Randy Lively, president and CEO of the American Financial Services Association (AFSA) in Washington, D.C., is a 2003 recipient of the association’s Distinguished Service Award (DSA).

Lively is one of four executives to receive this year's award and the first AFSA president in almost 20 years to be among the recipients. The DSA, the financial services industry's highest honor, is given to individuals who have contributed significantly to the industry's growth on a national level, advanced its objectives and quality, and raised its image.

The ’03 awards were presented last week during AFSA's 87th Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference held in Washington, D.C.

Lively’s experience in the financial services industry includes 22 years with Sears, Roebuck & Co.'s Credit Operations. During that time, he held several positions, including general credit manager for two different Sears territories. He also was director of public affairs, representing Sears in Congress and the 50 states on all issues pertaining to credit.

In 1981, he joined the Zale Corp., the national retail jewelry chain based in Irving, Texas. He began as president of Jewelers Financial Services, Inc., Zale's captive finance company providing consumer credit services to its jewelry store divisions. During his 12 years with Zale, he held several executive positions including senior vice president and general manager for Zale's Fine Jewelers Guild Division (better known in many local markets as Baily, Banks & Biddle) before leaving the company in 1993. He was a principal in his own consulting practice before joining AFSA on Oct. 1, 1994.

A graduate of Louisiana State University, Lively currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and the Advisory Board for Georgetown University’s Credit Research Center. He also serves as chairman of the board for the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy and is chairman of the AFSA Education Foundation.

About AFSA

Based in Washington, D.C., AFSA is a national trade association for market-funded financial services firms that provide credit to consumers and small businesses.

Its more than 400 active, associate and affiliate members include auto finance lenders, consumer and commercial finance companies, credit card issuers and diversified firms.

For more information, visit www.afsaonline.com.