Thursday, September 25, 2008

CAMBRIDGE CREDIT COUNSELING CORP. TO PARTICIPATE IN TREASURER’S MONEY CONFERENCE FOR WOMEN & FAMILIES

Representatives will educate Massachusetts residents about sound financial matters and home ownership

Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. will be participating in this weekend’s Money Conference for Women & Families on Saturday, September 27th, 2008. The conference is part of a series presented periodically throughout the Commonwealth by Timothy P. Cahill, Massachusetts State Treasurer, in conjunction with the YWCA. The goal of the free conference is to provide education and advice on a wide range of money management issues confronting women, including retirement and investment strategies.


“The dramatic events taking place in our financial markets is a clear reminder that all consumers need to know how to manage their finances wisely,” remarked Christopher Viale, Cambridge’s president and CEO. “Treasurer Cahill has been a strong advocate of financial literacy, and it is an honor for our organization to assist in providing the education so many Americans desperately need.”


Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. will be on hand to advise attendees about their choices in developing a sound financial plan. In addition, Cambridge’s Community Outreach Director, Thomas J. Fox, will be part of the afternoon discussion, Home Ownership: How to be a Careful Consumer in a Complicated Market, which will be conducted from 2 pm to 3:30 pm.


For those interested in attending, the event will be held at the:


Reggie Lewis Athletic Center

Roxbury Community College

1350 Tremont Street

Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120


Pre-registration is required for this one-day conference, and registration information can be obtained by calling the State Treasurer's office at (617) 367-6900.

CAMBRIDGE CREDIT COUNSELING’S FINANCIAL EXPERTS AVAILABLE TO THE MEDIA

Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp.'s public outreach staff offers assistance to journalists in forecasting impact of recent economic changes on average consumers.


While news of the upheaval on Wall Street continues to dominate the daily headlines, little attention has been paid to the impact that the recent string of bankruptcies and bailouts will have on the average consumer. As one of the leading credit counseling agencies in the country, Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. hears first-hand every day the effect that America’s credit crisis is having on family budgets. At a time when 71% of Americans are already living from paycheck to paycheck, additional hikes in credit card interest rates and reduced access to new credit will pose financial challenges that this country hasn’t experienced for decades. Journalists interested in developing stories focused on the average consumer are encouraged to contact one of Cambridge's public outreach staff. Brief biographies are provided below.


Christopher Viale is the president and chief executive officer of Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. In addition to his responsibilities as president, Mr. Viale is an AFCPE Accredited Credit Counselor and IFL Certified Educator in Personal Finance, and he personally oversees and implements the company's educational outreach program, Learn Now or Pay Later. Under Mr. Viale’s direction Cambridge’s educational efforts reach a diverse population, and are focused on teaching the importance of sound money management principles. Mr. Viale is also active within the business community, serving as a volunteer on the Business Development Committee for the United Way of Pioneer Valley, and as a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors.


Mr. Viale continues to stay abreast of issues affecting the credit counseling industry and is recognized as an expert in the field. Among the outlets that have featured Mr. Viale are Bankrate.com, the Washington Times, CNBC, the Dow Jones Newswire, CNN Money, the Wall Street Journal, MSN Money, and the Los Angeles Times.


Contact Information:

cviale@cambridgecredit.org

Office: 413-821-6919


Thomas Fox is the Community Outreach Director of Cambridge Credit Counseling Corp. He is an AFCPE Accredited Credit Counselor and IFL Certified Educator in Personal Finance, and has authored a number of financial guidebooks, DVDs and curricula designed to educate young people and low-income individuals about personal finance. Mr. Fox has also consulted on a number of educational initiatives, including the finance unit of Springfield Public School System and the Net Gain youth financial literacy program, which is produced in partnership with USA TODAY.


Mr. Fox has conducted seminars for a wide variety of audiences across the country, including appearances at Arizona State University, Rider University, UCONN, Springfield College, AIC, Western New England College, and numerous other organizations. He has also served as a guest lecturer for the Bruce Wells Scholar Upward Bound program, and as a panelist for Nichols College's forum on the Cycle of Debt In America, and for the California JumpStart Coalition’s Financial Literacy for Youth conference.


Recognized as an expert in his field, Mr. Fox has been interviewed for a variety of news segments regarding personal finance. Some of the outlets that have utilized his expertise include CNN, CN8, Bankrate.com, CreditCards.com, The Wall Street Journal, and local television stations WWLP, WGGB, and CBS-3 in Springfield, Massachusetts.


Contact Information:

tfox@cambridgecredit.org

Office: 413-241-2362

Cell: 413-330-5254