by Shane Inglesby, CCE – Geneva Rock Products
NACM Board of Directors
Our association lost a long-time member to retirement on June 6. After working in credit for many years, Whitney Davidson, along with her husband Jeff, have achieved their long-term goal of retiring to Oregon.
Whitney was born and raised in Bend, Oregon. She wanted to be a chemist. She stated her working career has taken many interesting “lane changes” since attending Mount Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon. Her first exposure to the world of credit was when she worked for Continental Credit where she started in accounts payable then transferred to consumer credit collection work.
After two years, she moved back to Bend where she worked for a medical research company. The focus of her work was on membrane technology and reverse osmosis. After seven years, she decided she wanted to move away from an environment where she was exposed to carcinogens and dangerous chemicals on a daily basis.
She moved back into a credit function for Guaranteed Glass where she was the office manager overseeing accounts receivable, collections, and accounts payable.
After two years, Whitney was looking for a new start because of a divorce. She decided to move to Salt Lake City with her sister. Her first position in Utah was working for a factoring company, Altres Financial, where she worked in its credit and collections department.
Whitney later accepted a credit manager position with a sister company, Altres Staffing. This position allowed her the flexibility to work from home for five years.
She later accepted a credit manager position at Xpedx, a paper supply company. She worked in this role for three years at which time the company opted to outsource its credit function to India.
Whitney then worked for Roofers Supply as its credit manager for three years. She was not contemplating the possibility of leaving until a former coworker approached her about the possibility of working for Sunroc Corporation. Although the move required a cut in pay, she said she could not resist exploring the opportunities the position promised. Sunroc later spun its lumber division into its own corporation. Whitney remained in her role with Sunpro/Clyde Companies for 18 years.
She is now taking the opportunity to return to her roots in Oregon. Whitney does not anticipate fully retiring as she would like to work part-time if the right work opportunity comes along. Interestingly enough, she would love to work part-time in a veterinarian’s office.
Building relationships with customers and sales has brought Whitney her greatest joy while working in credit. She has also loved learning about the building materials side of credit.
The most challenging time in her career came during the lumber shortage that took place from 2020 to 2022. She said meeting the demands of her customer base was challenging enough but having to inform “new” customers she could not do business with them due to the shortage was very difficult and frustrating.
Whitney is most appreciative of her association with NACM. She said she would not have thrived in credit without the mentorship of NACM. She said the “emotional, mental, and spiritual support” that was provided by the association’s staff helped her become a better credit manager.
Whitney is also very grateful to Jeff, her husband, who was supportive of her taking the classes needed to achieve her designations. He ensured she had the time needed to attend classes and to study.
She has fond memories of many Credit Congresses and Western Region conferences she attended. She is particularly grateful to DeAnna Leahy for opening her eyes to many greater opportunities that can come through service to NACM. Whitney enjoyed serving two terms on its Board of Directors and served on many ICEL committees.
Lake Oswego will be home to Whitney and Jeff where they will live in a home they have purchased with their daughter, son-in-law and 13-year-old granddaughter. She looks forward to hiking, touring Scotland in 2026 and visiting Japan. She is looking forward to “peace, fun and adventure.”
We wish Whitney and her family the greatest of happiness as they embark upon this new chapter in their lives.