The “Getting to Know” series is sponsored by Applied Innovation. Applied Innovation is helping to shape the future of accounts receivable management. Product development is driven by customer feedback, agency profitability and compliance and includes platforms addressing client portal access, document management, payment negotiation, Regulation E focused electronic payment authorizations and TCPA communication authorization platforms. Partner with a company who understands your business challenges and evolves to provide cutting edge technology to overcome those challenges and achieve success.
That jumping on a tractor and cutting the grass is considered a guilty pleasure might be all you need to know about Christy Young Barger to really understand how important getting the job done right is to her. Whether it’s leaving her desk clean and her email inbox with zero unread emails or working tirelessly on behalf of her clients, Christy is a fierce believer in always doing the right thing. Read on to learn more about Christy, and the lengths she will go to in order to help those she works with.
Name: Christy Young Barger
Job Title: Director of Risk Management-Licensing
Company: Cornerstone Support, Inc.
Length of Time at Current Company: 16 years
Length of Time in Industry: 16 years
How did you get your start in the industry?
A friend and fellow co-worker told me about a great company she worked for. The rest is history!
What is your career highlight so far?
I have held several roles within Cornerstone. Being promoted from management into sales back in 2015 has been the highlight. I was scared and excited all at the same time. Being groomed and molded by the best in the industry has been such an honor. Over the last few years, I have been able to participate in webinars and presented sessions in person sharing knowledge to those in the industry. I am grateful to work alongside so many industry experts.
When or how are you most productive?
I can’t stand having unread emails in my Inbox on papers on my desk. I am most productive when under stress.
Which industry professional do you admire most?
Leslie Bender with Clark Hill. Leslie is an incredibly knowledgeable leader of our industry. I am blessed to say that Leslie has made a huge impact on my career, I continue to learn so much from her.
What is one thing you do better than everyone else?
I hire the most amazing support staff. My team consists of Beth Aide and Mandy Harrison. They share my work ethic and are true ladies of integrity. Our clients know that we are on their side and that we will are there for them at all times. We complement each other perfectly!
What do you like most about this industry?
Our industry is continuously changing. I enjoy speaking with agencies and helping them reach their business goals. Planning and problem solving intrigues me. I enjoy watching the progress of legislation as it moves through to approval. Like with California, watching the legislation move and now assisting hundreds of agencies with the licensing process is extremely satisfying. I love watching our clients succeed as they grow their businesses.
What is one thing you wish you could change about this industry?
The processing times for license approvals would be something I would change if I could. It is so frustrating to our clients that obtaining a license takes many months. Agency owners are excited to begin conducting business. I can hear the disappointment in some of their voices when they hear how long an approval will take. The states regulators work hard to process applications as quickly as possible. I would love to be able to tell an agency they will be licensed and ready to go in 30 days.
Describe a typical work day.
Calls, calls and more calls! My days are filled with speaking to existing clients as well as new people entering the debt space. My goal is to make each Cornerstone experience the best that it can be. The licensing process that agencies must undergo is stressful and often hard to understand. While I can’t change the process or the requirements, I strive hard to make the process manageable.
If you weren’t in this industry, what would you be doing?
Growing up I wanted to become a lawyer. I worked in the legal field for about ten years before joining Cornerstone. My favorite role was working as a courtroom paralegal. We would spend weeks getting everything organized and ready for trial. Once we reached the courtroom, my role was to know what the attorney needed before he needed it. I participated in many interesting trials including land disputes, contract enforcement, and condemnation proceedings representing large corporate companies such as Georgia Power. I once rode on the hood of a truck videoing power lines to show how they changed the view of beautiful mountainous terrain. The law firm worked tiredly and won millions in compensation for multiple clients.
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What is your guilty pleasure?
Jumping on my tractor and cutting my grass. The salesman at the Kubota store was surprised that I would be the one running the tractor.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
“Keep your head down and keep doing the right thing.” Matt Pridemore has said this to me many times. Cornerstone was built on “doing the right thing.” I am blessed to have been a part of such a great company.
What are you currently reading?
“To Hell and Back in a Bottle” by Buddy McNabb. At a very young age addiction changed the course of this man’s life. His life story is inspiring and one of those feel-good stories. Mr. McNabb age 90 was interviewed recently as he was affected by the recent floods in Tennessee. The water had reached his shoulders, but he was not afraid. “I’m a believer. God laid his hands on me. If a person does not believe in miracles, come talk to me.” What an amazing testimony for others to hear during these trying times. His book is short but worth the read.
What is one fact you’d like everyone in the industry to know about you?
I want to be more than a service provider. I care about our clients and their success. The friendships developed during the normal course of business are special and bring much delight to my days.
Who else would you like to see answer these questions?
Andrew Blady with Spring Oaks Capital; Sara Woggerman with ARM Compliance Business Solutions
The “Getting to Know” series is sponsored by Applied Innovation. Applied Innovation is helping to shape the future of accounts receivable management. Product development is driven by customer feedback, agency profitability and compliance and includes platforms addressing client portal access, document management, payment negotiation, Regulation E focused electronic payment authorizations and TCPA communication authorization platforms. Partner with a company who understands your business challenges and evolves to provide cutting edge technology to overcome those challenges and achieve success