In this Women’s History Month member spotlight, Debra Ciskey, chair of the Women in Collections Resource Council and executive vice president of CACi, recognizes the strides women have made in the ARM industry and beyond.
03/07/2022 2:00 P.M.
4 minute read
Women make up a significant portion of the accounts receivable management (ARM) industry’s workforce, including as leaders, business owners and advocates. In recognition of Women’s History Month, ACA International is featuring some of those members as well as staff in ACA Daily.
Women’s History Month originated from a weekly national celebration in 1981. In 1987, Congress designated March as Women’s History Month to recognize the achievements of women in various U.S. career fields, according to The Library of Congress Women’s History Month website.
In this week’s member spotlight, Debra Ciskey, CCCO, chair of the Women in Collections Resource Council (WICRC) and executive vice president of CACi, recognizes and celebrates the strides women have made in the ARM industry and beyond.
If you’re interested in learning more about networking, mentoring and events for women in the ARM industry, check out ACA’s Women in Collections Resource Council and its group on The Hub.
Q. What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
A. Women’s History Month means two things to me. First, it gives us the opportunity to celebrate the women who have been our mentors in the current day and to remember those from the generations before ours who shed their blood, sweat and tears to help women obtain the rights we have today, to which we have always been entitled. It reminds us to carry on—while we have come a long way, we have much further to go! Second, the fact that we need to have Women’s History Month means that the contributions that women have made in our history have been either ignored or discounted, which needs to change.
Q. How do you celebrate and honor Women’s History Month on a personal level and/or at your company?
A. Personally, I think about the lessons I learned from my mother, my grandmothers, my aunts, and other strong women who have touched my life in ways they may have never known. It makes me resolve to be more like them and be active in my support of other women regardless of their need.
Q. What current role do you see women playing in the ARM industry?
A. Women make up more than 70% of the collections workforce.What would happen if we all decided to go elsewhere? Women are the backbone of the workforce in the collection industry.
Q. Who inspires you among women in history or in your life? Why?
A. My mother provides the prime inspiration for me. She was accomplished in work and her family life. My sister is also an inspiration to me, especially in how she has achieved her goals despite life challenges that seemed unsurmountable.
Q. What would you like to see for the future of women in the ARM industry and what can we as an industry do to help accomplish that?
A. I would like to see more women in leadership positions at ACA International. One of our goals in the WICRC is to provide opportunities for networking with other women so that we can learn more about our members and help them learn more about the leadership opportunities ACA has to offer.
Q. Could you talk a little bit about the upcoming March 10 WICRC Water Cooler Chat and what topics will be covered?
A. We’ve had fantastic conversations in the first two Water Cooler Chats. Our topics are decided by each month’s host, and to make the conversation timely, the topics are not laid out in advance. Participants can be sure they will have the opportunity to meet new friends and ask questions about things that are keeping them awake at night. Anyone who would like to suggest a topic can do so in our WICRC discussion group on The Hub.
Q. What features can attendees of ACA IGNITE 2022 expect at the WICRC event?
A. The WICRC event at IGNITE 2022 is designed to provide an opportunity to network and meet other participants in a collegial atmosphere. There isn’t an agenda—just come, have a drink, relax and meet new friends in the industry. Bring plenty of business cards to exchange.
Upcoming Events
The WICRC hosts its monthly Water Cooler Chat on the second Thursday of the month. The Water Cooler Chat is organized as an uplifting, professional 30-minute networking event fueled by Ciskey and the WICRC. Complete a one-time registration for the online event here, and make sure to attend the upcoming chat, March 10 from 1-1:30 p.m. CST.
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. Simply 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.