ACA International Announces New Strategic Plan

During its annual meeting on July 11, 2010, the ACA International Board of Directors reviewed and approved the association’s Brand Statement (Mission, Values and Collector’s Pledge) and the Strategic Plan.

On April 6-8, 2010, the Strategic Planning Committee, consisting of 19 ACA Board members, one director representative and ACA’s executive management team, gathered in Minneapolis to develop the association’s road map for the next three years. The planning session included a systematic examination of ACA International, the credit and collection industry and their environment. The group updated the association’s mission and values and developed goals for ACA International’s Strategic Plan:

Advocacy and Legislative Affairs
Achieve favorable legislative and regulatory results at the federal and state levels.

• Strengthen state legislative and regulatory efforts in coordination with state units by allocating additional resources.
• Lobby aggressively at the state and federal levels to drive positive, and curtail onerous, legislation and regulation.
• Build robust federal and state grassroots capabilities with members and state units.
• Build and participate in coalitions with sister associations and similarly situated industry groups to further ACA public policy objectives.

Public Awareness and Industry Impact
Elevate the reputation of the credit and collection industry.

• Develop and implement an integrated reputation management model to strengthen ACA’s grassroots and media relations.
• Assist consumers and members in resolving complaints.
• Identify, create and leverage industry-related research /statistics.
• Enhance member integrity and responsibility by incorporating the Collector’s Pledge into the ACA Code of Ethics.
• Assess effectiveness of ACA’s image, brand and name.

Membership, Benefits and Services
Adapt to membership trends and provide world-class service in meeting member needs.

• Invest in technology to enhance member interaction, communication and the delivery of benefits.
• Raise awareness and support of programs, services and benefits offered through Collectors Insurance Agency, ACA Enterprises and Alliance ACA.
• Evaluate ACA’s membership categories and qualifications.
• Evaluate membership and benefits structure in light of current trends.
• Support membership with high quality service.

Education and Credentialing
Provide state-of-the-art education and credentialing.

• Study concept of base-level and advanced collector exams.
• Develop / deliver training modules for broad-based use.
• Identify and expand educational opportunities.
• Simplify and market credentialing opportunities and establish ACA as the recognized leader in the credentialing of third-party debt collectors.
• Use technology to deliver meaningful, cost-effective training.
• Develop training for managers/supervisors.

Highly Effective Association, Governance, Units and Resources
Ensure an effective structure to serve the industry/fulfill the mission.

• Review governance structure/processes to ensure highly effective leadership, including nomination, election, removal provision, and orientation procedures; board size, composition, meeting frequency and format; and state unit structure.
• Drive adequate revenue to fulfill this plan.
• Strengthen relationships with state units.
• Maintain highly efficient/effective administrative operations and professional staffing by investing in a world-class IT system and implementing a five-year capital improvement plan.