NACTT 2026 Staff Symposium
"The Power of Connection: Communication, Collaboration & Change"
Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
540 N Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Room Rate $220
Delta Discount Code TBD
Program & Registration Form PDF
Hotel Reservation Link: https://book.passkey.com/e/51096073
ATTENDEES SHOULD KEEP A COPY OF THEIR REGISTRATION FORM TO BRING WITH THEM TO THE SYMPOSIUM. Advance registration is required for all attendees. There are no provisions for guests traveling with attendees, this includes the Reception.
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
5:30pm-7:00pm Opening Reception
Thursday, March 12, 2026
8:00am-9am Breakfast
9:00am-9:15am Announcements
9:20am-10:30am Keynote – Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Understanding the Importance of Effective Nonverbal Communication during Every Conversation
Jan Hargrave, Jan Hargrave & Associates (Houston, TX)
10:30am-10:45am Break with Platinum Sponsors
10:45am-11:45am The Power of Communication: Transforming Outcomes with Communication Skills. Effective communication has the power to shape outcomes and strengthen every interaction within a Chapter 13 Trusteeship. This session explores how verbal, written, and non-verbal communication skills directly impact clarity, efficiency, and trust with debtors, creditors, attorneys, court, and co-workers. Participants will learn practical techniques for delivering clear messages, crafting written correspondence, and using body language and tone to reinforce professionalism. Through real-world examples, staff will gain tools to reduce misunderstandings, support smoother communication, and positively influence the overall experience of those they interact with in their Trusteeship.
Jennifer Bellman Office of Naliko Markel, Trustee (Eugene, OR)
Merideth Akers Office of Bradford Caraway, Trustee (Birmingham, AL)
Melanie Childress, Office of Christopher Micale, Trustee (Roanoke, VA)
11:45am-1:15pm Group Lunch
1:15pm-2:15pm – Platinum Sponsor Breakouts
1:15pm-1:35pm Where Does the Time Go? Benchmarking Chapter 13 Trustee Operations. Every Chapter 13 trustee office juggles competing demands—case administration, debtor and creditor communications, and the operational work that keeps it all running. But how do trustees actually spend their time, and does that align with what matters most? We surveyed Chapter 13 trustees and staff nationwide to find out. In this session, we'll share the findings, explore the mismatch between priorities and time, and discuss practical strategies for doing more of what matters.
Miles Wood, Certificate of Service (Pasco, WA)
1:35pm-1:55pm TFS BillPay Platform Updates and Operational Improvements. Join TFS BillPay for an overview of modern tools supporting trustees, attorneys, and debtors. We’ll highlight recent enhancements, employer payment improvements, and streamlined communication tools.
Patrick Schaefer, Nationwide TFS (Jericho, NY)
1:55pm-2:15pm STACS Tech Trends and Cyber threats. This session focuses on practices and controls to guard against new technology risks and malicious threat actors, and their impact on Trustees and staff.
Tom O’Hern, ICF (STACS) (Reston, VA)
2:20-3:20pm – Choice of 1 of 3 Breakouts
A. Facilitating A Fresh Start With Conduit Mortgages: Getting Into the thick Of It
A presentation focusing on Conduit Mortgage procedures and related details for offices that pay the ongoing mortgage payment.
Cindy Graber, Office of Tracy Updike, Trustee (South Bend, IN)
Stacey O’Stafy, Office of Faye English, Trustee (Columbus, OH)
B. Conduit Payments in Chapter 13: Practice, Pitfalls, and Perspectives. Conduit payments spark a lot of discussion in Chapter 13 cases, and there is no single right answer. This session is designed as an interactive conversation. We will briefly frame the key issues around conduit versus direct payments, then open the floor for a roundtable discussion where attendees can compare practices, ask questions, and share what is working (and what is not) in their offices. Together, we will explore how different trustee offices handle mortgages, vehicles, student loans, escrows, fees, and payment monitoring, with the goal of learning from each other and strengthening our collective approach.
Beckie Hadley, Office of Kurt Steinke (Kalamazoo, MI)
Merideth Akers Office of Bradford Caraway, Trustee (Birmingham, AL)
C. Emerging Stronger: Surviving and Thriving in a Chapter 13 Trusteeship. Trustee staff face constant pressure, high caseloads, and complex responsibilities. This session highlights practical strategies for resilience, efficiency, and professional development while navigating the “cocoon” of demanding workloads. The focus is on mindset, teamwork, and sustainable practices that move staff from daily survival to confidence, mastery, and long-term success within a Chapter 13 trusteeship.
Jennifer Bellman Office of Naliko Markel, Trustee (Eugene, OR)
Melanie Childress, Office of Christopher Micale, Trustee (Roanoke, VA)
3:20pm-3:45pm Break with Platinum Sponsors
3:45pm-4:45pm – Platinum Sponsor Breakouts
3:45-4:15pm BSS Current State Briefing This session, presented by BSS representatives, will offer a highlevel summary of the current state of affairs, including status updates on the following projects:
1. TNG w/ Aria
2. New Functionality in Report Development
3. System Restoration/Reconstruction
4. Emphasis on PII Protection
5. A sneak peek at the 2026 BSS Conference
Marty Quinn, Bankruptcy Software Specialists (Germantown, TN)
3:45-4:15pm Epiq Updates
3:45-4:15pm Satori Updates
4:15pm-4:45pm Banking solutions and how they vary across Trustee offices – Discuss how different banking solutions and offerings are utilized amongst Trustee offices and what is the right fit for you.
Robyn Clifton, Fifth Third Bank (Highland, IN)
Charles Archer, Fifth Third Bank (Highland, IN)
4:15pm-4:45pm Bank Services for Improving Security and Operational Efficiency. This session will include a discussion of several services offered by the bank to improve security and operational efficiency for Trust and Administrative/Expense funds.
Samuel Ettingoff, Truist Bank (Memphis, TN)
Jennifer Sexton, Truist Bank (Memphis, TN)
Friday
8:00am-9:00am Breakfast
9:00am-9:15am Announcements (NACTT Foundation Raffle)
9:20am-10:05am NDC
10:05am-10:20am Break with Platinum Sponsors
10:20am-11:45am AI Session. Learn how AI tools can improve bankruptcy trustee operations while maintaining security and compliance. This session covers key AI concepts, common risks, sample policies, and practical use cases like document summarization and financial analysis. Attendees will leave with an understanding of AI risks and how to minimize those risks through simple and secure usage and practices.
Harold Garcia, Office of Melissa Davey (Atlanta, GA)
Tom O’Hern, ICF (STACS) (Reston, VA)
Beckie Hadley, Office of Kurt Steinke (Kalamazoo, MI)
11:45am – Closing Announcements
