About InCharge Debt Solutions
Online Credit Counseling & Debt Management Assistance
InCharge Debt Solutions is part of InCharge Institute of America, Inc., one of the
nation's leading financial wellness organizations. InCharge is a nonprofit community-service
organization offering confidential and professional credit counseling, debt management
and financial education programs to individuals nationwide. InCharge is committed
to providing services that help consumers pay off their debts and achieve financial
independence.
Major Services
Credit Counseling and Debt Management
InCharge's experienced credit counseling professionals are available
Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
(all times are Eastern Time). At the core of InCharge's credit counseling services
is a comprehensive Debt Management Program for individuals experiencing financial
trouble. Through the program, InCharge works with creditors to help individuals
get out of debt without taking a loan.
Education Services
InCharge's Education Foundation offers a variety of programs designed to help the
general public use credit wisely and gain financial freedom. InCharge provides information
on budgeting, managing cash flow, interpreting credit reports, using credit cards
effectively, and understanding bankruptcy. In addition to a monthly educational
newsletter, InCharge features innovative programs to help bring financial literacy
to consumers nationwide.
InCharge
- Has received nonprofit status from the Internal Revenue Service under section 501
(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code.
- Is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.
- Is led by a four-member Board of Trustees with more than 75 years of collective
experience in credit counseling, financial management and the legal profession.
Annual Reports
Leadership
Etta W. Money
President
As president of InCharge Debt Solutions (IDS), a leading nonprofit credit counseling
organization, Etta Money heads a staff of professionals including more than 125
Certified Credit Counselors and Client Service Specialists dedicated to delivering
personalized debt solutions through an innovative in-person, online and telephone
counseling Care Center.
Since joining the organization in 1996, Ms. Money has served in the positions of
executive vice president, chief financial officer and chief operating officer. She
also serves as president and chief executive officer of InCharge Institute of America, Inc.
Prior to joining InCharge, Ms. Money held various executive and management positions
with other organizations, primarily in accounting roles. Among the organizations
she worked for were Freedom Network International, Inc., Riemer Muegge and Associates,
Inc., and Rouse and Associates.
Ms. Money completed the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School Executive Development
Program in Financial Management, and also graduated from Harvard Business School’s
Advanced Management Program. Ms. Money received her B.A. in Political Science and
her B.S. in Business Management and Accounting from the University of Maryland.
Alberto M. "Al" Duarte
Secretary
William R. Malseed
Treasurer
Board of Trustees
These experienced professionals with diverse backgrounds are elected to two-year
terms of office as members of the four-person InCharge Debt Solutions Board of Trustees.
Hugh Bleddyn
Owner, Dragontooth Consulting Services
Mr. Bleddyn has over twenty years of management and leadership experience in fields
such as college education, workforce development, electronic design, manufacturing,
venture capital and nonprofit organizations.
Mr. Bleddyn’s career includes leadership roles with Workforce Central Florida (as
Vice President) and at Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida (as Executive
Director for Corporate Services). Currently, Mr. Bleddyn is the owner of Dragontooth
Consulting Services in Orlando.
Through involvement in organizations such as Leadership Orlando and Leadership Central
Florida, as well as participation in economic development initiatives, Mr. Bleddyn
has gained knowledge, a network of contacts and recognition throughout the Orlando
business community.
Mr. Bleddyn is a graduate of the University of Central Florida earning a M.P.P.
(Master of Public Policy), a B.S. in Political Science and a Graduate Certificate
for Community College Administration. He is also a member of the Manufactures Association
of Central Florida; Society of Human Resource Development; National Association
of Workforce Development Professionals; American Society for Training and Development;
Area Chambers of Commerce; Southern Economic Development Council; and, is a Leadership
Program Graduate.
Lonnie Ritzer, Esquire
Partner, Shapiro Sher & Guinot
Lonnie Ritzer is a business lawyer concentrating in tax law, partnership and corporate
laws, real estate law, and financing transactions. Prior to joining Shapiro Sher
& Guinot in 1987, Mr. Ritzer was a partner in the Baltimore firm of Gordon, Feinblatt,
Rothman, Hoffberger, & Hollander, LLC, where he specialized in tax law. He serves
on committees of the Bar Association of Baltimore City (Tax and Public Education),
the Maryland State Bar Association (Transactional Tax and State Study Groups), and
the Tax Section of the American Bar Association.
Mr. Ritzer is a past President of the Baltimore Association of Tax Counsels, and
has authored articles in various periodicals including the Journal of Taxation and
the Maryland Bar Journal. From 1987 until 1992, he participated as a panelist in
an annual seminar on Maryland Sales and Use Tax, and he has also guest lectured
at the University of Baltimore School of Law. From 1991 to 1992, Mr. Ritzer helped
draft the Maryland Limited Liability Company Act, and is co-author of a book as
well as a frequent lecturer on that subject.
Mr. Ritzer earned his J.D., with honors, from the University of Maryland School
of Law, where he was elected to The Order of the Coif, an honor society for U.S.
law school graduates. He received his B.S., summa cum laude, from Brooklyn College
of the City University of New York. Mr. Ritzer is a member of the Maryland Bar and
is admitted to practice before both the United States District Court of Maryland
and the United States Tax Court.
Florence Watford
M&T Bank, VP Regional Human Resources Representative
Florence “Flo” Watford currently works for M&T Bank Corporation as a Vice President
of Human Resources (HR). Flo provides HR expertise to all levels of employees regarding
staffing, recruiting, employee relations, benefits, and compensation. She has been
with M&T Bank Corporation since 2001.
Ms. Watford previously worked in Human Resource for InCharge Institute of America,
Inc., based in Columbia, Maryland. She remained with the company until the headquarters
was relocated to Orlando, Florida, in 2002.
Prior to joining InCharge, Ms. Watford spent several years in HR in the banking
industry focusing on all areas of human resources management.
She received her B.S. in Business Education from Fayetteville State University in
Fayetteville, North Carolina. Additionally, she has provided training to managers
on a wide variety of human resources laws and policies. The training she provides
includes human resources guidelines, managing performance and effective interviewing.
Ms. Watford is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management and The Howard
County Human Resources Association. She also serves as a Secretary on the Executive
Board for Randallstown Elementary School PTA.
Veronica Whitelaw
Retired Consumer Credit Executive
Vicki Whitelaw enjoyed a 37-year career in the consumer credit industry. Upon graduating
from college, she joined the Credit Group of Sears, Roebuck and Co., and in 18 years
with the company, progressed through numerous management assignments. These roles
covered all areas of consumer credit from marketing and new account promotion to
collection and recovery, culminating in her assignment as National Manager, Credit
Operating and Collections at Sears headquarters in Chicago.
Ms. Whitelaw moved to Tokyo, Japan, with her husband at the beginning of 1988, and
joined American Express International as Director of Quality Service, responsible
for Quality Engineering, Customer Satisfaction Research, Employee Training, and
Risk Management. After returning to the United States in 1993, she was recruited
by AT&T Credit Corporation to head consumer financing for consumer telecommunications
equipment and home security systems until AT&T exited the financing business.
Prior to joining InCharge, Ms. Watford spent several years in HR in the banking
industry focusing on all areas of human resources management.
In 1999, Ms. Whitelaw joined InCharge Institute of America, Inc., as Director of
Creditor Relations, where she acted as liaison between operations and the credit
granting community until her retirement in 2006. In addition, she has assisted the
Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA) in its relationships
with credit grantors, and has served on a cross-industry committee of AICCCA and
National Foundation for Credit Counseling member agencies and major creditors to
improve cooperative programs and processes.
Ms. Whitelaw earned a B.S. in Economics from Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling,
West Virginia.
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