I am thrilled to announce that the Getting to Know series will be sponsored by TEC Services Group in 2024. TEC Services Group is the leading technology and professional services firm in the credit collections industry offering both leading industry solutions along with unrivaled, unbiased, and experienced support. TEC is now extending its services by offering proven, industry-leading technology solutions alongside of our Professional Services to help Clients feel confident in their technology decisions. Learn more at ww.tecsg.com.
Ryan Herber may be new to the ARM industry, but he has been hearing about it for years on the golf course when sharing rounds with his new boss, David Kelley. A change of scenery may have brought Herber to the industry, but it’s people like Kelley who have Herber wanting to stay for a while. Read on to learn more about Ryan, why he feeds on pressure, and why sour gummy candy is never safe when he’s around.
Name: Ryan Herber
Job Title: Director of Sales and Marketing
Company: Preferred Group of Tampa
Length of time at current company: I actually was just recently employed by PGOT.
Length of time in industry: While there has been an intentional plan to educate and equip myself to know and work in the ARM industry that started several months ago, I’ve only been in the industry just under a month!
How did you get your start in the industry?
I had been working as a commodities trader in the lumber industry for a little over four years and due to many reasons, I felt a change of scenery was needed. Over the years, David Kelley (President & CEO) would mention to me during rounds of golf the potential of coming to work with him, and after quite some time, the timing was right for us all.
What is your career highlight so far?
Both the personal and professional growth I have been able to accomplish over the years. Lumber was such a strong market during covid so of course everyone’s businesses grew, however when that market crashed, I still managed to grow my business by over 20% in one of the largest down markets the industry had ever seen. This taught me so much about sales and myself personally and really helped me realize that you can only control what you can control and once you focus on that, great things will happen in all aspects of your life.
When or how are you most productive?
I feel the most productive when I have music playing. Whether its Study music, or country, or even 70’s/80’s rock, it just helps me to drown out all the other noise and distractions.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
It has to be David and Paulette Kelley, and I am not just saying that because they are my bosses! David and Paulette have known me basically my whole life, and I have not met two individuals so committed and dedicated to this job more than them. They both have helped to grow this company and its legacy over almost 40 years. I could not have asked for better people to work for and they have both done everything they can to help me get into this industry and hit the ground running! David also makes a great scramble partner with a killer short game…
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
I just started in this industry and I am too young to do anything particularly well. I have too much to learn from my peers, management, industry leaders, and mentors. I think I listen and comprehend messages well while working to properly respond to people of all positions. I’ll have to let you know how I am doing in a few years!
What do you like most about this industry?
The people no doubt. While I am still young in the industry, the people that I have been able to listen in to on webinars, or others in my office, everyone is just so genuine. I came from an office that was very much “me for me” type of mentality, but everyone that I have been able to meet so far wants everyone to succeed.
The Getting to Know Series is Sponsored By:
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
Not to sound like a broken record, but public perception. All we want to do is help out the consumer with an incredibly tough situation they are in, but the consumer just hears “debt collector” and next thing you know click.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
I would probably go back to working in the golf industry. Some of my best friends have come from the courses I worked at, as well as anytime at a golf course is a fantastic networking opportunity if you know where to look!
Describe a typical work day.
As I am just now getting into the industry, I start all my mornings in an “education time” for myself with various industry news and information outlets which always includes the Accounts Recovery Daily Digest. I’ll also spend some time daily reading up on old ACA articles or past MG webinars to try and learn as much as I can. I’ll break those up with other projects here we are working as well as sitting with our collectors and support staff and continuing to learn everything about who we are and why we do what we do.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Sour gummy candy. Please do not put a bag of any sour gummy candy in front of me…
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Pressure is a privilege. Growing up playing golf, tennis and baseball, pressure was always there and I never coped with it the best and would tend to fold, until I learned this and applied it. I don’t look at pressure as something to be scared of anymore, but more of something to be thankful for.
What are you currently reading?
“Find your Why” by Simon Sinek
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
I am a helper. All I want to do for everyone is help them to find the potential in themselves and push to get them to that point.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Irene Hoheusle
The Getting to Know series is sponsored by TEC Services Group. TEC Services Group is the leading technology and professional services firm in the credit collections industry offering both leading industry solutions along with unrivaled, unbiased, and experienced support. TEC is now extending its services by offering proven, industry-leading technology solutions alongside of our Professional Services to help Clients feel confident in their technology decisions. Learn more at ww.tecsg.com
