Grant Mercantile Agency Meets with Former Congressman

Former Congressman George Radanovich, R-Calif., recently visited with the team at Grant Mercantile Agency Inc., an ACA International member company in Oakhurst, Calif., to learn about the work of the accounts receivable management (ARM) industry.

Radanovich is a candidate in the 8th Assembly District in California for the 2024 elections. He served in Congress from 1995-2011.

Maryrose Diaz, collection and compliance manager at Grant Mercantile Agency and president of the California Association of Collectors Inc., was connected with Radanovich through a friend in the local county supervisor’s office, and she immediately accepted the offer for his visit to their office.

One Grant Mercantile Agency employee remembered bowling with Radanovich at a previous event and was able to reconnect during the visit.

Radanovich was interested in learning more about how debt collectors communicate with consumers.

Diaz said Radanovich saw the agency as a resource and that the visit provided helpful insights into the ARM industry.

Meeting with federal and state legislators, and candidates, is one way you can be the voice of the ARM industry throughout the year and at our Washington Insights Fly-In scheduled for April 29-May 1.

The theme of this year’s Washington Insights Fly-In is Bringing ACA Advocates Together.

If you’ve attended before, you know you will be at the center of action and getting the latest news as we engage with regulators and key lawmakers face-to-face. We look forward to returning to Capitol Hill with you and encourage you to invite colleagues to broaden our voices in Washington!

If you’re new and interested in attending, know this: advocacy starts with making simple connections and finding common ground in legislative meetings, whether at the Capitol or during an agency visit such as at Grant Mercantile Agency.

Explaining industry issues is only part of the process. ACA will have you covered there, with talking points and industry fact sheets as well as an overview of issues expected to be discussed at the Fly-In.

For more insights on meeting with legislators, read the upcoming March/April Collector magazine article, “You Can Be the Voice of the ARM Industry.”

Advocacy resources are available on our online Advocacy Resource Center, including tips for scheduling a meeting with legislators and industry talking points.

Our advocacy team is also available to help schedule meetings or for more information at advocacy@acainternational.org or by contacting Director of Public Affairs Katy Zillmer at zillmer@acainternational.org.