Credit Union Collection & Compliance Roundtable

An Intimate Day of Peer Learning, Practical Strategies, and Meaningful Connection

If you're a collections or compliance leader at a credit union, you know the frustration: you're expected to recover more, stay compliant, and protect member relationships. All while keeping up with constantly evolving technology and new regulations.

This free event is built for you.

What To Expect

Join us for an intimate, day-long roundtable discussion with credit union collections and compliance peers, co-hosted by Bassford Remele. Takeaways include:

Share what’s actually working in your operations (and what’s not)
Get practical answers to your toughest compliance and operational questions
Learn from experts who understand the unique challenges of credit union collections
Leave with actionable strategies you can implement immediately
Build real relationships with peers who get it

You'll walk away with clarity, confidence, and a network of colleagues you can call when the next challenge hits.

Who Should Attend

This event is designed for credit union collections, recovery and compliance leaders. Specifically:

Collections Managers & VPs
Recovery/Loan Servicing Leaders
Compliance Officers focused on collections and risk mitigation
Operations leaders responsible for overseeing collections functions

If you're responsible for making sure your credit union recovers effectively while staying compliant and protecting member relationships, this is for you.

Space is intentionally limited to preserve the intimate, collaborative atmosphere. There is no cost to attend. Come prepared to share your ideas and questions!

Agenda

10:00-10:15: Introductions and housekeeping
10:15-11:00: Current litigation landscape - evolving caselaw and associated regulatory inquires relevant to credit unions. Conversation led by Patrick Newman and Kim Dang (Bassford Remele)
11:15-12:00: Fraud session, focusing on compliance, prevention and recovery strategies. Conversation led by Kim Dang (Bassford Remele)
12:15-1:00: Working lunch alongside discussion of practical compliance strategies for credit reporting, collection suits, repossessions and member bankruptcies. Conversation led by Patrick Newman and Kim Dang (Bassford Remele)
1:00-4:00: Roundtable discussion moderated by Nate Kalnins (The Stark Agency). Discussion topics to include:
- Digital communications - channels, strategy and compliance best practices
- Recovery and compliance strategies on commercial (business) accounts
- Workflow design - team structure, KPIs, etc.
- Economic landscape and trends - delinquency, tax season performance, etc.
- Legal collection strategies - compliance, cost control, KPIs, etc.
- Repossession and collateral recovery - compliance, best practices, workflow strategy and vendors
- Attendee-submitted questions and topics

Featured Facilitators

Patrick Newman

Shareholder, Bassford Remele

Patrick Newman is a commercial litigator who defends members of the financial services industry. He regularly represents credit and collection professionals, repossession agents, background screeners, lenders, and fintech companies against consumer-protection lawsuits, including class actions. Patrick recently served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Great Lakes Credit and Collection Association and is the Co-Chair of Bassford Remele’s Consumer Finance Practice Group.

Patrick uses practical, creative experience to help clients from across the United States prevent and navigate disputes in federal and state trial court, as well as bankruptcy courts and appellate tribunals. He has extensive experience working closely with in-house counsel and financial services providers defending against Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and other consumer-protection claims. He also counsels clients on developing compliance protocols and how to navigate regulatory enforcement actions. Patrick represents commercial creditors in bankruptcy cases and secured transaction disputes as well.

Patrick has tried cases to verdict in state and federal court. He has also secured published federal appellate decisions in favor of the credit and collection industry on issues arising under the FDCPA and FCRA.

Patrick serves as Co-Chair of Bassford Remele’s Recruiting Committee.

Kimberly Dang

Counsel, Bassford Remele

Kimberly Dang is a commercial litigator focusing on banking, financial services, and consumer finance litigation. She represents banks, financial institutions, and corporate clients in state and federal courts nationwide.

Kimberly’s practice centers on disputes involving bank fraud, payment systems, and consumer finance laws. She has significant experience litigating matters involving check and wire fraud, ACH disputes, overdraft and fee-related claims, and bank-to-bank warranty and indemnity disputes, including claims arising under the Uniform Commercial Code and related statutory frameworks, as well as consumer protection statutes such as the FCRA, FDCPA, and similar laws. She has also litigated class actions and other complex, high-stakes commercial disputes. In addition to her litigation practice, Kimberly serves as outside counsel to corporate and financial institution clients, advising on litigation risk, governance-related matters, and strategic decision-making.

Kimberly is admitted to practice in New York and Texas.

Nate Kalnins

Chief Operating Officer &

Director of Compliance, The Stark Agency

Nate joined the Stark Collection Agency in 2010, working part-time as a collector while he was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He now serves as Stark’s Chief Operating Officer and Director of Compliance and oversees all aspects of Stark’s operations, including strategic direction, workflow design, client education, and compliance.

Nate holds the Credit and Collections Compliance Officer (CCCO) designation through ACA International and the Leadership Development Certificate through the University of Wisconsin Small Business Development Center. Nate serves on the Great Lakes Credit and Collection Association (GLCCA) board of directors, where he is the immediate Past President. In 2019, Nate was nominated for the Madison Magnet Award and the Receivables Advisor Professional of the Year award. He is passionate about improving financial literacy, particularly among youth.

Hotel Information

The Fluno Center

601 University Ave

Madison, WI 53715

608-441-7117

Use the link above to reserve your room at our discounted block rate. You may also reserve your room by calling 608-441-7117.

Room rate: $180/night

Reserve your room by 8/4/2025 to guarantee receiving the block rate discount. Parking at the Fluno Center ($15/night) can be added to your reservation. You may also self-park in nearby parking ramps.

Rooms are available as part of the Stark block on the nights of 9/3 and 9/4. Rooms are not available at the block rate on 9/5-9/6 due to the home Badger football game.

Reserve Your Room

Pints and Pars!

Join us on Thursday, September 4th for a private reception celebration at Blind Shot Social Club. Enjoy fun games, good food, and great companionship - in the heart of downtown Madison.

7 Iron is an upscale sports lounge with simulators for golf and many other games. It’s the perfect venue to unwind, relax and network with your peers.

Reception tickets must be purchased with registration. Tickets include games, food and drinks.

Cost: $70/person.

Register

Hear from Previous Attendees

"Whether you are new to collections or a seasoned veteran, I highly recommend attending these conferences. Even after being in the industry for over 20 years, I can still learn something new every day in the ever-changing environment. These conferences are well run, on topic, and well worth the minimal expense."

Dan Vande Zande, Landmark Credit Union
"The Stark conference stands apart from other events due to its highly informative nature. It offers a unique opportunity to engage with peers who are facing similar challenges, creating an environment for meaningful discussions. These intimate conversations are invaluable for navigating through any issues or questions you may have. Having attended the Stark conference for years, I can confidently say it continues to improve with each iteration, making it a must-attend for those seeing real solutions and insights. "

Josey Bowman, IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union
"The annual Stark conference is one of the best! The roundtable discussions are tremendously valuable, the atmosphere promotes participation, and collaboration amongst industry peers is sure to leave you walking away with new ideas. I've been able to walk away from each conference feeling invigorated with fresh ideas to bring back to my teams."

Christina Christensen, Veridian Credit Union
"We look forward to the conference every year, not only for the fun that we have, but also the wealth of collection-specific knowledge that is provided!"

Beth Berg, Co-Op Credit Union
"The Stark Collection Agency's collection conference is a highly valuable experience, offering a unique opportunity to gain expert insights, network with industry professionals, and enhance your knowledge of the latest trends and best practices in collections. It's definitely worth attending for anyone looking to advance their expertise in the field."

Jacquie Fox, Blackhawk Community Credit Union
"The WESTconsin Credit Union Member Solutions team has been a regular participant in the Stark Conferences since they began. The sessions are always insightful and led by experts who truly understand the challenges that we are facing. Networking with peers and learning about the latest compliance trends and technology helps us to improve our recovery rates. I would highly recommend this conference to anyone in the collections field looking for ways to enhance their processes and keep up with compliance. Stark has proven to be an excellent partner for WESTconsin Credit Union."

Diane Amundson, WESTconsin Credit Union