Any time I have called John Bedard and asked for his help, he has given it. Whether it is asking him to participate in a webinar, talking about a topic for an article, or just trying to understand whether a legal ruling is important, John has been there. There’s not much else that can be said to show you why John has become one of the most respected members of the collections and debt buying industries. Because he genuinely wants to make the industry a better place. Read on to learn more about John.
Name: John H. Bedard, Jr.
Company: Bedard Law Group, P.C.
Length of time at current company: 6 years
Length of time in industry: 18 years
How did you get your start in the industry? I started in the mortgage industry, helping mortgage lenders and brokers stay in compliance with the myriad of state and federal lending laws which regulate their businesses. I also handled the defense litigation for mortgage lenders and brokers, including the defense of regulatory actions. The receivables industry practice was a nice compliment to my mortgage practice, which began with a single client looking for a smart, handsome, young attorney to help them with compliance and defense litigation – thank you Roger Carney! 🙂
What is your career highlight so far? Although there are many, the most recent highlight for me was defending a CFPB investigation where 13 states Attorneys General “piled on” – that made for some exciting hearings and negotiations!
When or how are you most productive? Early morning, between 5:30am and 9:00am – so long as I have coffee!
Which industry professional do you admire most? There are so many! I won’t attempt to list them. However, one of the first people I ever met in this industry was Allen Friedman. He epitomized the friendly, down-to-earth, straight-shooting, and generous nature of collectors all across the country that I’ve come to know and respect over the years.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else? Think outside the box – things are not always as they appear.
What do you like most about this industry? The people. Generous, hard-working, positive, professional, genuine people everywhere you look in this industry.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry? Its image and the absence of adequate publication of all the great things debt collectors do to help consumers during their most difficult financial times.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing? Writing code, programing computers, and inventing the next global software juggernaut 🙂
Describe a typical work day. Answer phone, coffee, write email, make phone call, more coffee, read 27 new emails, write brief, answer phone, answer phone, coffee, read three new cases, write email, coffee, make phone call, read 72 new emails, telephone hearing with court, bathroom, answer phone…
What is your guilty pleasure? Red wine
What is the best industry advice you’ve ever received? From client early in my career: “Don’t tell me no, tell me how.”
What are you currently reading? The FAA’s new rules on unmanned arial systems (drones). “Airspace Advocacy” is a new frontier in the legal world.
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you? I answer my own telephone. 🙂
Who else would you like to see answer these questions? Bryan Shartle, Tom Haag, Rozanne Andersen
