PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Mr. McCathren has more than forty years of experience in all areas of management consulting, litigation support, regulatory, compliance and financial analysis in the wholesale and retail vehicle financing and leasing, vehicle insurance and dealership fields.
EXPERIENCE
BLC Associates, Inc. 1982 – present
President
Consultant to major bank, subprime finance and auto manufacturer captive finance companies and to major insurance, remarketing, collections, information technology, dealership and portfolio servicing vendors on wholesale and retail vehicle financing and leasing issues, particularly: vehicle valuation and remarketing, vehicle insurance, dealership compliance, floor plan lending, specialty collections, residual insurance and risk management, program design, program management, pricing and profit models, economic analysis, litigation preparation, tax and accounting analysis, and regulatory compliance including Regulation Z and Regulation M issues. Additionally, consultant to dealer and dealership groups on: establishing and troubleshooting subprime finance and leasing programs; finance and insurance procedures and compliance; sales and F&I practices and compliance and litigation preparation and support.
National expert on dealer and finance company compliance including Regulation Z and Regulation M issues, loss projections and residual value insurance issues, program management and legal issues, 1982 – present.
National expert on dealer sales and compliance issues including finance and insurance procedures and compliance; establishment and management of in-house leasing and finance programs including funding assistance and litigation preparation and support.
National expert and consultant to franchise and independent dealers on structure and management of buy-here-pay-here (BHPH) and lease-here-pay-here (LHPH) programs including pricing, management, credit processes and legal compliance.
Expert witness and consultant on Regulation Z and Regulation M issues including contract backdating, APR disclosure, finance charge calculation and cash vs. credit pricing.
Expert witness on standards and accuracy of vehicle inspections and vehicle value impact of condition and mileage.
Expert witness on state and federal regulatory compliance issues and breach of contract damages issues.
Establishment and supervision of residual claims processing center including accuracy of vehicle condition and excess wear and mileage charges.
Expert witness on vehicle sales and financing issues including dealer sale of finance and insurance products, dealer inspection of vehicles before delivery and due diligence in selecting and managing repossession agents.
Sole source consultant to National Credit Union Administration on sub-prime lending programs including APR disclosure and compliance issues.
Consultant to major insurance, remarketing, collections, information technology and portfolio servicing vendors on providing services to wholesale and retail vehicle leasing and finance companies, particularly: vehicle remarketing, floor plan lending, specialty collections, residual insurance and risk management, program design, program management and information technology/systems.
Co-author of two books, Essentials of Consumer Vehicle Leasing (1985) and Auto Lending and Leasing Manual (1989), and a monthly newsletter on program policies, economic analysis and legal context of retail vehicle leasing and retail vehicle financing, Auto Financing Update (1986 – 2005).
Worked closely with NY Attorney General staff and NYC Department of Consumer Affairs Staff 1989 – 1994 while representing major lessors on development of the New York Motor Vehicle Retail Leasing Act, the first comprehensive vehicle leasing consumer protection statute in the country, enacted January 31, 1994.
Developed the State Model Lease Law (“Motor Vehicle Consumer Lessee Protection Act”) including all commentary and policy background materials.
Consultant to Federal Reserve Board legal staff on Regulation M development, conducted leasing seminar for FRB legal staff on economic and policy background of the consumer vehicle leasing industry.
Consultant to National Credit Union Administration on vehicle leasing rule-making.
Provided training to the attorneys at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) at the initiation of their investigation of vehicle lease practices.
Represented Association of Consumer Vehicle Lessors (ACVL) on state and federal regulatory matters including Regulation M rulemaking and Uniform Consumer Leases Act.
Expert witness and consultant on eleven cases involving interpretation of residual value insurance policies covering more than $2 billion of losses, 2000 – 2007.
Television appearances and quotations related to consumer vehicle leasing and electric vehicles include: NBC TV, Public Broadcasting Corp., Newsweek, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Business Week, Wall St. Journal, Fortune, Christian Science Monitor, U.S. News & World Report, Money, and Forbes.
Association of Consumer Vehicle Lessors (ACVL) 1993 – 2024
Managing Director
Manager of the trade association for all technical areas regarding litigation, regulatory compliance, residual risk management, operations, and collections representing all of the major domestic and import captive finance companies, banks and independent lessors with responsibility to manage all Association affairs including government and press relations.
Author of all Association regulatory comments including Regulation M comments.
Managed Legal Committee including Regulation Z and Regulation M issues, analysis and regulatory issues.
Managed Tax, Operations and Residual Risk Committees and all issues raised.
Coordinated lobbying and regulatory activities with other trade associations on wholesale lending, retail lending and leasing issues at federal and state levels.
Managed Association in consultation with Association president.
Planned all Association conferences and programs.
