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.
If there is one reason for the accounts receivable management industry to be thankful for the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, it’s that without it, the industry likely might never have had the chance to work with Justin Russell. Russell’s beginnings in the industry may be linked to the start of the CFPB, but his tenure has been spent trying to keep his employer off the Bureau’s radar. Read on to learn more about Russell, his love of golf, and his specialty in the kitchen.
Name: Justin C. Russell, Esq.
Job Title: Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, Director of Legal Services
Company: Vengroff Williams, Inc. (“VWi”) and affiliates
Length of Time at Current Company: 10 years
Length of Time in Industry: 9 years
How did you get your start in the industry?
The establishment of the CFPB created a need for a designated Compliance Officer at VWi. I flew to Atlanta for the ACA’s introduction to CFPB compliance, and the rest is history.
What is your career highlight so far?
Working with Rick Perr and winning case against David Barshay. A negative case result would have had industry wide impact, and due to Rick and Monica Littman’s hard work and resolve in the case, we prevailed on summary judgment. When he sent me the decision that evening, I was ecstatic. I haven’t slept that well since before my kids were born!
When or how are you most productive?
After my first coffee.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
Rick Perr. His professionalism and depth of knowledge in the industry is unmatched, on top of being a really nice person and a decent golfer! Working with him and his team over the last several years, and talking with him at the conferences and getting to know him professionally as well as personally has been very rewarding.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
Smile.
What do you like most about this industry?
The people. Having close to a decade in the business, the colleagues and friends I have met over the years are some of the best around. Once you are in this circle, you start knowing the faces and learning everyone’s names. It has been such a benefit actually getting to know the individuals, and how helpful everyone is. Whether it is at the conferences, attending the webinars, reading the message boards or the industry websites, you feel a connection within the industry and the people that transcends into more of a personal relationship. It is a great benefit to be able to call our industry experts on the phone or even a text, and seek guidance while also hearing how their weekend was.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
Bringing the regulations into this century. Most of the industry vets I think will agree that the regulations seem so antiquated, especially as it relates to omnichannel contact.
Describe a typical work day.
Getting my two boys dressed and fed, and off to daycare. Then coming in-office for the majority of the day, putting out any fires, working through my inbox, zoom/skype meetings, reviewing all vendor/compliance/contracting/legal action items that are still pending, talking with my staff and checking in with all business unit leaders. I think my workday is atypical in that everything is based on priority, and multitasking is at a premium. It keeps things interesting though.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
Probably working for the same company, just in a different capacity. We have multiple business units at VWi, and I started in subrogation. I would probably be working in that field, or in a corporate counsel type of role. I think I am past my expiration date for litigating!
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What is your guilty pleasure?
Golf – it is great to step away from your cellphone or laptop, or even daily minutia and focus your efforts entirely on something challenging. Golf brings that passion out of me.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Stay humble and stay hungry because as I read on a golf ball one time, you are either at the table or on the menu.
What are you currently reading?
“Is This Anything” – Jerry Seinfeld
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
I love to cook and I make my own thin crust pizzas known as “Russ Pies.”
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Ari Derman – General Counsel at Harris & Harris.
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
