Chris Schumacher, the president and CEO of national debt collection agency Optio Solutions, will be one of four featured speakers at a webinar about PPMS certified agencies on December 12. ACA International’s Professional Practice Management System (PPMS) certification helps debt collection agencies reduce errors, increase communication, adhere to industry standards, and improve revenue.
The event is open to members and non-members of ACA International and accessible via the WebEx Mobile App.
The discussion will address questions on PPMS implementation, from specific work forms/logs to procedure practices and maintenance. Less than 2 percent of agencies worldwide have earned PPMS distinction.
“PPMS certification helps agencies reinforce their commitment to clients while providing a positive, compliant and quality-based experience for all involved in our business,” said Schumacher, “and we look forward to sharing the information with webinar viewers.”
The three other speakers are:
- President Brian Watkins, Southern Oregon Credit Service, Medford, Ore.
- Exec. VP/Chief Strategy Officer Tina Hanson, State Collection Service, Madison, Wis.
- Account Executive Beth Conklin, State Collection Service, Madison, Wis.
PPMS Benefits
The ACA International PPMS program includes 18 basic elements that form the basis of certification and help agencies define their own procedures. The elements include:
- Those which relate to the overall management of the business.
- Those which relate to the business activities.
- Those which provide support to the businesses activities.
- Those which provide client confidence.
The PPMS Certification Process
PPMS certified agencies must meet program requirements that include developing an individualized professional practices system of management for their agency, creating supporting documentation for 
jobs and tasks performed by employees of the company, and submitting specific business records to an independent auditor to assure compliance with the program’s high standards for collection agency operations states ACA International.
Other PPMS certification measures include creating and maintaining a documented “Professional Practices” Manual; annual executive management reviews of the PPMS process; the development of continuous improvement, internal auditing and corrective action programs; and a training program that identifies instructional needs and trains all personnel performing activities affecting the delivery of collection services.
The Foundation of PPMS Certification at Optio Solutions
PPMS certification is often based on a foundation of compliance, other certifications, data security, and collections technology that helps create favorable return on investment, brand protection and customer retention for agency clients.
Contact Optio Solutions today to learn more about PPMS certification.
