Speakers

Hon. Lisa G. Beckerman was sworn in as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of New York on February 26, 2021.

Judge Beckerman received an A.B. from University of Chicago in 1984, an M.B.A. from University of Texas in 1986 and a J.D. from Boston University in 1989. From May 1999 until she was appointed to the bench, she was a partner in the financial restructuring group at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. From September 1989 until May 1999, she was an associate and then a partner in the bankruptcy group at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP.

Prior to her appointment, she served as a co-chair of the Executive Committee of UJA-Federation of New York’s Bankruptcy and Reorganization Group, a co-chair and as a member of the Advisory Board of the American Bankruptcy Institute’s New York City Bankruptcy Conference, and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Bankruptcy Institute from 2013 through 2019.

Judge Beckerman is a Fellow, the Chair of the Freshman Fellows Committee, and was a Member of the Board of Directors of the American College of Bankruptcy from 2021-2025. She is a member of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges (NCBJ), the Chair of the Behind the Bench Committee, a member of the Elections Committee, and was a member of the 2021 NCBJ Education Committee. She is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for Boston University School of Law. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Tina’s Wish.

Beau Hays is a 1986 graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law, after receiving a B.A. in Political Science from UNC in 1983. He was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1986 and has been admitted in the federal courts in all three districts in Georgia. He has acted as lead counsel in litigation matters for over twenty years, specializing in commercial disputes and bankruptcy law. Mr. Hays is a Past President of the Commercial Law League of America, having served as Recording Secretary of the League and Chair of the Creditor’s Rights Section and chaired numerous committees. In addition to being active in the Bankruptcy Section of CLLA, he is an Associate Member of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees and has been a presenter to that organization on issues involving hiring outside counsel. He has also served as Legislative Liaison for the Georgia Bar’s Creditor’s Rights Section. Mr. Hays is an editor for the National Association of Credit Management’s Handbook of Credit and Commercial Laws; chapters related to materialman’s liens and construction bonds.

Daniel C. Kerrick is an experienced litigator representing creditors of all sizes, types and geographic origin in Delaware state and federal courts. Dan represents a wide variety of clients in complex commercial disputes, judgment enforcement, corporate fiduciary litigation, business divorce and control disputes. Dan is a published author and speaks regularly about issues affecting creditors’ rights and remedies. Dan is a past chair of the CLLA Eastern Region and Young Members Section and served 2 terms on the CLLA Board of Governors. Dan is the current chair of the CLLA Government Affairs Committee.

Walt Lockhart graduated from Rutgers University in 1991 and started his career in collections as a sales rep for The Forwarders List of Attorneys. Within a few months, he attended his first New York conference of the Commercial Law League of America. That first experience of meeting hundreds of people that only days before had been names on pages were really the origin point of his entire professional life. Over the next ten years at the Forwarders List, he rose through management positions and became the Publisher of the list.

In 2005, Walt traded dots from green to red and transitioned to the agency side of collections, joining STA International to run their skip tracing and asset locating affiliate, Asset Source International. Twenty years later, Walt is the Chief Operating Officer of STA as well as a shareholder in the company.

Walt has held numerous leadership positions within the CLLA, chairing the Young Members Section, the Eastern Region, and the Agency Section, and been active in the Association of Law List Publishers. He has been a member of multiple committees and has served two terms on the Board of Governors as both YMS and Agency Section representatives.
Walt resides on Long Island with his family.

Mike Mellott is the President at XPERTECHS where he consistently challenges the industry norms for technology service providers, developing automation and AI-based service and support experiences that are complemented by a robust technical team. He has over 20 years of experience in the IT services and support industry. He is responsible for setting the firm’s strategy, broadening the service offering, and constantly enhancing the client experience.

Mike spearheaded the creation of XPERTECHS Automation and AI services, implementing a comprehensive development and support structure and assembling a team of seasoned technology professionals. Under his guidance, XPERTECHS has achieved strong growth, expanding its client base, earning multiple employer awards, and being named to the ChannelFutures Top 100 and CRN Top 100 MSPs in 2021. The firm also landed on the ChannelFutures Pioneer Top 250 and CRN Top 501 MSPs lists in ’21, 22, ’23, and 2024.

As a veteran of the technology industry, Mike began his career at Deloitte Consulting, specializing in implementation and project management of Fortune 100 and 500 Enterprise Resource Planning and Business Process Optimization projects. He worked with clients across financial services, healthcare, pharma, state, and local government industries. This role provided Mike with a robust foundation in technology project management, systems architecture, and large-scale systems development and implementation. Mike graduated from Villanova University with a dual major in Finance and Information Systems.

B. Emory Potter is a construction, commercial and civil litigation attorney with extensive trial experience. His specialties include materialmen’s lien and construction bond work, creditor’s rights, and commercial collections, handling a large volume of litigation from initiation of suit through post-judgment collection.

Hon. Elizabeth S. Stong is a US Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of New York. Previously, she was a litigation partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher and law clerk to US District Judge David Mazzone. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Council of the American Law Institute, the Advisory Committee to Columbia University’s Committee on Global Thought and is Chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Continuing Legal Education. She holds leadership roles in the International Insolvency Institute, Practicing Law Institute, PRIME Finance, and the ABA’s Business Law Section, International Law Section, and Judicial Division, among other organizations.

Previously, she was Harvard Law School Association President, NCBJ International Judicial Relations Committee Chair, Co-Chair of the American Bar Foundation New York Fellows, and New York City Bar ADR Committee Chair. She also served on the ABA’s Standing Committees on Pro Bono and Public Service, the American Judicial System, and Continuing Legal Education, and Commissions on Women in the Profession, and Homelessness and Poverty.

Judge Stong is an adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School and has trained judges in more than 25 countries on five continents, with ABA-ROLI, INSOL, the World Bank, and US Commerce Department, among other organizations. She has received many awards for her work to improve access to justice. She received her AB magna cum laude and her JD from Harvard University.

Gary Tier is president and publisher of The Forwarders List of Attorneys, a reliable, trusted listing and portfolio of qualified, reputable attorneys who specialize in all aspects of collections, including commercial and retail receivables. Tier leads The Forwarders List, founded in 1922, with a commitment to blend FLA’s long, rich history of over 100 successful years with 21st century customer service and technological initiatives. Gary is the youngest law list publisher in the industry.

Gary is currently on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Commercial Collectors (IACC). He has also served two terms on the Board of Governors of the Commercial Law League of America (CLLA). Tier serves on key committees for the Receivables Management Association, Inc. (RMAI), the Commercial Collection Agencies of America (CCA of A), and the International Association of Commercial Collectors (IACC). He has been a presenter at dozens of industry conferences, including the IACC, CLLA, CCA of A, RMAI, National Creditors Bar Association (NCBA) and the American Collectors Association (ACA International.) He is a past president of the Association of Law List Publishers and past Chair of the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Committee. Gary has also served on boards and committees for several non-profit groups in his local community.

Gary graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. His interests and hobbies include sports, fitness, cooking, reading, and traveling. He lives in Washington Crossing, PA, with his wife and their three children.

Mia Wolfe, Esq., Senior Counsel at Shenker Russo & Clark LLP, Albany-based attorney and lobbyist Mia Wolfe provides strategic guidance and legal counsel to clients across a broad range of industries. She focuses on state-level lobbying, government relations, and regulatory compliance—leveraging her deep knowledge of New York’s complex political and legal landscape to advance high-profile legislative efforts and regulatory matters.

Before joining Shenker Russo & Clark, Mia founded a consulting practice that served as a key discovery partner to the New York State Office of the Attorney General. In this capacity, she assembled and led a team of approximately forty attorneys, guiding document review and investigative strategy for landmark litigation against major corporate defendants, including Charter Communications, Sprint, Juul Labs, and opioid manufacturers. Her leadership ensured robust research and analysis in support of consumer fraud and public health enforcement actions.

In addition to her work in government affairs, Mia designed and co-teaches a course at Albany Law School titled “Lobbying Law & Ethics.” This innovative program gives future lawyers and policy experts a thorough grounding in lobbying regulations, disclosure requirements, gift rules, and the principles of public integrity. Students explore the constitutional right to petition, revolving-door restrictions, procurement lobbying, and ethical dilemmas inherent in advocacy. By bridging legal theory with real-world examples, the course equips law students to navigate today’s rapidly evolving lobbying environment with integrity and skill.

Mia’s career began in investigative journalism, reporting for WRVO Public Media in Central New York, where she specialized in environmental features—particularly on invasive species. She later honed her research and writing skills at William & Mary Law School, where she served as Chairwoman of the William & Mary Media Council and was named Technical Editor of the William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal.

As a New York attorney with broad experience in lobbying, litigation, and legal education, Mia Wolfe stands out as a trusted advisor and thought leader in the Albany legal and government relations community.

Speakers

Hon. Lisa G. Beckerman was sworn in as a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of New York on February 26, 2021.

Judge Beckerman received an A.B. from University of Chicago in 1984, an M.B.A. from University of Texas in 1986 and a J.D. from Boston University in 1989. From May 1999 until she was appointed to the bench, she was a partner in the financial restructuring group at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. From September 1989 until May 1999, she was an associate and then a partner in the bankruptcy group at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP.

Prior to her appointment, she served as a co-chair of the Executive Committee of UJA-Federation of New York’s Bankruptcy and Reorganization Group, a co-chair and as a member of the Advisory Board of the American Bankruptcy Institute’s New York City Bankruptcy Conference, and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Bankruptcy Institute from 2013 through 2019.

Judge Beckerman is a Fellow, the Chair of the Freshman Fellows Committee, and was a Member of the Board of Directors of the American College of Bankruptcy from 2021-2025. She is a member of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges (NCBJ), the Chair of the Behind the Bench Committee, a member of the Elections Committee, and was a member of the 2021 NCBJ Education Committee. She is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for Boston University School of Law. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Tina’s Wish.

Beau Hays is a 1986 graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law, after receiving a B.A. in Political Science from UNC in 1983. He was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1986 and has been admitted in the federal courts in all three districts in Georgia. He has acted as lead counsel in litigation matters for over twenty years, specializing in commercial disputes and bankruptcy law. Mr. Hays is a Past President of the Commercial Law League of America, having served as Recording Secretary of the League and Chair of the Creditor’s Rights Section and chaired numerous committees. In addition to being active in the Bankruptcy Section of CLLA, he is an Associate Member of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees and has been a presenter to that organization on issues involving hiring outside counsel. He has also served as Legislative Liaison for the Georgia Bar’s Creditor’s Rights Section. Mr. Hays is an editor for the National Association of Credit Management’s Handbook of Credit and Commercial Laws; chapters related to materialman’s liens and construction bonds.

Daniel C. Kerrick is an experienced litigator representing creditors of all sizes, types and geographic origin in Delaware state and federal courts. Dan represents a wide variety of clients in complex commercial disputes, judgment enforcement, corporate fiduciary litigation, business divorce and control disputes. Dan is a published author and speaks regularly about issues affecting creditors’ rights and remedies. Dan is a past chair of the CLLA Eastern Region and Young Members Section and served 2 terms on the CLLA Board of Governors. Dan is the current chair of the CLLA Government Affairs Committee.

Walt Lockhart graduated from Rutgers University in 1991 and started his career in collections as a sales rep for The Forwarders List of Attorneys. Within a few months, he attended his first New York conference of the Commercial Law League of America. That first experience of meeting hundreds of people that only days before had been names on pages were really the origin point of his entire professional life. Over the next ten years at the Forwarders List, he rose through management positions and became the Publisher of the list.

In 2005, Walt traded dots from green to red and transitioned to the agency side of collections, joining STA International to run their skip tracing and asset locating affiliate, Asset Source International. Twenty years later, Walt is the Chief Operating Officer of STA as well as a shareholder in the company.

Walt has held numerous leadership positions within the CLLA, chairing the Young Members Section, the Eastern Region, and the Agency Section, and been active in the Association of Law List Publishers. He has been a member of multiple committees and has served two terms on the Board of Governors as both YMS and Agency Section representatives.
Walt resides on Long Island with his family.

Mike Mellott is the President at XPERTECHS where he consistently challenges the industry norms for technology service providers, developing automation and AI-based service and support experiences that are complemented by a robust technical team. He has over 20 years of experience in the IT services and support industry. He is responsible for setting the firm’s strategy, broadening the service offering, and constantly enhancing the client experience.

Mike spearheaded the creation of XPERTECHS Automation and AI services, implementing a comprehensive development and support structure and assembling a team of seasoned technology professionals. Under his guidance, XPERTECHS has achieved strong growth, expanding its client base, earning multiple employer awards, and being named to the ChannelFutures Top 100 and CRN Top 100 MSPs in 2021. The firm also landed on the ChannelFutures Pioneer Top 250 and CRN Top 501 MSPs lists in ’21, 22, ’23, and 2024.

As a veteran of the technology industry, Mike began his career at Deloitte Consulting, specializing in implementation and project management of Fortune 100 and 500 Enterprise Resource Planning and Business Process Optimization projects. He worked with clients across financial services, healthcare, pharma, state, and local government industries. This role provided Mike with a robust foundation in technology project management, systems architecture, and large-scale systems development and implementation. Mike graduated from Villanova University with a dual major in Finance and Information Systems.

B. Emory Potter is a construction, commercial and civil litigation attorney with extensive trial experience. His specialties include materialmen’s lien and construction bond work, creditor’s rights, and commercial collections, handling a large volume of litigation from initiation of suit through post-judgment collection.

Hon. Elizabeth S. Stong is a US Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of New York. Previously, she was a litigation partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher and law clerk to US District Judge David Mazzone. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Council of the American Law Institute, the Advisory Committee to Columbia University’s Committee on Global Thought and is Chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Continuing Legal Education. She holds leadership roles in the International Insolvency Institute, Practicing Law Institute, PRIME Finance, and the ABA’s Business Law Section, International Law Section, and Judicial Division, among other organizations.

Previously, she was Harvard Law School Association President, NCBJ International Judicial Relations Committee Chair, Co-Chair of the American Bar Foundation New York Fellows, and New York City Bar ADR Committee Chair. She also served on the ABA’s Standing Committees on Pro Bono and Public Service, the American Judicial System, and Continuing Legal Education, and Commissions on Women in the Profession, and Homelessness and Poverty.

Judge Stong is an adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School and has trained judges in more than 25 countries on five continents, with ABA-ROLI, INSOL, the World Bank, and US Commerce Department, among other organizations. She has received many awards for her work to improve access to justice. She received her AB magna cum laude and her JD from Harvard University.

Gary Tier is president and publisher of The Forwarders List of Attorneys, a reliable, trusted listing and portfolio of qualified, reputable attorneys who specialize in all aspects of collections, including commercial and retail receivables. Tier leads The Forwarders List, founded in 1922, with a commitment to blend FLA’s long, rich history of over 100 successful years with 21st century customer service and technological initiatives. Gary is the youngest law list publisher in the industry.

Gary is currently on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Commercial Collectors (IACC). He has also served two terms on the Board of Governors of the Commercial Law League of America (CLLA). Tier serves on key committees for the Receivables Management Association, Inc. (RMAI), the Commercial Collection Agencies of America (CCA of A), and the International Association of Commercial Collectors (IACC). He has been a presenter at dozens of industry conferences, including the IACC, CLLA, CCA of A, RMAI, National Creditors Bar Association (NCBA) and the American Collectors Association (ACA International.) He is a past president of the Association of Law List Publishers and past Chair of the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Committee. Gary has also served on boards and committees for several non-profit groups in his local community.

Gary graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. His interests and hobbies include sports, fitness, cooking, reading, and traveling. He lives in Washington Crossing, PA, with his wife and their three children.

Mia Wolfe, Esq., Senior Counsel at Shenker Russo & Clark LLP, Albany-based attorney and lobbyist Mia Wolfe provides strategic guidance and legal counsel to clients across a broad range of industries. She focuses on state-level lobbying, government relations, and regulatory compliance—leveraging her deep knowledge of New York’s complex political and legal landscape to advance high-profile legislative efforts and regulatory matters.

Before joining Shenker Russo & Clark, Mia founded a consulting practice that served as a key discovery partner to the New York State Office of the Attorney General. In this capacity, she assembled and led a team of approximately forty attorneys, guiding document review and investigative strategy for landmark litigation against major corporate defendants, including Charter Communications, Sprint, Juul Labs, and opioid manufacturers. Her leadership ensured robust research and analysis in support of consumer fraud and public health enforcement actions.

In addition to her work in government affairs, Mia designed and co-teaches a course at Albany Law School titled “Lobbying Law & Ethics.” This innovative program gives future lawyers and policy experts a thorough grounding in lobbying regulations, disclosure requirements, gift rules, and the principles of public integrity. Students explore the constitutional right to petition, revolving-door restrictions, procurement lobbying, and ethical dilemmas inherent in advocacy. By bridging legal theory with real-world examples, the course equips law students to navigate today’s rapidly evolving lobbying environment with integrity and skill.

Mia’s career began in investigative journalism, reporting for WRVO Public Media in Central New York, where she specialized in environmental features—particularly on invasive species. She later honed her research and writing skills at William & Mary Law School, where she served as Chairwoman of the William & Mary Media Council and was named Technical Editor of the William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal.

As a New York attorney with broad experience in lobbying, litigation, and legal education, Mia Wolfe stands out as a trusted advisor and thought leader in the Albany legal and government relations community.