EXPERIENCE
General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer
Provided legal support/systems and counsel to all business units, including marketing, sales, business development, operations, risk management, accounting & finance, tax, and informational technology. Supervised contracts administration, licensing, compliance, and quality control functions.
Navigated acquisition of privately held mortgage company to private equity firm.
Implemented electronic contract administration system to track provisions/renewals.
Reduced number and monetary exposure for regulatory exam exceptions.
Reviewed, revised, and approved all contracts. Negotiated, reviewed, and revised license agreements, third party vendor, and consulting agreements. Drafted releases, non-disclosures agreements, and confidentiality agreements. Enforced alternative dispute resolution agreements.
Responded to litigation, including court appearances; managed outside counsel to evaluate claims and settle or litigate lawsuits.
Reviewed and registered trademark and trade names.
Ensured corporate governance of complex business structure.
Supported all aspects of Human Resources functions from hiring through termination.
Chief Compliance Officer and Associate Corporate Counsel
Director of Compliance and Associate Corporate Counsel
Established compliance department functions for education loan company. Implemented training and monitoring to ensure compliance with all state and federal consumer protection laws and regulations.
Participated in new product development, including Stafford, PLUS, and alternative private loans.
Acquired and renewed state Telemarketing licenses and related Do Not Call list registrations.
Drafted, reviewed, revised, and negotiated contracts.
Interacted with outside counsel to review, investigate, and approve complaints and motions; evaluate claims; settle or litigate lawsuits; and provide litigation support.
Responded to subpoenas and requests for document production.
Resolved consumer complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau, state regulators, or Attorneys General.
Vice President Compliance and General Counsel
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer
Implemented compliance program for financial services debt buyer and collection agency subsidiary.
Managed acquisition/renewal of state collection agency licenses.
Ensured compliance with state/federal laws and regulations.
Director of Policy and Compliance Support
Directed compliance and quality control for indirect/direct sub-prime automotive finance subsidiaries of a major consumer finance company supported by two managers with 18 direct reports. Monitored all business processes on a rotating annual basis and prepared reports to senior management. Facilitated acquisition and renewal of state consumer lending and collection licenses, registrations, and annual reports (approximately 200 licenses in 46 states).
Developed “Train-the trainer” program on federal/state consumer protection laws and regulations.
Handled development, publication, and maintenance of all policies and procedures.
Managed examinations by Office of Thrift Supervision and state regulatory authorities, as well as internal audits, and responded to all exceptions noted.
Director of Compliance and Assistant Vice President
Managed compliance and quality assurance functions for non-prime consumer auto finance company, supported by nine direct reports. Monitored core business processes (credit, funding, and collections); prepared reports.
Obtained and retained all state-required consumer lending and collection licenses and registrations (over 100 licenses in approximately 40 states). Trained on federal and state consumer protection laws and regulations.
Directed consumer defense litigation and document production.
Managed examinations by federal and state regulatory authorities, responded to all exceptions noted, and handled remediation of violations of various regulations.
Director of Compliance
State Compliance Officer
Regional Compliance Officer
Established and maintained consumer lending compliance function for national credit card divisions of a major bank holding company. Managed consolidation and re-structure of consumer lending and deposit compliance for 18 retail banks, regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve Bank, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and two consolidated retail banks.
Implemented procedures to comply with the Office of Foreign Asset Control regulations.
Enhanced insider lending policy and procedures to more effectively monitor for Regulation O. Reviewed marketing/advertising materials for compliance with Regulation Z and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
Established effective processes in all loan underwriting centers to ensure compliance with relevant acts.
Helped raise compliance examination rating. Initiated and established Second Review Underwriting Program and conducted Equal Credit Testing in accordance with Fair Lending Guidelines.
Consumer Compliance Officer/Assistant Vice President
Developed and implemented consumer compliance function for troubled commercial bank; facilitated change in compliance examination rating assigned by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City from substantial non-compliance to outstanding, successfully removing the burden imposed by a MOU in eight months time.
Attorney
EDUCATION
University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law, Kansas City, MO J.D.,
law review
University of Missouri Kansas City College of Arts and Science, Kansas City, MO B.A.
Major: Political Science and Administration of Justice
PUBLICATIONS
Author, “Model Group Defamation Statute.”
Reviewer, The Bank Card Business. |
