A Racine native who has built a group of companies that now handles more than $350 million a year in business will be honored as the Racine Businessperson of the Year.
Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce will bestow its annual businessperson honor upon Gary L. Anzalone, chairman and CEO of Credit Management Control, Inc.
He will be given the award, sponsored by Johnson Bank, at an Oct. 31 breakfast at the Racine Marriott.
"Gary is a hardworking, competitive businessperson," says Roger Caron, president of the Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce (RAMAC). "He fulfills all the award requirements – such as growth, involvement in the community and reaction to tough economic times – very well. We’re especially impressed by how hard he has worked to grow and expand his company. When he commits to something, he gives it his all."
Anzalone founded Credit Management Control in 1980, filling a niche for better service and pricing in the collection of delinquent accounts. He was the only employee. "After I graduated from UW-Oshkosh with a business management degree, I worked in the medical collection arena. I did my homework, followed advice of my mentor at the Racine Medical Clinic, and followed my passion.
"I didn’t even have a computer the first year in business," he recalls. "When I did get one, the whole system cost about $10,000 and had a hard disk about the size of a table. Today, advanced technology has both enhanced business services and speed, but the electronic environment requires an initial investment 10 times more than what I made."
Credit Management Credit is not his only business. In the mid-1990s, he launched Anzalone Antonie Collections, a commercial collections venture with a former fraternity brother. "I developed the infrastructure and he brought in clients for business-to-business collections," Anzalone says, "and it’s worked well."
To diversify further, Anzalone also formed an outsource company, CMS Inc., that handles accounts receivable, billing, call-center management, surveys and more. "We handle a client’s money from the front when it comes in to the back when it goes out, and everything in between," he says.
Currently, the companies under his leadership employee 90 people, and sales (delinquent placements) have grown in the past three years from $82 million to more than $350 million annually.
The growth can only continue, Anzalone predicts. "In July we opened a branch in Minneapolis to serve business interests there. We hope to have 15 experienced people in place there in the next several months," he says. "With several West Coast clients, we’re looking at expanding to Arizona. And the traffic citation business is definitely growing."
The company has added capability to help municipalities collect traffic fines. "With traffic volumes increasing across America, the number of violations also increase," he explains. "Our collections help improve the bottom line for counties and cities. This can reduce taxes. We’ve found a relationship with an independent company like ours can improve public officials’ business management skills. It’s the private sector helping the public sector, and both win."
Anzalone says there are no great secrets to his success. He advises others to "go with your passion. Collections have been mine because they’re a challenge." He adds, "You also have to be willing to take a calculated risk, which can be more difficult as you grow older. Once you’ve done your homework, you have to put caution aside and go with your instincts. And you have to be persistent, especially in giving high levels of service, similar to what you’d like to receive."
Anzalone is elated to accept the award. "It’s awesome," he says. It’s been a personal goal for several years, so winning it is very exciting."
His name will now be submitted to a state competition for businessperson of the year. "Our award requirements are patterned after the state’s competition," Caron says, "so our Racine winner has a good chance for statewide recognition."
Gary L. Anzalone
– Born and raised in Racine
– Married to wife Barbara; three children: Jason, Lauren and Matthew
– Hobbies include golf (his goal is to shoot par consistently), weight-lifting, walking, biking and smoking a good cigar
– Favorite vacation area – Northern Wisconsin
– Community support – he encourages company wide involvement. Recently 20 employees participated in a walk to support diabetes research
– What he likes about doing business in Racine – "People have always been willing to help me throughout my career. It’s a good business climate here, but the people are what helped me succeed."
Oct. 25, 2002 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
