The United States Organizations for Bankruptcy Alternatives (USOBA) was founded by leading members in the debt settlement industry seeking representation outside of credit counseling and bankruptcy law. USOBA brings individual representation together as a united front to protect the debt settlement industry and to secure its future. We are committed to advocating for consumer choice in debt relief, protecting debt settlement as a debt relief option and educating the nation about the debt settlement industry.

• Legislative Action Committee:

  Chaired by John Ansbach, EFA Processing

  This committee will perform research, review legislation, actively maintain legislative contacts and plot our course for the legislative seasons. This committee chair will coordinate these efforts, delegate responsibilities to other committee members and monitor and report committee progress.

• Public Relations and Marketing Committee:

  Chaired by Mariana Bekker, USOBA

  This committee will focus on improving the image of USOBA, the membership and the industry at large. This will be accomplished through press releases, interviews and creatively seeking other media to promote our message. The committee chair will coordinate these efforts, delegate responsibilities to other committee members and monitor and report committee progress.

• BBB Committee:

  Chaired by Corey Butcher, Financial Freedom of America

  This committee will focus on improving relations between the debt settlement industry and BBBs across the country. This will be accomplished by cultivating relationships, producing statistical information, contacting regulatory agencies and seeking other avenues to improve industry perception by the BBB. The committee chair will coordinate these efforts, delegate responsibilities to other committee members and monitor and report committee progress.

• Standards and Certifications Committee:

  Chaired by Kenny Epstein, Kirkland Green

  This committee will focus on improving best practice standards for debt settlement companies and creating best practice standards for industry vendors. This committee will explore avenues to promote and ensure compliance throughout the membership. The committee chair will coordinate these efforts, delegate responsibilities to other committee members and monitor and report committee progress.

• Membership Committee:

  Co-Chaired by Sarah Leineke & Julie Leineke, Nationwide Debt Settlement

  This committee will focus on creating new and valuable tools, products and services for USOBA members, as well as seeking new ways to reach potential members. This will be accomplished by polling the membership and contacting them to ascertain their needs, performing research to determine implementation plans and charting courses of action. The committee chair will coordinate these efforts, delegate responsibilities to other committee members and monitor and report committee progress.

• Creditor Relations Committee:

  Chaired by Nikki Vrla, Debt Professionals of America

  This committee will collect creditor information from the USOBA membership and other sources while building relationships and idea sharing forums with creditors. It is the goal of this committee to better solidify relationships between creditors and the industry participants and USOBA. The committee chair will coordinate these efforts, delegate responsibilities to other committee members and monitor and report committee progress.