“Inspiring & Motivating Everyone towards Success”

Kristen Grimley Kavanagh, Vice President of Operations at Grimley Financial Corporation (GFC), a 36-year old family business located in Cherry Hill, NJ, constantly exhibits an almost unmatchable threshold of passion and energy, which inspires everyone around her. “When my journey first began at Grimley Financial, it was not on the technology side of the business. As a marketing major in college (with a family business minor), I initially focused on sales & marketing for our Healthcare, Education, and B2B divisions,” says Kristen. “However, working for an entrepreneurial family business means every employee is adaptable. After my first year at GFC, I began transitioning to operations and technology, which I quickly fell in love with, and I’ve continued to grow ever since.”

Founded in 1986 by Chuck Grimley, CEO, and Marian Grimley, Executive Vice President, GFC is a full-service revenue cycle agency specializing in healthcare, commercial, and education receivables. GFC separates themselves from the competition through their unparalleled liquidity rates and impeccable customer service. “Historically, collection agencies have often disregarded client-customer goodwill in the collection process”, says CEO Chuck Grimley. “Successful collection results should never compromise professionalism or our client's well-earned reputation… customer service is paramount!”

According to Kristen, incredible determination and confidence are required to succeed in a growing entrepreneurial company. Furthermore, says Kristen, “one additional critical quality that is often overlooked is resilience. Predicting tomorrow’s problems is an extremely difficult task; there are no crystal balls. Bad news is inevitable, but you cannot harp on bad news as a small business owner. It is crucial to remain resilient, bounce back from negative news, and remain confident moving forward.”

GFC enjoys an employee retention rate without comparison in the credit and collection industry. The average GFC employee has been with the firm for over twelve years, compared to the collection industry average of less than a year. Unparalleled employee retention rates have led to high morale, an outstanding corporate culture, and award-winning netback liquidity results for GFC’s clients. GFC strive’s to create a fun and energetic work environment where employees can prosper.

Before achieving success in the business world, Kristen was focused on achieving success as a student and an athlete. “Developing a relentless work ethic and a high level of confidence are some of the most important traits to focus on as a teenager/young adult”, shared Kristen. “As an athlete, I was named to the Pennsylvania All-State softball team in 2014, and as a student, achieved the highest honors in college and my MBA program. These achievements gave me great confidence coming into the business world.”

When asked about leadership lessons, Kristen shared her insights on adapting to each employee. “Every employee has their own persona and work ethic, and they all require different forms of leadership and coaching,” she says. “There is no one-size-fits-all style to managing. For anyone entering a leadership role, reflect upon how your most memorable bosses coached you, and pay close attention to what type of feedback each employee needs. A true leader leads by example, so I’ve always worked long hours and always given client requests a very high priority regardless of how small or large.” Armed with such a unique ideology, Kristen has led the company to new heights.

One of GFC's biggest achievements has been making the Inc 5000 list twice as one of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America. They first achieved this distinction in 2012 and were honored to have made the list again in 2021. Regarding GFC operations, GFC continues to maintain its hold on ROI for healthcare clients through their unparalleled liquidity in the revenue cycle.

GFC has expanded its financial services umbrella beyond revenue cycle collections for B2B, Healthcare, and Education. The firm now has operational strength as NJ Medicaid Advocates, consumer credit consultants (difficult financial circumstances), business factoring, and working with young adults to avoid the trappings of personal bankruptcy. Personally, Kristen and her husband Joe just welcomed their first child, Ava, this past December, and the steadfast leader wants to concentrate on raising their child into a brilliant young leader. IE