I am a Compliance Advisor at ARM Compliance Business Solutions (ARMcbs). I create, audit, and update policies and training for the collections industry. In my role, I work with the team at ARMcbs to do risk assessments to identify areas that our clients may be vulnerable, or to create a compliance program from scratch for those in need of one. I also perform annual audits on current policies and procedures and offer the knowledge needed in anything compliance related.

27 years ago I moved to a new state and started a job as a debt collector collecting medical debt. It was just a job, or so I thought. I realized I was very good at it, and decided to learn more. After a short time, I became a Supervisor, then Vice President and helped the company go from 5 employees to over 100 and three locations very successfully. I grew into the compliance role, as well as many others including, operations, training, presenting and some HR. But compliance was the most interesting to me. 

Eventually, I started to visit State Senators and House Representatives to discuss issues in the industry. I enjoyed visiting Capitol Hill on yearly fly-ins to do the same. After a quarter of a century of this, I became extremely knowledgeable in debt collection regulation and compliance. I knew it was where I was meant to be.

Though this has been around for a while, Texting and Emailing consumers is still something that everyone seems to tiptoe around. The industry has gotten burned so often, it’s understandable, and caution is expected. I am confident that as agencies use these available methods to communicate with consumers in a way they prefer, they will find the cost of communication is reduced, with more responses in less time and less chance of third party violations.

Maybe I’m a big softy, but I still have hopes that the black eye on our industry can be somewhat lightened. I’d love to see the CFPB, congress and other regulators realize that we are like every other business in America, regular people, making an honest living and working very hard to stay in compliance and avoid breaking any laws or trust. We are one of the most regulated industries out there, with some rules butting heads with others, and we still manage to collect with empathy and honesty. The industry should be getting a pat on the back for keeping American businesses in business, and allowing consumers to be able to obtain loans and use credit. Without consequences for not paying valid debt, those things we take for granted would disappear, or at the least look very different for consumers.

Where do I begin? I don’t have just one favorite part. I love working closely with Sara Woggerman and Debra Ciskey— two extremely smart women in the compliance space. I get to work for a woman like Sara, who cares about us. By us I don’t just mean her staff, but her clients and others. She shares constantly. I feel I could ask her for anything I need personally, and she will work to make my life easier. How many people can feel that type of caring from their boss?!

My experience with this company has been positive at every turn. They are my friends, my extended family, and my peers. I also get to be involved in something I feel passionate about— compliance. I don’t think I could find a better company to be a part of.

I’ve loved this quote for years and it covers how you should react in both personal and professional life: 
“Peace does not come from the avoidance of conflict, it comes from the ability to cope.”

“No one can make you angry without your permission.” This was my father’s way to live. He and my mom gave me gems of advice throughout my life, but this one keeps me focused on the solution instead of the problem. It also helped me to not blow a fuse when raising three daughters.

I’m proud of many things I’ve done professionally, but none compare to how proud I am that my daughters have become the women they are, and they say it is because of me. I raised them to be independent, caring, humble, compassionate, hardworking and loving. My dad used to say you can be intelligent without being educated, and educated without being intelligent. My girls are both! And now they are raising their children in the same way. I’ve accomplished giving the world those three girls who are now giving the world 7 more wonderful future adults.

I’m from Brooklyn, New York. If I’m honest, all I cared about in the 1970s was where I could go dancing, how far I could ride my bicycle instead of the bus and train, and when I could cook with my mother. I was happy working as a Sample Maker in Manhattan with my aunt, learning how to make the clothes the models would wear down the runway. I still sew, but now it’s just for fun.

I worked in the office for 26 years; I now work fully remote. I do travel at times to see some of our clients, and I enjoy that very much. The convenience of working from home has been the best part. I have much fewer interruptions and I can meet deadlines by working any time of day convenient for me. I also love that I can help my daughter with her kids after school and if I need a break, I can do anything from mow my lawn to cook something wonderful and get right back to work. 

I still get dressed for work every day. I believe if you work from home and you don’t take the workday seriously, you do not transition well from the workday to your personal time. I don’t let my personal time interfere with work duties or vice versa.

I read pretty often and have found I love series books. The Dark Tower books by Stephen King was the first series that I went a little crazy for. There was so much time between books being published that each time I had to read all the prior books again.
Hands down my favorite movies are the Harry Potter movies, all of them.
My favorite TV show is Whose Line is it Anyway. I can’t watch it without laughing so hard I cackle!
I love all music, but my favorite is disco music, and I still dance to it, or at least can’t stop moving.

I love to do construction projects. I used to help my dad renovate rooms for people, so I can sheetrock and mud, tile, knock holes in walls, do some electrical work, and plumbing. I’m pretty good with cement, and of course painting and refinishing things. I love power tools and if something new comes out I immediately want it! After all, the right tool for the right job!

I don’t. I had a mutt named Dakoda for 18 years. Once she passed a few years ago, I decided not to get another dog yet. Maybe when I fully retire I’ll think about it again.