President’s Address | ARA’s 62nd Annual Convention | September 29, 2026
President’s Address | ARA’s 62nd Annual Convention | September 29, 2026 Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the American Recovery Association’s 62nd Annual Convention. Sixty-two years. Think about that for a moment. Sixty-two years of ARA representing this industry, supporting recovery professionals, educating our members, and working to move this profession forward. I think that […]
ARA Calls Industry Leaders to the Table Amid Historic Fuel and Operating Cost Pressures
The American Recovery Association (ARA) recently issued a call to action, bringing Allied Finance Adjuster (AFA) and many of the nation’s major forwarding companies together for an industry roundtable to address the ongoing fuel crisis and the increasing financial pressures facing professional recovery agencies across the country. The discussion was productive, candid, and necessary. But […]
NARS 2027 Registration Opens for North American Repossessors Summit in Orlando
Three days of education, networking, business development, golf and industry events set for April 14–16, 2027 DALLAS, TX — September 22, 2026 — Registration is officially open for NARS 2027, the North American Repossessors Summit hosted by ARA, taking place April 14–16, 2027, at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort. Since 2009, NARS has brought together […]
ARA Recognizes Westlake Financial Services for Increased Fuel Surcharge Support
The American Recovery Association (ARA) would like to recognize and commend Westlake Financial Services for its decision to significantly increase temporary fuel surcharge support for its nationwide recovery network. Effective immediately, Westlake has announced a temporary fuel surcharge of $40 per completed repossession nationwide and $50 per completed repossession in California, across all assignment types. This […]
ARA Call for Industry Wide Discussion
Over the past several months, we have continued to discuss the impact rising fuel costs are having on the collateral recovery industry. Some of our lender and forwarder partners have listened and responded by implementing fuel surcharges, and I want to start by saying that those efforts are appreciated. However, the situation has continued to […]
Raising the Standard: Why the Recovery Industry Must Lead on Professionalism and Accountability
When incidents like the one recently reported in Charlotte occur, our industry has a responsibility to do more than simply condemn the actions of one individual. We must ask the harder question: How did someone with an apparent history of questionable conduct continue operating in this profession? According to public reporting, the individual now faces […]
Announcement to ARA Membership: Strengthening Leadership for the Future
As the American Recovery Association (ARA) continues its rapid growth and expanding influence across the industry, the Board of Directors has taken an important step to position ARA for its next phase of success. To support this momentum, we are proud to announce the creation of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) role. Wayne Ray will […]
A Meaningful Step Forward: Recognizing Bridgecrest’s Fuel Surcharge Initiative
In today’s economic environment, certainty is often difficult to find. While recent developments overseas have brought optimism regarding global energy markets and crude oil prices have trended downward, fuel costs at the pump have remained persistently high. What began earlier this year as a regional concern quickly evolved into a national challenge affecting repossession agencies […]
National Framework for Breach-of-Peace Prevention, Violence Response, and Recovery Safety Management
Executive Summary The collateral recovery industry operates in environments that can rapidly become dynamic, emotional, and unpredictable. While the legal framework governing repossession varies by jurisdiction, one principle remains consistent throughout the United States: repossessions should be conducted without breach of the peace. Effective breach-of-peace prevention serves not only the interests of recovery professionals but […]
Re: A Message to the Industry: Professionalism on Social Media
Our industry is at a critical point—and what we say and share publicly matters more than ever. We are seeing a growing and concerning trend: social media being used to handle disputes, air grievances, and publicly criticize one another. Too often, these situations escalate into personal attacks, public callouts, and the sharing of sensitive or […]
