On August 12th, I received the news that I had finally become a CCE. I was thrilled and so relieved! This was the joyful end of a journey that has encompassed over four years. I had finally done it!

Like so many others, I never expected to work in the credit field. In fact, I received my college degree in horticulture. It would be hard to find two things more unrelated than credit and gardening! But, once I found myself in the credit field and it looked like it was going to be a long-term fit, I started looking into the designation program because I knew I had a lot to learn. Of course, the decision to start taking classes in preparation for the CBA was not an easy one. Honestly, I was not excited about the idea of going to class in the evenings, taking tests, writing papers, and everything else that goes along with a college course. Luckily, I had great mentors who pushed me and helped me realize that the benefits outweighed any sacrifices I'd have to make. So I took the plunge and started with Principles of Business Credit at Salt Lake Community College, which was followed by Financial Statement Analysis. The accounting class I'd taken in college fulfilled the final requirement for the CBA.

I'll admit that I didn't always want to go to class, and I didn't always want to study. Sometimes it did feel like an inconvenience, and sometimes it was just plain hard. But, I was taking these courses at the beginning of my credit career. Looking back, I realized the foundation of knowledge that I was building through these courses, along with my every day work experience, was so valuable in helping me become more confident in this field.

Of course, road blocks always seemed to appear and I hit a major one while taking Financial Statement Analysis. I learned that my position in the credit department was being eliminated and I would no longer be working in credit. Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to continue with the company in another capacity, but credit didn't seem to be in my future. Suddenly, I had a big decision to make. I had invested the time and energy into two college courses. Should I let that go or should I go ahead and sit for the CBA? I made the decision to sit for the CBA in July of 2009 and not let my hard work go to waste. When I learned I had passed, I was proud that I had seen it through and successfully completed a goal. However, I didn't know if this accomplishment would have much bearing on my career as I was no longer working in credit.

Approximately one year after I'd left the credit department, I found myself working in credit again for the same company. I was glad I'd moved ahead with the CBA, but I was hesitant to move forward with the CBF not knowing what the future would hold and if I would truly remain in credit. I also had more classes to take and those same hesitations about studying, taking tests, and giving up my personal time returned. It took two years before I decided to move forward, and after taking Credit Law and Business Law and an invaluable review class, I received the CBF designation in March of this year.

I decided to take advantage of all the preparation I'd done for the CBF exam and take the CCE exam right away. Of the three exams, I was most intimidated by the CCE. It would be a completely different exam and the thought of writing about credit for four hours straight was unbelievably daunting. I seriously questioned my decision to take the exam more than once through the review process. But again, I had wonderful mentors who pushed me and helped me prepare. I won't say that the CCE exam was fun. Studying and taking the exam involved a lot of hard work and a lot of dedication, but the feeling of accomplishment far outweighed the stress, sweat and tears that led up to it.

When I started on this path of receiving my designations, I had a hard time envisioning myself as a CCE. I'd look at others who had achieved the CCE designation and I never felt like I'd have the knowledge or experience to make it that far. But, I learned that hard work really does pay off. I learned the sacrifices were worth it in the end and although it was a demanding process and tough at times, I had a great support system to help push me through.

I was reminded over and over how lucky our NACM affiliate is to have a staff that is so supportive and so willing to give up their time to ensure the success of its members. I realized the importance of working closely with others who are on the same path to help each other succeed. I still feel like I have much to learn as I move forward in the credit profession, but the process leading up to the CCE designation has laid a foundation for continued learning throughout my career.