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.
Dealing with consumers all day, every day, can deaden even the softest of hearts. Jeff Pappas has been where many of those consumers are and never loses sight of the fact that bad things can happen to good people. It speaks to his positive outlook on life that he hasn’t lost that perspective. Read on to learn more about Jeff, why he’d be a good resource not just for for book recommendations, but if you are ever looking for good ribs, too.
Name: Jeff Pappas
Job Title: Assistant General Counsel
Company: Absolute Resolutions Corp.
Length of time at current company: 11 months
Length of time in industry: 20 plus years
How did you get your start in the industry?
After clerking for a Judge in northern Minnesota, I applied for several jobs around the Minneapolis area and ended up working at Messerli and Kramer. It was in a location near where I grew up and I really connected with Bill Hicks. I found I liked the job and the people.
What is your career highlight so far?
Getting this job was definitely a high for me. I enjoy the aspects of being in house and the variety. When I was practicing, I won a jury trial against a man of the cloth which was a bit interesting. I also won an appeal and obtained good case law for our industry. I’m also proud of a legacy of good rapport with the bench and consumers.
When or how are you most productive?
In the morning when I get in, I want to crank things out and set up the rest of the day.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
Probably Manny Newburger. He was someone with a national voice before anyone else. If we had questions about things we would try to figure out where he was going.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
I have a knack for spotting errors and issues. I also seem to have a knack for calming down irate and frustrated debtors.
What do you like most about this industry?
It’s pretty clinical without a lot of drama. I appreciate how much documentation we have now. Back in the day it was the wild west. Now we have very detailed documents so our cases are fairly neat. I also enjoy not having billable hours. Now that I’m on the client side I see it’s much more sophisticated than I imagined. A lot goes into vetting portfolios and ensuring compliance.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
I think sometimes we get jaded and view consumers through a certain lens that distorts who they really are. I’ve met a lot of people over the years and virtually all would rather not be in their situation. No one wants a handout or to experience hardship, most want to pay what they owe if they could. I’ve also been on the other side. Years ago, I had a small business that failed when the housing market took a dive. I know what it’s like to have the sheriff hand a complaint to your spouse and to sit in a courtroom filled with creditors.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
I would probably have gone into criminal law. It’s fascinating and can really impact people’s lives. I thought originally, I would go into the FBI, but decided I did not want to carry a weapon when two Capital guards were killed while I was in law school.
Describe a typical work day.
It varies day to day. Typically, I check my email to put out any small fires or work small projects. I also have to reply to some compliance issues that come up day to
day. I keep track of lawsuits that ARC is a party to and communicate with counsel to get them resolved and/or defended.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Swedish Fish…assorted. I also love to get ribs from the best BBQ joint in Minneapolis – Ted Cooks 19th hole BBQ. The pork ribs are better than Dave’s or other famous places I tried in Des Moines and St. Louis.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
I got a lot of good advice from my friend and mentor Derrick Weber at Messerli and Kramer. I was always pointing out issues I discovered and Derrick encouraged me to look for “solutions” instead of just problems. He also encouraged me to think like an owner of the firm and treat staff like the client. I also love the advice one of my friends gave his kids who played hockey and football with mine – “you can work hard now and play the rest of your life, or you can play now and work hard the rest of your life.”
What are you currently reading?
I read a lot. Right now I’m reading one of the Prey series books by John Sanford, they’re set in our area and fun to read. I also like Dean Koontz, Lee Child, and David
Baldacci. I love to go to goodwill and gather up books. I keep a list of ones I’ve read, currently have or need on my phone so I don’t buy them again….which I’ve done.
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
I’m a pretty handy person and enjoy woodworking. Also, even though I’m naturally endowed by the Creator with goonish qualities, I’m a big teddy bear.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Michael Johnson at Jefferson Capital
