Title: Director - Business Operations/Systems Integration
Company: Snap-on Credit, LLC
Company location: Libertyville, IL (www.snaponcredit.com)
Your years in Collection Industry: 32 years
Background in Industry: Branch Manager, Portfolio Analyst, & Regional Manager with ITT Consumer Financial Corporation 1979 - 1986. Branch Credit Manager, Training Manager, Asset Manager, & Director - Business Operations/Systems Integration with Snap-on Credit 1986 - present
Company primary collections - other services: Snap-on Credit provides financing solutions through Snap-on Tools Franchise Dealers to professional automotive technicians, equipment financing solutions for automotive service businesses, and business financing solutions for Snap-on's Franchised Dealers. We service nearly $1 Billion in active outstanding loans.
Years on Columbia Ultimate software: Since May 1995
Current Role within the CUUG: President
Personal background - Born and raised in Beloit, WI - served in the U.S. Army 1972 - 1979 in Europe, the continental U.S., and Korea. Positions with ITT took me from Tacoma, WA to Minneapolis, MN to Denver, CO. Snap-on has taken me from Seattle, WA to Fort Worth, TX, to Las Vegas, NV, and finally back to Kenosha, WI
Married / kids: Married 34 years with one adult son living in Las Vegas, NV and one adult daughter living in Beach Park, IL teaching in the Waukegan, IL elementary schools.
Hobbies: Golf and fishing
Something we'd never guess about you: I'm basically lazy and I hate early morning wake-up calls.
Email Address/Phone: thomas.niman@snaponcredit.com / 847-782-7782

Title: Data Manager
Company: RSI Enterprises, Inc.
Company location: Glendale, AZ with an office in VA
Your years in Collection Industry: 13
Background in Industry: Started at RSI in Operations, but quickly moved into an IT role. I had wanted an 8-5 job as I had moved back to Arizona to take care of my daughter who was terminally ill. As usual, though, the workaholic in me just wouldn’t let me do a straight 8 hour day.
Company primary collections - other services: Various
Years on Columbia Ultimate software: 16+ years
Current Role within the CUUG: Vice President, member of the RFE committee
Personal background - Born in Des Moines, IA, but grew up in Phoenix, AZ since I was one. I’ve lived in CA, CT, OH, IL, FL, NJ and PA before moving back to AZ 12 years ago.
Married / kids: I was blessed with three fantastic kids: my oldest daughter, Becky, who passed away at the age of 31; my middle child, Jennifer, who is married a great guy, Joe. They have a beautiful daughter, my granddaughter, Haylee, born in June 2010. My son, Eric, lives in PA; he graduated from Penn State, and recently finished his MSW at Temple University. I’m also raising my granddaughter, Ashley (who’s 13 going on 21). My grandson, Corey, keeps me busy, too (he’s autistic and has CP, ADHD, and OCD.) I also have 3 sponsored children through World Vision. My goal is to become a Child Ambassador for World Vision in the near future as it seems the natural next step after volunteering for them for the past 8 years.
Hobbies: Other than collecting children and animals, I volunteer for World Vision, play the piano, creative writing, and singing.
Something we'd never guess about you: I love motorcycles, and heading out to the desert for target practicing with the family over the Christmas holidays. We had a great time last year.
Email Address/Phone: gayle.hawkins@rsico.com / 602-627-2111

Title: President
Company: MCOT
Company location: 2004 American Way, Suite 101, Kingsport, TN 37660
Years in Collection Industry: 40 Years
Background: ’71—’76 Finance & Banking, ’76—’96 Hospital Director of Patient Financial Services, ’96—date MCOT
Years on Columbia Ultimate software: Previous Dexel customer beginning in ’78 until C U bought them, then Collector System in ’86.
Current Role within the CUUG: Treasurer & Budget Committee Chair
Personal Background: Born and lived all my life in the East Tennessee area.
Married / kids:Wife: Cathy, Child: Nikki, Grandson: J T (10)
Hobbies: Waterskiing , Fishing, Boating
Something we'd never guess about you: I drive a church (school) bus for my church on Sundays. I do mission work at the state penitentiary located about 40 miles from Kingsport.
Email Address/Phone: Thomas_m_cole@mcotcollect.com / 423-230-4103

Title: IT Director
Company: Merchants Credit Adjusters, Inc.
Company location: Omaha, Nebraska
Your years in Collection Industry: 12
Background in Industry: Hired by MCA in 1999 as a collector - Transitioned in 2001 to oversee IT related duties as well as other projects.
Company primary collections - other services: Medical Collections, Early-Out Services, Billing
Years on Columbia Ultimate software: 12
Current Role within the CUUG: Secretary & Website Committee Chair
Personal background - where are you from: Grew up in Malvern, IA - a very small town in Southwestern Iowa
Married / kids: Twin daughters - Ciera & Cloe born in April 2007
Hobbies: I enjoy the company of friends, traveling, golf, electronics, & home improvement projects
Something we'd never guess about you: I'm the youngest of 5 siblings, everyone in my family has a first name that starts with "J" and a middle name that starts with "E", including my parents.
Email Address/Phone: jasonm@mcaomaha.com / 402-201-2808

Title: IT Director
Company: Bonneville Collections
Company location: 4 locations – Corporate office in Ogden, UT
Your years in Collection Industry: 17
Background in Industry: Collections, Dialer and Collection management, Compliance, IT
Company primary collections - other services: 3rd party medical, utility, consumer, commercial, check services, government
Years on Columbia Ultimate software: 24
Current Role within the CUUG: Past President
Personal background - where are you from: Born and raised in Morgan, UT. Attended school at Utah State University and Weber State University.
Married / kids: Married to beautiful wife Reven with 3 kids, Colton (15) Kyle (11 year old girl), and Dennis (8 year old terror)
Hobbies: Fly Fishing, Boating, Skiing
Something we'd never guess about you: I have no background in computers.
Email Address/Phone: ryanm@bonncoll.com / 801-395-8824

Title: Information Technology Director
Company: Wilber and Associates, P.C.
Company location: Bloomington, Illinois
Your years in Collection Industry: 6
Background in Industry: I have been consulting on Information Technology issues in the collection industry since 2002 and employed full-time in the industry since 2006. My prior background is in Information Technology where I have been employed since 1985. My career in Information Technology has included university faculty member, small business Information Technology consultant, systems analysis, design and implementation and with the Federal Internal Revenue Service in the Computer Audit Specialist development program.
Company primary collections - other services: Insurance industry subrogation; Transportation industry claims; Municipal and Third-party collections.
Years on Columbia Ultimate software: Forever (actually, just since 1991, but in Information Technology years that is nearly forever).
Current Role within the CUUG: Director
Personal background : With an MBA degree (Eastern Illinois University, 1987) and Ph.D. in Business Computer Information Systems (University of North Texas, 1999) I have spent considerable time in academia as a full-time university faculty member (within Management Information Systems departments in the College of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire ('87 to '91) and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh ('97 to 2000) and in the School of Information Technology at Illinois State University (2000 to '06).
Married / kids: Happily married to the most beautiful women in the world (Denise) and father of two children - son Daniel and daughter Sarah. We met in Denton, Texas and married in 1995.
Hobbies: Coaching youth league sports (baseball, soccer, basketball, whatever else they decide to be involved in); Watching professional sports (Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Cardinals in particular); biking and boating.
Something we'd never guess about you: My oldest brother (I have four) owns 11 restraurants, with considerable information technology concerns. However, since I'm just his baby brother, he has never asked me a single IT-related question.
Email Address/Phone: mmyerscough@wilbercollect.com / 309-663-6700 x212

Title: Manager for Medical Collections Services & Self Pay Department
Company: Lexington Medical Center
Company location: West Columbia, SC
Your years in Collection Industry: 20+
Background in Industry: Healthcare Consultant for Start up physician practices and business planning for Hospitals
Company primary collections - other services: 1st party collections and Collection Training (for other departments)
Years on Columbia Ultimate software: 10+
Current Role within the CUUG: Director
Personal background - where are you from: Originally Georgia but I am a military brat that married a career soldier so no real roots until after he retired. We call Columbia, SC our home.
Married / kids: Married 25yrs+, Kids: Tiana, daughter, preparing to go Med School in SC, and Andre, son, entering undergrad at a college in SC
Hobbies: Writing, reading, CRUISING to Caribbean Islands
Something we'd never guess about you: I have been a Motivational Speaker for professional and personal groups for over 15 years
Email Address/Phone: bfpolite@lexhealth.org / 803-791-2967 (W); 803-429-0293 (M)

Title: President
Company: MEDCAH
Company location:
Your years in Collection Industry:
Background in Industry:
Company primary collections - other services:
Years on Columbia Ultimate software:
Current Role within the CUUG: Director
Personal background -
Married / kids:
Hobbies:
Email Address/Phone: gfreeman@medcah.com / 808.266.2028

Title: IT Director
Company: Avadyne Health
Company location: Moline, IL
Your years in Collection Industry: 21
Background in Industry: 7 years installing automated dialer systems into agency operations, consulting and training with agency owners and managers. 5 years working at Columbia Ultimate as a programmer and ManageMed Project Manager. 9 years as IT Director at Avadyne Health, a company specializing in medical revenue recovery ranging from early out, current AR through bad debt collections, using The Collector System and ManageMed
Company primary collections - other services: Avadyne Health recovery services are 95% Medical and 5% other verticals. Avadyne Health also provides Insurance follow-up services, Presumpitive Charity (FAsTag) evaluation.
Years on Columbia Ultimate software: 25+
Current Role within the CUUG: Director, Chairperson Public Relations Committee
Personal background/Where are you From: Salt Lake City, UT
Married / kids: Married 36 years. 4 kids. 3 grand kids
Hobbies: Racquetball. Community Theater
Something we'd never guess about you: Have produced, co-written and co-starred in a feature length film
Email Address/Phone: jwestwood@hraccounts.com / 563-508-8848 Cell

Title: Compliance Manager
Company: Merchants Credit Adjusters, Inc.
Company location: Omaha, NE
Years in Collection Industry: 7
Background in Industry: At my previous company I started in operations as a collector and then was transferred to the ManageMed conversion team as an application administrator. I had configured and set up 2 ManageMed Logons at my previous employer before joining the MCA team in 2008 where we work with TCS.
Company primary collections - other services: Medical Collections, Early-Out Services, Billing
Years on Columbia Ultimate software: 5
Current Role within the CUUG: Director
Personal Background - where are you from: I was born in Craig, CO and we moved around a lot and settled back in Council Bluffs, IA before I was 3 years old (where my parents are both from). I grew up there and went to college at the University of Iowa where I have a Bachelor degree in communications, then I moved back to Council Bluffs after graduating and attended Buena Vista where I received a Bachelor degree in Finance.
Married / kids: I was married in July 2005. We have one daughter Ava who was born in August 2007.
Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, also enjoy traveling, soccer and working around the house.
Something we'd never guess about you: I was born in a small town in North West Colorado called Craig. I lived in 4 states before I was 3 before my parents settled back in Council Bluffs.
Email Address/Phone: rachelw@mcaomaha.com / 402-201-2818

Title: Systems Analyst
Company: AllianceOne, Inc.
Company location: Gig Harbor, WA
Your years in Collection Industry: 13
Background in Industry: 1998 – 2000/Collections Supervisor/ER Solutions, 2000-2010/Operations Manager/Physicians & Dentists Credit Bureau, 2010 – Present/System Analyst/AllianceOne.
Company primary collections - other services: Govt. Collections
Years on Columbia Ultimate software: 11
Current Role within the CUUG: Director
Personal background - Born and raised in Seattle but have settled in the small town of Enumclaw, WA
Married / kids: Married, 5 Kids
Hobbies: Riding Horses, Sports with kids, Hiking, Camping, anything outdoors!
Something we'd never guess about you: I sit on a board for a non-profit organization that mentors under privileged youth through the use of horses and ranch life. I was born and raised in the city but am a cowgirl at heart. I have a horse named Vegas that I absolutely adore, and my dream is to retire on a large ranch.
Email Address/Phone: anna.dean@allianceoneinic.com / 360.260.2302