pr spotlight
By Kalin LeBrun
A Helping Hand
Participating in community events helps ACA member Dallas Bunton Sr.’s agency earn positive publicity
Dallas S. Bunton Sr. has long believed that positive publicity is only achieved through a team
effort.
That’s why Bunton, chief executive
officer of North American Credit Services
(NACS), a Chattanooga, Tenn.-based debt
collection, skiptracing and receivables
management agency, and his team of
nearly 300 employees, are heavily involved
in their community, participating in team-building activities that often earn positive
media exposure.
“I believe with all my heart and soul
that we bring value to our clients, the
consumer and the community,” Bunton
said. “We bring a quality service to the
public, so it is not hard for me or our team
to talk about what we do because we have
nothing to hide or cover up.”
Bunton understands that being one of
the good guys of the industry starts
internally, which is why he insists his
employees sign the Collector’s Pledge, a
commitment to treat every consumer with
dignity and respect.
“The Collector’s Pledge supports our
goals as a company, and it gives our staff a
benchmark that they see as tangible. It is a
reminder that we serve our clients and
their patients,” Bunton said. “We want to
treat people as we ourselves want to be
treated—in a fair and understanding way.
Knowing that the pledge ranks higher than
commission allows us to feel more
comfortable and proud of the service we
bring to the community.”
The services Bunton and his team
provide to their community are
overwhelmingly positive and usually result
in glowing media coverage. In recent
months, NACS hosted a Child Safety and
Health Prevention Fair, and employees
participated in a community blood drive,
as well as Collectors Challenge Month.
Collectors Challenge Month takes
place in April, when ACA members and
their employees participate in activities
designed to promote financial literacy
education in their communities. The third
week of Collectors Challenge Month is
National Credit Education Week, an
annual public service campaign to inform
consumers that, when used wisely, credit
can be a positive tool for achieving
financial goals.
“Our employees know better than
anyone the challenges consumers face in
managing their personal finances, so this is
the ideal way for us to give back,” Bunton
said. “Our employees were provided
numerous fun opportunities to become
involved and to help make a difference in
this crucial cause, especially during these
current hard economic times.”
Participating in community events and
offering internal staff activities not only
strengthens relationships but also allows
members of the media to see the quality
and respectful service that Bunton and his
team provide.
“I have always been open to the
media,” Bunton said. “We’re a great group
of people and we have nothing to hide.
While it sometimes seems that the bad
apples are the ones getting all the
attention, I know it is my job to fight that
stereotype and represent the positive side
of the industry. I still have the same desire
to serve clients, employees and
community with a clean, professional and
understanding service that brings value to
our everyday lives.” cm
Kalin LeBrun is the ACA International
Education Foundation’s public relations
and fundraising specialist.
For more information, visit
www.acainternational.org/foundation.
Dallas S. Bunton Jr., director of the corporate
information technology division for NACS, gave the
gift of life by participating in a blood drive. More
than 50 NACS employees donated blood.
NACS employees volunteered at the community-based Take 25 Child Safety and Health Prevention
Fair, which was hosted on site in partnership with
the National Center for Missing & Exploited
Children.
January 2010 Collector I 43
