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.
Her daughter’s slight oversimplification aside, Heather Taylor loves being able to flex her creative muscles every day as the director of marketing at State. The flexing allows her to do one of the things she does best — create something from nothing. Read on to learn more about Heather, why the relationships she has built in her career in this industry matter so much to her, and the international geographic connection that she shares with a certain individual in the industry whose name rhymes with Bike Bibb.
Name: Heather Taylor
Job Title: Director of Marketing
Company: State
Length of time at current company: Five years
Length of time in industry: 25 years
How did you get your start in the industry?
Like so many, I fell into it inadvertently. In 1999, I was in the job market for a corporate marketing or PR position. Ontario Systems (now Finvi) was a well-respected, local company and I was thrilled to join their marketing team.
What is your career highlight so far?
While there are specific projects that I have loved, and I take pride in the growth of the organizations I’ve been privileged to be a part of, the highlight is the relationships I’ve built with so many amazing professionals that characterize this industry.
When or how are you most productive?
In the morning, especially if I can keep myself away from email until after my most important project of the day is completed.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
There are so many but I’ll limit the list to one individual who taught me so much early in my career – Wil Davis, Ontario Systems co-founder.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
I’m not sure I’d say that I’m better than everyone else (that’s a pretty bold claim!) but my superpower is creating something from nothing – whether a new go-to-market plan, a new strategy, or just a new piece of content. I love working with a blank slate and bringing a project to life.
What do you like most about this industry?
The people in this industry are kind, thoughtful professionals who I feel blessed to work with every day.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
The perception of who we are and what we do by regulators and the public.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
Either marketing in another industry or focusing my efforts on running the athletic training facility my husband and I own.
Describe a typical work day.
My daughter would tell you my day consists of sending emails, talking on the phone, and drinking coffee. She’s not wrong.
What I love is that every day is different but generally includes writing, creative thinking, interaction with the Great State Team, hopefully some laughter – as well as lots of emails, meetings and, coffee!
What is your guilty pleasure?
Massages, facials, and dark chocolate.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
This was difficult to choose! So many people have poured into my life as a professional, spouse, mother, community member, and entrepreneur. I have found the saying “When the student is ready, the teacher appears” to be true.
A piece of advice I keep coming back currently is: You have to be willing to be terrible at something in order to become an expert at anything.
What are you currently reading?
Lately, I’ve been reading obscure biographies and am finding it to be a fascinating lens through which to view historical events. I recently finished “A Slave in the White House” about Paul Jennings, a slave of James Madison. I’m currently reading “The House by the Lake” that shares the story of five different families in Germany who lived in a single house (by a lake – thus the title) over the course of 80 years beginning in the 1920’s.
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
Fun fact for the AccountsRecovery.net audience – Mike Gibb and I both grew up in Windsor, Ontario (but didn’t know each other then).
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Amelia Anderson
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.
Her daughter’s slight oversimplification aside, Heather Taylor loves being able to flex her creative muscles every day as the director of marketing at State. The flexing allows her to do one of the things she does best — create something from nothing. Read on to learn more about Heather, why the relationships she has built in her career in this industry matter so much to her, and the international geographic connection that she shares with a certain individual in the industry whose name rhymes with Bike Bibb.
Name: Heather Taylor
Job Title: Director of Marketing
Company: State
Length of time at current company: Five years
Length of time in industry: 25 years
How did you get your start in the industry?
Like so many, I fell into it inadvertently. In 1999, I was in the job market for a corporate marketing or PR position. Ontario Systems (now Finvi) was a well-respected, local company and I was thrilled to join their marketing team.
What is your career highlight so far?
While there are specific projects that I have loved, and I take pride in the growth of the organizations I’ve been privileged to be a part of, the highlight is the relationships I’ve built with so many amazing professionals that characterize this industry.
When or how are you most productive?
In the morning, especially if I can keep myself away from email until after my most important project of the day is completed.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
There are so many but I’ll limit the list to one individual who taught me so much early in my career – Wil Davis, Ontario Systems co-founder.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
I’m not sure I’d say that I’m better than everyone else (that’s a pretty bold claim!) but my superpower is creating something from nothing – whether a new go-to-market plan, a new strategy, or just a new piece of content. I love working with a blank slate and bringing a project to life.
What do you like most about this industry?
The people in this industry are kind, thoughtful professionals who I feel blessed to work with every day.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
The perception of who we are and what we do by regulators and the public.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
Either marketing in another industry or focusing my efforts on running the athletic training facility my husband and I own.
Describe a typical work day.
My daughter would tell you my day consists of sending emails, talking on the phone, and drinking coffee. She’s not wrong.
What I love is that every day is different but generally includes writing, creative thinking, interaction with the Great State Team, hopefully some laughter – as well as lots of emails, meetings and, coffee!
What is your guilty pleasure?
Massages, facials, and dark chocolate.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
This was difficult to choose! So many people have poured into my life as a professional, spouse, mother, community member, and entrepreneur. I have found the saying “When the student is ready, the teacher appears” to be true.
A piece of advice I keep coming back currently is: You have to be willing to be terrible at something in order to become an expert at anything.
What are you currently reading?
Lately, I’ve been reading obscure biographies and am finding it to be a fascinating lens through which to view historical events. I recently finished “A Slave in the White House” about Paul Jennings, a slave of James Madison. I’m currently reading “The House by the Lake” that shares the story of five different families in Germany who lived in a single house (by a lake – thus the title) over the course of 80 years beginning in the 1920’s.
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
Fun fact for the AccountsRecovery.net audience – Mike Gibb and I both grew up in Windsor, Ontario (but didn’t know each other then).
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Amelia Anderson
