MORRISVILLE, N.C., June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS(R)) announces that it has named 11 members to its inaugural Background Screening Credentialing Council (BSCC) and has elected its officers. Members of the inaugural Council include:

• Catherine Aldrich (Accurate Background Inc.)
• Bruce Berger (CARCO Group Inc.)
• Barry Boes (Accio Data)
• William (Bill) Bower (Contemporary Information Corp.)
• Jon Burton (LexisNexis)
• Michael Damm (ISB Canada)
• Noelle Harling (Frasco(R) Profiles)
• Kevin Klimas (Clarifacts Inc.)
• Larry Lambeth (Employment Screening Services Inc.)
• Jason Morris (employeescreenIQ)
• Karen Slaughter (PrimeTime Research Inc.)

Officers are Bruce Berger, chairperson; Noelle Harling, vice chairperson; and Catherine Aldrich, treasurer. Members of the BSCC are responsible for managing the business and affairs of NAPBS' Background Screening Agency Accreditation Program (BSAAP), which advances professionalism in the employment screening industry through the promotion of best practices, awareness of legal compliance and development of standards that protect consumers. The BSCC will provide regular status reports to NAPBS regarding all credentialing activities, including an annual review of all accreditation standards. The Council will also propose changes in the standards that reflect best practices in consumer reporting, review challenges of alleged non-compliance with standards for accredited Consumer Reporting Agencies and propose appropriate responses, which may include probationary periods and/or sanctions.

"As one of our key goals, the BSCC will oversee the application and selection process for the BSAAP Beta Test, in preparation for full rollout later this year," said Bruce Berger, chairperson of the BSCC. "The Council will work with applicants, staff and NAPBS consultants to select six participant companies that provide a diverse cross-section of the potential applicant pool, including small, medium and large Consumer Reporting Agencies. Feedback resulting from the Beta Test process will help to ensure a successful launch of the full BSAAP by ensuring that the processes and procedures developed to properly administrate the program are fair and functional.

"NAPBS created the BSCC to ensure that firms seeking accreditation meet or exceed a measurable standard of competence in the areas of integrity, security, consumer privacy and legal compliance, which are crucial components to our association's goals to promote, develop, educate and further the professional background screening industry." said Tracy Seabrook, CAE, executive director of NAPBS.

About NAPBS

The National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) is the leading national resource for issues related to the rapidly expanding background screening industry. Founded in 2003 as a nonprofit trade association, the NAPBS promotes ethical business practices and fosters awareness of privacy rights and consumer protection issues. It is the foremost leader in the movement toward establishing generally accepted and reliable standards for background screening professionals and organizations. Now representing 729 member companies in the US and internationally, NAPBS is active in public affairs and presents a unified voice for the industry in the development of national, state, and local regulation. It advances industry objectives by providing a national infrastructure, organizational support, strong branding, and a forum for an open exchange of ideas. It also sponsors research on front-burner issues relevant to the industry; for example, consumer disputes and screening for terrorists. The NAPBS has also unveiled an accreditation program for NAPBS members, exhibited at conferences of human resources professionals and other related industries.

SOURCE National Association of Professional Background Screeners