Lifelong Credit and Collection Professional Sees a Growing Industry

For Martin Sher, there's "no better place to be."

For almost his entire life, Martin Sher has been an active member of the credit and collection industry. At the young age of 10, Sher made his first collection calls with his brother, David, for their father's credit clothing business. After their father passed away, the Sher brothers bought Mr. King Furniture and Happy Rents, a rent-to-own furniture and appliance operation. In 1986, they opened AmSher Receivables Management in Birmingham, Ala., which has grown over the years from a small, local business to a large, national operation that specializes in cellular, medical, banking and commercial accounts.

"Our family has been in business in the Birmingham area since 1939, and David and I have been running our businesses for over 31 years," Sher noted.

Sher joined ACA International to increase his knowledge of the collection industry. He also welcomed the opportunity to network with agency owners, employees and vendors across the nation. "ACA was the first and most important step in building a successful agency," he said. "The contacts I've made and knowledge I've gained through the association have been extremely valuable."

Sher and his brother enjoy being actively involved in the industry. They regularly host seminars and workshops about collection and management techniques and have also written two books: How to Collect Debts and Still Keep Your Customers, and Championship Collections.

"Our two largest clients have come directly from the seminars we have put on for the Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce," Sher said. "Our largest client is a national cellular company that we have grown with by being their best agency locally and now nationally, after a few acquisitions. Our second largest client is the largest doctors clinic in the state that is part of the UAB system."

Sher notes that today's credit and collection industry presents members with several challenges: staying up-to-date with ever-changing compliance issues, keeping ahead of the technological curve and training people how to collect the right way. He also strongly believes in improving the credit and collection industry's public image, and urges industry members to keep in touch with their legislative representatives and to attend ACA legislative conferences as often as possible to help encourage the passage of positive industry legislation.

"Many people believe that being a bill collector is bad, when in effect we are the protectors of the credit world," Sher said. "We are all Americans and good people working to help other good people solve their financial problems."

Outside of the office, Sher is active in the local business and civic community, including the Birmingham Better Business Bureau, the local Chamber of Commerce and the Jewish Community Center. In his free time, he enjoys golf, tennis and jogging. Sher and his wife, Debbie, have three children.

"The collection industry is a great place to work for above average compensation, opportunity and growth," Sher said. "If you are an energetic, competitive, and ambitious person, there is no better place to be."

© 2005 ACA International