Mike Howard began his career in accounts receivable management (ARM) immediately after college and has spent over four decades representing collection firms in a sales capacity. With deep expertise in first-party EBO services and post-charge-off recovery solutions, he excels at designing tailored strategies that improve recovery rates and reduce operational costs. Mike’s ability to bridge the gap between client needs, regulatory demands, and consumer trends allows him to deliver sustainable solutions in the consumer finance, retail, healthcare, and commercial sectors.
Mike stays on top of the latest trends, guidelines, and best practices through professional memberships and industry conferences, enabling him to offer informed, up-to-date guidance. By helping organizations navigate complex revenue recovery and customer service challenges, Mike consistently drives optimized financial outcomes while enhancing customer relationships and satisfaction.
Karin Sammons is a dynamic sales and business development leader with more than 20 years of expertise in consultative sales, driving growth through innovative strategies and strong client relationships. As Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, she offers a results-driven approach, crafting customized solutions that meet the unique needs of each client, while enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring long-term financial growth. Renowned for her role as a trusted advisor, Karin fosters strong, enduring relationships with clients, using her keen ability to spot opportunities and offer strategic insights that deliver exceptional service and value.
Steve Sturgeon brings a remarkable 34 years of professional experience in debt collections, marked by executive-level management expertise. Beginning his career as a debt collector, Steve progressively advanced through the ranks of operational management, ultimately directing collection operations at several prominent firms before joining Reliant in 2022.
As General Counsel, Meghan Sharick collaborates closely with Reliant’s internal departments and external legal counsel to provide critical legal guidance. She represents the company in judicial and administrative proceedings and negotiations, and reviews and interprets regulations to help implement internal guidelines. Meghan’s sharp legal acumen and strategic thinking have been pivotal in navigating complex legal landscapes, ensuring that Reliant remains both compliant and aligned with the highest ethical standards.
James Jones brings nearly four decades of experience in sales and service related to higher education debt collections. Since entering collections in 1987, he has developed extensive expertise spanning collection operations, training, policy development, and industry compliance, making him a trusted and invaluable resource for clients and colleagues alike.
Since joining as Chief Information Officer in 2021, Rick’s significant information technology and security experience has been pivotal in advancing Reliant’s IT capabilities. His expertise hails from nearly 40 years spent in technology infrastructure, data management, systems administration, and security encompassing government, retail, and banking entities.
Feroze Waheed brings over 50 years of experience in financial services to his role as Chief Strategy Officer, including more than three decades in executive leadership at some of the nation’s top debt collection firms.
As Chief Administrative Officer, Megan Howard leads Reliant’s administrative operations and plays a key role in optimizing internal processes and vendor partnerships. She is responsible for ensuring expenses align with organizational goals and that resources are effectively allocated. Megan is also focused on improving operational efficiencies to better support client needs and drive organizational success.