Alex Villafranca always seems to be having fun. Whether in his company’s Debt Collection 101 videos or the refreshing way he promotes the company and its brand, nobody will ever say it looks like he’s not having a good time. And why shouldn’t Alex be happy? He’s gone from asking if people want fries with their burger to running his own company in eight years. Read on to learn more about Alex and how he brandishes being a nerd as a badge of honor and why his development team wishes he would stop talking to clients.
Name: Alex Villafranca
Company: Arbeit Software
Length of time at current company: 5 Years
Length of time in industry: 8 Years
How did you get your start in the industry?
In college, I was working fast food jobs to make money. Meanwhile, all of my brothers worked in collections, and they did well for themselves. They suggested I try collections so I could leave fast-food, so one of my brothers got me a job at an agency he managed. One thing led to another and I went from collector, to top collector, to agency owner, to what I’m doing now – co-founder and CEO of Arbeit Software, a contact solutions provider to the industry, in a matter of eight years.
What is your career highlight so far?
Successfully launching Arbeit Click, a TCPA compliance solution. This was a proud moment that proved the success we had with our pioneer product, Arbeit Dialer, was not a fluke. Click was launched less than a year ago and we already have numerous clients on board, plus the feedback we get on the innovativeness of the product is amazing.
When or how are you most productive?
Quiet days in the office, when there is enough time for my tunnel vision to kick in and grind out some tasks.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
Paul Sims. He was head of operations at the first agency I worked for. He has been in the industry a long time, and he is loved by everyone he works with. He consistently maintains a positive attitude, even though that is often difficult when the industry gets a bad rap from media and regulators.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
Our company’s brand. No one in the industry comes close to our creative, fun, innovative, fair and transparent brand that we’ve spent a lot of time developing over the years.
What do you like most about this industry?
The constant need for adaptation.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
The public’s perception of the industry.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
Probably playing a lot more World of Warcraft.
Describe a typical workday:
I’m not sure I have many typical days, being that it’s such a small company with only 30 people. Myself and many people here wear a lot of hats. Typically, I spend the day working on marketing content with the team, and that can range from shooting our videos to designing and launching ads. I brainstorm ideas for future products daily that can help our current clients and the industries we serve. To the dismay of the development team, I am always taking advice from our clients, trying to figure ways out to work their needs into new features and push those out in the quickest possible way.
What is your guilty pleasure?
World Of Warcraft
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Not letting an emotional response of a recent event change long-term strategy.
What are you currently reading?
Anything to do with paid social ads.
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
I, and the entire Arbeit Team — we’re all nerds in one way or another.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Paul Sims
Ah shucks! Got me blushing Alex! You are an inspiration and great friend! Thank you.