Janneen Jackson may be new to the accounts receivable management industry, but she is one of the most experienced rookies the industry has seen in a while. Having spent 14 years in the debt settlement industry, Jackson knows her way around collections. Her plan now is to become an expert in collections, just as she did in debt settlement. Read on to learn more about Janneen, her newfound love of painting, and why she begins and ends her days on the same website.
Name: Janneen Jackson
Current Role/Job Title: VP, Business Development
Company: Phillips & Cohen Associates, Ltd.
Length of time at current company: Four months
Length of time in industry: Four months
How did you get your start in the industry?
I met Matt Saperstein and Lance Phair at several conferences, over several years, while working for Americor, a Nationwide debt settlement company as VP, Business Relationship Management. Over those years of working together in our opposite roles, we developed a great rapport between our companies.
During our last meeting together, Lance discussed SettleNOW, PCA’s fully automated debt settlement recovery platform (and service) that enabled them to identify and settle out more debts through automating the entire debt settlement process from start to finish, in a safe and centralized environment. PCA was already working with more than 100 debt settlement companies, and this automation gave them a clear advantage over other collection agencies.
I knew that having automation all the way through the debt settlement process to manage large bulk transactions, including receipt of settlement letters within minutes of an offer being accepted was a big deal to Americor, and to the debt settlement Industry as a whole. It meant that more consumers could see a quicker settlement.
It wasn’t long after that I took the leap over to Phillips and Cohen.
What is your career highlight so far?
My career highlight to date, which has only been a few months, has been to meet with several large banks and fintech companies that are interested in SettleNOW.
When or how are you most productive?
I am definitely most productive after several cups of tea in the morning.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
Ah, that’s easy. I am lucky enough to work with Amy Perkins here at PCA. Not only is she well known and respected in the industry, and a co-founder of Women in Consumer Finance, but she also walks the walk. Amy has gone out of her way to support me in my transition into collection and recovery.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
I would have to say that the one thing I do better than most would be to connect with people. It’s an excuse to get to know people personally and professionally. These connections become friends as well as business partners.
What do you like most about this industry?
I like the fact that it’s a sophisticated, global industry and provides many opportunities for growth.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
This one is easy. I’d like to educate the industry on what debt settlement is today. I find that there is a lot of misinformation around the subject and that decisions are based on incorrect or old assumptions.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
I’d be working in finance in some way. Maybe working for a fintech startup?
Describe a typical work day
I always start with LinkedIn and try to post daily. Then I review and return my emails. Next, I call or email my contacts to discuss SettleNow and set up appointments to walk them through a demo. Interlaced with that are meetings with the team. I end my day back on LinkedIn to read all the posts I missed during the day.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Other than chocolate, my guilty pleasure has been to paint. This is a hobby I took up at the start of COVID and have continued. It’s a great way to focus in on the details and forget the day.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
I think when it comes to sales, the best advice I’ve been given is to not over think things. Just begin — you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
What are you currently reading?
For pleasure, I just finished “Spare” by Prince Harry.
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
I began working in debt settlement back in 2008. I have spoken at several industry conferences and am considered an Industry expert on debt settlement.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Matt Saperstein!
Janneen Jackson may be new to the accounts receivable management industry, but she is one of the most experienced rookies the industry has seen in a while. Having spent 14 years in the debt settlement industry, Jackson knows her way around collections. Her plan now is to become an expert in collections, just as she did in debt settlement. Read on to learn more about Janneen, her newfound love of painting, and why she begins and ends her days on the same website.
Name: Janneen Jackson
Current Role/Job Title: VP, Business Development
Company: Phillips & Cohen Associates, Ltd.
Length of time at current company: Four months
Length of time in industry: Four months
How did you get your start in the industry?
I met Matt Saperstein and Lance Phair at several conferences, over several years, while working for Americor, a Nationwide debt settlement company as VP, Business Relationship Management. Over those years of working together in our opposite roles, we developed a great rapport between our companies.
During our last meeting together, Lance discussed SettleNOW, PCA’s fully automated debt settlement recovery platform (and service) that enabled them to identify and settle out more debts through automating the entire debt settlement process from start to finish, in a safe and centralized environment. PCA was already working with more than 100 debt settlement companies, and this automation gave them a clear advantage over other collection agencies.
I knew that having automation all the way through the debt settlement process to manage large bulk transactions, including receipt of settlement letters within minutes of an offer being accepted was a big deal to Americor, and to the debt settlement Industry as a whole. It meant that more consumers could see a quicker settlement.
It wasn’t long after that I took the leap over to Phillips and Cohen.
What is your career highlight so far?
My career highlight to date, which has only been a few months, has been to meet with several large banks and fintech companies that are interested in SettleNOW.
When or how are you most productive?
I am definitely most productive after several cups of tea in the morning.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
Ah, that’s easy. I am lucky enough to work with Amy Perkins here at PCA. Not only is she well known and respected in the industry, and a co-founder of Women in Consumer Finance, but she also walks the walk. Amy has gone out of her way to support me in my transition into collection and recovery.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
I would have to say that the one thing I do better than most would be to connect with people. It’s an excuse to get to know people personally and professionally. These connections become friends as well as business partners.
What do you like most about this industry?
I like the fact that it’s a sophisticated, global industry and provides many opportunities for growth.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
This one is easy. I’d like to educate the industry on what debt settlement is today. I find that there is a lot of misinformation around the subject and that decisions are based on incorrect or old assumptions.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
I’d be working in finance in some way. Maybe working for a fintech startup?
Describe a typical work day
I always start with LinkedIn and try to post daily. Then I review and return my emails. Next, I call or email my contacts to discuss SettleNow and set up appointments to walk them through a demo. Interlaced with that are meetings with the team. I end my day back on LinkedIn to read all the posts I missed during the day.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Other than chocolate, my guilty pleasure has been to paint. This is a hobby I took up at the start of COVID and have continued. It’s a great way to focus in on the details and forget the day.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
I think when it comes to sales, the best advice I’ve been given is to not over think things. Just begin — you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
What are you currently reading?
For pleasure, I just finished “Spare” by Prince Harry.
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
I began working in debt settlement back in 2008. I have spoken at several industry conferences and am considered an Industry expert on debt settlement.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Matt Saperstein!
