Executive Profile: Mark Neeb

12/26/2009 7:40:01 AM

 

Age: 50

Job: President/CEO of The Affiliated Group.

Company: Founded in 1923, The Affiliated Group helps creditor clients manage their accounts receivable portfolios by working with consumers to collect both delinquent and charged-off accounts. TAG's Rochester call center currently employs about 100 people and expects to have significant growth in 2010 and 2011. Some may recall that we were also a credit bureau for many years until I and Paul Skovbroten bought the company.

Education: Bachelor's degree in accounting from St. Cloud State University and MBA from The University of St. Thomas.

Experience: I started my career in the accounting profession and was a practicing CPA for 10 years before taking the position of chief financial officer for a large receivables company that is now a competitor of ours. I became TAG's executive vice president in 1992 prior to purchasing the company in 1996.

What book, Web site, television show or movie has left a big impression on you: I'd have to say the book "Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters" by Meg Meeker. Being the father of a 7-year-old girl I'm aware that it's my responsibility to understand the challenges and temptations she'll face as she grows up. Meeker's book helps enlighten fathers on the things only they can do to protect, guide and educate their daughters and the courage to do it. I grew up with three brothers and no sisters so I'm pretty clueless about how to raise a daughter.

Do you use social networking sites? During the past year I've used Facebook to stay in touch with friends. I tend to see things from a business perspective and understand the merits of social networking in the business sense. I have to admit though, I don't really get it when it comes to social networking outside of business. I guess I'm old fashioned in that sense. I'm not in a race to see who can accumulate the most friends. As for Twitter, I really don't want to know what other people are doing every second of the day and see no value in it at all. Am I showing my age here?

What's your business philosophy? I love the responsibility, the thrills, the risks and the accomplishments. But mostly, I love leading people and helping them achieve their personal goals.

What's the most rewarding part of your job? Owning a business is the most thrilling, challenging thing one can do, in my opinion. When the needs of our clients and employees both get met, its an awesome feeling.

Have collection agencies found their work more difficult during the economic downturn? Absolutely. We really are in the business of helping consumers solve their financial issues. In a poor economy it's harder to help people find solutions. More people are unemployed and stretched thinner financially now than in a good economy. We focus on adjusting how we work with consumers during times like this, to give them more options. We teach our employees to be humble and to never forget that we all need help at times.

What do you see as the role of the collection agency? We are problem solvers. Some people find themselves in difficult financial situations due to circumstances beyond their control. The loss of a job, a divorce, or a medical situation can put people in financial situations that are unavoidable. I believe our role is to serve both our clients' needs and consumers' needs in a manner that creates win-win outcomes. We need to be the facilitator.