Following a lively, invigorating performance by Can-Tastic, a professional group of drummers who use variously-sized garbage receptacles to create catchy rhythms, NACM Chairman Dave Beckel, CCE opened this year's Super Session and Annual Business Meeting with a brisk rundown of NACM's activities over the last year. "Financially, NACM had a lean, but successful, year," he said. "NACM continued to fund the initiatives started in 2007, including NACM's Mechanic's Lien and Bond Services (MLBS) and the Job Board with cash from operations." In addition to discussing these initiatives, Beckel updated attendees on the Credit Managers' Index (CMI), which is continuing to receive national attention, the organization's renewed legislative advocacy efforts and the association's other programs and memberships.

Beckel, along with NACM President Robin Schauseil, CAE, also took the time to honor certain affiliates with this year's membership awards, which recognize outstanding achievement on the part of those affiliates whose marketing and service efforts gave them a net growth in membership in 2008. Marlene Groh, CCE was also honored for her commitment to education with the Best Student Award for the Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management (GSCFM) Class of 2008. "It's an honor," said Groh, after receiving her award. "I went to school with some wonderful people and to have them do this for me is a real honor." Groh also encouraged her fellow credit professionals to follow her path and highlighted how beneficial education really is in good times or in bad. "Education is the one thing that no one can take from you," she said. "It sets you apart and there are so few people that do it. It shows that you're not only interested in myself but in your company too."

Rounding out this year's Super Session was speaker Steven Little, whose presentation was sponsored by Experian. Little, a growth expert and author of two best-selling books, The 7 Irrefutable Rules of Small Business Growth and The Milkshake Moment: Overcoming Stupid Systems, Pointless Policies, and Muddled Management to Realize Real Growth, offered a lively and interactive presentation designed to challenge attendees most closely-held beliefs about how their business, and their world, is organized. "In a crisis, conventional wisdom often defies common sense, but there are all kinds of truisms that aren't true," he said. "There are all kinds of things that people say every day, that aren't true. Challenge them on it. Businesses are led every day by people who think that they're logical actors, but you are the logical actors in your organizations. You can serve your organizations best by bringing that to the table."

Following his presentation, Little signed books and met with attendees in the Experian booth in the Expo. For a copy of Little's book, The Milkshake Moment, visit the NACM Bookstore.