New Year, New Look, Same GREAT Association

2024 marks the 60^th anniversary for ARA’s convention taking place on Wednesday, April 10th, in Orlando, Florida – 60 years of innovation, growth, challenges, and changes. In conjunction with our 60-year celebration, we’re proud to unveil a new and more modern look for ARA that includes a new logo and a refresh on our well-known red, white and blue colors.

ARA’s goals remain the same – for the association to serve the needs and interests of its membership and to provide the lender with not only repossession and related services, but to provide these services through members who are of the highest caliber in professionalism, honesty, integrity, and expertise.

What does 60 years of ARA mean to you?

I joined ARA on May 7, 1971 after running into Bob Dempsey and deciding to move up from the minors to the big league. Now, after more than 60 years in the repossession industry, I can truthfully say I owe most everything I’ve learned, and everything I’ve achieved based on that one decision I made over 53 years ago. And, more important than all the success I’ve enjoyed, are all the life-long friendships I have today; all as a result of the ARA.

-Art Christensen, 53-year ARA member

60 years ago ARA offered us all a way to come out of the shadows of night and present ourselves in the most professional light. That still rings true today, and that light shines brighter than ever. -Kevin McGivern, 50-year ARA member

As an ARA board member for 30 years, I’ve seen a lot of growth, improvement, and changes within the association and within our industry. The association, its board members, and its members have been instrumental in the success of the recovery industry. I’m proud of all of ARA’s accomplishments – especially the compliance monitoring system. ARA has been a trailblazer and I’m excited to see what the next 60 years has in store.

-Mary Jane Hogan, 35-year ARA member

Did you know ARA was originally chartered on July 22, 1965 in the State of Minnesota as the American Repossessors Association, Inc. It was a wholly owned repossession division of the American Collectors Association, Inc., which was headquartered in Minneapolis. On August 15, 1972 the name of the American Repossessors Association, Inc., was changed to our present name. On February 3, 1976, the American Collectors Association, Inc, transferred all of its stock in the American Recovery Association, Inc., to our members. By 1976, ARA had grown to be the largest association of its kind in the world. In August of 1979, ARA moved the headquarters to New Orleans, Louisiana until 2005 when Hurricane Katrina destroyed the home office and, as a result, it moved to Dallas, Texas.

Thanks for 60 amazing years. We look forward to celebrating with you at the convention in April.

About American Recovery Association

Originally chartered on July 22, 1965, and located in Dallas, Texas, American Recovery Association (ARA) is a membership organization made up of more than 260 repossession business owners providing service from more than 500 locations to more than 27,000 national and international cities. As the world’s largest association of recovery professionals, ARA strives to be a leader and advocate for the recovery industry by providing member support, education, and certifications; fostering relationships between the lending community and repossession agents; and hosting the North American Repossessors Summit (NARS), an annual two-day summit – the largest repossession conference in the industry. For more information, go to repo.org or call (972) 755-4755.