Mark Dobosz has come a long way from being a playwright. And while he is still a long way from his dream job of driving a potato chip truck, he still has settled into the ARM industry very nicely. As the executive director of The National Creditors Bar Association, Mark must balance between being knowledgeable about the ARM industry while also using his skills and experience in non-profit management to help grow the association at a time when the number of companies in the ARM industry is contracting. Read on to learn more about Mark and what candy will get you on his good side.
Name: Mark Dobosz
Company: The National Creditors Bar Association
Length of time at current company: In my 5th year
Length of time in industry: 35 years in non-profit management – in my 5th in creditors rights law
How did you get your start in the industry?
Was referred for the Executive Director position here by a colleague who thought the organization would be a good fit – and it was in my backyard (Sarasota)!
What is your career highlight so far?
Starting a non-profit 501(c)(3) foundation from scratch for SCORE – Counselors to America’s Small Business.
When or how are you most productive?
When given a vision and allowed to create a strategy and direction and then carry it out.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
Brent Yarborough – Brent is one of the most intelligent, thoughtful and honest individuals I know. He is also one of the best creditors rights and defense attorneys in the business. I am not an attorney and Brent has taught me more about creditors rights law and law in general in such a patient and understandable way for a layman. On top of which – he is just an all-around great person with a wonderful dry sense of humor.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
Problem-solving and creating strategies for success.
What do you like most about this industry?
While it highly competitive, I find it to be a very collegial industry.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
The silo effect and parochialism that sometimes occurs between the various recovery stakeholders in the system – including the government.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
Raising money for a worthy cause – or my dream job is driving a potato chip truck!
Describe a typical work day.
There is no such thing as a typical day in non-profits or associations – let alone this industry (one of the reasons I like this work – every day is different). It is usually filled with conference calls related to the committees of a national bar association, collaborating with our outstanding national office staff on projects and conferences for our education and membership programs, and/or working on government and regulatory affairs issues. And in between all of that, the standard day-to-day management issues of the organization’s operations.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Sour Patch Kids candy
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
“If you don’t ask you don’t get … and the worst thing they can say is no!”
What are you currently reading?
“The Guns at Last Light,” by Rick Atkinson
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
I produced a play in the 1980’s called “A Consequence of Heritage.”
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Vic Draper from Provest and Nathan Willner from Lyons Veldhuis.