Speakers

Ryan Balfe is the President and Founder of Cubepros, a full service national accounting, bookkeeping and back office advisory firm servicing small business owners and startups. Prior to launching Cubepros, Ryan supported the Investment Management division of Lehman Brothers and also served as an analyst for a private wealth management firm servicing ultra-high net worth individuals and foundations. Cubepros provides full charge bookkeeping, payroll, compliance, tax preparation and back office consulting and advisory services exclusively via Quickbooks Online and the applications within its ecosystem. Ryan holds an MBA in Finance and is an Advanced Certified Quickbooks ProAdvisor. In 2016, Ryan was appointed to the Intuit Accountant Council and is a member of the QuickBooks Payroll Council.

Lew Bronstein, an exceptional entrepreneur since the age of 18, is the founder of Bronstein Auction Company and has dedicated over 30 years to the auction industry. Throughout his extensive career, Lew has conducted prestigious auto auctions, including collaborations with several major auto auction companies and the General Services Administration (GSA).

In addition to his auction success, Lew is the visionary behind XLR8 Life University, an institution committed to fostering personal growth through self-education courses and life coaching. Here, Lew inspires others to harness their potential and cultivate a life of continuous learning.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Lew cherishes his role as a father and embraces life with enthusiasm as an avid Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) competitor. With an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, Lew remains committed to personal and professional growth.

James Cargo brings over 20 years of experience in business relations and currently serves as Vendor Relations Manager at Resolution Management Group. With more than a decade in the repossession industry, he specializes in building strong, honest, and mutually beneficial relationships with agents and partners.

James is also an active member of Veteran Builders of Venice, a volunteer group that improves home accessibility for disabled U.S. veterans in South Central Florida. Additionally, he is a licensed Independent Insurance Adjuster in Florida and has supported recovery efforts following Hurricanes Ian, Debbie, Helene, and Milton.

James enjoys a quiet life on Florida’s Gulf Coast with his wife of 15 years and their two daughters.

After 16 years working as a 911 Dispatcher, Darcy Case co-founded Indiana Recovery Services in 2012, marking the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. Her leadership and community involvement have been recognized through awards such as Business Owner of the Year (along with husband Todd) in 2022 and Women in Collections and Recovery in 2025. She actively serves on the NARS Planning Committee, is the Treasurer of the Indiana Professional Repossessors Association, is a member of the PK Willis Advisory Panel, and participates as a Committee Member on the ARA Technology Committee. Darcy holds a bachelor’s degree in management and accounting. Married to Todd for 22 years, she is a proud mother of three who, when she’s not working, enjoys relaxing on their boat at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Jeremy Cross is the owner and President of International Recovery Systems, a leading East Coast repossession services company. With over 15 years at the helm, he has grown the organization into one of the region’s largest, expanding into multiple new markets. Known for his strategic vision and operational expertise, Jeremy has successfully built a multi-market, multi-entity business model that includes logistics, leasing, and technology services tailored to the repossession industry. Jeremy is an active industry leader, serving on the ARA board and currently as its treasurer. He is deeply committed to empowering his team and fostering leadership within his organization, blending entrepreneurial drive with mentorship. Jeremy is a husband and father of two teenagers, balancing his professional success with family and personal pursuits.

Al Gonzalez is the CEO and President of Pegasus Recovery Solutions (WTAR Inc.), a multi-location repossession agency serving markets across Texas. With two decades of experience in the asset recovery industry, he has built a company known for its strong focus on compliance, efficiency, and innovation. His leadership has positioned Pegasus Recovery Solutions as one of the fastest-growing agencies in the region, earning multiple industry awards and recognition, including Agency Owner of the Year – West. Al’s expertise lies in compliance and training, scaling multi-branch operations, and developing strong leadership teams. He is passionate about raising industry standards, ensuring agents and staff are equipped with the tools, training, and accountability needed to succeed.

Brennen Hamilton is the founder of Rapid Recovery Agency, Inc., established in 2007 as a one-person operation. Under his leadership, the agency has grown to more than 100 employees in five locations across Florida, one of the state’s largest repossession agencies. In 2019, after tracking key performance indicators in his own business became far too difficult, he set out to build a software tool to help. It worked so well that through dedication, hard work, and a lot of trial and error, he was able to share it with the industry. Insightt Basic was released in June 2023 and is revolutionizing how repossession businesses are tracking, collecting, and utilizing key metrics data to grow profitability.

Kiala Hanneman brings over 15 years of experience in the financial services sector to her current role as Senior Director of Loss Mitigation at Bridgecrest. With a strong specialization in auto finance, particularly in Loss Mitigation, Kiala has previously led teams at notable companies like Ally Financial, Capital One, Nissan Motor Corporation, and Uber. Her leadership roles have spanned repossession, collections, insurance, audit, compliance, and servicing operations.

Whitney Houston is a dedicated professional with a passion for family, baking, and crafting. As the team lead for RDN Customer Support, Whitney specializes in training both team members and users to effectively navigate and utilize the RDN system. Most recently, she led the initiative to develop and deliver updated training materials for the new RDN user interface, ensuring a smooth transition and enhanced user experience.

Dave Kennedy is a Past President of the American Recovery Association (ARA) and the CEO of First Credit Resources Inc. (FCR), which he started in 1991 as a telephone collection agency. Over the last thirty-two years, FCR has grown to become one of the most trusted repossession companies in western Pennsylvania. Prior to 1991, Dave spent 14 years in the banking industry, ending as the Vice President of Consumer Lending at a large regional bank in Central Pennsylvania. He is a Credit and Collection Compliance Officer (CCCO) and completed the requirements for FDCPA Trainer Specialist by the International Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA). Dave’s passion for freedom of choice led him to develop and author one of the most recognized industry education programs, the ARA-sponsored Certified Collateral Recovery Specialist designation. He has also been a recurring instructor for ARA monthly interactive continuing education and best practices webinars to the membership. In the heat of the pandemic restrictions, Dave was the visionary and one of the founders of the Repo Alliance who worked with Van Scoyoc and Associates, Inc. to represent our industry in Washington, D.C. Together they were successful in stopping the moratoriums which threatened to shut down our industry. Additionally, he was president of the ARA that picked up the banner supporting the development of State Associations and believes with the proper leadership, State Associations in conjunction with a strong national association are key for the future of our industry. Recently, he has completed training in the field of situational awareness and active shooter response.

Coming Soon

Daniel Pabon co-founded Florida Repossession Agency (FRA) in 2016, transforming it into a trusted leader in asset recovery across Central Florida and Northern New Jersey. With nearly 25 years in the repossession industry, Daniel’s expertise spans compliance, operations, and client relations, with a proven track record of managing complex recoveries while maintaining professionalism and efficiency. In his role as Vice President, he focuses on strategic planning, team development, and innovative solutions, driving the agency’s growth and commitment to excellence in an ever-evolving industry.

Tony Psaromatis is a digital marketing specialist and business mentor with more than two decades of experience helping people grow and scale businesses. He possesses high level knowledge with experience developing new territories, sales and marketing processes, and strategic partnerships, and conducting training presentations in both live and virtual settings. As Managing Partner of Truly Wow, LLC, he works closely with B2C and B2B executives to drive revenue. He excels at establishing new sales territories and crafting and executing high-impact marketing and sales funnels. His background includes sales leadership in mortgage banking, insurance, investments, and qualified plans and trading. Tony is a graduate of Texas A&M University and currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina, with his wife (and business partner) Dawn and son Jackson.