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.
When Jason Hiland says he prides himself on being different, would anyone disagree with him? But there are people who act differently in order to stand out and there are people — like Jason — who act differently because they see the world differently and have a perspective that not many people are able to see. Those are the people you want to be close to. Read on to learn more about Jason, his quest to build a new box for the ARM industry, and how even the way he got married was different than everyone else.
Name: Jason Hiland
Job Title: Vice President of Sales
Company: Attunely
Length of Time at Current Company: 1.5 years (May 2020)
Length of Time in Industry: 18 years
How did you get your start in the industry?
Like everyone else, it was a childhood dream. I found my way here by accident. I was fresh out of school and working for a private equity company in Indianapolis. They had just invested in a technology company, and I wanted to move into technology sales. It was a company in Muncie, Indiana called Ontario Systems. I knew nothing about collections, technology, or sales. I’m still not sure what they saw, but I still thank them to this day!
What is your career highlight so far?
Contributing my share to help BillingTree grow into a company that sold for over $500m.
When or how are you most productive?
I’m a morning person. I’m up at 4 am and after a cup of coffee, I’m rolling. That’s what happens when you live out West but cover an East Coast sales territory for 10 years.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
Chad Probst. I reported to Chad for over 10 years. He may seem like a tough guy, but he is one of the most caring people I’ve ever met. He taught me that, as a sales leader, you work for your team. Not the other way around!
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
I wish I could say something amazing like I am the best listener, but my wife would call me out in a minute. However, I think I am great at being different. I never want to be THAT sales guy.
What do you like most about this industry?
I grew up in an blue-collar, UAW Indiana town. This industry has always felt blue-collar to me.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
Innovation. I heard someway say the other day that they are innovating with emails and texts. If I’ve been doing something for 30 years, it’s not innovation. We cannot just think outside the box. We need to create a whole new box!
Describe a typical work day.
My day always starts the night before. I’m a list guy so the last thing I do every day is make the next day’s list. Up at 4 am, feed and walk the dogs, workout, and then either to the office or home office. Mornings are busiest due to the east coast. Zoom and calls all day. Then about 3 pm I can start throttling back and clean out the inbox and Slack messages. Rinse and repeat!
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
Money is no object? I’d run an animal rescue. I have to pay the bills? I’d work with my wife building her real estate empire.
The Getting to Know Series is Sponsored By:
What is your guilty pleasure?
My wife watches a ton of reality shows and I pretend not to watch. Oh, I watch.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Chad Probst: It’s not that hard to be different. You can thank him for all the video emails in your inboxes.
What are you currently reading?
“Missing Lands” by Freddie Silva. I love ancient history.
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
My wife and I eloped on a safari in Kenya and were married by Samburu tribal elders. AMAZING!
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Not sure who has done all these so here is a list to choose from:
- Michael Loscavio – REPAY
- Mary McDaniel – Compumail
- Jon Balon – Williams & Fudge
- Dennis Barton – Barton Law Group
- Aaron Reiter – InterProse
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.
