Mark Knapp, CBF.(Credit Business Fellow )(Interview)

How did you enter the credit field?

I did not plan on being a Credit Manager. I worked at a bank for a short while after college and then responded to a job opening for a Credit Representative with Inland Container Corporation. The salary and benefits were better and I felt the opportunities for career growth would be better at a Fortune 500 company. Inland was extremely involved with NACM both on a local and national level. It was not long before I began the credentialing process and, while at Inland, achieved my CBE Credit now became more than an afterthought, it became a career.

How long have you worked in the credit field?

I have worked in credit for 23 years. My career thus tar has covered three industries. They include banking, corrugated containers and, for the last 15 years, the foodservice industry.

What is your current position?

I am the Credit Manager for SYSCO Food Services of Indianapolis, LLC in Indianapolis, IN, where I began in June of 1991. SYSCO is the largest foodservice distributor in North America and we sell to small proprietorship restaurants, large chain restaurants, caterers, hospitals, hotels, schools and nursing facilities. The needs of our customers vary considerably from the simplest "mom and pop" establishment to the very large nationwide corporation. We deal with those that still pay in cash and desire to do business on a handshake to large publicly held corporations.

How has the credit field/credit management job changed during your career?