Phyllis Truitt, CCE /2011
Named in honor of one of NACM’s most distinguished leaders, the Alice M.H. McGregor Award recognizes an individual whose creative approaches and consistently high performance benefit and sustain his/her company, NACM affiliate, NACM-National and the business credit profession at large. The 2011 McGregor Award recipient, Phyllis Truitt, CCE of Evansville, Indiana, is well known for actively supporting NACM initiatives, regardless of size and scope, with verve and tenacity.

Among her many leadership stints within NACM, Truitt served as chairman of the NACM-National Board of Directors in 2009-2010. She also was a member of the FCIB Board of Advisors and served on and subsequently chaired the CFDD National Board of Directors. “Phyllis simply doesn’t need to ‘hold’ a position to be passionate about NACM, CFDD or FCIB. Phyllis believes in the mission and vision of NACM. She’s passionate about credit and the important role credit plays within every business,” explained NACM-National Chairman Kathleen Tomlin, CCE.

Prior to her retirement in 2010, Truitt was the director of credit and collections for Atlas Van Lines. She earned a business degree from the University of Southern Indiana in 1983. Truitt has authored several educational programs and one training manual, and continues to lead programs at NACM affiliate and CFDD chapter seminars and conferences. Additionally, she is a well-known advocate and mentor for the profession. Truitt was named the CFDD Distinguished Member in 1993 and the NACM-National Credit Executive of the Year in 2002. She also received CFDD’s highest honor, the Marilyn Daugherty Spirit Award, in 2006. Truitt now leads the Board of Trustees for NACM’s Scholarship Foundation.

Dawn Wallace Cook, CCE /2010
As the 2010 recipient, Dawn Wallace Cook has earned her peers' highest regard and respect based on her impeccable record of service to the NACM organization. In the NACM lexicon, the concept of leadership is synonymous with Dawn Wallace Cook, who has generously shared her knowledge and expertise on the local, regional and national levels. Quite simply, if a volunteer is needed for a project or assignment, regardless of scope and/or length of commitment, Wallace Cook is willing and available to dive in with enthusiasm and unwavering support.

Wallace Cook is among a select group of women who have led NACM-National. During her tenure as chairman in 2004-2005, she oversaw the reworking of the Board of Directors' composition: managers from NACM Affiliates were added to the group in order to maintain open lines of communication and to forge an enduring partnership between the National office and its affiliates. Wallace Cook's "strong leadership skills empowered her to successfully lead the National Board" through this groundbreaking change.

With an eye on the future, Wallace Cook remains an active presence; she is, in fact, running to retain a seat on the NACM Great Lakes Region Board of Directors, on which she has been serving since the early 1990s. The National Association of Credit Management warmly congratulates Ms. Wallace Cook on her receipt of the distinguished Alice M. H. McGregor Award for 2010.

Stan DeGroot, CCE /2009
Stan DeGroot, CCE, has earned the highest regard and respect from his peers based on his tireless and visionary service to the NACM organization.

DeGroot is the region controller and operations manager for WESCO Distribution, Inc., in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to his professional responsibilities, DeGroot continues to provide his brand of quiet, thoughtful and effective leadership and has graciously taken on NACM’s toughest projects—while working to understand the situation at hand and building a consensus on how to proceed.

As a mentor and well-regarded speaker, DeGroot is always giving back to the credit profession. Upon presenting the McGregor Award to DeGroot at the 2009 Credit Congress, current NACM-National Chairman Dave Beckel, CCE, noted, “People simply meet Stan’s standards and expectations because he inspires them to do more than they can, to reach deeper than they thought they could and to excel further than they ever imagined possible.”

Lowell Belk, CCE /2007
Lowell’s service to the NACM organization — locally, regionally and nationally — was tireless. Lowell served his local Affiliate, working through all of the leadership positions, serving on Committees, the Board and finally serving as Chairman of the Board. Lowell was a teacher and a mentor, speaking on the topics of credit, and bankruptcy — one of Lowell’s passions.

The people who nominated Lowell for this award really said it the best:

“I would like to believe if anyone in our profession is worthy of receiving the Alice M. H. McGregor Lifetime Achievement Award, it would be Lowell Belk. I personally have been in credit for over 20 years and he has been one of the most influential people in my career, as well as a friend. He is the type individual that always takes the time from his busy schedule to offer advice or direction in any situation imaginable. He exemplifies the type of character and class that is not found in but a select few people.”

“Lowell has been a mentor and example to many of us in the credit profession, not only in his knowledge but also his standards and ethics. He maintained a constant dedication to stay at the forefront of how technology could be used in our profession, a skill many of us lose as our years of experience grow.”

Robert M. Healy, CCE /2004
The 2004 award recipient spent his career as a credit and finance professional. His list of professional and personal accomplishments includes many years of teaching and mentoring upcoming credit professionals. You could not stand in a room with him without the conversation turning towards the value of learning and continuing adult education. He taught credit and finance through classes, seminars, numerous lectures and panels. He taught just as often, one on one, as a mentor and friend.

He served tirelessly on committee after committee, council after council and board after board. He held leadership roles in the National Association of Credit Management, the Credit Research Foundation, the National Chemical Credit Association, the NACM Chicago Midwest Credit Management Association, the National Agricultural Chemical Credit Association, the New York Petroleum Credit Group, Producers Credit, and FCIB. He served in an advisory capacity to Dun and Bradstreet and Congressman Henry Hyde of the state of Illinois. He is NACM’s honorary lifetime member, as a Past National Chairman of the Board.

As the NACM Chicago said in one article and on a plaque given to him in his honor, “With Gratitude from 50 years of colleagues.”

Donald F. Conklin / 2001
For only the third time, the National Honors and Awards Committee chose a member of the credit community on which to bestow this award. The National Honors and Awards Committee proudly recognized Donald F. Conklin as the 2001 recipient of the Alice M.H. McGregor Award.

Don Conklin is the President of NACM Business Credit Services (formerly known as NACM Western Washington-Alaska) in Seattle. His career with NACM has spanned more than thirty years. Mr. Conklin, the 1994-1995 Secretarial Council Chairman, is a vigorous proponent of continuing education, each year sponsoring the Orchid Fundraiser on behalf of Alice McGregor. His self-effacing dedication to NACM locally and nationally has earned him the praise and respect of the NACM membership and his colleagues across the country.

Jim McIntyre, CCE / 1998
The 1998 Alice McGregor Award recipient is James A. McIntyre, CCE. Having earned his CCE designation in 1992, Jim shares a lifetime of knowledge and experience in credit, acting both as a local and national instructor for NACM. He is a mentor for hundreds of credit professionals working their way through the National Certification Program. He served as the 1996-97 NACM National Chairman of the Board. He further supports NACM National through his extensive committee work.

Jim has been a member of the Forius (formerly NACM North Central) Board of Directors as well as a vigorous supporter of their educational programming. Jim raises the standard for participation, education and professional conduct for all who follow.

O.D. Glaus Jr. CCE / 1996
O.D. Glaus, Jr., CCE was honored as the first Alice McGregor Award recipient in May 1996. O.D. epitomized the spirit of the Award. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He served in both the European and Pacific theaters in World War II. After this four year’s of military service, he began his business career as a university instructor and then went on to work at Genesco, starting a 50 year relationship.

O.D. was the Chairman of NACM National from 1971-1972. He, along with a small group of his peers, organized the first NACM Legislative Conference. He was also instrumental in the development of the Certified Credit Executive designation, NACM’s highest professional certification. For his endless service locally and nationally as an instructor, committee member, board member and advisor, O.D. was awarded the 1990 National Credit Executive of the Year Award.

He is described as a true gentleman who is held in the highest esteem by his colleagues and the Association.