PNWCC a capitol success in Salem.(Pacific Northwest Credit Conference)(Conference notes)

From September 17-20, CFDD Salem-Albany and NACM Oregon joined forces to host the Pacific Northwest Credit Conference (PNWCC) at the Salem Conference Center and the adjoining Grand Phoenix Hotel. It was the first time ever that the conference was held in Oregon's capital city.

The conference's focus was on building partnerships, earning CEU points and education. Attendee numbers seemed to be unaffected by the economy as the number was consistent with that of the last several years. Sessions included "Small Claims/ Collecting on Judgments," "Financial Analysis" and "Portfolio Management Tools/Scoring." In the session "Corporate Challenges and the Role of the Credit Manager," presenter Jeffrey O'Banion, CCE, CEW, CICP, director of credit, Northwest Natural Gas, noted that credit managers not only need to know the traditional "Cs of Credit," but also the "Five Cs of Credit Management"--customer interests, customer-related processes, coordinate and integrate, compensation plans and cross-functional approach. Other sessions touched on a wide variety of topics from escheatment, workplace automation, collecting from difficult customers, payment transaction trends and managing risk.

"The educational offerings were high quality and the networking possibilities were great," said Hal Wineland, CCE, general credit manager, Pendleton Woolen Mills and PNWCC co-chairman. "I would hope that the attendees advanced their credit knowledge to help their companies in these difficult times. I also hope we were able to move attendees closer to ...