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.
Audra Funk has a perspective that not many people in the industry have — she has worked on both the consumer and creditor side of the debt collection dynamic. That perspective has allowed her to be more understanding of handling interactions with consumers and what it takes to thrive in any kind of situation. Read on to learn more about Audra and why you should not be multi-tasking while you are reading this.
Name: Audra Funk
Current Role/Job Title: General Counsel and Senior Director of Compliance
Company: Revco Solutions
Length of time at current company: Five years
Length of time in industry: 20 years
How did you get your start in the industry?
I actually started on the other side representing debtors in Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcies in my first year of practice. I think that gave me great perspective and insight when I jumped the fence and began representing creditors.
What is your career highlight so far?
I think moving out of the traditional law firm setting and going in house was the best decision I made as I have had much more challenge and growth professionally as a result of that move.
When or how are you most productive?
I am definitely a morning person! I am most productive when I ignore emails and avoid meetings which is difficult. You just have to block yourself out some time during the day so you can think and be productive.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
I think our IT professionals are the very best, without them we would not be able to stay compliant. They take my legal rules and convert them into algorithms and logic blocks which trigger legally compliant processes that systemically protect the company. I also admire our agents as they have so much to be mindful of when speaking with consumers. What they do day in and day out is not an easy task.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
I think I provide a constant well-reasoned and thoughtful sounding board for my colleagues.
What do you like most about this industry?
I think this industry has shown the ability to continue to persevere in difficult conditions. We all understand the greater good we are trying to accomplish notwithstanding the extreme shifts in administrations we have undergone over the past two decades.
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What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
Not sure I would want to change the industry so much as public perception of the industry.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
I am pretty sure I would be a teacher if not a lawyer. Otherwise, I would be playing my flute in a philharmonic orchestra if I was good enough, traveling the world, running and doing yoga daily.
Describe a typical work day.
After yelling at Jillian Michaels first thing every morning, I sign on, check my schedule, attack any fires, priorities, and compliance issues each day. Try to walk the havaneses mid-day and remember to eat lunch.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Dark chocolate
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Multi-taking is really not a “thing”, if you multi-task you are not truly engaged, present or working intentionally. If you are multi-tasking in a meeting, then you don’t need to be in that meeting.
What are you currently reading?
After Regulation F, keto recipes, do those count?
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
I was a NCAA Cross Country runner.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Manny Newburger
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
