For Immediate Release: Credit Research Foundation (CRF) Acquires the Federation of Credit and Financial Professionals (FCFP) – and – Announces Multi-tiered Educational Certificate Program(s).

Westminster, MD, June 24, 2020 – The Credit Research Foundation (CRF) made several strategic announcements today as it strengthened its role in support of credit risk management professionals.

CRF announced that it had acquired the trade style and management team of the Federation of Credit and Financial Professionals (FCFP – aka, The Federation) which was the educational arm and an operating trade style of the former New York Credit and Financial Management Association (NYCFM). CRF has a rich history of 70 plus years offering research and education to its membership. The acquisition enhances their individual mission statements and will further allow CRF to:

  • Leverage two strong brand names for the betterment of the community
  • Continue to provide education through thought leadership and with complementary services through delivery mechanisms designed for target audiences
  • Promote the synergistic relationship with a tiered and well-defined product suite
  • Position CRF services for previously underserviced market segments
  • Expand its leadership team with a highly accomplished and well-regarded executive

NYCFM was one of the oldest associations (if not the oldest) dedicated to the education of credit management executives and enjoyed a proud history of over 100 years of service to their community. With the acquisition, the Federation will become an operating division of the Credit Research Foundation. Ms. Yesinne Alvarez, formerly President of FCFP, will now join the CRF leadership team in the capacity of Chief Development Officer.

William (Bill) Balduino, President and COO of the Credit Research Foundation stated, “I am extraordinarily excited about the possibilities this presents for the credit risk management community – it is an amazing opportunity and the perfect time for two distinguished organizations and brands to demonstrate their commitment to their missions.” Alvarez stated, “This makes so much sense for our organizations, the Professionals we serve and the service providers that enable all of us. Our combined capabilities to support education, best practices and vertically focused needs are unlimited.”

CRF also announced the launch of two comprehensive and contemporary certificate programs. “Leveraging the strength of our current CRF individual offerings into professional certificate opportunities seemed a logical and progressive step for the Foundation,” offered Balduino. The programs are designed to be tiered, and thus allows additional formal certificate offerings to be “stacked” upon the base program.

CRF currently offers numerous proctored and on-demand courses focusing on an array of related discipline topics. The CRF Certificate of Career Development is something “our community and Board have been asking for,” said Matthew (Matt) W. Skudera, Chief Content Officer for the Foundation. He added that this initial program and certificate will address the following learning objectives:

  • Introduces risk management executives to concepts, practices and fundamentals across the modern discipline
  • Creates the fundamentals for expansion into areas specific and tangential to our evolving discipline
  • Supports a well-rounded learning outcome that can cross/support multiple functions within finance

The second or additional program will be designed based upon CRF On-Demand content but customized for use by the Federation of Credit and Financial Professionals. This certificate – Fundamentals of Credit and Accounts Receivable Management (FCAR) – will be issued by FCFP and endorsed by CRF. The Federation is pleased to offer the community a certificate that embraces the fundamental aspects of the credit discipline while also providing the essentials for a career in credit risk and accounts receivable management. The certificate process is designed to offer participants the skills and knowledge needed to establish a broad foundation across the three pillars of the discipline: People, Process and Technology.

Balduino, Skudera and Alvarez commented further on the “stackable” nature and progression of these initial offerings while also alluding to additional programs with an advanced and executive education theme. Skudera said, “The discipline continues to morph and CRF has both a game plan and significant activity underway to ensure our community is offered the supporting tools it requires to meet their evolving needs. We are excited to offer the initial programs and will be providing more detail on the advanced programs shortly”. Alvarez remarked that the combined educational offerings are content rich and perfectly aligned with market needs and expectations to support our continuously evolving discipline.

Details on the programs are set to be posted on the company website on or about July 15, 2020.

About Credit Research Foundation
The Credit Research Foundation enjoys a seventy (70) year history as an independent, non-profit, member-run organization, consisting of a dynamic community of like-minded business professionals. CRF is widely recognized as the foremost educational and research organization dedicated to the credit, accounts receivable and financial management community. The Foundation provides access to education, research, best practices and dynamic solution sets through multiple distribution channels.

For more information please visit https://www.crfonline.org or https://fcfp.crfonline.org
Contact:
Angela McDonald, Director Member Services and Communications
angelam@crfonline.org