The Great Lakes Credit and Collection Association introduces Patrick Newman, shareholder and attorney at Bassford Remele. He brings over a decade of experience in the accounts receivable management industry.
Here, Newman shares his current position with Bassford Remele, his mission as part of GLCCA’s Board of Directors, and the love of music he shares with his family.
Q. Tell us a little about your position with Bassford Remele.
I am an attorney and shareholder at Bassford Remele and have been with the firm since 2017. I actually knew I wanted to join the firm all the way back in law school. So I just kept calling…and calling…and calling—until they finally promised me a job if I’d stop. It was the complete wrong approach to consumer collections!
The substance of the job has changed quite a bit over the last several years, owing in large part to technological and legislative changes impacting the accounts receivable management (ARM) industry. (Reg F, anyone?)
My role at the firm has also evolved quite a bit as well. As a shareholder, one of my jobs is to help run the firm as a business. I now co-chair the firm’s consumer law defense practice group, which basically means I run and help manage our attorneys who defend consumer lawsuits and provide compliance advice to the ARM industry, as well as several other related industries.
I also co-chair our recruiting committee and serve as a mentor to our newer attorneys—I wear lots of hats!
Q. What are your hopes and goals for your time on the GLCCA board?
My mission is to learn as much as I can from my fellow board members. This association has so much collective brainpower in its leadership ranks—it’s incredible.
We also have a great opportunity to sharpen our educational offerings to membership. If we can find an efficient, effective way to communicate timely and relevant educational content to our members on a regular basis during my tenure, I’ll consider that a success.
Q. Do you see trends or difficulties in the industry right now that GLCCA can help with?
There is a seriously steep learning curve when it comes to emerging technologies and the regulations that surround them—and it keeps changing all the time.
Connected to that, the industry continues to constrict, not expand. To survive, existing companies will need to effectively navigate the changing technological and regulatory landscapes.
And how do you do that? By implementing educational programming provided by GLCCA—coming soon!
Q. Is there anything you want members to know about GLCCA?
It has been clear to me during my time in the association that members care deeply and truly for the industry and about “doing it right.” GLCCA is an excellent place for like-minded industry stakeholders to have their voices heard and to learn from their contemporaries.
If you haven’t already, you should join us—tell your friends!
Q. If you’re open to sharing, tell us a little about your family and/or hobbies and interests outside of work.
My wife, Laura, has been with me since my days as a lowly English major at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, including that hellacious three-year stretch known as “law school.” She is amazing. I have two boys, Jackson (4) and Rowan (2). They’re smart … too smart. I love them dearly.
We’re a very music-oriented household. I play (not well) and listen to all kinds of music, but my particular favorite is heavy metal—specifically, Thrash from the ’80s and ’90s.
If you’ve ever received an email from me in the months of March through June, you’ve likely had to suffer some commentary from me about professional golf. I’m a huge fan and try to emulate my TV heroes on the course as often as I can.