The “Getting to Know” series is sponsored by Applied Innovation. Applied Innovation is helping to shape the future of accounts receivable management. Product development is driven by customer feedback, agency profitability and compliance and includes platforms addressing client portal access, document management, payment negotiation, Regulation E focused electronic payment authorizations and TCPA communication authorization platforms. Partner with a company who understands your business challenges and evolves to provide cutting edge technology to overcome those challenges and achieve success.
An attorney who freely admits being lied to on a semi-regular basis is probably not the norm, so it’s a good thing that the lies in this case pertain to frozen desserts and not things that are more important. Although it does sound like Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream is worth being lied to about. As Joe Partain notes, the ARM industry has a lot of fantastic people and the care and attention that he paid to his answers shows you why he is one of those people. Read on to learn more about Joe, how he would be happy making his love of animals his life’s work, and why he never finds himself bored.
Name: Joseph (“Joe”) Partain
Job Title: Senior VP/General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Company: ACT Holdings, Inc./Convergent
Length of Time at Current Company: 24 years
Length of Time in Industry: 26 years
How did you get your start in the industry?
I actually got my start in collections in my early teens. My father was (and still is) a small business owner (in the medical field). At one point in time, he was too nice and used to extend credit freely and provided services to a lot of people on office credit and they then later refused to pay. My father enlisted my help to make collection calls to the consumers who were refusing to pay (after receiving statements) and gave me a cut of what I collected. I figured out rather quickly that the more I collected, the more money I made and the more it seemed to help the business. It was a win-win. I even hit up the kids at school that I knew whose parents were not paying their bills, to see if they could help pressure their folks into paying their bills that they owed to my dad. I recall even at a young age the impact that outstanding unpaid A/R had on a small business (and I remember that the practice of extending office credit was later fully phased out as well).
What is your career highlight so far?
The highlight of my career so far has been to have the privilege of being the SVP/General Counsel for all of the ACT Holdings, Inc. companies. This position has allowed me to direct legal operations over several different verticals and greatly expand my knowledge base.
In addition, an individual overall career highlight would have to be directing legal collection efforts for a healthcare provider client on a large group of claims that resulted in a large seven-figure recovery for our hospital client. This recovery is a record that still stands and that allowed the hospital to recoup what was rightfully owed to them so that they could continue to provide valuable medical services to the surrounding community.
When or how are you most productive?
Usually, my more productive time is beginning in the early evening and into night, when the email/conference call/telephone traffic has waned somewhat, and I can focus on contract and document reviews and the pressing matters that arose from the day.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
Wow … it is too tough to pick just one person since there are several that I really admire. I’d say (in no particular order) that Manny Newburger, Nabil Foster, Leslie Bender (especially on the healthcare/HIPAA compliance side) and Jeff Turner quickly all come to mind, especially from the legal side. There are several others that I admire greatly as well, and I could keep going. I just don’t have enough space. Our industry has a lot of fantastic people.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
I truly listen to what people say that I am speaking with and make those people feel comfortable with the content/subject being discussed. No matter the complexity or the gravity of the situation, I frame it so that anyone can understand it. This gives the person(s) interacting with me a calming effect.
Along these same lines, I succeed at matching legal expertise to differing priorities and personalities that come into play with different business leaders in a work environment, in order to guide complex legal issues through to cohesive and successful outcomes.
What do you like most about this industry?
The people and the challenges. I’ve met some wonderful people in this industry – some that have become very close friends. Also, each day is different. You never know what is going to come across your plate or what decision, rule or regulation may be handed down that could impact our industry.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
The public perception surrounding debt collection and the meritless lawsuits that seem to flow, at least in part, from this perception.
Describe a typical work day.
Each day is different. My workdays usually start early and end late, but there isn’t really a typical workday for me because my “To-Do” list and priorities are ever changing. I like that though. You certainly never get bored or lack a challenge.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
I’d probably be practicing equine law in horse country in Virginia, or doing something totally unrelated to the law, such as raising, training, and showing Morgan Horses.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Haagen Dazs chocolate peanut butter ice cream. It is so good – it is addicting. My wife has to hide it in the freezer when she gets it and has been known to fib a little and tell me the grocery store was out of it, so I don’t start hunting for it.
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What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Take care of your key people and they will take care of you and the business.
What are you currently reading?
I just finished reading: A Promised Land (by Barack Obama) and Texas Titans (by Bill Denyer). I am currently reading Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup (by John Carreyrou) – this book is about the rise and fall of the company Theranos and its founder, Elizabeth Holmes (who goes to trial in August of this year).
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you
I have a strong passion for animal welfare causes and will go to great lengths to help an animal (or groups) of animals in need.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Dealer’s choice – you choose.
The “Getting to Know” series is sponsored by Applied Innovation. Applied Innovation is helping to shape the future of accounts receivable management. Product development is driven by customer feedback, agency profitability and compliance and includes platforms addressing client portal access, document management, payment negotiation, Regulation E focused electronic payment authorizations and TCPA communication authorization platforms. Partner with a company who understands your business challenges and evolves to provide cutting edge technology to overcome those challenges and achieve success.