The Background Screening Collective

How often do you get to pick a lawyer's brain for free? Scott Paler, attorney at DeWitt LLP, made it easy. He's spent years at the intersection of background screening law and real-world compliance. We sat down with Scott to talk through what's actually keeping compliance teams up at night in 2026 — indemnification clauses that quietly shift liability, record matching done wrong, a sta...

What happens when you show up to work one day and access to the records you've been pulling for 15 years is just gone? That's exactly what happened to Rebecca Harris, CEO of Diligent Data. Nobody would tell her why. Every other company in the industry told her to let it go. She didn't. Rebecca spent months reading New York judicial code, working with her attorney, and finding the legal...

In this episode of The Background Screening Collective, Jaime, Izzy, Robin, and Rebecca kick off Season 2 with a look back at 2025 and a look ahead at what's to come. The group reflects on AI's growing role in the industry, the hesitance toward innovation that still holds some companies back, and shares a few personal stories from the past year. They also dig into their hopes and predictio...

In this episode of The Background Screening Collective , Meghan, Izzy, and Robin sit down with Andrew Cashman, VP of SPI Researchers, to talk all things PBSA prep. The group shares insights on how to make the most of the conference, from the power of hello to turning surface-level networking into meaningful partnerships. They also cover how to stand out, be memorable, and keep your energy up throu...

In this episode of The Background Screening Collective , we welcome Bruce Berg, a veteran entrepreneur and key figure in shaping modern background screening who began his career before the turn of the millennium. Bruce reflects on how the events of 9/11 reshaped the industry and shares his perspective on the forces driving change today. The conversation ranges from whether consumer reporting agenc...

In this episode, we sit down with Perry Morgan, a seasoned consultant whose career has been deeply rooted in the screening industry. As an early adopter of emerging technologies and practices, he has witnessed the evolution of the field, navigated its challenges, embraced innovation, and played a role in shaping industry standards. Drawing from decades of experience, Perry shares stories from his...

In this two-part episode of The Background Screening Collective Podcast , we observe World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and World Refugee Day with two important conversations. Part 1 features Kim Kurey from ANEW Life International, who shares her journey into advocacy and human trafficking prevention. Kim offers practical guidance for Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs) on recognizing red fla...

In this episode of The Background Screening Collective Podcast , we shift gears to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping marketing strategies in the background screening industry. Our guest, John Lawrence of Arrowleaf, brings deep expertise at the intersection of AI, branding, and optimization. We unpack how AI tools are being used to streamline content creation, personalize outreach, a...

In this episode of The Background Screening Collective Podcast, we dive into the growing role of artificial intelligence in background screening operations. Joined by industry leaders who are actively testing and implementing AI tools, we unpack how automation is reshaping workflows - from data extraction and document review to error reduction and turnaround time. Our guest Wade Hudson share real-...

In this episode of The Background Screening Collective Podcast , we’re joined by compliance expert and PBSA board member, Melissa Foiles, who shares invaluable insights into the background screening industry. Melissa breaks down compliance from both micro and macro perspectives, explaining what “scope” really means, how smaller companies can stay ahead of regulatory changes, and much more. We also...

Welcome to the very first episode of The Background Screening Collective ! In this kickoff episode, we dive into our "why"—what drives us to be a part of the background check industry and why it matters now more than ever. Join Izabel Stapleton, Meghan Martinsen, and Robin Schaffer as we have a candid discussion about the high-priority issues shaping our industry and the key areas we need to align...

Here's a sneak peek of our first episode dropping Thursday February, 20th at 2pm EST.  Join us as we dig into our “why” for working in this industry and a frank discussion of high priority issues we need to align on in order to survive 2025!