Collection Agency Owner Named Woman Business Owner of the Year

The Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) announced its “Woman Business Owner of the Year,? Kathleen Zurek, at the annual awards gala on April 8, 2004 at the Minneapolis Downtown Hilton. The National Association of Woman Business Owners (NAWBO) is an organization of professional women who bring together the voice and vision of woman business owners.

Entrepreneur and CEO Kathleen J. Zurek founded Diversified Adjustment Service, Inc., a nationwide consumer and commercial collection agency that is privately held and certified as a Woman-Business Enterprise (WBE). Since its inception in 1981, the company has grown to become one of the leading receivables management firms in the country. Diversified currently serves all types of industries from the smallest business professional to Fortune 500 companies.

On behalf of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Woman Business Owners, Dee Thibodeau presented the prestigious award and stated, ?When Kathleen founded Diversified Adjustment Service, she was the first female owned and operated collection agency in the Twin Cities, and one of the few in the nation. Kathleen resourcefully competed in an industry that was primarily male dominated and successfully grew the small operation to the large nationwide business it is today. Deemed as ‘Businesswoman of the year,’ this prestigious award honors Kathleen for her fundamental belief that quality service comes from being sensitive to her clients’ needs.?

Kathleen has gained recognition throughout the collection industry and is known for her practical no-nonsense business tactics and collaborative leadership style. Kathleen states that the cornerstone of Diversified’s success is reflected in their mission statement which is: “Diversified Adjustment Service is dedicated to increasing the rate of recovery for our clients in a professional and ethical manner, thereby preserving our client’s goodwill and our reputation for integrity, and history of success.”

Kathleen?s business savvy and expertise has not gone unnoticed by the business community. Recipient of the Top 25 Woman-Owned Business Award (for five consecutive years) by The Business Journal, the Top 50 Diversity-Owned Business Award for Minnesota by DIV2000 (for two consecutive years), the Top 500 Woman-Owned Businesses in the United States by Working Woman Magazine and the Top 500 Woman-Owned Business Award by DIV2000, Kathleen has consistently maintained an extraordinary level of success.

About Diversified Adjustment Service
Over its 23 year history, Diversified Adjustment Service has grown to become one of the leading consumer and commercial collection agencies in the nation. The company is certified as a Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women?s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). WBENC is a resource for US companies and government agencies that rely on the WBENC certification as an integral part of their supplier diversity programs.

Diversified Adjustment Service is headquartered in Minnesota and its customers include universal leaders in retailing, financial services, healthcare, utilities, telecommunications, and consumer services. For more information about Diversified Adjustment Service call Robert (Bob) Sawyer, Vice-President of Client Services, at 1-800-348-2274 or visit www.diversifiedadjustment.com.