American Recovery Association (ARA) now has more professionals in place to serve its membership of recovery and remarketing professionals.

Cherokee Media Group previously learned ARA promoted Todd Squires to be its new executive director. And then the association announced on Wednesday that it has hired ARA member and technology committee member Wayne Ray as its first director of commercial operations.

Squires has been with the association for one and a half years as its member services and support manager.

Squires grew up in the recovery industry as his mother, Nicki Merthe, ran Time Finance Adjusters (TFA) for more than four decades until it merged with the ARA in 2018.

Squires oversaw the marketing efforts for TFA for almost 14 years.

And as the director of commercial operations, Ray will be responsible for managing and optimizing ARA’s key commercial activities, ensuring they run smoothly and efficiently; focus on expanding ARA’s revenue streams through innovative products, services, and market strategies; and ensure all commercial operations are aligned with ARA’s mission to enhance member value while driving financial growth and sustainability.

“Wayne Ray has more than 12 years’ experience in the recovery industry with a strong background in leadership, engineering, and strategic growth,” ARA president Vaughn Clemmons said in a news release. “He’s been spearheading ARA’s technology committee for several years to ensure the most state of the art, streamlined and seamless user experience for our members.

“As ARA continues to grow and refine its strategic direction, the need for a director of commercial operations became clear, and Wayne is perfect for the role,” added Clemmons, who is among the industry leaders who will appear on stage during Used Car Week, which begins on Nov. 18 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

A Dallas native, Ray he spent six years in the nuclear power program orchestrated by the U.S. Navy, gaining valuable experience overseeing the operations of complex nuclear power systems on board the USS Carl Vinson that honed his technical expertise and leadership skills in high-stakes environments.

Following his military service, Ray transitioned to the oil and gas sector before becoming involved with vehicle repossessions.

“I am honored to join the talented team of people at ARA who are passionate about improving the repossession industry,” Ray said. “ARA has a long-standing reputation for excellence, and I look forward to building on that foundation by enhancing our strategic initiatives and expanding the services we offer to our members.

“Together with the ARA board of directors, we will continue to build upon ARA’s remarkable achievements and propel the organization to even greater success in the repossession industry,” Ray went on to say.