Perry shares how she supports her community during Black History Month.
02/23/2023 12:20 P.M.
4.5 minute read
ACA International’s membership and the accounts receivable management (ARM) industry are becoming increasingly diverse. In recognition of that growth and Black History Month, ACA is highlighting Black leaders’ voices in the ARM industry.
The U.S. has recognized Black History Month in February since 1976, when President Gerald R. Ford urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history,” according to blackhistorymonth.com.
Black workers have much higher rates of representation at collection agencies than they do in the general workforce, making up 24% of total bill collectors in 2020, according to research from ACA in partnership with Kaulkin Ginsberg.
Bill collectors work with consumers to recover overdue payments and make up roughly 73% of total collections industry employment.
For Brea Perry, client services performance manager at InvestiNet, Black History Month is about having those “tough” conversations and understanding one another to move toward a more successful future.
“I believe the more we can understand and respect each other, the more we can accept one another’s differences and move forward together,” Perry said.
In this member spotlight, Perry shares the importance of developing educational programs to reach wider demographics, practicing what you preach when it comes to diversity and inclusion efforts, and celebrating Black history.
Q. What is your ethnic background and how do you celebrate it?
A. I am African American, and one of my favorite ways to celebrate my background is by finding and supporting Black-owned businesses around the country!
Q. Why is Black History Month important to you?
A. Black History Month serves as a time to celebrate certain historical figures and events that don’t get attention during the other months of the year. Having that as a focus for one solid month helps inspire more people to listen, learn and have a new appreciation for Black history.
Q. Who has served as an inspiration in your life?
A. Aside from my family, I have had several incredible teachers throughout my life who have gone well beyond their teaching duties to help me grow into the person I am today. They sparked a lifelong passion in me to help ensure kids in my community have access to school supplies, school lunches and books, and I am forever grateful.
Q. What does it mean to you to be part of the ARM industry today?
A. As recently as my mother’s lifetime, Black people in America did not have access to the same financial resources as others, an inequality that was upheld by law in many places. Being in the ARM industry now means being a part of an industry that seeks to help all consumers, regardless of background, to understand their debt and provide the tools they need to manage their debt or become debt-free. I am grateful to play a part in breaking that cycle, and to do it at a company that leads with empathy and consumer dignity at the forefront.
Q. How is your company embracing diversity and inclusion among your team and in the industry, both this month and year-round?
A. My company embraces diversity on one of the most important fronts—hiring! They make sure to externally hire a diverse group of people and are great about promoting from within to ensure diversity across all departments and levels. I have worked in companies that preached diversity before and could not find anyone else who looked like me among my colleagues, but my current company backs up their words with actions, which is great to see.
Q. Do you have any suggestions for other companies working on educational and inclusiveness programs in the industry?
A. When looking to develop educational programs, I think many companies should reach out to a wider audience. I have seen a lot of companies offer education programs, but only at local four-year universities, for example, which excludes a large portion of people. Perhaps they can reach out to two-year colleges, trade schools, popular community businesses, or local charities and shelters to reach more people who would benefit from those resources. I also think companies can work to put educational materials in languages other than English and maybe look to local demographics to make sure the languages offered mirror their specific community.
Q. How do you celebrate and honor Black History Month on a personal level and/or at your company?
A. I am someone who always seeks to keep conversation going when it comes to topics like race, equality and diversity. Even something as simple as the Google Doodles during Black History Month make great conversation starters! I also work on a team that is very receptive to “tough” conversations, and I believe the more we can understand and respect each other, the more we can accept one another’s differences and move forward together.
Do you know a member you would like to see featured in ACA Daily’s Member Spotlight or Collector magazine’s Origin Story? Would you like to share your story? We are also looking to highlight our international members and new members of ACA. Reach out to our communications team at [email protected] with your ideas. We’d love to hear from you!
If you have executive leadership updates or other member news to share with ACA, contact our communications department at [email protected]. View our publications page for more information and our news submission guidelines here.