Meet your 2007 Instructor of the Year: John Jaeger, CCE.(member PROFILE)

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John Jaeger, CCE began his NACM service in 2001 when he joined NACM-Midwest's Education Committee for the 2000-2001 term. Proving his value, John was next nominated and elected to the NACM-Midwest Board of Directors for the 2004-2005 term, then elected as vice-chairman for 2006-2007 and now serves as chairman for the 2007-2008 term. Even with his board-required committee service on other committees, John continues to serve on the education committee as well. It's this going above and beyond the call that serves as his "testament to his dedication as an educator," as stated on his nomination form for the 2007 NACM Instructor of the Year Award. The people who nominated John commended him on his commitment to the credit industry and his affiliate, NACM-Midwest, stating, "It's evident in his volunteer work here at the affiliate."

John has been an instructor for the Midwest School of Credit (FKA, Chicago Institute of Credit) since 2001, teaching both Financial Statement Analysis and Financial Statements: Interpretation and Risks. "We have started regular meetings for our instructors to review the courses, discuss problems and enrollment and identify potential topics for future seminars," said John. Actually, according to his award nomination record, it was John who was instrumental in forming these quarterly meetings, which has been very successful and highly regarded by the faculty. John has been a speaker at NACM-Midwest's Annual Credit Conference, presenting on Financial Statements, the Income Statement and Balance Sheet and a two-part case study on United Airlines. He has also co-developed a four-part series on financial statements with another instructor for the Midwest School of Credit to provide an overview of financial statements, review major statements and ratio analysis.

No "Educated" Guesses

John's interest in educating others came from a background that included educating himself. His father had embedded the belief that education was necessary for advancement. Of course, growing up in the middle of a pack of four competitive boys, not to mention a twin brother, added to the drive to excel and succeed. He received his bachelor's degree in business from Loras College in Dubuque, IA, and rounded it out by taking as many courses in accounting and finance as he could. But, he was not about to stop there. "After spending a few years in the business world, I recognized the need to differentiate myself from my peers," he said, "so I decided to go to the next level." After five years of evening and weekend classes, John completed his MBA from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL.

Keen to be actively involved in his career advancement, John came across the NACM certification program in 1998. After gathering that the CCE designation means an individual has demonstrated a level of competence and professionalism in credit and is making a commitment to continuing education and personal development, John jumped right in and earned the designation in 1999. "I think that one of my prior students expressed it best when he paraphrased Steve Martin from the movie The Jerk, when Martin's character saw his name in the telephone book. Seeing those three initials after my name means 'I am somebody, I have arrived'" said John.

Building on the Groundwork