Convention 2026: ACA Celebrates Award Winners

At our annual convention, ACA recognized the members who have devoted their time and talent to advancing the accounts receivable management industry.

ACA International recognized members who have made significant contributions to the association and the accounts receivable management (ARM) industry at our Convention & Expo in Orlando, Florida

Here are this year’s winners:

ACPAC Hall of Fame

Recognizes ACA members who have demonstrated outstanding, long-term commitments to ACPAC and ACA’s broader advocacy work. Over many years, these inductees invested their time and resources to help fuel the success of our industry. Here are this year’s inductees:

• Dallas Bunton Sr. was known for his lifelong commitment to education and championing the industry’s public image. As the founder of North American Credit Services and MedSrv, Bunton created companies grounded in ethical leadership and respect for all people. He was an advocate for the industry, believing deeply that the profession is strongest when united fora common purpose. Though he passed away in 2019, his impact endures in the industry he helped shape and the lives he touched.
• Rick Doane is president and CEO of the Sunrise Family of Companies, including Sunrise Credit Services, Sunrise Capital Management, and NetTel USA. Beyond his corporate role, Doane is deeply involved with ACA, having served as its 2014/15 president, as a Council of Delegates member, and as chair of the ACPAC Committee. He and sister Diane Plowman also launched Collectors Helping Collectors, supporting ARM professionals affected by natural disasters.
• Mike Shoop, president of Professional Finance Company, has had a lasting impact on ACPAC through decades of leadership, consistently championing political action as central to ACA’s mission. His dedication is reflected in his investment of time and talent — serving as ACA’s 2006/07 president, mentoring members on the link between PAC contributions and industry protection, and making a personal financial commitment to ACPAC. He also contributed to the Board of Directors, ACPAC and Strategic Planning Committees and served on the National Legislative Council.

ACPAC Ambassador

Recognizes an ACA member who has made significant personal contributions of time and talent in their efforts to raise funds for ACPAC or to assist members of the industry to raise funds for elective office.

This year’s winner is Sonia Gibson, director of national government affairs at Encore Capital Group. Her insight and leadership have been instrumental in advancing ACPAC’s success and creating opportunities to strengthen the industry’s policy positions. Gibson was a key participant in ACA’s 2026 Washington Insight Fly-In, where she spoke on a robust advocacy update panel. She also shared valuable insights in the advocacy panel at ACA’s 2026 Convention & Expo.

Industry Advocacy Champion

Recognizes a member who, in the past year, has been an outstanding advocate and protector of the industry, inspires others, and honors the vision of the association.

This year’s winner is Kelly Parsons-O’Brien, president of Pacific Credit Services, who consistently demonstrates the leadership, service, and commitment this recognition represents. Her dedication to strengthening the industry extends well beyond any single role. She is a valuable leader in the California Association of Collectors. She serves on ACA’s Federal Affairs Committee, Reputation Management Task Force, and Council of Delegates, and is part of the Emerging Leaders Cohort. She also shared her insights on the State Advocacy Connections chat, encouraging members to meet with their representatives to tell their story.

Innovation Award

Recognizes an ACA member who serves as an excellent role model for sustained, continuous innovation — demonstrated through implemented solutions with proven results within the 18 months prior to application.

For this award’s inaugural presentation, we’re proud to recognize two companies:

• BCA Financial Services, Inc.: BCA Financial Services started its digital transformation with a simple question: Is it best for the consumer, the client, and BCA? Over 18 months, the company focused on integrating AI into its processes, expanding automation, and advancing omnichannel consumer engagement, ultimately reducing operating expenses by 15%.
• PayCourt/CCP: In 60 days, PayCourt/CCP executed a seven-figure acquisition and full core-system conversion without losing a single client. And over the last year, they turned texting into a measurable collections platform and embedded AI into daily operations. Recognizing that innovation doesn’t scale if it lives with a single executive, they invested in technical development for the leadership team.

Speaker of the Year

Recognizes a member who has made an outstanding contribution to the development of new programs, volunteered as a subject matter expert, and collaborated with ACA education staff.

This year’s winner is David Kaminski, partner at Carlson & Messer LLP. A trusted subject matter expert, he has consistently contributed to educational programming across webinars, Convention sessions, ACA Huddles, and more — always responsive, engaged, and generous with his time. His ability to translate complex industry developments into clear insights elevates every session he participates in, making even the most technical topics accessible to members. His ongoing partnership with the ACA Education team has meaningfully advanced the quality of learning experiences offered to members.

Unit Member of the Year

Recognizes a unit leader who has provided exemplary leadership and service to their unit’s members.

This year’s winner is Katie Borchers, president/CEO of Beyond Green Solutions. Borchers has led the New York State Collectors Association with exceptional professionalism and integrity in one of the industry’s most challenging political environments. She has spearheaded grassroots advocacy initiatives that have softened, delayed, and in some cases prevented harmful legislation. Under her leadership, the unit has also taken a proactive stance by drafting proposed legislation and securing a sponsor to introduce it as a reasonable alternative to a proposed licensing bill.

ACA Hall of Fame

Recognizes members who have had an outstanding career in the accounts receivable management industry and made a notable commitment to ACA through leadership and volunteerism.

This year’s winner is Debra Ciskey, senior compliance advisor at ARM Compliance Business Solutions.

Few individuals have been as consistently involved at nearly every level of ACA as Debra Ciskey. A former longtime ACA staff member, she helped establish the foundational educational resources still used today to train frontline collectors — and as a volunteer, has spent decades writing and reviewing curriculum, contributing more educational material than perhaps anyone else in the association’s history.

Her work developing key resources, including FDCPA Flash and the modernized Professional Collection Specialist exam, reflects an unwavering commitment to advancing industry expertise. Ciskey has been an ACA Certified Instructor since 1983, teaching more than 225 seminars and playing an instrumental role in developing the Credit and Collection Compliance Officer program, the Trainer Specialist program, and numerous FDCPA seminars. She served on ACA’s Board of Directors from 2012 to 2018.

Her honors include ACA’s Certified Instructor of the Year, the Continuous Service Award, the Instructor Achievement Award, and the Speaker of the Year Award. Additional service includes six terms on ACA’s Education Council, the Council of Delegates, chairing the Visionaries Committee, and serving on the Mid-America Collectors Association board.

In a career spanning more than 40 years, Ciskey has exemplified what it means to give back — shaping the professionals and programs that define this industry.

Member of the Year Award

Recognizes the member judged to have done the most for ACA and the ARM industry in the past 12 months.

This year’s winner is Megan Hebert, president of Specialized Collection Systems Inc.

Hebert understands the value of ACA, and she shows up to prove it. As a second-generation owner of Specialized Collection Systems, she brings both pride and perspective to her leadership, balancing the demands of running a company with a genuine commitment to making the association stronger for everyone in it.

Small agencies make up a significant portion of ACA’s membership, but their voices aren’t always reflected at the association level. Hebert has been working to change that. She created and leads the Small Agency Jam Session chats — a monthly community for small agency owners to connect, share best practices, and ensure they have a seat at the table. It is exactly the kind of grassroots effort that strengthens the fabric of ACA.

She also volunteers on ACA’s Risk Management Task Force and Healthcare Committee, where she consistently advocates for resources and conversations that help agencies navigate one of the most complex areas in the industry. In July 2026, Hebert was elected to ACA’s Board of Directors.

At ACA’s events, including our Annual Convention, her sessions address real challenges and practical solutions for running a small agency. Hebert doesn’t pursue recognition; she pursues results.

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