Anthony “AB” Bourke
Keynote Speaker
Major Anthony “AB” Bourke is a highly accomplished and decorated F-16 fighter pilot who flew tactical missions in service to our country all over the world. Following his impressive military career, AB applied the tools and techniques that made him one of our nation’s premier fighter pilots to the competitive world of business. His success in the mortgage banking industry led to an opportunity with a California-based start-up where his team dramatically grew annual revenue from $500,000 to $65M in just three years.
Currently, AB serves as CEO & Founder of Mach 2 Consulting and has shared his message of peak performance to more than 100,000 people in twelve different countries. AB brings his tactical knowledge and business acumen to the forefront of the management training world to share how performance-based organizations can develop a feedback system to ensure continuous improvement and peak performance. His wealth of experience and ability to connect with audiences landed AB in Inc Magazine’s 100 Great Leadership Speakers.
Joel Kennedy
Emcee
Consumer finance executive experienced with Fortune 100 companies, large financial institutions,and early-stage consumer finance companies/start-ups. Founded Pelican Resource Group, a sub-prime consumer automotive finance business, and successfully managed it through to its secondary phase of private equity backing as Pelican AutoFinance.Industry expertise in consumer finance operational and compliance topics, contributing editor forNon-Prime Times, SubPrime News, writing on such topics as applied technologies, operations, compliance, risk, and consumer lending economics. Frequent speaker, moderator, and panelist at various industry conferences including Auto FinanceRisk & Compliance Summit, National Automotive Finance Association, Used Car Week, and NorthAmerican Repossessors Summit. Creator and host of Nortridge Software’s ConsumerFi Podcast which discusses all aspects of consumer lending, markets, regulation, innovation, and winning in the marketplace. Serves as the current Chairman of the Board of the National Automotive Finance Association
Anthony Payne
Lender Panel
Anthony Payne is an Operations Manager for Southeast Toyota Finance. Southeast Toyota Finance is the captive finance company for 177 Toyota dealers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Payne joined the company in 1998 and brings 24 years of operations experience into his current role. As Collateral Return Manager, he is responsible for repossession activities as well as lease end servicing and vehicle returns. Payne manages a nationwide network of repossession contractors and various client servicing teams.
David Cowlbeck
Forwarder Panel
David Cowlbeck is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner with Loss Prevention Services, LLC with responsibility for the growth and sustainability for the organization. Bringing 20 years of industry experience from the lender and vendor operations perspectives, he provides both an understanding of the challenges lenders encounter as well as the solutions that are readily available. Under his leadership, Loss Prevention Services has grown sales while applying a consultative approach to vendor partners and lenders that drives continuous process improvement. David has volunteered and contributed to the community and charitable organizations such as Boy Scouts of America, Byron Center Schools Marching Band Boosters, Paint the Town, Habitat for Humanity and the United Way. When away from the office, he enjoys fitness, equestrian, boating, power sports and scale models with his wife and 2 children.
Emily Hester
Agent Workshop
Resident of San Antonio, TX, she attended Southwest Texas State University and graduated with a BA in Business Management. After graduating she returned to San Antonio to begin looking for a career. After working around in different local businesses sales departments, from Plumbing to Metal roof manufacturing, her father, Frank Massey asked her to come market for the family business in 2009. Now President of the family’s Asset Recovery business, S.C.A.R., Inc. serves multiple markets across Texas in Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, the Coastal Bend and Rio Grande Valley.
In her free time, she volunteers as a Vice Chairman on one of the 40 plus Committees for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, raising scholarship funds to help educate the youth of Texas. She spends time on Lake LBJ, attending live music shows, and being outdoors with her husband, family, and friends.
Jose Mendiola
Forwarder Panel
Jose Mendiola is Executive Vice President of Resolvion, an industry leader of national recovery management solutions for auto lenders most of which are the top automotive lenders in the U.S. Prior to help form Resolvion. Jose spent 15 years as a member of a regional auto finance company last having served as its COO with oversight of a $120M in auto loan receivables. He has 23 years of automotive lending, collections and repossession experience which has provided the platform for various consulting relationships with startup finance companies as well as industry speaking engagements. Jose is a graduate of The University of Central Florida (BA) and Nova Southeastern University (MBA). Jose resides in Weston, Florida with his wife and their 2 children.
Jeremy Cross
Agent Workshop
Jeremy Cross became the president and owner of International Recovery Systems in 2010 after working and owning a successful private investigations company. Jeremy serves on multiple industry-related advisory panels and is a board member for the American Recovery Association. When not involved in business, Jeremy spends time with his wife Tiffany and their two children Jason and Sophia and enjoys making barbecue for friends and family and attending sporting events.
Darcy Case
Agent Workshop

Joel Bowen
Lender Panel
Joel Bowen has served as the Loan Resolution Manager at Caltech Employees Federal Credit Union since August of 2002. Prior to Caltech Employees Federal Credit Union, Joel work at California Credit union as the Collections Manager for approximately 13 years. Joel oversees collections, repossession and remarketing of all credit union assets. In his capacity as Loan Resolution Manager, Joel is also responsible for the litigation and bankruptcy-related issues as it pertains to the Credit Union. Joel entered the financial industry working for Bank of America back in 1989 after completing service in the United States Armed Forces and has over 30 years’ experience in Collections, Recovery and Remarketing. He also serves as the President of California Credit Union Collectors Council, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to provide credit union employees with training to enhance their knowledge within collections and lending arena through educational workshops, seminars and conferences.
Patrick Newman
Legal Insurance Breakout Session
Patrick Newman is a shareholder with the Minneapolis law firm of Bassford Remele, P.A.Patrickfocuses his practice on the defense of recovery professionals, businesses, creditors, collection agencies, alternative finance companies, and other financial institutions against consumer-protection claims brought under the FDCPA, FCRA, TCPA, and other state statutes, as well as claims and investigations brought by state regulators. Patrick is experienced in complex litigation and class action lawsuits. Patrick regularly represents clients in both state and federal courts across the United States, including the bankruptcy and appellate courts. He also consults with and instructs clients on compliance with state and federal regulations. Patrick is licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as numerous federal jurisdictions.
Tal Bakke
Legal Insurance Breakout Session
Tal Bakke is an attorney with the Minneapolis law firm of Bassford Remele, P.A.Talhas broad experience representing clients in all manner of consumer-protection litigation and compliance matters. Tal devotes a substantial portion of his practice to representing recovery professionals, businesses, collection agencies, and other financial institutions in a variety of litigation matters including claims brought under the FDCPA, FCRA, TCPA, and related state statutory and common-law claims. In addition to consumer litigation, Tal is experienced in complex commercial, construction, professional liability, and product liability litigation. He has experience representing clients at all stages of litigation from pre-suit advice and counsel through trial and appeal.
Thomas Thornton
Lender Panel
Thomas R. Thornton: Senior Vice President within the Customer Asset Management group for M&T Bank, soon to be the 11th largest bank in the country, headquartered in Buffalo N.Y.
Tom possesses 36 years of collections, repossession, remarketing, and lease end of term servicing experience. He is responsible for all aspects of repossession, remarketing and insurance services for both consumer auto, marine and recreational finance product along with a segment of the business banking portfolio.
More NARS 2022 Speakers coming soon!