I would like to see women continue to break glass ceilings, gain professional voices, and positively impact the ARM industry, says ACA member Vennesa Gamboa.
3/30/2021 9:00
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 career fields in the U.S., according to The Library of Congress Women’s History Month website.
ACA International represents a diverse industry. Women make up a high percentage of collection agents when compared to the workforce, according to research from Kaulkin Ginsberg and ACA. Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Current Population Survey, which studies trends in the labor force, reveals that 66% of bill and account collectors identified as female.
In this week’s member spotlight, Vennesa Gamboa, president and CEO of The Phoenix Recovery Group, explains her perspective on the significance of Women’s History Month and how it can be a reminder to value the women in this industry.
Q. What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
A. Women’s History Month reminds me of the sacrifices, perseverance, and determination of the female trailblazers before me, to whom I am very grateful. Women’s History Month is a month of gratitude, reflection and a subtle reminder of the daily struggle that individual women continue to endure, despite the overwhelming political, social, and economic triumphs of previous generations.
Q. How do you celebrate and honor Women’s History Month on a personal level and/or at your company?
A. We pride ourselves on embracing our employees, community and clients’ needs and attributes while understanding that each plays a crucial role to the success of our business during Women’s History Month and throughout the year.
We enjoy highlighting every milestone and accomplishment that lends to the core of why our team is so dynamic. By celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Black History Month, Women’s History Month and our local fiesta celebration, we are able to honor who we are and the communities that have built our business over the last 20 years.
Q. How is your company embracing diversity and inclusion among your team and in the industry, both this month and year-round?
A. As a female- and minority-owned business in San Antonio, The Phoenix Recovery Group consistently strives to provide a culture of diversity and inclusion. Internally, The Phoenix Recovery Group employs individuals of varying socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and gender in leadership roles to manage any biases, engage in constructive feedback from employees, and encourage open discussion of concerns. Externally, our 20-year tenure as a reputable collection agency has helped us gain trust from our local community, resulting in a diverse clientele. Being in the heart of an area with a prominent Hispanic culture, The Phoenix Recovery Group recognizes the significance and gravity of diversity in the workplace and endeavors to create an inclusive environment internally and externally.
Q. What current role do you see women playing in the ARM industry?
A. Women are robust and diligent in nature, gravitating toward a “Get it done!” mentality. I see women playing a major role in setting compliance standards across the accounts receivable management (ARM) industry. Women are leading and will continue to lead the ARM industry.
Q. Do you have any suggestions for other companies working on educational and inclusiveness programs in the industry?
A. Regarding educational and inclusiveness programs for collection agencies, I have always been a proponent of programs that allow working mothers to flourish professionally and personally. As a working mother myself, I can speak directly to the exceptional obstacles I have been forced to overcome in the workforce. It is evident that working mothers play a vital role in our industry, yet they are forced to choose between their professional or personal growth. Inclusiveness is not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status, but rather it should incorporate familial status. At The Phoenix Recovery Group, we maintain an open mind with all employees and their families, which allows for a substantial work-life balance. We believe that by supporting our employees and their family ties, we are causing them to in turn continue to strive and blossom in their professional roles.
A. 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. As indicated above, I would like to see women continuing to break glass ceilings, gain professional voices, and impact the ARM industry positively. During these unprecedented times, the ARM industry has encountered record-breaking unemployment rates. With that being said, the economy is continuing to regain strength, resulting in the ARM industry potentially reaching historical growth year after year. As such, it is imperative that the ARM industry promote and encourage training to ensure the ease of compliance. For example, we encourage bi-directional transparency, which is often severely unappreciated. Such transparency is necessary and crucial to preventing potential risks in the ARM industry. Education and training will promote success and longevity within agencies.
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.
The WICRC is hosting a meeting during the 2021 Washington Insights Virtual Fly-In April 22. Members Fran Fisher, business development manager at Payscout, Pauline Kussart, president of The Stark Collection Agency, and Anita Manghisi, IFCCE, president of Independent Recovery Resources Inc., will moderate a discussion with women leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Registration for the event is open now.
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!