2024 Monitor Top Women in Equipment Finance: Melanie Reker, U.S. Chief Operating Officer, DLL

by Monitor Staff Nov/Dec 2024
“Embrace every opportunity to learn and grow and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Your unique perspective and skills are invaluable. Believe in yourself, seek out mentors and enjoy the lifelong journey."
Melanie Reker
U.S. Chief Operating Officer
DLL

Throughout her 20-plus year career in vendor finance, Melanie Reker has gained extensive experience across sales, marketing, IT, finance, regulatory compliance and operations, including senior leadership roles as global head of regulatory relations and U.S. chief compliance officer of DLL. In each position, Reker has driven positive change and growth within the organization. Now, as U.S. chief operating officer and a member of the U.S. senior leadership team, Reker oversees all operational processes and personnel supporting the customer journey from application to contract management. Her deep industry knowledge is essential in aligning operations, enhancing efficiency and delivering an exceptional customer experience for DLL’s partners and customers.

Stepping into the chief operating officer role in July 2023, Reker brought her unparalleled enthusiasm and commitment to excellence at a time of significant business transformation. Inspired by Simon Sinek’s words, “Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge,” she embodies a mission to empower and support her teams through leadership by example.

One of Reker’s first achievements in her current role was the establishment of a new operations management team. Drawing from both internal and external candidates, Reker formed a team with diverse backgrounds and expertise to tackle the group’s transformation goals. This team is driven by a shared passion for customers and members (what DLL calls employees), ensuring that their needs and expectations are consistently met. Under Reker’s guidance, the team has leveraged technology and automation to create win-win solutions that enhance the experience for both customers and members. Notable examples include the automation of a new inbound call system for customer service, resulting in a 30% reduction in call volume, and the automation of payment processes in the billing and payment group, leading to significant efficiencies and shorter turnaround times.

“Melanie is a pillar of strength on our team and plays a crucial role in our company’s success,” Carri McQuerrey-Funk, U.S. head of collections and recovery at DLL, says. “As a peer, I am grateful to have her as a sounding board and someone who respectfully challenges the status quo. She’s a great communicator with a commitment to excellence, meaning you can count on her to provide honest feedback. I’m proud to work with her.”

Reker has also pioneered the vision of increased staff flexibility within operations. By cross-training members to handle varying volume peaks across different business segments, she has enabled a more adaptable and responsive workforce. This initiative, implemented within just six months, has resulted in 25% of one group being fully trained and onboarded to manage processes for different customer segments. This achievement is a testament to her firm vision, robust training programs and human resources partnership.

“What makes Melanie an exceptional leader is her ability to make data-driven decisions while at the same time having the emotional capacity to understand what motivates her employees,” Lisa Fleischer, U.S. chief legal officer at DLL, says. “She is tough when she needs to be but is also a compassionate leader. Melanie is an excellent mentor who, by her own behavior, inspires excellence from her mentees.”

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Reker is an active member of the industry and her community. Born and raised in Germany, she serves on the board of directors for Mainline Freunde, a local non-profit organization offering German language classes to bilingual children. •

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