Smithville Spotlight: Julie P., Collections Specialist

When asked to describe her time at Smithville Julie P., Collections Specialist, immediately said “transformation, humanitarianism, and partnership.” For the past 17 years she’s grown and adapted to new positions while Smithville progressed with new technology.

Before talking about her background and experience we asked some important questions to get to know Julie better:

• • Hometown: Came to Indiana from California at age three and called Bloomington home until moving to Ellettsville over 18 years ago
  • Favorite TV Show: All NCIS show
  • Favorite Movie: West Side Story
  • Favorite Food: Mexican and steak
  • What she likes to do in free time: Spending time with grandkids and pups and cooking
  • Dream vacation destination: Australia or Africa
  • Favorite quotes: “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door” and “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” -Winston Churchill

Julie joined Smithville in 2003 as a Customer Service Representative. She then helped launch our fiber optic upgrade project before returning to Customer Service. In 2012 she transitioned to Collections Specialist, where her focus and attention to detail is used every day. As this was a new position for Smithville, she was able to provide feedback and adjust job duties and procedures as time went on, which was an exciting project for her. “Creating the position to be what it is today has been the most rewarding thing for me while at Smithville.”

When asked to describe a normal workday, Julie said “My day is never normal, and that’s why I enjoy it so much!” She helps process customer payments, answers Accounting questions for other departments and customers, and processes credit refunds to customers. She also manages our past due amount process which entails running reports for old balances, contacting customers for payment, and moving to advanced collection strategies if required. She is Smithville’s go-to person for all things related to payments and past due amounts.

Throughout the years Smithville’s family feel and focus on the community have been what has stood out to Julie. “Smithville does so much for our surrounding area, like community food drives or even helping to build a home with Habitat for Humanity.” That community focus also relates to employees, as Julie explains. “My favorite part of working at Smithville is the feeling that we are a team with a goal we are all working towards.”

Julie has enjoyed the last 17 years at Smithville and learning new skills along the way. She feels motivated to always do more, and that keeps her going. “Compared to other places where I’ve worked Smithville strives to be the best they can be and inspires employees to do the same.”