by Sheila Roames, CCE, Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions

As the date of the 125^th NACM Credit Congress drew near, there was great anticipation as to whether we were going to be able to have an in-person conference. We’re in a whole new world now; will the conference be the same? Who will be there? What should I expect?

I had to take a step back and remind myself this is NOT my first Credit Congress! I had to allow myself to get excited to see all of my credit friends and family and the opportunity to make new ones.

by ReBecca Poulsen, CCE, Kimball Equipment Co.

We’ve all asked ourselves “what if?” What if I had gotten that promotion? What if I had asked my boss for a raise? What if I had gone to college? What if? What if?

"What ifs" can stem from things we’ve wanted to happen in life, but they didn’t happen or didn’t go the way we wanted them to. Sometimes we become hyper focused on the "what ifs." Our disappointments can rob us of being here for the present and the future. Are you spending more time remembering your failures than your successes? Spending time in tears rather than in joy? It’s been said that the windshield of a car is larger than the rearview mirror for a reason.  

by DeAnna Leahy, CCE, Sunroc Corporation

In 2020, we experienced several historical events, including the first-ever virtual Credit Congress, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though I enjoyed the quality educational opportunities offered on the virtual platform, I certainly missed the great networking opportunities you get when you meet in person. As the great Joni Mitchell said, “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” Therefore, I was so grateful for the opportunity to attend the in-person Credit Congress in Kansas City in October this year. It was fantastic to be able to connect with credit professionals from all over the country once again! One of NACM’s mottos is “Strength in Numbers.” While we were few in numbers this year and only had about a third of the traditional number of attendees, as Robin Schauseil, NACM President, said in the opening session, “We are Mighty!”

by NACM National

Working with a team of people comes with several benefits, especially while working on important projects. Tackling work is easier when tasks can be divided among several people and when multiple employees get to share their opinions.