Some would consider the job of credit counselor to be depressing. Not Liz Greenwood, the?NFCC?s 2012 Professional Achievement and Counseling Excellence (PACE) Outstanding Counselor of the Year.
Greenwood, a 35-year employee of NFCC Member Agency, Philadelphia-based Clarifi, is the first to arrive at work each morning, considering it an honor to help the consumers who seek her assistance with their financial concerns. She routinely takes on extra appointments, as she knows how critical it is to be responsive to those who are overwhelmed with financial distress. Her knowledge of the ever-evolving financial landscape has earned her the nickname of the ?Human Financial Literacy Search Engine.?
She admits that her personal passion is counseling, and couples her knowledge with an inherent knack for getting to the heart of a client?s financial issues. Taking a holistic view of a person?s financial life, she quickly grasps what demands immediate attention, while identifying symptoms of larger issues that need addressing. A key to her success is digging deep, asking all the right questions in an effort to determine which strategies will work best to meet the person?s short and long-term goals.
?Financial concerns can crush a person?s spirit,? said Greenwood. ?I?m honest with people so that they can do more than change their existing financial crisis. They can change their whole life.?
Liz eagerly volunteers to work off-site events, sharing her experience with struggling consumers at programs and financial forums in the communities that Clarifi?s nine offices serve. Whether at the individual or corporate level, Liz is a relationship-builder, working with both private and government entities to further financial education. As an example, she pioneered her agency?s partnership with the United Way of Burlington County, opening a Clarifi branch in the United Way office, thus allowing clients to access multiple crucial services all in one location.
It?s a very different world than the one in which Liz Greenwood began her credit counseling career, as today more than 60 percent of Clarifi?s appointments are related to housing. Undaunted by such changes, Liz feels that the housing crisis has provided her with just one more opportunity to help people. Recognizing her accomplishments, Greenwood was invited to participate in the 2012 White House Forum on Housing.
Eager to stay on top of current regulations and programs that would benefit her clients, Liz earned certification from NeighborWorks USA for advanced foreclosure prevention, homeownership preservation, and reverse mortgages, and took advanced training courses from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.
?The entire Clarifi staff and board are extremely proud to have Liz Greenwood named as the NFCC 2012 Outstanding Counselor of the Year,? said Clarifi President Patty Hasson. ?Liz exceeds her clients? and co-workers? expectations every day with her abilities to understand an individual?s unique situation, to provide empathy and honesty, and advocate on their behalf to not only address immediate issues, but set up the habits and strategies that lead to long-term success.?
The NFCC is thankful to the many sponsors who have generously supported the 2012 PACE Awards: Bank of America, Chase, Citi, and Experian.
Gail Cunningham is Vice President of Membership & Public Relations with the NFCC.
Views expressed are the personal views of the author, and do not represent the views of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, its employees, its members, or its clients.
Azarenka NFL fantasy football Chris Kluwe Jennifer Granholm Tulane player injured fox sports frank ocean
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.