Access Receivables Management

Walk into the offices of Access Receivables Management, and it’s immediately clear: this is not your typical collections agency. Here, there are no cold calculations, no dispassionate call centers. Instead, there’s a palpable sense of purpose—a shared understanding that success is measured not just in dollars recovered, but in trust earned and relationships built.

Since opening its doors in 1999, Access Receivables Management has rewritten the narrative around debt collection. Built on the simple but powerful idea that clients deserve full, unfettered access to their information, the company has grown into a trusted partner for a wide range of industries.

Its client portal—offering real-time visibility into accounts— stands as a symbol of that commitment. In fact, the founders chose the name "Access" to underscore the company’s philosophy: transparency is not an add-on—it’s the foundation.

Today, leading the charge are Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rae Lockard, Vice President of Operations Tim DePetris, Administrative Manager Melissa Lintz, and Vice President of Finance Tillesa Coleman. Together, they have created a workplace and client experience that elevate Access beyond the traditional image of a debt collection agency.

A Culture That Fuels Excellence

At the heart of Access Receivables is a culture of stability and respect—one that has kept the team together for decades. Many employees, including Lockard, DePetris, Lintz, and Coleman, have worked with the company’s founders since the 1990s. Their loyalty speaks volumes about the environment they’ve helped shape.

“We're not just employees filling roles,” Lockard shares. “We are empowered professionals. Our contributions are recognized, our ideas respected. That sense of trust shows in how we serve our clients.”

This culture of empowerment creates a direct, measurable impact. Employees who feel valued take pride in their work—and that pride translates into stronger client relationships. At Access, departments don’t operate in silos; instead, they collaborate as one cohesive team.

As DePetris notes, “There’s no ‘your department versus my department’ mentality. It’s one team, one family.”

That sense of unity extends to the company’s client relationships. Clients aren’t treated like account numbers—they’re treated like partners.

Compliance First—Always

In an industry where speed and recovery rates are often prioritized above all else, Access stands apart by insisting on one non-negotiable value: compliance.

The company operates with a clear understanding that doing things the right way is more important than doing them quickly. If a compliance question ever arises, Access doesn’t hesitate. It pauses, investigates, and ensures every action taken is fully above board— no exceptions.

“We would rather lose a collection than compromise compliance,” says Lintz. “In the long run, protecting trust is far more valuable.”

Access even maintains its own internal legal department, ensuring that compliance is woven into daily operations rather than treated as a reactive safeguard. Clients know that when they partner with Access, their reputation is protected as carefully as their receivables.

Service Built Around the Client

Access’s client service is marked by responsiveness, flexibility, and a deep understanding of client needs. Whether answering emails within 15 minutes or adjusting strategies on the fly, the team is always ready to act swiftly and decisively.

“One of the things that sets us apart is how quickly we respond,” says Lintz. “We don’t need to call a summit meeting every time there’s a client need. We make a plan and we move.”

That nimbleness is crucial in an industry where delays can cost companies real money. But responsiveness at Access goes beyond speed—it’s about anticipating client needs, solving problems proactively, and ensuring clients never feel left in the dark.

In fact, the company has built its operations around preventing problems from reaching the client in the first place. Its collectors are carefully matched to client portfolios based on expertise. Managers create daily game plans to optimize calls and resolve disputes. Files are audited routinely to ensure no account falls through the cracks.

And because Access invests time to learn each client’s business thoroughly—inside, outside, forward, and backward—it acts not just as a vendor, but as an extension of the client’s own team.

Real Solutions, Real Results

Access doesn’t just talk about partnership—it invests in it. When a major client lacked the IT infrastructure needed for account placements, the company funded the programming itself. As a result, the client was able to solve a critical operational problem.

In another case, Access developed early-out and pre-collect strategies for two major telecom clients, servicing accounts under the clients’ own names to reduce delinquencies before they turned into serious problems. The effort paid off: even after mergers and acquisitions reshaped those companies, Access remained a trusted partner on the back end.

“Going the extra mile is our norm,” says Lockard. “Other companies focus on P&L. We focus on the client’s success—and everything else follows.”

That philosophy has led to extraordinary client retention. Some of Access Receivables’ partners have been with the company since its earliest days—a rarity in the highly competitive collections space.

Financial Stewardship at Its Best

When it comes to handling client funds, Access Receivables sets an industry standard. Under the careful eye of Coleman, the company’s remittance operations are models of precision and accountability.

Every penny is tracked, every transaction documented, and every question answered with transparency. Clients know their money is safe at Access—not just because of protocols and audits, but because of the personal pride Coleman and her team take in their stewardship.

“Our clients trust us with their revenue,” says Coleman. “That’s a responsibility we take very seriously.”

As Access looks toward the future, technology and innovation are front and center. The company is currently investing in advanced collection software to improve automation, reporting capabilities, and compliance monitoring. This investment, while substantial, is seen as critical to enhancing both the employee experience and the client journey.

“Smarter growth comes from smarter systems,” says DePetris. “We’re not focused on expanding our physical footprint at the moment—we’re focused on making sure we can scale intelligently and serve our clients even better.”

Security is also paramount. With a vigilant CIO at the helm of information management, Access stays ahead of cyber threats, protecting both its own data and that of its clients with tireless vigilance.

A Human Touch in a Digital World

Despite all its investments in technology, Access knows that the real differentiator is human connection. Team members often develop personal rapport with client contacts—sometimes even exchanging cell phone numbers to ensure constant communication.

That personal touch builds bridges that technology alone cannot. It enables Access to advocate for clients, understand their changing needs, and serve as advisors, not just collectors. In many cases, Access has even helped train client teams, offered staffing support, or provided guidance on industry best practices.

In an increasingly impersonal world, Access proves that relationships still matter—and that trust is the most valuable asset of all.