ARM Conference Raises $150,000 for Charity; Collection Awards Handed Out

The exhibitors and 800 attendees at the Debt Collection Symposium and Expo in San Diego, Calif. last week raised about $150,000 for charity, according to Resource Management Services, Inc. (RMS), organizers of the event.

The money will benefit Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and Rady Children’s Hospital of San Diego. The money was raised during the conference’s Black Tie Tribute Awards and Charity Dinner.

CHOC Foundation for Children's fundraising activities are guided by six philanthropic aspirations: to provide quality medical care for all children; to treat chronic and catastrophic illnesses; to emphasize illness and injury prevention; to support the well-being of children; to achieve medical breakthroughs; and to serve as a community leader and partner in the care of children.

Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego exists "to restore, sustain and enhance the health and developmental potential of children through excellence in care, education, research and advocacy." More than 13,000 boys and girls were admitted to Rady Children's as inpatients last year, and there were 192,000 visits to outpatient and specialty clinics. During the workweek, nearly 80 surgeries are performed, ranging from relatively simple outpatient procedures to at least one complex heart surgery each day. Research involving hundreds of children in some 70 clinical trials stimulates medical progress nationally and internationally. And each workday, more than 700 children will see a specialist for a consult, expert opinion and/or diagnosis.

In addition to the charity fundraising, industry awards were handed out by prominent creditors. RMS also announced the results of its Industry Choice Tribute Awards.

Bank of America Card Services presented the agency of the year award to National Enterprise Systems. Capital One Auto Finance gave the recovery performance excellence in 2008 award to NCO Financial Systems, Inc. Capital One U.S. Card presented the agency of the year award to Creditors Interchange. Accounts Receivable Management, Inc. won the top agency performer title, with Chase Auto Finance making the presentation.

The industry choice tribute award winners were:

Agency: Diversified Consultants, Inc.
Attorney firm: Frederic J. Hanna & Associates
Debt buyer: Al Brothers, Calvary Portfolio Services, LLC
Debt seller: Mike Bendickson, Absolute Resolutions Corp.
Industry vendor: Latitude Software
Recovery manager: Kimberly Kleven, T-Mobile USA, Inc.