Building Leaders from Within at MCM
When Ryan Bell took on the role of president at Midland Credit Management (MCM), he brought with him a clear management philosophy: Bet on the person over the resume.
This approach is reflected in the careers of MCM’s executive leadership team, nearly all of whom have grown within the company. They’ve taken on increasingly complex roles throughout their careers, including new challenges that were different than work they’d previously done.
“I have worked to put people in roles that are unlike anything they’ve done before because I believe in them,” Ryan said. “Hard work is the most important thing. Show up, be there on time, be present, give it your best, and that takes care of about 90% of what you want to accomplish. I’ve always said someone might be smarter or faster than me, but they won’t outwork me. I appreciate those who have a similar mindset.”
From Legal Collections to HR to CFO: Mike Merle
One example of this mindset in action is Mike Merle, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at MCM. He started at the company over 10 years ago overseeing MCM’s Legal Collections strategy before transitioning to Human Resources (HR). From there he stepped up to Chief Administrative Officer, a role that combined HR and finance. He became CFO in 2022.
“Taking on a new role can be intimidating, especially if it’s an unfamiliar area,” Mike said. “My approach each time I take on a new role is to spend the first several weeks mostly listening and asking questions to better understand where my skills can help the team achieve their goals.”
Ryan was Mike’s direct manager when he began his MCM career, which Mike said has given them years to build trust and mutual respect.
“I truly appreciate the opportunities I’ve had to take on a variety of roles during my tenure at MCM, which are the direct result of Ryan having confidence in my abilities,” he said.
Mike added that MCM colleagues who hope to grow within the company should seek out opportunities that “play to your strengths.”
“To define your strengths, it helps to get feedback from your colleagues, your manager, and even your significant other. I’ve found my wife to be a great sounding board who is more than happy to provide an unvarnished view of my strengths and opportunities as I consider new roles.
“Career growth largely comes from having confidence in your abilities and not being afraid to take calculated risks along the way,” he added. “That said, it’s also very helpful to have sponsors who believe in you and are willing to bet on you.”
From Legal Outsourcing to Business Development: Danielle Wohlfehrt
Danielle Wohlfehrt, who has been with MCM for over 15 years, started her career with the company in Legal Outsourcing, eventually advancing to Managing Vice President of Business Development.
“Initially I was not interested in the role. I had a great team and was really happy in my role in Legal Outsourcing,” she said. “As discussions continued, though, I got really excited about the opportunity to learn a different part of our business and to help shape the future of the company through our purchasing strategy.”
Danielle translated the skills she honed in Legal Outsourcing — working with third-party servicers to improve performance using data analytics and negotiation skills — to present compelling business cases to portfolio sellers as part of MCM’s business development.
“It’s humbling when people you respect show such confidence in your ability. For me personally, it increases my drive and desire to be successful,” she said. “Looking around the organization, I am always surprised by how many people I have known and been working with for over 15 years. There is so much history and trust, and it makes me really confident about the future of the organization.”
For other MCM colleagues hoping to advance within the company, Danielle’s advice is: “Keep an open mind. Growth can happen in a lot of different ways and may not always come exactly as you pictured … You have to be willing to bet on yourself. Learn new things, ask questions and network with peers in different parts of the organization.”
From Data Analyst to Senior Director: Tom Leaver
Tom Leaver joined MCM in 2007 after working at two different mortgage companies during the financial crisis. He was attracted to MCM because he wanted to work in a data analytics role and because he wanted to work for a company that was stable and growing.
“MCM ended up being a perfect fit for me,” he said. “Initially, I managed critical business processes, and over the years I’ve been able to work on large-scale projects and strategic initiatives that really helped me expand my business knowledge and strategic thinking.”
Tom said he’s been able to translate his skills to new roles by focusing on his “core competencies,” such as connecting to the problem at hand, identifying objectives, outlining plans of attack and, most importantly, staying calm.
“I also try to listen and learn more than I speak,” he said. “I’ve found this approach allows me to get up to speed quickly, and it also helps me to stay in the present and not worry about future expectations.”
He added that he didn’t focus on attaining a certain level or position but instead focused on learning and growing based on the work that interested him.
“My advice to colleagues would be, first and foremost, identify what makes you happy. You will be much more successful and have much fulfillment in life if you are doing work that you enjoy. Secondly, I would encourage people to focus on making yourself and your team better, rather than focusing on getting to a certain level or position, because these are things you can control. Focus on the journey rather than the destination.”