Alex Price
Director of Training & Development at LocateSmarter
SkipTracing Needs LPR
Alex Price is a nationally recognized expert on the Art of Skip Tracing with over 35 years of experience in skip-tracing, FinTech and Bail Bonds industries, keynote speaker and author of the Skip-Tracers National Certification Program, Florida Public Records Guide, and the Military Installations Guide. Contributor for several industry magazines and pre-post pandemic and become a popular content matter expert podcast guest. Currently he is the Director of Training and Development for LocateSmarter.
He has become a highly sought-after speaker in the bail enforcement, private investigations and FinTech space. He combines old school skip-tracing methods with new age cyber-tracking technology to equip attendees with tools that he gained through invaluable experience. He balances the hard facts about skips with just the right amount of humor and a touch of southern charm. Special achievements would include being the first and only Tracer ever admitted as a member to the American Recovery Association (ARA) and Time Finance Adjusters (TFA)
His single most important job is that as a father, husband and his work with the ILF (Innocent Lives Foundation). He resides in Mobile Alabama with his wife and two children.
Specialties: Skip-Tracing, Public Speaking, Training and Data Analytics and Human Behavior
Benjamin Litwin
Finance Analyst at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
CFPB Session
Benjamin Litwin is a financial analyst focusing on the auto lending market at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in the Office of Consumer Credit, Payments, and Deposits Markets. In this role, he combines data analysis with market knowledge to understand current trends in auto finance. Prior to his current role at the bureau, he worked as a statistician the Federal Trade Commission working on anti-trust cases and in the CFPB’s Office of Research focusing on the credit card market and consumer credit access. He graduated from George Washington University with a Masters of Public Policy and Gettysburg College with a BA in Economics and Public Policy.
Vaughn Clemmons
President of Automobile Recovery Bureau, Inc.
State of the Repossession Industry
Vaughn Clemmons is the President of A.R.B., Inc in Houston, Texas. he was born in Brooklyn, New York, has been married to his High School sweetheart for 36 years, has two children and four grand-children. He entered the repossession industry over 37 years ago at a time when tools and helpers where used to affect repossessions. After relocating to Dallas, Texas he worked for Todd Hodnett for the then ALSCO Dallas franchise, several years later he relocated to Houston, Texas and purchased the ALSCO Houston franchise where he held the top office in the nation for many years, he served on the ALSCO Board and facilitated many training seminars for other franchise owners. He has been a licensed Private Investigator for over 27 years, and holds a degree in Criminal Justice. In June of 2022 he became the president of the American Recovery Association, he has maintained his focus on improving business methods and the overall ideals of the industry he loves, while allowing room to strengthen old relationships and develop new ones, he believes he can gain perspective contrary to his own beliefs from anyone in the business, which allows him to remain adaptable in the ever changing repossession climate. In his free time, Vaughn enjoys spending time with his family, and playing a game or two of backgammon.
Starr Sawalqah
President of Alpha Recovery
Measure it & Manage it: Balancing Books with Modern Technology & Account Integrations
Starr was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona where she attended ASU. She held a management position with Wells Fargo before joining Alpha Recovery. After finishing her education, she joined the Alpha Recovery team where she oversees operations and a 60+ member team. Starr has been with the company since its inception and is responsible for the company’s high standards and excellent reputation in the repossession industry.
James McNeil
CEO of Day Break Metro, Inc.
Economics of Storage and the Future of Real Estate
Jeremy Cross
President of International Recovery Systems
Economics of Storage and the Future of Real Estate
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.
Ryan Balfe
Founder of Cubepros
Measure it & Manage it: Balancing Books with Modern Technology & Account Integrations
Ryan is the founder of Cubepros, a full service national accounting, bookkeeping and back office advisory firm servicing small business owners and startups. Prior to launching Cubepros, Ryan supported the Investment Management division of Lehman Brothers and also served as an analyst for a private wealth management firm servicing ultra-high net worth individuals and foundations. Cubepros provides full charge bookkeeping, payroll, compliance, tax preparation and back office consulting and advisory services exclusively viaQuickbooks Online and the applications within its ecosystem. Ryan holds an MBA in Finance and is an Advanced Certified Quickbooks ProAdvisor. In 2016, Ryan was appointed to theIntuit Accountant Council and is a member of the QuickBooks Payroll Council.
Todd Case
Owner of Indiana Recovery Services
State of the Repossession Industry
Originally from Western New York, Todd grew up in the towing industry working alongside his father at the family business. In 2011, an opportunity to purchase Indiana Recovery Services was presented. With Todd’s knowledge of the towing industry and his wife Darcy’s degree in accounting and business, they decided to take a leap of faith. In 2014, Todd resigned from his law enforcement career and committed all his time to the business. At the 2022 NARS, Todd and his wife Darcy were awarded the “Business Owners of the Year” award for the repossession industry. They credit their success to the hard work and dedication of the entire IRS team. Recognizing that our industry needs change, Todd formed a repossession association for the State of Indiana with the help of Darcy, Steve Brown of Lenders Recovery, and Michelle Mauck of Mauck Recovery. In the fall of 2022, The Indiana Professional Repossessors Association (INPRA) was formed.
Nick Zulovich
Senior Editor at Cherokee Media Group
The State of the Repossession Industry
Nick Zulovich is senior editor at Cherokee Media Group, overseeing a portion of the company’s magazine and website portfolio including the Auto Fin Journal, BHPH Report and SubPrime Auto Finance News. Nick also is one of the hosts of the Auto Remarketing Podcast and part of the company team that conducts industry events, including the Automotive Intelligence Summit and Used Car Week.
Jason Clark
Managing Partner of Resolution Management Group LLC
Industry Panel
Over the last fifteen years, Jason Clark has held progressive leadership roles within the financial services industry. In early 2020, Jason joined Resolution Management Group LLC (RMG) with a shared vision of breaking the forwarder mold by being a voice for the foundation of our industry – the Service Providers in the field. As a Managing Partner, Jason leads the charge in executing internal and external growth strategies, process enhancement, and ensuring the delivery of continued Client, Agent, and Customer satisfaction.
Prior to joining RMG, Clark held executive level positions with one of the nation’s largest forwarding companies, Camcar, and was enlisted in the United States Army.
Marcus Potter
Owner of NAR Services
Industry Panel
Marcus Potter grew up in Charleston, SC where he later attended the University of South Carolina. Marcus enlisted in the US Army. Post Army, he went to work for the City of North Charleston Police Department. Marcus started his career in the repossession industry in the mid 90s where he later started his first company in 1998. Today, Marcus owns NAR Services which covers North and South Carolina. He sits on the Board for ARA and Carolina Association as well as a few agent adverse boards. Marcus is the husband of Lisa, and they have 5 children and 1 grandchild.
John Fountaine
CEO of Trynity Finanical Services
Industry Panel
Over the last 15 years, John held many positions from Skip Tracer to Team Lead, Assistant Manager, Manager of Skip Operations, Vice President of Operations, President, and finally Chief Executive Officer of Trynity Financial Services. He and his teams (including his current company COO, Bill Sheehan) have proven track records of performance, consistently growing business and revenue more than 500% sustained year after year. Trynity is a tech-based repossession co-op offering share ownership to repossession agents who qualify.
In his off time, John enjoys the adrenaline of riding his mountain bike on narrow single-track trails overlooking steep river canyons, competitive shooting, hunting, fishing, and camping. He earned his undergrad degree in Public Administration from Saint Leo University. He is a new Grandfather and raised his three children on his own.
Wayne Ray
Owner of Romans Adjusters
The Transport Crisis: Navigating the Economics Behind Transport
Wayne was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. At the age of 18, Wayne enlisted in the United States Navy to pursue a career in the Naval Nuclear Power program. He served six years, working his way up to Propulsion Plant Watch Supervisor on the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier. He learned a great deal about, and being responsible for, the safe operations of A4W platform nuclear reactors and its associated steam plants.
After completing his contract with the Navy, Wayne continued his career in engineering by going into the oil and gas industry while pursuing his B.S. in Electrical Engineering. In 2019, Wayne earned his engineering degree from the University of North Dakota and gained a solid foundation of engineering experience along with data analytics and leadership skills.
While working in oil and gas and pursuing his education, Wayne decided to start Roman Adjusters in 2012. Based in Dallas, this company start with 1 truck and 4 employees. Since opening his doors, he has grown the company to included a dedicated transportation and key service department with 11 trucks, 7 LPR cars, and a staff of 32 employees.
Jennifer LaTourette
President and COO of Van Scoyoc Associates
An Update from Washington
Jennifer LaTourette is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Van Scoyoc Associates providing firmwide leadership, team management, and vision in the implementation of VSA’s forward-focused strategies. Jennifer has spent nearly two decades at VSA and brings a deep understanding of our business and record of successful advocacy to the leadership of VSA.
In addition to serving as the President and COO, Jennifer represents a broad array of clients utilizing her unique bipartisan and bicameral Capitol Hill experience to successfully advance client goals, even in the most difficult of political environments. Clients call on Jennifer to help raise the profile of their companies, issues, or individuals. She has successfully advocated for her clients before Congress and Federal agencies on a myriad of policy and funding issues ranging from specific priority projects to broad multi-jurisdictional initiatives.Over the course of her career, she has effectively represented both individual organizations and consortium projects.
Jennifer’s clients have included a wide variety of healthcare stakeholders, financial services interests, trade associations, universities, municipalities, and a variety of corporate and non-profit entities across sectors. She also served as the lead advocate for a coalition of over 100 members including large businesses, scientific organizations and academic entities dedicated to enacting a national agenda. Jennifer is consistently recognized as one of The Hill’s top lobbyists.
Andy Sinclair
Vice President at International Recovery Systems
Industry Panel
With a passion for analyzing business statistics to propel his company to the next level, Andy Sinclair currently works as the Vice President at International Recovery Systems. In this role, Andy contributes to the strategic business development of the company as well as maximizing the company’s operating performance. Prior to coming onboard with IRS in 2016, Andy held various surveillance roles including the Surveillance Supervisor position at a casino, as well as private investigations firms. He holds a Criminal Justice degree from Wilmington University and received his Master’s in Business Intelligence and Analytics from Saint Joseph’s University. Andy is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels in business analytics, business management, and business intelligence. Andy resides in Lincoln University, PA with his wife and dogs and can commonly be found at various Philadelphia sporting events when he is not at work.
Brennen Hamilton
Founder of Rapid Recovery Agency, Inc.
Repo Demo
Brennen Hamilton is a successful business owner and entrepreneur based in Florida. He is the proud founder of Rapid Recovery Agency, Inc, a company that has become a leader in the industry. With five strategically located offices throughout the state, Brennen’s company has assisted some of the nation’s top financial institutions in recovering their assets with professionalism and efficiency.
Brennen’s passion for success is equaled only by his strong spiritual beliefs and devotion to his family. As a dedicated follower of Jesus, Brennan’s values guide all aspects of his personal and professional life. He has been happily married for 15 years and is a proud father of three children. His strong family ties and unwavering faith have played a significant role in his success as a business owner.
Brennen’s contributions to the repossession industry are also worth mentioning. He has developed a groundbreaking software solution called Insightt, Inc, which has revolutionized the way repossession agencies operate and helped his company maintain its competitive edge. Brennen’s commitment to innovation and his relentless pursuit of excellence have made Rapid Recovery Agency, Inc one of the most respected companies in the field.
Tyler Powell
COO at Paramount Lender Solutions
Impound Panel
Darcy Case
Owner of Indiana Recovery Services
The Transport Crisis: Navigating the Economics Behind Transport
Michelle Jackson
Vice President Of Sales at Advantage Automotive Analytics
Advantage Automotive Analytics
Michelle Jackson brings over 15 years of sales leadership excellence and recognition in the subprime vehicle finance industry to her role as Vice President of Sales, Direct Channel. Having been involved in the evolution of GPS technology from its earliest iterations to its current industry-changing solutions, Jackson is uniquely poised to spearhead the company’s robust initiatives to foster new business relationships and increase its automotive lender customer base.
Early in her career, Jackson supported a 200-person call center while securing new business partnerships within the automotive sector. Jackson’s industry knowledge and leadership skills along with her ability to establish strong connections with her customers is what caught the attention of Inilex’s senior management team. In 2012 Inilex, one of Jackson’s former customers, recruited her for the specific purpose of building a subprime vehicle finance division. While there, she successfully established the division, guided the product development, and was instrumental in building a profitable reseller/agent channel.
When Spireon acquired Inilex in 2015, Jackson joined the vehicle finance team as a Senior Director of Sales. During her tenure at Spireon, she successfully leveraged her subprime automotive financing experience contributing to the company’s rapid growth and market expansion.
Eric Elizondo
Repossession, Impound, Insurance, Reinstatement, and Ancillary Products Manager
Impound Panel
Eric Elizondo is the Repossession, Impound, Insurance, Reinstatement, and Ancillary Products Manager at United Auto Credit. He started in the auto finance business in 2002 as a collector for Chrysler Financial. In 2007, he joined United Auto Credit as a collector in a branch office in Dallas, TX.
As the company began to centralize its operations, he moved into Bankruptcy, first as a representative, then a supervisor, then a manager. He was also Manager of the Customer Support group when it was separated from Collections. After a brief period focusing on Bankruptcy again, Eric took on his current role. In this role, he helped to streamline processes amongst his various departments. He also helped to expand the hybrid agent model for repossessions and engaged heavily in the vendor management component of that unit, while also running the servicing operations piece of repossession.
Eric holds a degree in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin. In his free time, he enjoys music-listening, playing, and seeing live concerts.
Naji Haddad
AVP Logistics Operations at Cox Automotive
The Transport Crisis: Navigating the Economics Behind Transport
With 23 years’ experience in global supply chain, Naji began his career in supply chain finance at The Home Depot and has led domestic and international supply chain operations in medical device manufacturing and distribution and most notably in the automotive supply chain with Cox Automotive over the past 10 years.
Between full-service and self-service product and service offerings, Logistics Operations facilitate the transportation of more than 12 million vehicles annually spanning repossession, commercial, fleet, dealer, and consumer segments for remarketed and new vehicles.
Naji’s mission is to harbor relationships to serve our repossessors, our carrier partners, and our clients to create mutual success for all stakeholders in the automotive supply chain.
Naji holds a B.S. in Business Administration and an MBA in Finance from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
Casey Harmon
SVP of Executive Accounts and Operations at RunBuggy Inc
The Transport Crisis: Navigating the Economics Behind Transport
Casey Harmon is the SVP of Executive Accounts and Operations at RunBuggy Inc. He’s held executive positions at Toyota Financial and Westlake Financial Services. Over the course of his 17 year automotive career, he has specialized in digital retail initiatives by forming profitable partnerships between organizations. Casey has also been a founder and adviser to a handful of innovative startups focusing on automotive lending, digital retail and transportation. Casey is active in Los Angeles area charities, including the Alliance for College Ready Public Schools. He lives in Culver City, CA with his wife and children.
Matthew Barrett
Chief Operating Officer at Goldfein & Associates
Impounds Panel
Matt Barrett is a trial lawyer at, and Chief Operating Officer of, Goldfein & Associates, P.C. He began his career at Goldfein in 2016 when the firm had six lawyers covering two jurisdictions and helped bring the firm to one of the fastest growing law firms in the country, with over 80 lawyers that cover the nation. This is not a network of attorneys, but a firm of attorneys who are employed solely by and handle only Goldfein clients’ problems.
Joel Kennedy
Executive Director of American Recovery Association
Conference Emcee & State of The Repossession Industry
Joel Kennedy is the Executive Director of the American Recovery Association, a National Trade Group that provides lenders with repossession and related services delivered through members who are of the highest caliber in professionalism, honesty, integrity, and expertise. Joel has over 27 years’ experience in consumer lending, with a keen interest in nonprime auto. He has worked at Fortune 500 Companies, Banks, down to Finco’s, Fintechs, and startups. He is the former President of the National Automotive Finance Association, and a regular writer, speaker and moderator on the industry conference circuit.
Joshuah Ray Pedersen
President of Paramount Lender Solutions
Impounds Panel
Born and raised in Redding, California, Joshuah started his career as a laborer in mainline pipelining back in the 1990s. Over the years Joshuah advanced over time to superintendent. After years of traveling the country, and supervising a large team of pipeliners, Joshuah decided it was time to stay at home and help raise his family. He retired from the pipeline industry in 2003.
Shortly after retiring from pipelining Joshuah entered the repossession industry as an agent for American Lender Services of Redding (ALSCO). ALSCO was a leading repossession company franchise. Eventually Joshuah, along with his family, purchased the company which later became known as Advanced Services of Redding “ASR”. Under his leadership, ASR became known in Northern California as a true full-service Repossession Company. ASR was one of the companies that would go the distance for its clients and soon became a leader in the repossession industry in Northern California.
In 2021, Joshuah and his family sought to grow their success as a full-service repossession company and expand the services available to their clients. This expansion was facilitated through a merger with other great industry leaders and Paramount Lender Solutions. This merger allowed both Paramount and ASR to expand into other markets and soon Paramount was able to cover not only ALL of California, but also build its direct offerings in the in Arizona, Texas, and Hawaii markets.
Starting as Senior Vice President and recently becoming the President, Joshuah has maintained the same ambition and “can-do” attitude that made him successful in his former regional operation. He is dedicated to delivering the best, direct full-service, experience that Paramount’s clients deserve and have come to expect.
Joshuah is well known in the repossession industry as one who can overcome any obstacle with a smile and his dedication to the pursuit of excellence.
Joshuah is a loving husband and father of three wonderful children, and one grandchild, coaches football and enjoys fishing in his free time.
Paramount Lender Solutions is a leader and direct provider of Repossession, License Plate Recognition, Impound Vehicle Retrieval, and Locksmith services with over 30 marshaling yards throughout Arizona, California, Hawaii & Texas .
More NARS 2023 Speakers coming soon!