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The one thing that Greg Reffner wants you to know about him is that he might not be that easy to get to know. A self-proclaimed introvert who avoids social media, his journey into the credit and collection industry started quietly, but he’s finding it harder and harder to avoid the spotlight as his company continues to grow. Read on to learn more about Greg, the author and snack that he is most addicted to, and how a BMW helped get him where he is today.
Name: Greg Reffner
Job Title: CEO
Company: Abstrakt
Length of time at current company:5.5 years
Length of time in industry: 5.5 years
How did you get your start in the industry?
I was a personal trainer, and had a client whose son was in software sales. I got connected with him, he showed up driving a BMW M3 at 22 years old to Starbucks, told me he worked in shorts and sandals and I was sold. The next day I started applying for software sales jobs.
What is your career highlight so far?
First ever paying customer on Abstrakt, no question. We ended up churning them shortly after, but getting that first deposit in the bank account was unlike any feeling I’ve ever had in my career.
When or how are you most productive?
It depends. For meetings, I like to knock them out in the morning when I know I will have to be actively talking/engaged. Follow up and emails, definitely more a night owl after I put my boys to bed at night when the house is quiet and I can think.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
If I had to pick one though, I would say I’m a really good dad and husband. No one else better even come try to beat me at those 🙂 Honestly, I don’t like this question, because I don’t know everyone else, so it’s impossible to say I do one thing better than everyone else. It would be extremely arrogant of me to have a response to that question as it relates to business or the industry we are in.
What do you like most about this industry?
It tests my patience everyday.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
The rate at which decisions are made. The Receivables Management space moves very slow compared to previous industries I’ve been in. It’s a tough spot companies find themselves in, however the clients who are looking for agencies are hungry for evolution.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
Airforce PJ
Describe a typical work day.
Usually up at 3:30 or 4 am, breakfast, gym, home for first meeting at 7:30 or 8 am, meetings until around 4 then off to sports for one of my boys. Dinner, bed time for the boys, emails and then I do Yoga for an hour a night at least five days a week.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Cheez-Its. It’s a problem.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Pick your hard. You can spend your entire career wondering if you are going to get fired, or not feeling appreciated. Or you can spend your career struggling to meet payroll, and pay your mortgage if your business fails. Hard is going to always be a constant, pick which one you want.
What are you currently reading?
Brad Thor – “Edge of Honor.” I’ve read all of his previous 24 books and have a minor addiction.
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
Honestly, I purposefully don’t have an Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, TikTok etc because I prefer to not have folks know much about me. I’m definitely an introvert, so not sharing much about myself to the “outside world” is the status quo for me. Maybe that’s something everyone can know about it!
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
CEO of Prodigal, CEO of Sedric.
