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Restauranteur … Musician in a family bluegrass band … Church pastor … Collection operation general manager. It’s safe to say that Chris Canote doesn’t mind choosing the road less taken. And it’s a good thing the road less taken isn’t very busy, because Chris and his wife have 10 kids to bring along with them on their journey. Read on to learn more about Chris, how he straddles being an introvert and an extrovert (and has the term to prove it), and why he is proud to call himself a coffee snob.
Name: Chris Canote
Job Title: General Manager
Company: Hawthorn Recovery Services, Inc.
Length of time at current company: 8 months
Length of time in industry: I have worked in the industry now for a total of 13 years. I left twice. I left for a year early on when my family moved out of state. We moved back and I picked up where I left off working my way up the ladder over the years to eventually become vice president of operations. Twelve years after returning, I left, again this time to follow a lifelong dream of opening a restaurant and from there on to many years as a traveling gospel bluegrass musician in a family band, a missionary and a church pastor. In 2024, I retired from full-time ministry and found myself back in the collection industry.
How did you get your start in the industry?
In 1990, I was 21 years old and married with two children. I had a family to support and just needed a full-time job to add to my two part-time jobs. My career in the collection industry began when I applied for a data entry position but was thankfully hired as a telephone collector instead.
What is your career highlight so far?
There have been many over the years. But a career highlight of note for me has been in my current position, in playing a key role in the successful restructuring of some systems and processes along with attention to the team and culture in the office. The results of have been measurable and rewarding.
When or how are you most productive?
I find I am most productive in the early morning hours. I prefer to arrive before anyone else which helps me to zero in on the tasks and projects for the day, run production reports, etc. uninterrupted.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
I have had the pleasure and great privilege during all of my time in this industry to work closely with Bonnie Allen, founder and president of Hawthorn Recovery Services. Her leadership and mentoring abilities have impacted me professionally and personally in positive ways. I am so grateful for the investment she has made in me professionally and for the example she sets with her leadership and work ethic.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
I cannot say I do anything better than anyone else. But I have often been the one in the room who does not have a knee-jerk reaction but instead am more likely to respond calmly and only after careful thought. Though I am probably more of an ambivert (part introvert, part extravert) I see myself more as a quiet leader which is rooted in my introvert tendencies. The rub for me is not allowing those introvert tendencies to slip into the realm of just being passive aggressive.
What do you like most about this industry?
Helping consumers and helping our clients is at the core of our culture and values as an agency. I enjoy the reward of helping others find resolution to what can be a difficult and stressful financial situation. I also enjoy the satisfaction found in having a role not only in a significant impact on the bottom line of our client partners but also in helping them achieve their strategic goals.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
The negative image and perception many people have of the collection industry. Though Hollywood and sensationalized news articles help perpetrate misinformation and the negative image many in the world have today, it is often and unfortunately the result of real live actual bad actors from within our own industry.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
I have already worn many hats over the years both in and out of full-time ministry. Most have been related to serving others in some capacity. I think I might have enjoyed a career as a school teacher.
Describe a typical work day.
I am not sure there is a typical workday. But most of them start out the same. I prefer to arrive early, have the daily reports run, the goals board posted, and to find a new motivational message for the inspiration board before anyone else arrives for the day.
What is your guilty pleasure?
My biggest guilty pleasure would probably be coffee. My blood-coffee-level runs high and caffeinated. In my younger days, I would drink just about any coffee available including reheating cold coffee from the morning. My taste in coffee has been refined over the years. I own that I am now a bit of a coffee snob.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Some of the best advice I was ever given was this: Don’t react when others act out. And to be fair, it is often much easier said than done. The way people treat you generally says everything about them and little to nothing about you. That side eye look, the rude comment, the temper tantrum, etc. are probably not really about you. It is more often a reflection of how they feel about themselves.
What are you currently reading?
I am about 15 books in on a John Grisham binge. I am currently reading his book, “The Rooster Bar.”
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
My wife of 38 years and I had 10 children together. The oldest is 37 and the youngest is 12. It took us nearly 30 years to have 10 kids. But it feels like it only took us five minutes to have 10…now 11 grandchildren!
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
It only seems fair that Mike Gibb should have to answer these questions! [EDITOR’S NOTE: Not going to happen, but I am very flattered to be asked]
