Leadership

---

I’ve Been There.

In 1993 I went through a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. I thought that no one had credit worse than mine until my dealership promoted me from car salesman to Finance Manager.

I worked in the automotive industry for fourteen long years holding positions a salesman, Finance Manager, and for many years, a Finance Director. Over time, I repaired my own credit and learned the inner workings of the credit system. This knowledge was very valuable in helping the customers of my dealership.

Many times, to get a customer’s loan approved, I had to act as a credit counselor. We would lay their credit bureaus out on my desk and, using a yellow highlighter, mark the areas in need of repair. Next, I would help the customers write their letters to the credit bureaus challenging any inaccurate and obsolete information. Through trial and error, I discovered the techniques to structure extremely effective FCRA requests that would require compliance by the credit bureaus to remove the inaccurate bad credit items.

The purpose of my direct involvement in all this was to help sell a car. With this hands-on approach, the customers wanted to buy a car from me and my dealership. Sometimes I followed up with these customers for up to a year, helping them to fix their credit to the point where a bank would approve them for an auto loan.

Eventually, customers would tell their relatives and friends about my “services,” and even though they had no interest in buying a car, they would call and ask many credit questions and request my advice on credit repair. One of the salespeople joked that I should open a credit repair agency, and immediately it seemed to me like a light bulb turned on. I shortly opened the doors to this agency, and immediately through word of mouth, Credit Restoration Institute started to grow.

*** My years of experience and my direct involvement with your case is the difference between Credit Restoration Institute and ANY of our competitors. I know exactly how a credit report needs to look for you to get ideal terms on purchasing a new car or home. No other credit restoration system includes ME with it.

Celia L. Powell, CPA is an accountant and consultant, practicing professionally beginning in 2009. Celia brings a unique approach to her accounting practice by utilizing mindfulness practices along with traditional business methods to support her clients as they transform and manage their finances. Celia focuses on going beyond the numbers to help her clients reach both their life and financial goals.

Celia received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the State University of New York at New Paltz, 1986. She received Certified Public Accountant’s license from the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2009 and has been in private practice since then, serving non-profit organizations, small businesses and individuals.

Ms Powell, most recently began an online platform, used to teach, coach and inspire others to create a financial vision for their money and ultimately become the CEO of their lives.