 |
Chuck Cowherd
Long Beach, CA
Action Auto Recovery, Long Beach, CA
|
After High School Chuck joined Cunard Line and traveled the high seas for almost a decade, working up the ranks from Sports Director to Cruise Director with many hats in between. After his cruise ship career he joined the family business Action Auto Recovery in Long Beach, CA. After many years of fighting with The American Recovery Association (ARA) not letting Action Auto Recovery have a listing of “Long Beach” where the business was located, due to the phantom offices ARA allowed, he joined Allied Finance Adjusters in hopes to correct all the wrongs of ARA. Chuck was very active in the Forms and Marketing committees as well as Directory. In 2013 he completely redesigned and completely automated the AFA website. He was presented with many awards during his tenure with AFA. When COVID hit the world, he shut down the Repossession side of his business and continued with his Skip Tracing company. Today although not a AFA Member he is still very active keeping up the AFA website and adding the automated Continuing Education Courses for the AFA Members.
|
 |
Carl Purvis
Atlanta, GA
Federal Auto Recovery, Atlanta, GA
|
After finishing high school, Carl had several odd jobs and decided to join the United States Marine Corp, where he served for six years. He served as a field radio operator and obtained the rank of Corporal. While serving in the Marines he married his wife Tricia and have two children. After his honorable discharge from the Marines, he and Tricia return to Atlanta Georgia. Carl was looking for work at that time. Carl’s mother while working for the First National Bank of Atlanta was talking with a customer one day, who commented he was having no luck finding employees. Carl’s mother explained her son was looking for a job, and soon after Carl was working for Bob Dempsey at Automobile Recovery Bureau of Atlanta. Carl found that he was good at repossessing cars and really enjoyed his job. His Boss said he was one of the best agents and was going to put him in one of his offices as a manager. Unfortunately, the owner pasted away and Carl never got the promotion. He continued working for the owner’s son who took over the business. Carl left to start his own agency Federal Auto Recovery Inc. He had several clients that he developed friendships with. One referred him to join Allied Finance Adjusters Conference Inc. Carl was sworn in as a member of Allied in 1988. He has served on and chaired many standing and special committees for Allied. He served on the Executive Committee as President, Past President, Executive Secretary, 1st and 2nd Vice President.
He became a member of RSIG and was instrumental in getting many fellow members to join Allied. He served on the RABF Committee representing RSIG and later Allied, and helped raise money for what he feels is the best charity in our industry. During his membership tenure Carl saw a lot of different changes to the association, helped keep it moving forward during difficult situations. Carl received many awards for his service to Allied including the prestigious Paul Leleu Award. Carl retired in 2017 from the industry and is still called on for and gives advice, to many.
|
 |
Hank Leleu
North Las Vegas
ARB Recovery, Las Vegas, NV
|
Having been born into the business, it is difficult to remember a time that I was not in some way involved in the repossession industry. My father Paul Leleu was one of the founders of Allied going back to 1936. He started his recovery business in 1930 in Chicago, Illinois. As children I remember my dad gathering my brother Paul Jr. and myself up, putting us in the back seat of the car while he and our mom would drive about the city locating and recovering collateral for the new industry they served, then called chattel lending now known as consumer lending. As time marched on and I grew my dad would take me to work with him where I learned how to sweep floors and clean bathrooms. I advanced to light filing and other duties such as cleaning up the storage lot and picking up the dog droppings therein. Later I was allowed the honor of inventorying the personal effects in the recovered vehicles and placing them in boxes for storage and ultimate release back to the owners. Then it was the making of condition reports and other functions of the business. When I received my learning permit to drive I was allowed to ride on the street with the real outside agents where I learned to hot wire ignitions, pick locks, make door calls and skip trace. When I was 16 years old I recovered my first car which is still imbedded in my memory. It was a 1961 Ford Starliner which was located at North Avenue and North Austin in Chicago. In 1965 I entered the US Army and after a 3 year tour of duty I returned home in 1968 and went back to work with my dad. I became interested in Allied in the early 70's and took my first office in 1975 as the Central Division Director. Through the years I can say that I have held every office in Allied Finance Adjusters as well as chaired every committee that was available. I took over the Chicago office for Allied when my dad passed away in 1979. So, as is evident, I guess that it can be said that I was born to an industry that I came to love and respect, literally working my way up from janitor to president and beyond. I would like to say that I hope that God blesses and keeps each of you in this industry safe and healthy forever.
|
 |
Bob Quintana
Santa Ana, CA
LA Private Detectives, Santa Ana, CA
|
Mr. Quintana at the present time is married to Cecilia Acosta Quintana for 28 years and is spending most of his retirement time in the state of Florida. His education comes from California State University and various Junior Colleges in the State of California. In 1980 he resigned from the Compton Police Department and enjoyed one year of leisure before he decided to work in the investigation field. In 1982 he received his Private Investigation License from the State of California and soon after he attained his Repossession and Security Patrol License. He began his business as a Private Investigator with L A Private Detectives and Attorney Service. The business lasted until his official retirement at the age of 66. At the end of his career he decided to do what he likes best which is to travel the globe with his wife Cecilia Quintana before his time to retire to a wheel chair. Mr. Quintana stated that he misses his friends in the investigation and repossession industry and from time to time he would like to visit future conventions.
|
 |
Kay Bishop
Kennesaw, GA
Search & Recovery, Mableton, GA
|
In 1963 I began working for Atlantic Loans in Columbus Ga and attending business college. In 1964 I met my husband, Dennie Bishop, Jr , who was office manager of Associates Finance. We married in 1965 and after many years , we started our own business, Search & Recovery, Inc in 1977 in Atlanta, Ga Then in 2000 my husband, Dennie, died and I continued running the company until 2009 when I retired. I continue to be interested in the industry as it was so much a part of our lives all these years.
|
 |
Jeanne Pirro LaLuna
Patterson, NY
Bounty Hunter Recovery Specialists, Inc., Brewster, NY
|
Jeanne LaLuna of Bounty Hunter Recovery has been a proud member of Allied Finance Adjusters since 2009. Jeanne is enjoying retirement yet continues to be available to others who seek her help or advice.
In 1988, Jeanne and her husband Lou started Bounty Hunter Recovery Specialists but were really "hooked" since the 1970's when they learned the business under the guidance of Chuck and Marianne Longobardi of County Adjustment Bureau in Mahopac, NY. Jeanne has seen the evolution of the Repo Man into the Professional Recovery Agent.
Bounty Hunter Recovery continues to receive requests from banks, skip tracers and forwarders and is happy to refer them to Allied agents.
 |
Tom Wentling
Reading, PA
TCN Recovery, Chicago, IL
|
Tom was owner of TCN Recovery for 15 years. Previously, Tom spent 20 years in the corporate world, specifically in the finance and banking industries.
He became a member of Allied Finance Adjusters in 2006 and was active member serving on Allied Finance Adjusters Board in many positions. He took on the responsibility of Executive Secretary, Grievance Committee Chairperson, Compliance & Education Committee Chairperson, Committee for Good Standing Standards, and Central Divisional Director.
Most recently he was the go to person, responsible for running Allied’s Home Office. To say the least his dedication and support in serving Allied Finance Adjusters for many years is to be respected and commended.
 |
Jaime Hernandez
Ozone Park, NY
Phantom Recovery, Ozone Park, NY
|
After serving in the US Army as artillery mechanic from 1988 to 1991, Jaime went to work for Empire Auto Recovery of Farmingdale, New York and then State Recovery and Subpoena Service of Palisades Park, New Jersey. In 1999, he opened his own business - Phantom Towing & Recovery - which grew from one tow truck to 5 trucks and several spotter vehicles equipped with LPR systems. In 2006, he opened an additional location, 5 Boro Recovery and also joined Allied Finance Adjusters. While a member of AFA, Jaime served as Northeast Divisional director, Membership Chair - and Allied grew exponentially during his tenure. Then he served as Convention Chair, Marketing Chair and also served two terms as 1st Vice President. Jaime went on to win the George R. Badeen award and two Leo J. How awards.
 |
Millard Land
Houston, TX
Adjusters Inc., Houston, TX
|
Millard has been in the industry for over 48 years and just recently retired. He was a member at one time or another of all of the different professional repossession groups. He has been a speaker at Allied Finance Adjusters Conventions and was an officer in TFA, serving on their board for many years. He has also been involved in the Eagle Group through Ron Brown and has a wealth of valuable information and can offer great advice. He always has been somewhat outspoken. He tells it the way he sees it.
|
| | |