Ozarks Profile

First vice president, First Card, 303 E. Republic Road, Springfield. First Card Services Inc. is the company servicing credit card accounts for FCC National Bank. FCC National Bank issues credit cards for First Chicago NBD. (First Chicago NBD is currently in the process of merging with Bank One, whose credit card company is First USA.) First Card is the fifth largest credit card issuer in the country. The combined First Card and First USA will be the second largest credit card issuer in the country. The First Card Center in Springfield is one of four centers that provide inbound customer service for the company's 13 million card members. Services provided include credit line increases, additional cards and responding to questions about statements, among other functions. Laxton is both the center manager and customer relations manager.

Age: 36.

No. of years in Springfield/area: Has lived in Springfield for nine months. She relocated here from Rockville Centre, N.Y., Long Island.

Education: Holds a bachelor of business administration degree from Adelphia University in Garden City, Long Island.

Early career: Began her career at Chase Manhattan Bank, where she worked for 10 years. Laxton held several positions in the bank, including assistant vice president of bankruptcy, assistant treasurer of the litigation department, customer service supervisor and assistant vice president of internal recoveries. For the past five years, Laxton has been with First Card, most recently as vice president of the New York collection department managing a staff of 250 in the collection of delinquent accounts (one to six months past due). The other positions she's held are assistant vice president of the bankruptcy and recovery departments.

Current projects: Continued hiring of staff to fill outstanding positions. "Our initial plan for 1998 was to hire 250 employees. Now our plans are to hire and train a total of 750 employees by year end. In addition, we are working on the integration of First USA and First Card," Laxton said.

Spare-time pursuits: Golf, spending time with her family, including her sister, brother-in-law, nieces and nephew, who live in St. Louis, and vacationing at Disney World. Laxton is the oldest of four and has eight nieces and nephews.

Family data: Her fianc?, Chuck Vitello, works at Great Southern Bank. Their wedding is planned for December 1998 in New York.

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