The “Getting to Know” series is sponsored by Arbeit. Arbeit is a powerful, and easy to use communications platform that empowers businesses to reach more consumers. Innovative by nature, we are constantly listening to and understanding the businesses we partner with and developing long term industry relationships that allow us to be proactive in anticipating industry needs.
Pam Hardy is a teacher at heart and has found a home at Frost Arnett. For her, the joy in seeing an employee or new hire learn a new concept is the same as getting a payment in full. Read on to learn more about Pam and why the song that probably best describes what she does is “Best of You.”
Name: Pam Hardy
Job Title: Third-Party Trainer
Company: Frost Arnett Company
Length of Time at Current Position: Five-and-a-half years
Length of Time in Industry: Five-and-a-half years
How did you get your start in the industry?
I had been a corporate trainer for Xerox who was a third-party vendor for Google and Sprint. Our site was closed, and Charlotte, N.C. was too far (I was living in Nashville at the time) so I moved back home (Campbellsville, Ky.) and started working for Frost Arnett.
What is your career highlight so far?
Seeing new representatives succeed has always been a highlight. When they start hitting those bonuses and come back to you excited. Seeing Frost Arnett grow — we are continuously growing.
When or how are you most productive?
I am the most productive in the mornings around 6 a.m. I am not a “night” person at all. I am also the most productive when I have a schedule for the day — I know what I have to get done and when. I love deadlines!
Which industry professional do you admire most?
I would have to say the senior management group at Frost Arnett, as well as my direct line supervisor — Chief Operations Officer. The reason I say this is our leaders are on top of our industry standards and setting those standards into motion to make sure every person is compliant. We have a set of core values that those people model for all of us everyday, and in everything they do.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
I am lucky in having teaching experience that enables me to recognize quickly whether I need to teach something a different way or go over it again. I can tell by reading someone’s face or body language that the material is just not landing with them. Then, I can re-teach that section or do it entirely different. I’m very adaptable.
What do you like most about this industry?
The changing environment. Nothing is the same for very long. I like change. I like working in different areas to understand those changes and why they’re necessary. Nothing is stale.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
I think we need more public education — explaining what it is we do as well as how we help the economy. Work harder at eliminating the stigma of debt collection.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
I would be teaching in some way either on the college level or privately.
Describe a typical work day.
If I’m in a class, I work 8-5. If I’m not, I get started around 630 a.m. and I listen to calls, respond to requests from other departments, write/update training documents, research best practices (I read a lot of trade journal articles), I participate in meetings with other managers participate in webinars. I also interact with reps in all three offices at Frost Arnett. I also develop “refresher” training for all of our three offices — Campbellsville, Ky., Nashville, and Houston, so I’m always working on that, along with doing compliance training for our new people in first party when needed.
What is your guilty pleasure?
The Foo Fighters, and documentaries.
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What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t listen to the stories your mind tells you; be fair and consistent; speak truth always!
What are you currently reading?
I am re-reading “Animal Farm” by George Orwell. Seemed appropriate for our current state.
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you
I’m intensely loyal. I have a great sense of humor. I love what I do and the company where I work.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
I’m not sure. Maybe Mike Gibb?
The “Getting to Know” series is sponsored by Arbeit. Arbeit is a powerful, and easy to use communications platform that empowers businesses to reach more consumers. Innovative by nature, we are constantly listening to and understanding the businesses we partner with and developing long term industry relationships that allow us to be proactive in anticipating industry needs.