2009 Annual Conference

2009 Conference Agenda

Monday, April 20, 2009

 All Track 1 Track 2
6:00 - 8:00 PM Welcome Reception/Registration/Networking
Get the most out of this conference by coming to the Welcome Reception and start networking with your peers. For you light eaters, there will probably be enough here for your dinner.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

 All Track 1 Track 2
7:30 - 8:30 AM Continental Breakfast/Registration/Exhibit Area

8:45 - 9:30 AM Keynote Speaker: The Effects of the Economy
The current economic climate is clearly impacting collection results around the country and government is no exception. Foreclosures are up and bankruptcies are “currently” down. How do government collectors compensate? What efficiencies can be implemented to cut costs and maintain collections? What is the economic outlook and how do managers budget for the future?

9:35 - 10:30 AM
Handling Bankruptcy Today
The rules have changed. As of October 17, 2005 the new Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 went into effect. What's changed? What are the obligations of the collector in terms of including debt in the bankruptcy? What, if anything, can be excluded? What should collectors tell consumers?		 eCommerce
Government is notoriously behind the curve when it comes to eCommerce. Cost of implementation, slim IT resources, and lack of understanding all contribute to the delay. This session will explain the different facets of eCommerce (ACH, bill presentment, online payment, third party payment processors) and provide some guidance on selecting which option(s) are right for the type of debt and government. A quick overview of credit card rules (particularly VISA) and Check 21 will be included.
10:30 - 10:45 AM Break/Exhibitor Area

10:45 - 11:45 AM
Working Foreclosures
Today's economic realities have resulted in a record number of foreclosures. This session will provide a basic overview of a foreclosure, how foreclosure relates to bankruptcy filings, and what collectors need to know about dealing with foreclosures.		 Contacting the Debtor
What is the best way to contact debtors to get them to pay? Correspondence, telephone, email, text message? Each methodology has its strengths and weaknesses. Does the type of debt drive the method of contact? In this session you will learn some of the successes from each method of contact.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Lunch and Exhibitor Area Open

1:00 - 2:45 PM   Private Sector Collections Best Practices: What Are They, and Do They Transfer to the Public Sector?
Leading private sector industries, such as credit cards and wireless phones, have developed, refined and implemented a myriad of processes, tools and techniques to manage ever-growing delinquent customer portfolios. With late-paying customer bases in the tens of millions, and corresponding receivable balances in the tens of billions of dollars, these organizations must constantly stay at the forefront of the collections industry. This session will examine and explain these best practices as they have developed over the years and, more importantly, help you understand if they’re applicable to government collections.		 Centralized Collections: How does it work best?
How can you optimize collecting multiple types of accounts for your agency? This session will cover how government agencies have successfully collected on multiple types of accounts; different tax types, multiple court accounts, medical accounts, etc. It will look at the pros and cons of specializing in one account type vs. the ability to handle all types of accounts for one debtor. Specific production processes will be discussed such as work list management issues, correspondence Issues, etc.
2:45 - 3:00 PM Break/Exhibitor Area

3:00 - 5:00 PM
Improving Your Collection Department: Building a Plan
This session is geared for those who want to improve their collections department. The main emphasis of this session is having a plan of action and the important components of a workable plan. Major parts of this learning session will include collection process design, collection technology, successful collector improvement, the right reports you need to make good collections decisions, and more.		 How to Build a Collection Program
Learn the steps to analyze, develop, design and build a successful collections program. What components are needed? How do you get the funding in this economic crisis? What goals and objectives are needed to maximize your results? This session will layout the necessary steps from an experienced government collections manager to make your efforts productive and successful.
Evening On your own. We recommend BART, then Trolley, to the Wharf.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

 All Track 1 Track 2
7:30 - 8:30 AM Continental Breakfast

8:30 - 9:15 AM Benchmarking
Benchmarking doesn't have to be a complex or intimidating undertaking.  This session's simplified benchmarking blueprint will provide attendees with tools they can put to practical use right away.

9:20 - 10:30 AM
How to Train Your Collectors
Building for New Heights in Collection. Learn how to train your collectors to be the best in the industry. Most governments don't get the kind of training necessary to create a great debt collection environment. This session will help you do just that. A collection veteran will provide insight on how a respected third party debt collection firm identifies the best collection candidates and how it approaches training to help maximize collections, improve compliance, enhance customer satisfaction and minimize complaints. Find out how to build a training program that will help you and your collectors reach new heights in collection.
 Collections Technology - What's Hot!
This session will provide an overview of the various forms of information technology that are available to all levels of government. There will be extra emphasis focused on the types of technologies that are newer in the industry and how they are faring. The attendee should leave this class with an idea of what they might incorporate into their office in order to take the best advantage of technology.
10:30 - 10:45 Break/Exhibitor Area

10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Smaller Collections Office Focus
This session will address best practices for smaller agencies who handle collections. There will be an initial presentation on how smaller offices can be the most successful in their environment. The later part of the session will be focused on moderated attendee interaction regarding individual successes in their governments.		 Larger Collections Office Focus
This session will address the best practices for medium to larger agencies who handle collections. There will be an initial presentation on how a larger office can be most successful in their environment. The later part of the session will be focused on moderated attendee interaction regarding individual successes in their governments.
12:00 - 1:00 PM Lunch/Exhibitor Area

1:00 - 2:00 PM Joint Session: Choosing the Right Collection Agency
This session will provide the attendee some basic information about collection agencies and why governments use them. Information will include what a government should consider when evaluating whether an OCA is the right option for them, key areas of concern that should be addressed when choosing an OCA and how to make the right decision when selecting the agency.
2:05 - 2:45 PM Association Business and Closing Remarks