IRVING, Texas -

Going into this week’s fifth annual North American Repossessors Summit, the executive director of the American Recovery Association made a call for what he described as “industry unity” in terms of fees and services offered.

ARA’s Les McCook stressed that it’s time for all repo associations to “step up and support their members in every possible way,” as new contracts are being circulated for agencies to consider.

“The time has come to create industry unity to change the unfair nature of many of these contracts,” McCook wrote in a post on ARA’s website in advance of the event.

“It is not the place of a trade association to state which contracts to sign or not sign. However, it is our belief that we should make you aware of the concerns that have been expressed by fellow members and your peers in the recovery industry,” he continued.

“In the past, we gathered and distributed important industry data that would enable all to make better decisions.  However, despite evidence that fees should not be driven down any further, the message seemed to fall on deaf ears.  Perhaps we need to change our strategy and decide as an industry, it is time to say, ‘No,’” McCook went on to say.

These topics and more are on tap for NARS, which expanded this year to a three-day event to include a lender and recovery agent golf tournament, more networking opportunities and more speakers — all focused on the power of performance.

Starting on Thursday, ARA is anticipating 600 professionals from the collateral recovery and remarketing industries, including collateral recovery professionals, clients, and vendors from across the country, will gather in Dallas to participate in NARS 2013 at the Omni Mandalay Hotel at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas. The summit focuses on open and collaborative discussions that address methods to improve the industry’s challenges and complexities to lay the foundation for the future.

The keynote speaker is Jim Bass, chief executive officer of Auto One Acceptance.

Also on the agenda is Manheim chief economist Tom Webb, will take a detailed look at the numbers to discuss where the recovery and remarketing industry is heading.

Furthermore, Rick Gilman, owner of RGG Communications, plans to provide insight about how to ride the digital wave to success and Doug Duncan, president of Your HR Solutions, intends to lead discussion about why smart employees underperform.

With industry unification as the event’s main goal, NARS organizers also are bringing together representatives from various recovery associations to weigh the value of expanding the state associations and the need for industry compliance.

“We have worked very hard as an industry to bring respectability and integrity to the business,” McCook said.
Headline sponsor PRA Location Services will host the annual cocktail reception on Friday for all registered attendees.

Lunch sponsor Digital Recognition Network will host a meeting focused on “The Strong Getting Stronger: Generating Revenue with LPR.”

Other sponsors and exhibitors include ARA ARMS, American Repossessor, Austin Insurance, ConnecToGo, Dynamic, iRepo.com, MasterFiles, McNutt Auto Logistics, MicroBilt, Prestige Management & Consulting, RecoveryFirst Insurance, Repo Solutions, RISC, SmartAuction, Thomson Reuters and VTS.

“NARS is the biggest industry event and continues to get bigger each year,” ARA president Mary Jane Hogan said. “The addition of the golf tournament, networking and speakers was a result of industry feedback and demand.”

“The summit provides the opportunity for a diverse group of industry professionals from various sectors to come together and brainstorm solutions for the most prominent issues while developing new innovations for adaptation of the constantly changing future,” Hogan went on to say.

To view the full agenda, go to www.reposummit.com/2013-agenda.

A video from last year’s event can be view below.

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