Like many, Vinetta Orcutt’s start in the industry was a fairly common story — she needed a job. But what she found was a career. It didn’t take long for her to fall in love with her new surroundings and she hasn’t looked back since. Read on to learn more about Vinetta and why you never want to see her with a deck of cards in her hand.
Name: Vinetta Orcutt
Company: Chapman Financial Services
Length of time at current company: 14 years
Length of time in industry: 14 years
How did you get your start in the industry?
I was 22 years old. My husband and I had purchased our home the year before, and he was unhappy with his job, so he decided to start his own business. I was only working about 24 hours per week at my previous job and I needed to be able to pay the mortgage. I started talking to a co-worker and she told me about this company that two other people she knew went to work for and she was going to be interviewing with them too. So I applied. I figured what’s the worst that could happen? Then I interviewed for the position and a long week goes by, and I finally got the call offering me the position. Within the first month I knew that I was going to love this job and here I am.
What is your career highlight so far?
This is a tough one for me since I work with an amazing team and I feel that each of our successes are shared.
When or how are you most productive?
I am a morning person. I am usually awake between 3:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. I wake up alert and ready to get moving so if there is something that really needs to be done, the earlier the better.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
LaDonna Bohling was the first person I met at my very first ACA event and even though we are on opposite sides of the country we get a chance to meet up every year at an ACA conference and she takes me by the arm and leads me over to “someone I just have to meet” and she is right. Every person or vendor that she has introduced me to has been a wealth of knowledge.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
There is always someone who is better at something, however, I have been told I mix a good drink during our unit meetings.
What do you like most about this industry?
The support that our association and its members give to each other.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
The stigma that debt collectors have.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
I would open a café/bistro.
Describe a typical work day.
I arrive between 7:20 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. every day. I use my Outlook calendar for tasks that must be completed specific days and follow up with staff that are performing the task. This allows me to be flexible with my other responsibilities. Every morning I write a To-Do list. These are the goals that I am trying to accomplish each and every day. I love the feeling that I get when my list is completely crossed off.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Cut-throat Uno! I am competitive and so are my siblings. There are 11 of us, so we created a game that allows you to cheat.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
“Take a deep breath, count to three, and then smile before you say anything.”
What are you currently reading?
I am an avid fiction reader. I am reading JD Robb’s new release. I am also reading: “Coping With Supervisory Nightmares” by Michael and Deborah Singer Dobson and “Lifescripts” by Stephen Pollan and Mark Levine.
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
I love to cook for a large group of people.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Shonna Stroud with YCCS or Troy Ledgerwood with Credit Bureau of Lewiston – Clarkston.