Meet your NBF Team
James Knasiak, President and CEO
Liesl Barkley, VP Customer Relations
Doug Freasier, Chief of Operations
Debbie Freer, Client Services Supervisor
Kay Green, Collections Services Manager
Sarah Walker, Manager Information Technologies & Senior Client Relations Representative
James W. Knasiak
President and CEO
One of my greatest joys is teaching and mentoring people. Sometimes, people come into our industry with no prior collections experience. But through regular teaching and mentoring, they grow rapidly. I really enjoy watching their progress. Watching them challenge themselves further, growing more confident and successful.
As much as I enjoy watching our staff succeed, I also feel great pleasure helping our clients’ businesses succeed. We do this by creating long-term partnerships with them.
When clients tell us, “You guys did a great job, I couldn’t have done it without you,” then I feel proud. That’s when our team met our goal: treat our clients’ accounts receivables as if they were our own.
This all goes back to the cornerstone of our business: integrity.
I believe we should all conduct ourselves with integrity in everything we do. This means debts must be paid. And we must collect them with honesty and compassion.
Things to know about Jim
After a stint in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam years, Jim spent twenty some years in the collection business, first with a national chain in Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles. Then, owning and running his agency in Costa Mesa, CA.
He joined NBF in 1992 when he relocated to NV and purchased NBF in 1997. As its owner, he shifted its specialty to healthcare provider receivables collection and revenue cycle management.
Jim’s education spans an Accounting major from Roosevelt University, Chicago; Business Administration at University of Kentucky, and a graduate degree in Business Law and Contract Law from the American Institute of Banking, Chicago.
For about 3 years, Jim provided consulting for La Costa Spa and Hotel in Carlsbad, CA. While he owned his agency in Costa Mesa, Jim held the chairs in the California Association of Collectors and presided as its President for two terms. Jim recently completed a 4-year term as the Legislative Committee Chairman for the Nevada Association of Collectors.
Enjoying the beauty of the lovely valley where he lives and works, Jim especially keeps his tennis game sharp and enjoys a little golf. He has written the payroll inserts for his employees at NBF bi-weekly since prior to his owning the company…over 17 years now. It is one of his favorite mentoring tools.
Liesl Ann Barkley
Vice President of Customer Relations
I’m a people person. I love what I do because I meet new people and create new relationships every day. I also love what I do because I love to sell. So what’s better than doing two of your favorite things all day long?
I’ve been in the credit and collections industry since 1985. When I walk into new businesses, I usually hear the same thing. I hear how they’re tired of being treated like a number by “the other guys.” I see when a vendor doesn’t deliver on what they promised, they can seriously hurt their client’s business. This personally bothers me.
That’s why I care so much about my clients. I do everything I can to make sure they’re happy and satisfied. They trust me with their business and I take this responsibility very seriously.
With everyone at NBF working so well together, our clients easily meet their goals. Only when a client’s happy and successful, do I feel we did our job.
Things to know about Liesl
Liesl joined NBF in 1985 as a collector. Soon, she became the Collection Manager before briefly leaving NBF for a career in banking.
Upon her return, Liesl joined customer relations. By 2001, she became Vice President of Customer Relations where she enjoys training staff members and working directly with clients.
Ms. Barkley holds a Collection Agency Manager’s Qualification Certificate with the State of Nevada, Department of Business and Industry, Financial Institutions Division.
She conducts Fair Debt Collection Practice Act seminars and facilitates many in-services for clients throughout the West
Other credits include: College of Marin, Kentfield, CA and Sonoma State University; certification in Proactive Relationship Banking, Community Lending, Financial Service Program, Tele-Sales Omega Systematic Collections.
Liesl is also trained in the American Collectors Association School of Sales and Top management. She stays updated with regular training from Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and courses on telephone collections techniques.
As much as she loves meeting new people, her favorite time of the day is coming home to spend family time with her two boys.
Doug Freasier
Chief of Operations
What I like most about NBF is working with our people. Many of our staff are young and eager to learn new skills. We challenge them and develop their work ethics. I like seeing them learn, grow and get rewarded for their hard work.
To me, our collection and outsourcing activity is just part of what we do. We spend much of our time maintaining and building long-term relationships with our clients. This means being quick to respond to our clients’ needs. We do whatever it takes to make our clients happy.
Our message is clear: we care about your business and want to help support your success for the long haul. I do everything I can to make sure that’s your experience, too.
Things to know about Doug
Doug has over 30 years of management experience and education. In 2002, Doug joined NBF, where he has used his leadership skills to assist the development of NBF’s management team and run the company’s operations encompassing both the outsourcing and collection businesses.
Doug retired from Boeing Aircraft Company prior to coming to NBF. He was the Director and Program Manager of the Integrated Logistics Support organization based in Southern California with functions located throughout the United States.
Doug holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and an Associate’s Degree in Natural Science. He later went on and attained a Master’s in Business Administration from Pepperdine University.
When not at work, Doug winds down by working around his property, and playing with his admittedly spoiled Miniature Australian Shepherds. Doug also likes to spend time trout fishing on the area’s numerous lakes and rivers.
Debbie Freer
Client Services Department Supervisor
I’ve always worked in customer service – most likely because I always enjoyed working with people. As a Client Services Supervisor, I work with people in two ways. One, by helping clients resolve issues quickly. Coming up with real solutions that give them relief from their stressful, hectic days.
And second, I develop and mentor my team. I like watching them challenge themselves. Building their careers and personal skills. Watching them grow. That’s satisfying.
I believe NBF remains successful because every department works just as closely supporting other departments. We all have the same goal: doing what it takes to collect as much money as possible for our clients. So we more than justify our service. You can’t do that with just one department. It takes an entire company communicating well with each other. And we do just that.
I’m having so much here still, I keep telling my husband I’m not ready to retire. Why would I want to miss out on all this excitement?
Things to know about Debbie
Debbie joined NBF as a collector in 2004 then quickly moved up to the Client Services Supervisor. Before joining NBF, Debbie spent 35 years in customer service for AT&T and Pacific Bell.
With AT&T, Debbie became the Customer Care Center Manager for Northern California/Nevada Sales Branch. There, she managed account receivables contracts totaling $150 million.
Before retiring from telecommunications, Debbie managed project implementation of large telecommunication installations. Where she developed project plans and monitored activities to ensure customer satisfaction and project profitability.
As much as Debbie likes excitement, she does let herself wind down. Her favorite way to do that is spending quiet weekends, “just hanging out with my husband.”
Kay Green
Collections Services Manager
When I joined NBF in 2003, I was impressed by the staff’s genuine friendliness and support. In an industry where you work with debtors, it takes a tight knit team like ours to stay motivated and supportive.
I believe this is one of the main reasons why we consistently beat our collections goals.
What I appreciate most about working for NBF is we support the long-term relationships of our clients and their customers too.
For instance, our collectors understand how we treat debtors reflects on our clients. So it’s important to be respectful, compassionate and honest. Especially when we’re collecting on medical bills.
When we remember we’re all people here to help each other, we all succeed: our company, our clients and their customers.
Things to know about Kay
Before joining NBF, Kay spent several years collecting at the corporate level. Managing receivables for accounts up to $1,000,000. In this position, she fine-tuned her negotiation and resolution skills. Then challenged herself further balancing a casino vault averaging up to $4 million.
Kay began managing complex projects while developing a cable company in Sacramento. She was instrumental in creating their customer database, billing and collection procedures. She also staffed and managed the office team and was responsible for the supervision and scheduling of the installation team.
Kay holds a Qualified Manager’s certificate issued by The State of Nevada Department of Business and Industry.
On her days off, Kay loves to spend hours losing herself in the kitchen. Pushing her creativity and time management skills through elaborate dishes. When she’s not in the kitchen, Kay spends time with her granddaughter. Who, she reports with a laugh, is “thirteen going on fifty.”
Sarah Walker
Manager Information Technologies & Senior Client Relations Representative
Back in 1998, I started with NBF as their receptionist. I like being challenged to do and learn new things. So before long, I moved into the accounts receivable (AR) department. From the AR department, I was given the opportunity to work in, and eventually manage, the information technologies function. Most recently I assumed the role as NBF’s Senior Client Relations Representative. What I like most about this position is its unpredictability. Clients call daily with new challenges to their business. I take their issues personally. Because delays or weak solutions could dramatically slow their cash flow.
The people I work with at NBF are definitely my second family. We really care about each other. The mentors here have so many years of experience and are always willing to share it.
So no matter how long you’ve been here, you end up getting more than professional advice. Many times you learn valuable life lessons.
Things to know about Sarah
Sarah manages our information technology department and supervises the mailroom and account receivable department. As our Senior Customer Relations representative, she works with other department managers as well as the Vice President of Customer Relations.
Never one to rest on her laurels, Sarah often looks for new ways to help us run more smoothly and efficiently. From changing network platforms, integrating new features to our collection software, to creating paperless systems.
Sarah is also writing a cookbook, where she shares family stories and the recipes that created so many of their loving memories together.
