Board Meeting

NAF Association Directors Only

•  3:00 - 5:00 PM
•   Bur Oak

Sponsored by  

Board Social Hour

NAF Association Directors Only

•  6:00 - 7:00 PM
•   TBD

Sponsored by

Board Appreciation Dinner

NAF Association Directors Only

•  7:00 - 9:00 PM
•   TBD

Sponsored by

Golf Outing

Join us for a day of golf, networking, and fun in the great outdoors. This outing is a perfect opportunity to relax, connect with fellow attendees, and enjoy a morning on the greens. Whether you're an experienced golfer or a novice, this event promises a mix of friendly competition and a chance to unwind.

•  8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
•   Rockwood Park Golf Course

Golf Outing Sponsor

Welcome Center | Registration Open

Collect your conference credentials and access helpful information – we’re here for you!

•  1:00 - 6:00 PM
•   Bar Wired

First-time Attendee & New Member Welcome

Conference first-timers and new NAF Association members are encouraged to meet members are encouraged to connect with members of the executive committee, Jennifer Martin, Micky Watts, Claudia Plascencia, Suzi Straffon, and Matt Burke for member benefit info, conference tips, and a quick overview of what to expect during the event. 

•  2:00 - 2:30 PM
•   Bur Oak

Roundtables & Deep Dives

Join in for informal discussions about new ideas and innovative solutions with a group of your peers who hold similar positions and face similar challenges within the industry. Choose the NAF Network that fits your role best and get ready to take a deep dive into roundtable discussions.   

• Groups & Facilitators 

• • Leadership Development Network 

    Join this group to discuss innovative approaches for fostering a strong organizational culture, recruiting and retaining talent, addressing the unique challenges of affordability, and more. 

    •  George Fussell, CEO, SAFCO
    •  Paul Gillespie, SVP Dealer Services, GM Financial

• • Risk Network

    Join this group to discuss tactics for mitigating unique risks associated to the non-prime auto finance sector, adapting to changes in methodologies, and more. 

    • Brian Hopper, VP Risk, AutoNation Finance
    • Sang O'Neill, Chief Credit Officer, First Help

• • Operations Network 

    Join this group to discuss best practices for enhancing cross-departmental collaboration, optimizing operation efficiency, leveraging automation and digital tools effectively, and more. 

    • Kim Gershon, Chief Operating Officer, AutoNation Finance
    • Chris Mitcham, Head of Corporate Development & Service For Others, Santander Consumer USA

• • Collections Network 

    Join this group to discuss strategies for minimizing delinquencies, improving collection rates, maintaining positive customer relationships, and more. 

    • Dan Baggett, SVP Compliance & Loan Servicing, SAFCO 
    • Lee-Madeline Dowls, Managing Director, Operational Compliance and Remediation, Stellantis FInancial Services 

•  2:45 - 3:45 PM
•   Brazos

Exhibitor Move In

•  3:00 - 4:00:00 PM
•   Ballroom Foyer

Networking Power Hour

Speed networking brings folks together for a dynamic and productive experience that helps you make new professional contacts. This session is facilitated by Rick Sly (Publisher/Editor, Non-Prime Times Magazine) and designed to maximize your networking potential and facilitate quick and meaningful connections.  Thanks to Jericho Information Technologies for sponsoring this session's signature cocktail/mocktail, The Pulse! Beer and wine will also be served.

•  4:00 - 5:00 PM
•   Brazos

Session Sponsor

Welcome Reception

Kick off your conference experience by enjoying refreshments and connecting with fellow attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

•  5:00 - 6:30 PM
•   Ballroom Foyer

Reception Sponsor   

Dinner on Your Own

•  6:30 - 9:00 PM

Networking "NAF"ter Dark Dessert Reception

Indulge your sweet tooth and mingle with fellow conference attendees. This social event promises a memorable evening of mouthwatering treats and meaningful connections. Set on the rooftop terrace with stunning views of Fort Worth, this is the ultimate setting for glow-in-the-dark yard games that will add an extra dose of fun to the night.

•  9:00 - 10:30 PM
•   Terrace

Dessert Reception Sponsor

Welcome Center | Registration

Collect your conference credentials and access helpful information – we’re here for you!

•  7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
•   Bar Wired

Collaboration Corridor Open

Arrange formal meetings or discover a convenient and comfortable area for spontaneous discussions within the Collaboration Corridor.

•  7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
•   Ballroom Corridor

Collaboration Corridor Sponsor

Breakfast

Start your day with breakfast and networking.

•  7:30 - 8:00 AM
•   Post Oak Foyer

General Session:

Annual Business Meeting, Opening Keynote & Award Ceremony

Start the day with insights and inspiration as we hear from our distinguished keynote speaker, celebrate excellence in our industry, and collectively shape the future of our association. 

• Keynote Presentation

The 3 A's of Non-Prime Auto Finance: Affordability, Availability and Accountability
A Conversation with Kyle Birch, President of GM Financial North America Operations

Join us for a candid chat with Opening Keynote Speaker Kyle Birch, President of GM Financial North American Operations and moderator Marguerite Watanabe, President of Insights Connections. Kyle will share his unique perspective on the state of non-prime auto finance and delve into current market trends such as economic challenges, dynamics of the used vehicle market, and strategies for optimizing collections. In this engaging discussion, you’ll glean insights into addressing affordability concerns and meeting the diverse needs of non-prime borrowers in today's market. Seize this chance to hear about navigating the complexities of nonprime auto finance in an ever-changing economic environment from one of the industry’s foremost leaders.

While used vehicle prices have declined more than 20% over the last two year, used vehicle demand remains limited by affordability. In this session, Jonathan Smoke (Cox Automotive, Inc.) will review the latest trends that impact the consumer’s ability to buy including labor market dynamics, household income, inflation pressure, interest rates, and credit performance and availability against the limitations on the supply side including the new market’s shift to more expensive vehicles and the used market’s limited supply especially in vehicles made since 2019.

•  9:30 - 10:00 AM
•   Brazos

Networking Break

Recharge, grab refreshments, and spark meaningful conversations that can lead to lasting relationships and connections.

•  10:00 - 10:30 AM
•   Ballroom Foyer

Discovery Theatre

A quick overview of customer engagement and technology presented by:

•  10:00 - 10:15 AM
•   Post Oak

Breakout: Business Theater I

Insights into Affordability and Beyond: Revelations from Industry Survey Data

Join us for an exclusive session where we delve into the pivotal findings of our annual non-prime auto finance industry survey, illuminating the intricate affordability dynamics within our market landscape. Our comprehensive analysis spotlights key trends, challenges, and opportunities. We'll uncover actionable insights that empower you to navigate the affordability terrain effectively. Join moderator Jenn Reid, Wolter Kluwer, panelists Kristin Karwat, Gateway Financial Solutions, and Sharla Godbehere, Equifax, as they explore the findings. 

•  10:30 - 11:15 AM
•   Pecos I

Breakout: Compliance Theater I

Preparing for a Government Investigation or Consumer Litigation/Arbitration

Whether a regulator is initiating an investigation, or a consumer is initiating litigation, it’s best to be prepared. This panel will review the investigation and litigation processes and discuss practical insights on preparing your business for working with outside counsel, responding to such actions, identifying areas of risk, and tips on allocating resources. Hudson Cook attorneys, Julia Whitelock and Rob Tilley present this session.

•  10:30 - 11:15 AM
•   Pecos II

Breakout: Business Theater II

Affordable Rides: Solutions for Driving Down Vehicle Costs

Delve into practical solutions and effective tactics aimed at reducing vehicle costs at the front end of the financing process. From negotiating strategies to used car availability and insurance fraud and verification, this session offers insights into making vehicle ownership more accessible and affordable for consumers. Moderator Marguerite Watanabe, with panelists Sang O'Neill, First Help Financial, Marie Persichetti, Bayside Credit, and Jody Lambert, Anderson Brothers Bank, will explore approaches to drive down costs while ensuring financial stability for all stakeholders involved.

•  11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
•   Pecos I

Breakout: Compliance Theater II

The Battle: Customer Service vs. Compliance

Sometimes it may feel like you have to choose between servicing your portfolio and maintaining compliance. Our panel of seasoned experts Dan Baggett (SAFCO), Carol Petersen (Gateway Financial), and Angela Walsh (Byrider) will provide insights into navigating regulatory requirements while optimizing and refining operations processes. Leave this session armed with actionable takeaways and a renewed sense of confidence in your ability to conquer the battle between customer service and compliance. 

•  11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
•   Pecos II

Networking Lunch

Enjoy your meal while expanding your professional network.

            Luncheon sponsored by:

•  12:00 - 1:00 PM
•   Post Oak Foyer

Breakout: Business Theater III

Behind the Wheel: The Shift to Quantitative Finance in Auto Modeling

With today’s enhanced computing power, what once seemed complex and out of reach for many organizations is now a regular practice. It's a journey from the traditional to the cutting- edge, navigating the intricate DNA of an auto loan's performance. In an era where data-driven insights are driving decision-making processes, our esteemed panelists Marcelo Casas, Chief Data Science Officer at GM Financial and Chuck Berend, Chief Risk Officer at Stellantis Financial Services, moderated by Agora's Head of Quant Risk and Research, Dimitri Bianco, will dissect how quantitative methods are revolutionizing the assessment of affordability in auto financing. 

•  1:15 AM - 1:45 PM
•   Pecos I

Breakout: Compliance Theater III

Managing Auto Finance Complaints in a CARS World

Join Robert Engilman, SVP/Chief Compliance Officer at Westlake Financial, and discover strategies to manage, identify root causes and patterns while effectively addressing customer complaints in adherence with the latest regulations. Learn how to incorporate the new regulatory requirements of the CARS Rule, to implement best practices to protect your business, and enhance your customer relations.

•  1:15 AM - 1:45 PM
•   Pecos II

General Session

Affordability Round-Up: Unlocking the Future of Auto Finance 

Join our lively roundup, moderated by Jonathan Smoke, on the future of auto finance, where we'll unpack key findings from the Business Breakout sessions: survey insights, cost-cutting strategies, and innovative loan assessment methods for enhanced affordability!

•  2:00 - 2:45 PM
•   Brazos

Networking Break

Recharge, grab refreshments, and spark meaningful conversations that can lead to lasting relationships and connections.

•  2:45 - 3:15 PM
•   Ballroom Foyer

General Session

The Long and Winding Road - The Latest in Legal

Join auto finance attorneys, Michael Benoit and Julia Whitelock (Hudson Cook, LLP) and Jason Bichsel (McGlinchey Stafford), for their insights on significant regulatory developments and litigation impacting auto sales and finance. The panel, moderated by Eric Johnson (Hudson Cook, LLP), will discuss the CFPB’s two new registries, information collection notice, and revised supervisory appeals process; the FTC’s CARS Rule and proposed Unfair or Deceptive Fees Trade Regulation Rule; privacy and other state emerging issues and trends; and recent litigation and cases of interest to the industry.

•  3:15 - 4:15 PM
•   Brazos

General Session

Navigating What's On the Non-Prime Horizon: Insights and Innovations for the Future of Mobility

Join us for an engaging session where top auto finance executives, Jim Landy (Car Capital Technologies), Cyrus Bozorgi (Veros Credit) and Jeff Butler (AutoNation Finance) delve into the dynamic landscape of the non-prime market. Discover the untapped opportunities, tackle the pressing challenges, and explore the evolving future of mobility within this burgeoning sector. Gain invaluable insights, strategic approaches, and actionable perspectives that will shape the trajectory of your business in the era of non-prime financing and mobility advancements. From navigating risk to seizing growth opportunities, this session promises to equip you with the knowledge and strategies needed to thrive in an ever-changing automotive finance ecosystem. Micky Watts (Anderson Brothers Bank) moderates this session.

•  4:15 - 5:00 PM
•   Brazos

Connection Reception

Enjoy refreshments, unwind, and engage in meaningful conversations with fellow attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

•  5:00 - 6:30 PM
•   Ballroom Foyer

Closing Celebration

Saddle up for out-of-this-world experience at the Flying Saucer. Mosey on down to the heart of Sundance Square for some authentic Texas-sized fun, complete with entertainment and dinner. It’s bound to be a boot-scootin’ good time that’ll have you hootin’ and hollerin’ all night long!

•  7:00- 9:30 PM
•   Flying Saucer

Closing Celebration sponsored by