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.
Thirty years at the same company and Donna Meyers still never gets bored. Perhaps it has something to do with her appreciation of collectors and their resilience and adaptability, or perhaps it has something to do with her childhood goal of working with people who don’t fit the “cookie cutter mold.” Read on to learn more about Donna, why she is too busy to read, and her conversational comfort.
Name: Donna Meyers
Current Role/Job Title: Director of Operations
Company: Financial Management Solutions
Length of time at current company: 30 years
Length of time in industry: 30 Years
How did you get your start in the industry?
I was working as an executive assistant for the CFO of a property management company, and the duties of collection coordinator fell into my lap. At the time, all post move-out debt collections were handled by outside third-party agencies. The collection returns were “okay” but we thought they could be much better. When the CFO branched out to start his own accounting company, we determined that as property management accounting professionals we would bring a missing expertise to the MFH collection arena, and the collection division of FMS was hatched. The company has since changed hands, and shed its non-collection accounting functions, but as the only original founding staff member, I have found it impossible to leave “my baby”.
What is your career highlight so far?
I was nominated to apply for a position on the Maryland Licensing Board as one of two individuals representing the collection industry perspective.
When or how are you most productive?
I am most productive when I have a ton of work to do and a limited time to get it done. I am very well organized and seem to thrive under pressure.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
It’s not a single individual that I most admire. It’s collectors as a group. The industry has changed much in the 30 years that I’ve been involved; becoming more regulated, litigious, and debtor friendly. This has clearly made things tougher for collectors. However, I’ve watched these folks step up to each new regulation, training requirement, and tough economic cycle and power through. Collectors are a greatly under-appreciated group.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
I’m not sure if it’s better than anyone else, but I can talk to anyone, anytime, about anything (mostly)
What do you like most about this industry?
Working with so many diverse people to achieve the same goal.
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What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
I wish I could change the overall generally negative attitude toward the industry.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
I would likely be working with my husband in our tech company, and looking for small investment opportunities.
Describe a typical work day
There really isn’t a typical work-day. It depends on the time of the month, the needs of the staff, and requests from the clients. The only constant is that it’s always busy, and never boring.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Live theater, gardening – and anything chocolate.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
A high school teacher once told me that it’s as important to put as much effort into doing the necessary tasks that you don’t enjoy, as it is for those you do. That advice has carried me far.
What are you currently reading?
Unfortunately, I no longer read books – I’m a news junkie. I try to stay very, very current in the happenings in this world – the last few years have been tough to follow. I also read “National Geographic” and anything humorous in the local paper.
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
My dream job as a youth was to join a school for kids who didn’t fit the cookie cutter mold. I think I may have achieved that.
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