There are people whose enthusiasm you can identify without ever meeting them in person. Beth Conklin is one of those people. Her outlook and her energy are infectious, even after being in the collections industry for 25 years. Read on to learn more about Beth, why she definitely voted for Pedro, and why we need to find some fairy dust for her.
Name: Beth Conklin
Company: State Collection Services, Inc.
Length of time at current company: A little over 2 years
Length of time in industry: 25 years
How did you get your start in the industry?
A friend worked as a collector and suggested I apply because it was fun and great money! So here I am 25 years later!
What is your career highlight so far?
I developed a training a department from scratch for a previous employer. It was unbelievably rewarding to witness the growth and successes that I helped to create.
When or how are you most productive?
Multi-tasking and working with other people.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
Other than Napoleon Dynamite himself, his dance!
What do you like most about this industry?
The relationships we build amongst each other and the willingness that we all have to help each other out when needed.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
There are so many good things our industry does to help consumers/customers/patients. We are educators, we are financial counselors, we are negotiators. We have fundraisers and donate to charities, we volunteer within our communities. Our efforts and recoveries help rebuild the economy. If I could sprinkle my fairy dust it would be to change how our industry is viewed.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
Volunteer work for the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society full time.
Describe a typical work day.
Wow, very busy! Anywhere from working with clients to working with my team, traveling, presenting, working to improve anywhere I can (in no order) I love to busy so it is perfect!
What is your guilty pleasure?
Cupcakes!
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
“Never let them feel the bump.” This advice was given to me when I first started working as a trainer and has stuck with me ever since. No matter what happens when you are presenting, never let them feel the bump.
What are you currently reading?
I am not a big reader, however I love to cross stitch! The pattern I am working on is called “The Stitchers 12 Days of Christmas”, which is also my favorite holiday!
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
I love to karaoke like no one’s business!
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Dennis Barton III
