Some of GSCFM's most valuable discussions take place beyond the confines of Dartmouth's classrooms, as noted below by Ed Walsh of Samuel, Son & Co., Limited in Mississauga, Ontario.

How long have you been doing credit?

Almost 20 years.

How'd you get started?

By accident.

It seems like everyone says that.

Yeah, it's the same thing you know? They need somebody and then you start working there.

It seems like the socializing here is as much of an aspect of the program as the actual education sessions.

Yeah, I think developing relationships is a big part of it and also with that, just the subtle conversations that you get the opportunity to have with people, you know, be it about dealing with problem employees, compensation issues around credit management.

How do these conversations come about?

You know you don't sit down and say “let's talk about this or let's talk about that” but as we're walking from class to lunch or sitting around the dinner table you get the opportunity to just pick people's brains about things that happen. Now it's not all business talk all the time, but you don't get that opportunity normally in a three hour class or something like that.

Can you think of one thing that you were able to bring home from one of these conversations?

Yeah I would say certainly about dealing with difficult employees and how others have dealt with them. It gives me a lot to think about and just how I will deal with a particular situation that I have going on, and so you're able to say “hey, what would you do in this situation” and you get a bunch of people's perspective on it coming from the same type of departments. It either validates or it gives you things you haven't thought of.

NACM's Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management (GSCFM) continues on the campus of Dartmouth College until Thursday.