Speakers

Kevin Armstrong is the publisher and editor of CURepossession.com and CUCollector.com, leading online publications serving the credit union collections, auto finance, and repossession industries. With more than 30 years of experience in collateral recovery, collections, and lending, he provides news, analysis, and editorial commentary on repossession trends, fraud prevention, compliance, and risk management. A former repossession agent and long-time credit union professional, Kevin combines firsthand field experience with lender-side expertise to deliver practical insights for lenders, recovery agencies, forwarders, and industry service providers. He is a frequent speaker, conference moderator, and master of ceremonies at national industry events, and is the author of Repo Blood: A Century of Auto Repossession History.

Dave Baker is a senior leader in the repossession and remarketing industry with more than 15 years of experience across compliance, investigations, operations, and business development. He has held executive roles including Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Operating Officer, and in October 2025 was selected by OpenLane to lead PAR North America, where he is focused on growing the business, expanding availability, and building on the PAR brand’s long history of success. Dave brings deep regulatory and operational experience shaped by executive leadership roles and a 20+ year law enforcement career, culminating as Chief of Police. He holds degrees in Administration of Justice and Criminal Justice Administration, along with a certification in Human Resources Management.

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.

In 1998, Todd Case began a career in Law Enforcement that spanned over 16 years. During his tenure as a police officer, Todd was assigned to several different units including Evidence Technician, Field Training Officer, K-9 and Criminal Interdiction. Todd was noted for having the largest cash seizure in Hamilton County, Indiana, and was also awarded the Police Medal of Valor after he saved a woman from drowning in a frozen retention pond.

In 2011, Todd and his wife, Darcy, purchased Indiana Recovery Services. Todd remained in law enforcement part time until he retired from law enforcement in 2014. Todd and Darcy grew the company from a one location, two trucks, and four employees, to 34 vehicles, more than 50 employees, and four locations, with coverage spanning two states.

Todd and Darcy live together in Carmel, Indiana with their three children, Stephen (26), Ethan (19), Adyson (17) and their German Shephard Jax.

Chris C. Cook, CEO and founder of Maverick Wrecker Design and Repair Inc., has been in the wrecker industry since age 18. He has witnessed its evolution from PTO- driven chain winches to serpentine belt-driven hydraulic clutches. Chris began his career operating heavy equipment for his family’s business in Central America before expanding into the emergency wrecker business in Houston, TX. He later managed a repossession company in the Austin area and spent three years as a heavy wrecker operator before joining Rush Peterbilt, where he led the wrecker sales and service department and built extensive industry connections. In 2019, Chris left the corporate world to reignite his passion, founding Maverick Wreckers and building an unmatched dolly repair team at its three-building facility in central Houston.

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.

Kimberly Dang is Counsel at Bassford Remele, P.A., where she focuses her practice on financial services and complex commercial litigation. She represents banks, credit unions, debt buyers, and other financial institutions in disputes involving payment fraud, the Uniform Commercial Code, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and related consumer financial laws. Kim is licensed to practice in Texas and New York and regularly advises financial institutions on emerging litigation risks and practical strategies for preventing and resolving disputes.

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.

James McNeil is the CEO of DayBreak Metro Inc, which provides investigation, repossession, locksmithing, and transportation services from ten locations across California. He began his career as a repossessor with DigitalDog Auto Recovery, where he helped lead the company’s expansion to fourteen locations before serving as Executive Vice President. James later co-founded RepoRoute, a SaaS platform designed to enhance field intelligence, routing, and performance management for recovery professionals. Since acquiring DayBreak Metro in 2014, he has transformed it from a small local shop into a statewide leader with over 100 employees, ten storage facilities, and approximately 25,000 annual repossessions, achieving 42x revenue growth in just eleven years.

Patrick Newman is a commercial litigator who defends members of the financial services industry. He regularly represents credit and collection professionals, repossession agents, background screeners, lenders, and fintech companies against consumer-protection lawsuits, including class actions. Patrick recently served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Great Lakes Credit and Collection Association and is the Co- Chair of Bassford Remele’s Consumer Finance Practice Group. Patrick uses practical, creative experience to help clients from across the United States prevent and navigate disputes in federal and state trial court, as well as bankruptcy courts and appellate tribunals. He has extensive experience working closely with in-house counsel and financial services providers defending against Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and other consumer- protection claims.

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.

Mike Peplinski began his career in the banking industry with HSBC Bank, where he spent 10 years developing a strong foundation in financial services and client relations. Seeking a more personal, client- focused career, Mike transitioned into the insurance industry, where he quickly discovered his expertise in serving the repossession and collateral recovery market. Today, he serves as Vice President & Partner of the largest insurance agency specializing in repossession insurance, providing coverage to more than 500 collateral recovery companies nationwide. In 2016, Mike launched an exclusive repossession insurance program for Harding Brooks clients. Looking ahead, he plans to continue expanding and strengthening the program while working closely with national and state associations to educate their members on risk management and help them better protect their businesses.

Marcus Potter began his career serving in the US Army before transitioning into law enforcement with the City of North Charleston. While serving in law enforcement, Marcus also entered the repossession industry, beginning more than 25 years of experience in asset recovery. For the past 24 years, he has owned and operated NAR Services, building the company into a respected asset recovery firm supported by a dedicated team of certified professionals. His commitment to leadership and professionalism has earned him a strong reputation throughout the industry. Marcus has served on the Board of Directors of the American Recovery Association (ARA) for more than three years and currently serves as Vice President of the Recovery Agents of the Carolinas (RAC). He also contributes his expertise as a member of four agent advisory boards. Throughout his career, Marcus has received numerous industry awards and honors from organizations including Capital One, Allied Finance, Bridgecrest, DRN, the ARA, and many others. His leadership, experience, and dedication have made him a respected voice and influential leader in the asset recovery industry.

As EVP & Founder of AutoSquared.ai, Bahador is at the forefront of revolutionizing the auto finance sector through intelligent adaptive automation. With a commitment to disrupting the ecosystem, AutoSquared.ai embodies the future of the auto finance space. Bahador’s expertise in leveraging advanced technologies such as ML, RPA, and AI was previously demonstrated during his tenure as Partner and General Manager at ReShift Solutions. His decade-long experience in the auto finance technology domain saw him playing a critical role at MBSi Corp, where he delivered enterprise-level tech platforms like iRepo and RCM to the Auto Finance Loss Mitigation space. His profound collaboration with lenders and stakeholders over the years has not only set new industry benchmarks but also fortified his reputation as a pivotal force in propelling technological advancements in the sector.

Wayne Ray is the CEO of the American Recovery Association (ARA). A Dallas, Texas, native, he began his career in the U.S. Navy, where he spent six years in the Naval Nuclear Power Program. During his service, he gained extensive experience overseeing complex nuclear power systems, developing the technical expertise, discipline, and leadership skills required to operate in high-stakes environments. Wayne later transitioned into the oil and gas industry while earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of North Dakota. Over the next decade, he built a diverse background in engineering, data analytics, and business leadership. Throughout his career, Wayne has founded and led multiple businesses, including Repo-IQ and Romans Adjusters Inc. His entrepreneurial approach and focus on technology, innovation, and operational efficiency have helped these companies grow and adapt in an evolving marketplace. Today, Wayne brings his engineering background, entrepreneurial experience, and commitment to innovation to his role as CEO of the American Recovery Association, where he works to advance the interests of professionals and businesses across the recovery industry.

With more than 25 years in the industry, Bryan proudly serves as the General Manager of Repossessions and Recoveries at Toyota Financial Services Corporation. He is committed to refining processes within the ever-evolving repossession and collection space. He is thrilled to have previously served on the NARS Planning Committee, fostering ideas and contributing to positive changes for our industry.

Daniel Valdes is the Director of Redemptions & Repossessions at Ally Bank. He has been with Ally for eight years, following a 15-year tenure with TD Bank (formerly Chrysler Financial). He brings a total of 16 years of experience in the repossession industry. Originally from Miami, Florida, Daniel enjoys every aspect of this dynamic field. He believes the repossession industry is filled with some of the finest people in the world and is proud to be part of such a dedicated community.

Alex Wilhelm is the CEO and Founder of Loanbridge, a data intelligence platform that helps lenders and recovery professionals locate and reclaim vehicles faster through real-time data and automation. With more than 20 years of experience as a leader, entrepreneur, and technologist, Alex has built and scaled ventures across fintech, risk management, and mobility. His current work focuses on transforming disconnected vehicle data into actionable insights that reduce losses and improve operational efficiency. Under his leadership, Loanbridge has become a trusted partner across the auto finance ecosystem—integrating police impound, private lot, and retail resale data, and now using Voice AI to automate impound verification at scale. His thought leadership has been featured in Bloomberg Businessweek, KBS, and ABC.