GALR 2024 Conference Wraps Up with Record Attendance

The Georgia Association of Licensed Repossessors (GALR) 2024 Conference exceeded the expectations of its organizers. “We registered 77 people as of last night,” commented GALR Treasurer Clayton Merritt on the first day of the event, held at the scenic Lanier Islands Resort in Buford, GA. Attendees came from across Georgia as well as from North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, and Texas, more than doubling last year’s attendance. Georgia Association of Licensed Repossessors Conference Announces New Speaker

Lanier Islands Resort, a 1,200- acre retreat, offers a variety of activities, including golf, water sports, and snow tubing. The Lodge Hotel, where attendees stayed, is an ornately decorated venue featuring a rustic cabin theme, complete with multiple restaurants, bars, and a poolside fire pit. But I digress…

Day 1 Highlights

Day 1 featured a half – day program, starting with GALR’s annual business meeting and elections. No changes were made to the board, as all current members were re-elected to their respective positions.

Following the meeting was a scheduled 2.5- hour locksmith training session led by Jessica Merritt of Artis Recovery. Jessica demonstrated the programming of two universal remotes for different makes and models of vehicles, offering insight into how today’s advanced equipment is used. After the demonstration, she spent over an hour answering attendees’ questions about equipment and how automotive locksmithing can be integrated into repossession services.

Day 2: A Full Schedule of Events

Day 2 was packed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. “We apologize, but the program kept expanding,” Clayton Merritt explained, referencing the growing interest and the volume of information GALR felt was essential to share with the industry.

GALR 2024 Conference Wraps Up with Record Attendance If the goal was to deliver a wealth of valuable information, GALR certainly succeeded. Numerous topics were explored from multiple angles. Contracts, for instance, were examined from an insurance perspective by Jon Pollard and Renee Lowe of Harding and Brooks, a legal perspective during Mark Howk’s session on frivolous lawsuits, and in the Client Panel Discussion. Each session built upon the last, ensuring attendees gained a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

While it’s difficult to cover every session in detail, GALR acknowledges the invaluable contributions of all participants. “We couldn’t have had a convention without their willingness to share their knowledge,” said GALR President John Newberry of Eagle Eye Recovery.

Here’s a quick look at some of the key sessions and presenters:

Locksmith Demonstration – Jessica Merritt, Artis Recovery
Contract Review – Jon Pollard and Renee Lowe, Harding and Brooks Insurance Agency
Client Panel Discussion

Moderator: Wes Carico, Artis Recovery

Panelists: Bill Sheehan (COO, Trinity Financial Services), Jason Clark (Managing Partner, Resolution Management Group), Jeremy Turner (Director, Vendor Management, Location Services), Keith Daymond (Executive VP, Victory Recovery Services), Ryan Medina (VP Vendor Management, MVRecovery MVTRAC)

GA Personal Property Law and Frivolous Lawsuits – Mike Howk, JD, Risk Manager, RSIG
MBSI Software Update – Ray Peloso
Preventing Breach of Peace – Mark Lacek, Repossession Litigation Consultant
Improved Relations Between MVTrac & Vendor Network – Ryan Medina, James McGee, Josh Harley, and Johnnie Renfro of MVRecovery MVTRAC

Panel Discussion

“People are worried about getting ambushed,” Clayton Merritt shared when discussing the process of organizing the panel. To ease concerns and build credibility, the format, objectives, topics, and sample questions were sent to the panelists well in advance. This approach allowed for deeper exploration of complex issues, explained Moderator Wes Carico.

The discussion covered several pressing topics, including stagnant rates, contractual language, and agent safety. Each panelist shared insights into how their businesses viewed and addressed these challenges. A few key takeaways emerged:

Wes highlighted the unique role forwarders play in the industry as both clients and competitors. He suggested that repossession companies should observe and emulate forwarders’ successful business practices.

Negotiation was another common theme. Both pricing and contract language, panelists emphasized, can and should be negotiated. “We ‘red-line’ every word of our contracts,” one panelist remarked, stressing the importance of scrutinizing terms. Another panelist reminded attendees of the need to review contracts annually, especially to request adjustments for inflation if such provisions aren’t already built in.

Safety was a major concern for all panelists, who recognized the role of forwarders in keeping dangerous or rogue companies out of the industry. The implication was clear: providing opportunities to these risky organizations not only threatens the industry’s reputation but also diverts funds from legitimate clients (lien holders) and supports potentially harmful activities. Though I’m no expert in liability, this seems to be an area where many in the industry need to tread carefully.

There was also a call for industry software providers to improve their tracking tools for identifying potential risks in high-risk accounts or addresses. “You are their revenue stream,” Wes explained, urging forwarders to push for better solutions. The panel also agreed to explore ways to support the Recovery Agents Benefit Fund (RABF) so Ed Marcum and his team can continue to assist families impacted by their loved ones work in the repossession industry.

Overall, the panel addressed sensitive topics, provided valuable insights, and fostered commitments around safety and industry support.

GALR wanted to extend its deep appreciation to the panelists for their participation and dedication. These five individuals are among the most successful leaders in the industry, and their willingness to share their viewpoints on key issues was a tremendous benefit to everyone in attendance.

Liability in the Industry

Liability was a central theme throughout the conference, with several presenters offering insights from their areas of expertise. Jon Pollard emphasized the importance of reviewing Garage Keepers policies, noting a disturbing trend where Direct Primary Garage Keepers policies exclude coverage for acts of God, such as rain, hail, or wind damage. This exclusion, he explained, negates the purpose of Direct Primary coverage and leaves insureds exposed.

Renee Lowe stressed the need for every repossession company to have a contract in place with its clients, even if it’s just a simple one-page agreement. She also highlighted the importance of ensuring that contracts with brokers or forwarders extend coverage to their clients as well. Both Renee and Jon encouraged attendees to reach out with questions and review contracts. “We can’t give legal advice,” Renee clarified, but she explained they would point out where contract language might negatively affect your coverage.

Mike Howk, RSIG’s Risk Manager and a national expert in repossession law, warned of a troubling new trend: “You cannot insure against a crime.” He explained that if you’re sued and the allegations are purely criminal, your insurance will not cover the case. However, if there’s at least one civil allegation, the insurance will help defend against all claims under a “commonality of defense” principle.

In a side conversation, Ed Marcum further explained that this trend is becoming more common in states where possession laws are being more clearly defined. “It eliminates the common civil allegation of breach of peace,” leaving lawsuits to focus on criminal sections of state code or parts of the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) considered criminal. He cited a case in California where the insured will likely not be covered, as no civil allegations were made, and the way the law is written leaves no room for one to be added.

As more associations consider sponsoring or proposing legislative changes, this should serve as a cautionary tale: poorly considered legislation can have unintended consequences, so it’s crucial to involve all industry stakeholders in the conversation.

GALR 2024 Conference Wraps Up with Record Attendance Repossession Litigation Consultant Mark Lacek delivered dynamic content on the importance of policies, documentation, and employee training. He began by holding up a copy of Nostalgic Towing/Artis Recovery’s “No Follow, No Chase” policy recommending everyone adopt a similar policy.

He also urged attendees to consider how their company’s image could impact potential litigation, recalling a case where a defendant’s company was named “Rambo.” “Who do you think the jury is going to believe?” he asked.

Mark’s overarching message was clear: credibility and image stem from every aspect of a business, including its name, policies, procedures, equipment, attire, and documentation. These elements all contribute to how a company will be perceived in court, even though most cases never go before a jury.

Experts like Mark are often hired to assess a company’s professional and operational standards as they relate to any case. Throughout the conference, the recurring message was that failing to maintain professional standards increases the frequency of claims. Jon Pollard summed it up: “Frequency breeds severity.”

My takeaway – Illegal, improper, or improperly motivated actions lead to claims, poor image and documentation lead to larger payouts directly from your profits!

Fundraising and Fun

GALR also welcomed four new members during the event. The day ended with a lively fundraising e ort that began with a raffle and auction. The real excitement, however, came when an anonymous donor pledged $600 if Ed Marcum, CEO of RABF, would jump into the pool. Ed enthusiastically accepted, declaring, “Anything for the cause.” GALR 2024 Conference Wraps Up with Record Attendance

This sparked a series of challenges, with several professionals in business attire attracting everyone’s attention by diving into the pool. Credit Acceptance Corp’s Tiny Sebastian and MVRecovery MVTRAC’s Johnnie Renfro wrapped up the plunge, raising an impressive $3,000 combined. The event raised over $11,000 for GALR and the Recovery Agents Benefit Fund (RABF), although the exact allocation was not known at the time of this release.

Networking and Industry Connections

As with any great conference, some of the most valuable exchanges took place during breaks, meals, and evening gatherings. GALR provided an ideal platform for vendors to meet new clients. Clayton Merritt worked closely with client representatives to address coverage gaps, while many new business relationships were formed through casual introductions. This reflects the growing credibility and influence of GALR, especially considering this was only its second annual conference.

While it’s uncertain whether GALR will o er deeper dives into any of the sessions, you can stay updated by following their Facebook page (search for “Georgia Association of Licensed Repossessors”) or visiting their website at https://galr.org .

In Closing

GALR extends its heartfelt thanks to all the participants and speakers for making the 2024 conference a memorable and successful event. A special thank you to the staff at Lanier Islands for providing excellent facilities and support.

GALR 2024 Conference Wraps Up with Record Attendance

Thank you to all the sponsors:

Gold – DRN, MVTRAC, Trinity, Harding Brooks, MBSi Corp, RDN

Silver – Loss Prevention Services

Bronze – Resolvion

Kudos to the entire GALR team for their hard work and dedication in organizing this event. Having attended numerous industry events over my 17- year career, this one struck the perfect balance of education, camaraderie, and business. Well done, GALR!

Wes Carico

Nostalgic Towing

Artis Recovery