Thomas F. Ferris, Chief Operating Officer, The Sagres Company

Tom Ferris founded The Sagres Company in 1993 when he recognized the advent of opportunities in the delinquent debt market. As an industry leader in accounts receivable management, The Sagres Company has been involved in scores of transactions, including out-cry auctions, private sale, sealed bid and competitive bid, covering the spectrum of existing industry sales methods. Trading partners to date have included a number of Fortune 1000 companies as well as the federal government.

Tom served as President from 1993 to December 1998, during which time he commissioned the first university study conducted on the distressed debt industry. In 1996, he organized and led the first round-table meeting of leading national debt buyers to discuss the need for an asset buyers' association to promote market growth. This meeting was the catalyst for the creation of the American Asset Buyers' Association (AABA) and The Debt Buyers' Association. The AABA recently merged with The American Collectors Association (ACA) and is operating as The Asset Buyers Program.

Since moving to the position of CEO in January 1999, Tom has concentrated his efforts on business development and expansion of the distressed debt industry through awareness, education, and proactive political involvement.

Tom serves as President of Chapter 4 of the California Association of Collectors (CAC), and sits on the legislative committee for the CAC and the California Asset Buyers' Association (CABA). Most recently, he formed Sagresā consulting division to assist start-up debt-buying companies with evaluating and purchasing debt.