wrapped up with a panel discussion on the reputation of the industry and a closing cocktail reception in the vendor room.

Speakers Details

Denise A. Dunckel CEO
Robby H. Birnbaum Partner (Greenspoon Marder LLP)
Buffy Wicks (Invited) East Bay
Charles DeGryse General Counsel
Corey Butcher Chairman and CEO
Dan Frazier CEO
Donna L. Perkins President
Elise Freedman Senior Client Partner, Workforce Transformation Practice Leader
Jeff Biesman CMO
Jennifer Eckstein Coon Project Manager
John Filby President & CEO
Michele Staley Resurgent Capital Services, Sr. Director
Robert Linderman Vice President & Legislative Director
Roger Knauf President
Sean Fox PRESIDENT & CRO
Steven Boms President
Michael Lamm Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Yarly Franco Senior Paralegal, Regulatory and State Licensing
Yolanda Shufford Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer
Don Silvestri President
Howard Dvorkin Chairman
Michael Thurman Founder

Event Agenda Details

Sep 12, 2021
Sep 13, 2021

Sep 12, 2021

11:00 - 12:00

Registration Open
- Sponsored By
11:00-12:00

Conference Kick-Off Meet & Greet
- Sponsored By
12:00-12:15
- Denise A. Dunckel
  
  CEO- AFCC
Conference Welcome
12:15-12:30
- Robby H. Birnbaum
  
  Partner (Greenspoon Marder LLP)- President, AFCC
AFCC Association Update
12:30-1:30

Networking Lunch
1:30-4:00 Round Table Discussions
- Michael Lamm
  
  Co-Founder and Managing Partner- Corporate Advisory Solutions
How Debt Settlement Companies are Being Valued

Join Michael Lamm, Managing Partner from Corporate Advisory Solutions who will be hosting a roundtable to discuss current market trends in the debt settlement industry and how he sees the market evolving into 2022.
1:30-4:00 Round Table Discussions
- Yarly Franco
  
  Senior Paralegal, Regulatory and State Licensing- Greenspoon Marder
Licensing for Debt Settlement Companies- Applications, Bonds and Advice

Learn about the requirements for debt settlement license applications, how to prepare for and apply for state licensing, including the most current update on the newest licensing state of Virginia.
1:30-4:00 Round Table Discussions
- Michael Thurman
  
  Founder- Thurman Legal
New AFCC Compliance Requirements-How it affects your client agreement

Industry compliance and regulatory attorney Michael Thurman will discuss the new Personal Cash Flow Assessment Form (PCFA) that is now a requirement for all AFCC members to include in their client agreements.
1:30-4:00 Round Table Discussions
- Robert Linderman
  
  Vice President & Legislative Director- AFCC
- Dan Frazier
  
  CEO- Century Support Services
Consumer Suitability

Join Bob Linderman and members of the AFCC Suitability Task Force to discuss guidance on balloon settlements, and other topics relating to the consumer program experience. This is an opportunity to share your thoughts, provide feedback and express concerns.
1:30-4:00 Round Table Discussions
- Denise A. Dunckel
  
  CEO- AFCC
“Rebrand” of Debt Settlement

The AFCC is currently exploring the existing usage of the term “debt settlement” as well as the supporting language, and whether they accurately and plainly reflect the critical services our membership provides to thousands of Americans on a daily basis. Some AFCC members have come to adopt alternative terms – such as “debt relief” – to clearly describe their program and its overarching goal for the client.

To further this ongoing discussion, this roundtable will seek input from member companies to garner their input and thoughts on any potential change. As we move forward, ideas and suggestions from these roundtables will be the primary force shaping our conversation surrounding this important topic.
1:30-4:00 Round Table Discussions
- Jennifer Eckstein Coon
  
  Project Manager- BSI
- Charles DeGryse
  
  General Counsel- GRT Financial
How to Prepare for Your AFCC Accreditation Audit

Jennifer will be discussing what is involved in becoming an Accredited Member and sharing the details of the annual Debt Compliance Audit process performed by BSI auditors. Charles DeGryse from GRT Financial will provide firsthand experience on how to prepare for a successful accreditation audit.
1:30-4:00 Round Table Discussions
- Donna L. Perkins
  
  President- Kansas City Credit Services
Credit Repair

Join the discussion about synergizing with credit repair. Credit Repair is the perfect fit for consumers graduating from their debt relief programs.
1:30-4:00 Round Table Discussions
- Howard Dvorkin
  
  Chairman- Debt.com
- Don Silvestri
  
  President- Debt.com
Monetizing unqualified clients and diversifying your business

Nothing is more frustrating than spending time with a client you can’t help. Debt.com founder Howard Dvorkin turned that frustration into the nation’s leading “total debt” solution. Just as in many industries, clients are now expecting a one-stop-shop model. Learn how Dvorkin did it, and how Debt.com can help you keep your clients, make more money, and stay one step ahead of your competition.
1:30-4:00 Round Table Discussions
- Roger Knauf
  
  President- Full Circle Financial Services, LLC
Improving the Consumer Experience from a Creditor’s Perspective

Learn important and fundamental processes that your negotiation team can follow to find additional settlements, implement efficiencies into current workflow, and avoid missed opportunities. Roger will share his wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry to provide insight into how debt negotiators can get the best outcome for the consumer.
4:00-6:00

Welcome Reception- Presentation of Member awards
- Sponsored By

Sep 13, 2021

7:30-9:00

Networking Breakfast- Cappuccino/Espresso Bar
9:00-9:15
- Denise A. Dunckel
  
  CEO- AFCC
AFCC CEO Update
9:15-9:45

A Conversation with Federal Regulators
9:45-10:15
- Buffy Wicks (Invited)
  
  East Bay- California State Assembly
- Steven Boms
  
  President- Allon Advocacy, LLC
A Conversation with Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks

A moderated conversation between Steve Boms and Asw. Buffy Wicks, the author of the California debt settlement bill that is on track to be passed by the CA Assembly this session and become law.
10:15-10:45

Networking Break
10:45-11:45
- Robby H. Birnbaum
  
  Partner (Greenspoon Marder LLP)- President, AFCC
AFCC Industry and Compliance Update

As the leading expert on debt settlement compliance and regulation Mr. Birnbaum, the President of the American Fair Credit Council will update professionals on the current ‘State of Debt Settlement.” Awareness of newly implemented state laws, consumer protections and how new relief approaches will impact both consumers and settlement organizations is a must. Find out what to expect from the CFPB, FTC and state regulators regarding licensing requirements for this industry as well as new marketing approaches to adjust to new compliance issues.
12:00-1:00

Lunch-Sponsored by Global Holdings
- Sponsored By
1:00-2:00
- Elise Freedman
  
  Senior Client Partner, Workforce Transformation Practice Leader- Korn Ferry
Going back to the office

With virtual work being pervasive and with recovery looking more like a marathon than a sprint, organizations now need to do more than simply enable remote work. While some new ways of working have worked surprisingly well with many organizations experiencing increased productivity and output there has also been downsides. Some organizations have seen employee engagement diminish, culture has been impacted and there has been reduced opportunities to share ideas or information and even just simply connect.

Now is the time to assess what’s working to solve emerging challenges and proactively plan for the future. With more conscious design, your hybrid work model can be more effective for your organization and your people. Come join this interactive session to learn more about strategies and what is working and not working to enable organizations to succeed through a changing world of work.
2:00-2:30

Networking Break
2:30-3:00
- Steven Boms
  
  President- Allon Advocacy, LLC
- Robert Linderman
  
  Vice President & Legislative Director- AFCC
AFCC Federal, State Legislative & Regulatory Outlook

Get an update on the debt settlement bill in California, North Carolina and Ohio and learn what we should expect from state legislatures in 2022.
3:00-3:45
State of the Industry

Yolanda Shufford will moderate a panel of seasoned industry veterans on how far the industry has come and what they have learned through the pandemic and beyond.
3:45-4:30
Let's Build It Up! Professional Reputations with Creditors and Consumers

Moderator: Denise Dunckel, CEO, American Fair Credit Council

Panelists:
Jeff Biesman, CMO, National Debt Relief
Robby H. Birnbaum, Partner, Greenspoon Marder
Michele Staley, Senior Director, Resurgent

Your company’s professional reputation – how your employees communicate with creditors and represent your brand to consumers – impacts your company’s performance, its goodwill, and ultimately its value. As business leaders, you set the tone for professionalism in your organization and our industry. Building and protecting your reputation with different stakeholders is crucial. Hear from experts in the field about how to improve the brand of debt settlement, your company and the industry’s reputation with consumers, regulators and creditors!
4:30

Closing Remarks
4:30-6:00

Closing Reception