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2024 March Forum Agenda

Platinum Partner Breakout Sessions

Presented by Carixa, NCS Credit and Serrala

CLICK HERE for details about the Platinum Partner Breakout Sessions that are offered on Monday morning.

SAP Best Practices Round Table Session

Moderated by CRF

Learn and share experiences with others in this peer-to-peer best practices discussion. Discussion topics include:

• What version/modules are you using?
• Implementation & Migration to S4/Hana
• And more!

CLICK HERE for details about this session.

Lunch

We’re kicking off the Forum with a Welcome Lunch! Join us for another chance to network with your peers and fuel up before the Forum sessions begin!

Welcome/Opening Comments

Antitrust Roundtable: Guidelines for Participating in Credit Exchange Networks

Presented by Jackie Mulligan, Procter & Gamble; Jonathan Lewis, Lowenstein Sandler; Joe Ciccarelli, National Group Management Corp.

Prepare to embark on a journey through the intricate world of antitrust violations, where a disclosure could carry weighty consequences. Join us for a lively session delving into the essential dos and don’ts of information sharing within credit exchange networks. As finance professionals, you wield the power of regulated information, placing you at the nexus of responsibility and opportunity. In the presence of rivals, understanding the nuances of your role is paramount. Our distinguished panel is comprised of a legal expert, established practitioner, and network exchange principal. Together, they will unravel the mysteries of permissible sharing and chart a course for navigating the boundaries. This is sure to be an enlightening discussion that promises to reshape your approach to information exchange.

Key Considerations When Engaging a Third-Party to Manage Company Data

Presented by Michael Koehler, Serrala

Cloud is everywhere now. While cloud applications offer great flexibility and a sleek user experience, they also present considerable challenges around security, as well as compliance with data protection and data privacy requirements.

This session will help you understand several System and Organization Controls (SOC) implications and requirements you need to be aware of when engaging an outside provider that will be accessing and managing your organization’s customer, AR, and other sensitive data. We will specifically look into points related to:

• Data transfer options
• Security
• Data protection regulations

Additionally, we will explore how you may take advantage of applications that are already embedded in your company’s system landscape. Gain insights into the strategic utilization of these embedded applications and discover key considerations for determining if this option aligns with your organization’s needs.

Break

Grab some coffee, tea, water or soda…chat with attendees…then return refreshed for another session!

Panel Discussion on Insights from the CRF Deductions Survey

Presented by IAB Solutions and Carixa

Deductions experts from diverse backgrounds will share their insights and offer trend analysis of your responses to the deductions survey.

 Executive Leadership Roundtable: An Interactive Session

Creating a Compelling Business Case to Secure Funding

Presented by CRF

A thoroughly crafted business case is essential for presenting a compelling rationale for a proposed business initiative or project. This structured document needs to outline the benefits, costs, and risks associated with the undertaking, providing decision-makers with the information needed to make informed choices and is a key document that influences the overall decision. During this session, attendees will break into small groups to discuss and explore experiences and best practices on how to create a strong tangible cost/benefit business case and how to recognize and share intangibles within a framework to put your idea in the best position to be approved.

General Membership Meeting

As a member of the Credit Research Foundation, we invite you to hear from CRF’s new President on the “state of the state.” Learn about the exciting things CRF is working on, what we’ve accomplished coming out of the Pandemic and what projects the Research Committee is working on. Join us and be an informed member!

Networking Reception

Join us for a networking reception to cap off the first day of the Forum. Enjoy cocktails, appetizers and great company!

Breakfast

Fuel up with coffee, juice and breakfast before heading into the morning sessions! This is also a great opportunity to chat and network with other attendees.

Opening Comments

Opening comments and reminders from the CRF team.

Thoughts & Considerations Pertaining to the Advent of AI in the A/R & Credit Space

Presented by Anuroop Talwar​, Vice President – Analytics & AI and Shreyansh Singh, Vice President, EXL

Detailed description coming soon

Scoring Model Elements for High-Risk Accounts

Presented by Dennis Cantalupo, CEO and Scott Friedman, Chief Credit Officer, Pulse Ratings ​

The use of scoring models to assess credit risk has its benefits and pitfalls. This presentation will look at the positives and negatives of models and how agencies use them in their overall evaluation of high-risk accounts. After what can only be described as a “challenging” economic environment in 2023, there are some reasons for optimism heading into 2024, however we are certainly not out of the woods yet and warning signs still remain. The presentation will discuss overall macro trends that could potentially impact 2024 results, and dive “beyond the numbers” to look into specific retail channels.

On the retail front, there are a handful of players whose ability to withstand the current macro environment and avoid the fate of so many other storied names of the past (i.e. Sears, Toys R’ Us, Bed Bath & Beyond, etc.) remains in question. The list of lower-rated retail names remains scattered across various sectors, which will also be discussed in order to differentiate credit risk from a short-term and long-term perspective.

Break

Grab some coffee, tea, water or soda…chat with attendees…then return refreshed for another session!

How to Minimize the Impact of a Cyber Attack with a Focus on Preparation and Resilience

Presented by Dan Harvick, Senior Vice President – Enterprise Risk, Ben E Keith Company

This presentation will provide an actionable framework shared by a fellow Credit Professional. The lessons learned can be used by Order-to-Cash executives to prepare for an attack against internal or external partner systems.

As with any threat, preparation is a key ingredient. In this case, preparation includes completing a cybersecurity risk assessment to help identify vulnerabilities and assess potential impact to the Credit & A/R team. Using the risk assessment template, your team can develop a cybersecurity strategy and begin building your organization’s plan of defense and mitigation. During this presentation, Dan Harvick from Ben E Keith Company will cover all of these topics to help you outline a plan for your organization that includes:

Developing a Cybersecurity Strategy

• Policies and Procedures
• Employee Training and Awareness
• Incident Response Plan
• Data Backup and Recovery

Building Cyber Resilience

• Continuity Planning
• Business Continuity Plans (BCPs)
• Disaster Recovery Plans (DRPs)
• Redundancy and Failover Systems
• Cyber Insurance
• Regular Testing and Exercises

Lunch

Refuel and refresh to prepare for the afternoon sessions. And network while you fill your stomach!

Career Track Skills for Success in the Invoice-to-Cash Discipline

Presented by Yesinne Alvarez

This session will cover helpful hints, and offer new perspectives in hiring, promoting and management level skills development for leaders in the Credit and A/R teams. You will come away with fresh ideas to share with your Human Resources and Talent Acquisition teams and perhaps a new perspective on building on the skills of the teams you already have in place.

Topic will include:

• Tips and tricks for hiring stretch talent within the Invoice-to-Cash or Shared Services department.
• Skills to be aware of and develop for promotability. Hiring practices and techniques to identify stretch capabilities. Career tracks for increasing motivation and engagement of team members as well as succession planning.
• Leadership and Management skills to increase the visibility and recognition of your team and YOU.

A/R Fraud Prevention

Presented by Alex Birnbaum, C&S Chemical

Join us for an exploration into A/R Fraud Prevention. Delve into a practitioner’s firsthand journey from incursion to resolution as Alex unveils his harrowing experience with bad actors diverting funds from his company. Gain insights into the diagnostic of the breach, uncovering crucial preventive measures, and understanding the ramifications for all involved parties. This dynamic presentation will spotlight training, process refinement, and escalation protocols, offering invaluable tips for implementing robust control measures within your department to safeguard against potential bad actor penetration. Don’t miss this opportunity to fortify your defenses and protect your organization’s financial integrity.

Break

Grab some coffee, tea, water or soda…chat with attendees…then return refreshed for another session!

Using AI to Automate and Streamline the A/R Deductions Process

Presented by Bob Anderson, Director Order to Cash; Nicole Clark Sr. Deductions Manager; Sue Danino, VP Global Business Services, Hubbell Inc. and Anuroop Talwar​, Vice President – Analytics & AI

Learn how one of your peers incorporated Artificial Intelligence applications into the Accounts Receivable & Dispute process – their journey and lessons learned.

Credit Operations and the Next Generation of Credit

Presented by Chris Arrington, SVP/Chief Credit Officer and Charles Edwards, VP of Credit Operations, SRS Distribution

There have been many advances in the field of Commercial Credit Management in recent years and the pace of change is accelerating. The advent of new technologies and processes has disrupted credit department’s operations and how credit professionals do their jobs. This presentation will cover strategies to help your team transform and optimize your credit operations and hear how SRS Distribution & Heritage Family of Companies is developing and managing new technologies, systems, analytics, and other processes that have allowed them to dramatically improve their efficiency and effectiveness within AR Management, OTC, and other credit department functions.

The presenters will discuss:

• Technologies’ role in credit, today and in the future
• The evolution of credit department processes and structure
• When innovation meets execution
• New roles and skills needed in credit & ways to attract, develop and retain talent

Breakfast

Join us for coffee/tea/juice and breakfast to fuel up for the final day of the Forum!

2024 Economic Update

Perspective provided by Steve Isberg, Ph.D., Chair of Accounting Department, Towson University

Dr. Steve Isberg, Senior Research Fellow at CRF and Chair of the Accounting Department at Towson University, will explain current economic indicators and how to interpret that information to make informed credit & risk management decisions.

Open Forum

The Open Forum is often one of the most highly rated sessions at our live events. This is an open discussion session giving all attendees a chance to participate – ask questions and/or provide answers to others. As always, this Open Forum session allows for immediate feedback from your peers on the questions/topics that are important to YOU!

Please be sure to submit any questions or topics you would like to discuss on the registration form or send them directly to Angela McDonald.

National Building Materials Wholesale Best Practices Group Meeting

This is an independent, members-only group for senior level Credit & A/R professionals to engage in best practice processes and benchmarking conversations in an anti-trust compliant environment. The meeting includes an Economic overview presentation focused on the Construction and Building industries delivered by Macro-Economist, Richard Hastings.

For information about this group, to become a member or join as a first-time guest, please contact Matt Skudera.