Fifteen years. That’s how long Collection Advisor has been an integral part of highlighting the art and science of the collection profession. Collection Advisor was launched at an ACA International convention 15 years ago as Recovery Advisor. Over the following two years it became Collection Advisor and has continued to serve those with a passion for the profession ever since. As I look back at the players and events that revolutionized collections over the last decade and a half, it is clear, collections and Collection Advisor have come a long way.
As difficult as it may seem, once upon a time there was once no proliferation of indignities plastered all over the Internet about collectors. There was once no Twitter, no Facebook, no LinkedIn and of course no CFPB.
There was no outside editorial voice 15 years ago featuring the faces behind a profession which saves every American citizen $500 some odd dollars annually due to recovered funds and is part of the barricade which prevents everyone from saying, “I don’t think I will pay this bill, no one else does.” So, 15 years ago you protectors of the credit-based free enterprise system were bestowed an independent advocate.
Collection Advisor went beyond collection agencies and broadcasted to the rest of the credit and collection world about how fascinating and necessary collectors are by providing 20,000 magazines to creditors using collections including banks, hospitals, credit unions, municipalities, attorneys, debt buyers, or agencies. Collection Advisor showcased the professionals on the cover of the magazine portraying how collectors challenge life as ice climbers, drummers, blues performers, rhythm guitarists, fisherman, bow-hunters, horseman, bicyclists, and families. It has been a joy to get to know the fascinating people who keep the cash flow cycle of the American economic engine turning. It has also been a thrill to determine who would show up on the cover each issue and surprise them with their image gracing each of the last 98 issues.
Additionally Collection Advisor covered technology utilizing comparative tables, appealing not only to the personalities of collections but to those passionate about how to perform collections effectively. As a practical matter each issue also featured the top professionals offering practical tips on techniques and strategies to help improve the performance of every collector.
Looking through the issues of Collection Advisor is like seeing a snapshot of the evolution of the art and science of collections. The personalities, the leaders, the software, the dialers, the successful techniques, the compliance and the sponsors have all evolved over the years. Collections is a profession where a poor kid without a classic education can excel to have a better life, a profession where women and minorities are on equal footing to blast off in their own business and chart their own course.
Collectors compete in a superior game for an often ungrateful audience. I hope you will understand when I say, “I feel your pain dog.” Like the profession itself Collection Advisor has also been subject to criticism and complaints. Even though it was never true, I was twice subjected to vile treatment by a vendor claiming the reviews were paid for by the advertisers. I felt compelled to count the number of reviews of non-advertisers and those who advertised to show them the reality of their claim being untrue. But like seeing complaints on a CFPB website which are completely resolved, the accusation still stings.
Collections has produced some amazing leaders and some amazing technology over the years. It is just as true now as it was 15 years ago when I wrote, “collection software is like CRM on steroids, marketers only wish they knew as much about their prospects as collectors know.”
To commemorate the 15th anniversary edition we are saying goodbye to the technology reviews and introducing a checklist of how to select technology. It has been an amazing ride and often a labor of love to document the collection profession adventure. There are too many people who made this publication possible over the last 15 years to thank but I am going to try.
Thank You
This is going to be a long list beginning with the lovely and talented Angie Rose who has seen most everything as a part of Collection Advisor for the last fifteen years and managing editor Joshua Fluegel. The best way to thank the people who made it all possible is to break it down a little. The three major groups of thankees are the staff at Collection Advisor, collection professionals, and the vendor community.
MAGAZINE STAFF
I would like to thank Andrea Paul, Myrna Nelson and our esteemed columnists: Harry Strausser, III, Fred Blitt, Ron Brown, Debra Ciskey, Sam Edens, Nick Jarman, John Bedard, Jr., Adam Olshan, Bob Dunham, Jerry Smith, Wendy Badger, Brian Cutler, John Pratt, Rodney Bowers, Steve Elliott, Scott Cytron, and Ron Canter.
COLLECTION PROFESSIONALS
From the collection profession, a huge thanks goes out to ACA International, DBA and IACC, Pat Morris, Cindy Sebrell, Robert Foehl, Janis St. Martin and Mary Thou. A long list of distinguished professionals including Leslie Bender, Mark Neeb, Tom Stockton, Martin Sher, Jay Gonsalves, Rozanne Andersen, Tom Haag, Jim Christensen, Roger Weiss, Tina Hanson, Joann Needleman, Marco Trezza, Bill Mann, Donna Nicholson Stief, Jeff DiMatteo, Michael Frost, Chris Becraft, Michael Bendickson, Brian Watkins, and Gary Williams.
VENDOR COMMUNITY
So many vendors to mention by company name and individual representatives: VeriFacts, RevSpring, Applied Innovation, CDS, DAKCS, Columbia Ultimate, Ontario, MicroBilt, MasterFiles, TCN, Global Connect, Experian, TransUnion, Equifax, CompuMail, FocusOne, Roydan, Comtech Systems, Lariat, Interactive Intelligence, Advanced Payment Systems, The Computer Manager, Thomson Reuters, PDJ Services, Data Transformation Corporation, Cornerstone Support, InterProse, Castel, IAT, Genesys, TCN, PCI Group, DebtResolve, MelissaDATA, Autoscribe, MoneyGram, Predictive Metrics, Regal Technologies, and Comtronic Systems. The wonderful people behind the products; Fred Houston, Albert Rookard, Marvin Kaulkin, Ike Morton, Jody Gabler, Lex Patterson, Mark Bergstein, Heather Taylor, Jeff Danzler, John Schaefer, Matthew Hill, Matt Pridemore, Darrin Bird, Rich Turner, Gary Adams, Rachin Cheaib, Paul McCranie, Fritz Schulze, Robert Pollin, Tony LaMagna, Terrel Bird, Ron Fauquher, Timothy Schriner, and Dan Hornung.