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.
When he was unable to find a collection platform to replace a legacy system, Dan Berezowski went out and built his own. And, 15 years later, the software is still in production. Maybe it was his curiosity that sparked Dan to challenge himself. Or maybe it was his passion for solving problems. Read on to learn more about Dan, why he loves amusement parks, and the difference between getting things done and moving things forward.
Name: Dan Berezowski
Job Title: Vice President Operations and Business Intelligence
Company: Castle Credit Co Holdings, LLC
Length of time at current company: Eight years
Length of time in industry: 25 years
How did you get your start in the industry?
About a year into my professional journey, I was offered an opportunity with a creditor primarily known for financing encyclopedias. As paper gave way to the digital era, they began diversifying into new products and services. I joined as a programmer/analyst, but quickly gravitated toward driving change—leading initiatives in digital enhancements and transformation. That experience laid the foundation for modernizing systems and shaping operational efficiency within the organizations I’ve been a part of.
What is your career highlight so far?
One of the proudest moments in my career was developing a custom collections-based customer relationship management system. At the time, it replaced a legacy system that struggled to meet evolving needs. The new solution brought significant operational improvements, streamlined workflows, and enhanced compliance capabilities. What I find most rewarding is that, more than 15 years later, it’s still in production—adaptable, resilient, and a testament to thoughtful design that has continued to serve users and keep pace with change.
When or how are you most productive?
Early in my career, I believed I worked best independently, like on an island, focusing purely on personal output. But over time, especially being able to work under multiple executives and within several teams, I discovered how much more I could contribute by collaborating and leading. Today, I’m most productive when guiding a team toward meaningful improvements across the organization. I thrive in environments where I can share my knowledge, develop others, and foster success. It’s not just about getting things done, it’s about moving things forward.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
I tend to admire those leaders who have technical knowhow along with a vision for the future. Those who are looking beyond the next year can really help keep the focus on moving forward. I’ve worked with a few others I found to be great, most recently I’ve worked with Lamar Lee and Elisha Werner who were able to talk tech even without the full technical background and put an understanding on how to keep things moving forward with a future in mind.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
I’d say I’m like a Swiss Army knife—adaptable, resourceful, and always ready to help improve a process. I have a knack for connecting dots that others might overlook, largely because I take time to understand how each step or system really works. That curiosity allows me to spot inefficiencies, bridge gaps, and offer solutions that make operations smoother and smarter. Whether it’s technical troubleshooting or workflow optimization, I tend to find a way to be useful.
What do you like most about this industry?
Simple, it’s not an assembly line.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
Having compliance simplified. At times, it seems all over the place and can really be daunting to keep up with how all the jurisdictions want to handle things.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
If not finance, I could see myself at an IT company that helps build custom platforms for customers like finance companies, or for companies looking for things like a communications engine or similar.
Describe a typical work day.
Days start with checking emails, review some reports to see how the collections team is doing, checking in with the managers for any concerns that have come up and preparing feedback for the executive team.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Amusement/theme parks, just getting to a different place.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
The best advice I ever received was about the realities of leadership growth. Moving from one level to the next isn’t always seamless and some transitions come naturally, while others require deep personal reflection and a complete shift in how you lead. Not everyone is built to adjust to those changes, and that’s okay. What matters most is understanding ones own limits.
What are you currently reading?
As much news as I can consume around AI.
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
I never stop thinking, so I’m always looking for a better way or an answer to a problem.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Brian Cox of Goal Solutions, Daniel Budde of HFS Financial, and Eric Olson of ClarityPay.
