Alabama Collection Agency Shows Appreciation for Soldiers' Sacrifice
The West Asset Management office in Mobile, Ala. continues a Memorial Day tradition that acknowledges a soldier's ultimate sacrifice for American freedom.
The Mobile, Ala. office of accounts receivable management firm West Asset Management (WAM) each year defies the negative publicity collection agencies typically receive with a patriotic deed that gives back to its country, clients and employees.
The program, started and coordinated by Talent Agent Mary Womack and HR Generalist Maria Clements, pays tribute to a soldier from the area who gave the greatest gift anyone could give their country and fellow citizens -- their life.
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“We care about the loved ones that were lost. We do this to show our appreciation,” Womack told insideARM. “I don’t personally know our honorees, but I feel for the families of the honorees. When you feel so passionately about someone else’s pain or loss, you have a tendency to want to do something. And this is a result of being passionate about so many people that we’ve lost in Iraq and Afghanistan, male or female.”
A WAM committee selects a fallen soldier from the area from a list of soldiers killed in action. That soldier’s family is invited to a ceremony held on the company’s grounds.
WAM, the ARM division of teleservices provider West Corp., gives the soldier’s family a plaque of appreciation for the sacrifice made by their kin, and a photo of the soldier is placed on a memorial wall in the office erected to pay tribute to family members of employees that have fought in war.
The program has commemorated three fallen soldiers since its start in 2007: PVT 1st Class Howard Johnson, II (2007), Specialist Steven Ray Givens (2008) and SSgt Harrison “Duck” Brown, honored the Friday before the most recent Memorial Day holiday.
In addition, the program raises money for calling cards to be dispersed to troops at war, and donates a generous sum to LaFlore High School’s JR.ROTC program. The WAM staff raises the funds through bake sales and other special initiatives.
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Comments
Comment from John on June 5, 2009 at 10:50AM EST
This is a great example of the good community work collection agencies do by their employees that rarely gets media coverage. If more examples of this type of "giving back" are made known it can only reflect well on the collection industry as a whole. Good work and thanks for honoring our service men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Comment from Gina McNaughton on June 5, 2009 at 10:56AM EST
BRAVO West Asset Management & InsideARM for sharing this article! Thank you for positively impacting the stereotypical debt collector perceived reputation as the Big Bad Wolf.
In my opinion, the MGMT team @ West Asset Management is to be commended for going above any beyond to recognize our military folks. Great job!
These are the stories that I LOVE to read about our industry! Best regards, Gina
Comment from star on June 5, 2009 at 11:15AM EST
Being a veteran of the Vietnam war and having lost a childhood friend in that war, it's good to hear that company's such as West Asset Management take an active roll in supporting our troops, especially those that have made the ultimate sacrifice...Cudos to WAM!!!!
Comment from Mike Murphy on June 5, 2009 at 12:18PM EST
Excellent tribute to the bravest among us! Freedom truly is NOT free. Yet most of us take it for granted. Hat's off to WAM for being corporate citizens that lead by example in this area. Very nice.
Comment from Bill H on June 5, 2009 at 4:16PM EST
The Irony of a wonderful gesture like this is that nothing like this could EVER exist in any state, county or federal office...is would "offend" someone,and have to be removed...KUDO'S to the private sector!!
Comment from The Avenger on June 5, 2009 at 11:15PM EST
It's great that WAM supports our servicemembers. I'm in the Fort Bragg area and I wish WAM would talk to the collection agencies and lawyers who are abusing soldiers and their families.
Comment from Gina McNaughton on June 11, 2009 at 11:44AM EST
Response to the comment from The Avenger..
I would suggest all folks reading this familiarize their firms with the Soldiers & Sailors Civil Relief Act (SSCRA)
http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/Relief_Act_Revision/
Best regards, Gina http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=1956790&trk=anet_ug_grppro