Thank you to our RSPA AI Resource Hub Sponsors
AI terms retail IT VARs and ISVs need to know
Details, examples, and instructions on common AI tools VARs and ISVs should investigate
Use cases organized by business outcomes that show how retail IT solution providers are applying AI inside their organizations
Use cases organized by business outcomes detailing how merchants are using AI to benefit their customers and their bottom line
We’ll help you overcome any fear of AI, sharing where to start, where to focus, and what to do to benefit your business and your clients
For questions about AI, connect with an expert RSPA member by emailing Membership@GoRSPA.org
Thank you to the members of the RSPA AI Advisory Group who have contributed to this AI Resource Hub!
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Ashley began her career in the point of sale technology industry in 2015 and has been a dedicated leader in the RSPA and broader retail tech community ever since. With a passion for sales and partner success, Ashley has worked closely with VAR, ISV, Vendor, and Distribution partners to drive growth, strengthen relationships, and expand market presence. Her experience as VP of Member Services at the RSPA and now as National Sales Director at OrderCounter reflects her commitment to helping businesses thrive through strategic collaboration and community engagement.
As CRO of vLoyalty Peter manages all existing enterprise-level clients, in addition to leading sales efforts to secure additional Tier 1 and 2 clients specifically in the retail and restaurant industry. Peter is a serial entrepreneur with sales and business development expertise, having co-founded several companies in the fin-tech/loyalty and marketing space. Peter was on the founding team that built Empyr, one of the first card-linked offer platforms, acquired by Chase. In addition Peter founded the world’s first-ever Facebook Credits Loyalty Program, Plink, also utilizing card-linked tracking. Most recently, Peter co-founded Leafwire, the ‘Linkedin of Cannabis’, which quickly grew to become the largest business network in cannabis.
Tyler Young is the founder and CEO of VersiTech, known for redefining how POS and payments work together. With over 17 years in the industry, Tyler isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo, building a partner-first model that empowers resellers and prioritizes innovation over legacy thinking. He’s passionate about helping businesses grow through bold, efficient, and unexpected solutions. Tyler lives in Atlanta with his two children and thrives on meaningful connections and new experiences, whether mentoring partners or sharing ideas over a drink with friends.
Blake Rouse is a seasoned executive in the fintech space. As Senior Director of Business Development at Cardknox, Blake’s leadership has helped the company establish itself as a critical player in the retail IT channel. Through Blake’s vision, the company has expanded its product offerings to new channels, opened new markets, and established strong partnerships with key ISVs and VARs. As a two-time RSPA Next Gen Rising Star, Blake has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to delivering value to partners, customers, and other key stakeholders alike. Blake takes an innovative approach to partnerships and has helped develop custom partnership models and deliver new PayFac solutions to the channel and ISV world.
Kevin McGrath, founder of Value Systems, began his journey in the tech world by building and repairing computers during the day while working as a pizza delivery driver at night. . Kevin eventually transitioned into the point-of-sale industry. Kevin and his team have built Value Systems into a successful business by always focusing on customer service above everything else. Kevin believes if you are fanatical about customer service and the customer experience everything else will fall into place.
Kevin enjoys a challenge and looks forward to helping customers grow their business. Kevin likes to identify pain points and help wherever possible. Kevin believes there is nothing more satisfying than creating a lifetime relationship with a customer. Kevin has retained many of his customers for 20+ years due to his dedication.
Kirsten is the General Manager at Electronic Office, a VAR in Clive, Iowa. She joined the retail IT industry in 2019 starting as the only employee in a customer service and support role. Through the years, she has transitioned to handling all of the day-to-day operations, support and managing the sales team as well. When she isn’t at work, she enjoys going out to eat, staying active(ish) and watching movies with her fiancé and their puppy, Rocco.
Farrell McKenna is President of STCR’s U.S. business, supporting 3,500 supermarkets across North America. Based in Binghamton, NY, he brings over seven years of POS industry experience, leading operations, technical support, implementation, sales, marketing, and strategy. Farrell is actively working with his team on integrating STCR with their Canadian sister company SIR Solutions. A Cornell graduate with degrees in Economics and English literature, he began his career in banking and finance. Farrell has three daughters with his wife Lila and is an avid long distance runner. A dedicated RSPA member, Farrell has served on multiple committees, is a frequent RetailNOW attendee, and a multi-year RSPA “40 Under 40” honoree. He’s excited to bring his perspective as a growing VAR to the RSPA board and giving back to the community that has given him so much.
Scott McClannahan, a tech prodigy, started his IT business in 1996 in Atlanta GA – at the age just 15. Born as a business to provide websites, computers and basic support for small businesses, he quickly found himself consulting restaurant and night club owners about their IT problems, AV solutions, and of course, their POS, throughout the Atlanta area. Scott soon realized that there was a unique opportunity to serve an underserved community and begin providing POS and CC processing services around Atlanta. In 2012, Scott moved to Denver Colorado and rebranded as Simple POS Solutions Inc. Since that time, Scott has served in multiple leadership positions including churches, schools, and even providing mentorship to young entrepreneurs through an apprenticeship program. Today, Scott is the President and CEO of Simple POS, still focused on serving Restaurants and Retail businesses but now uniquely works with other resellers to provide a value added partnership enabling small resellers to tap into the resources of Scott’s 24/7 support team, and national IT services with over 1000 clients from New York to Hawaii, and even Guam.
Josh Wintoniak is a channel-focused problem solver with over 20 years of experience helping independent retailers, ISOs, and VARs grow through smart technology and strong relationships. As Sales Manager at Auto-Star Compusystems, he bridges the gap between retail, payments, and innovation. Josh brings a unique perspective from both the vendor and reseller side and currently serves as Chair of the RSPA Canada Advisory Board. He’s passionate about giving back to the community that shaped his career and is committed to keeping the industry connected, collaborative, and future-ready.
I’m a people-first leader who’s passionate about empowering teams, building strong connections, and driving results. With a background in brand strategy and market growth, I love turning big ideas into real outcomes. I’d be excited to bring my energy, experience, and collaborative mindset to the RSPA Board—and to help shape the future of our amazing community.
Thomas Greenman is President and Co-Owner of Skurla’s POS Solutions, based in Anchorage, Alaska. With over 25 years of experience in the IT industry, he has spent the last 17 of those being focused on POS, Payments, and all things VAR related.
Thomas is a lifelong technology enthusiast, multi-media producer, and a frequent contributor to RSPA. A longtime supporter of the RSPA, he currently serves as a member of its Board of Directors.
Outside of the office, he enjoys spending time with his family, helping others, technology, woodworking, church, dad jokes, making loud noises on guitars, and the great outdoors.
For the past twenty years, I’ve been dedicated to helping RSPA members and other IT solutions providers build profitable and sustainable businesses as the co-founder of DevPro Journal and Managed Services Journal. Recently, I embarked on a collaboration with BlueStar to lead a partner training initiative, focused on equipping partners for success in today’s competitive market. Having just completed a one-year term on the RSPA board, I am now seeking a full term to continue contributing to the organization’s growth and stability. With my service-oriented background and deep commitment to the IT channel, I am a strong advocate for the needs of all members.
Paul Leduc, President and CEO of Globe POS Systems, was recently selected as Top CEO of the
Year in Retail 2025 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for his outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to the industry. With more than three decades of experience in the industry, Mr. Leduc has certainly proven himself as an expert in his field. As a dynamic, results-driven leader Paul Leduc is the President of Globe POS Systems, a leader in providing integrated point-of-sale solutions. Globe POS Systems is a leading provider of point-of-sale solutions for the retail and hospitality industries, with over 20 years of experience supporting businesses in these sectors.
Paul’s journey began in his teenage years working in retail. His experience in grocery retail, along with his role at Logivision working with POS technology, gave him valuable insights into the industry’s needs. This background paved the way for his transition to the service-provider side, eventually leading him to acquire and grow Globe POS Systems. Since taking ownership, Paul has expanded the company from a small operation into a thriving business, strategically increasing the team and adapting to industry demands.
Under Paul’s leadership, Globe POS Systems has grown into a trusted provider of advanced technology solutions. Throughout his illustrious career, Paul Leduc has received many awards and accolades and has been recognized for his accomplishments. “
Christine’s career began in healthcare technology, where she worked as a developer building systems that directly impacted patients and providers. That early experience sparked a lifelong focus on practical, human-centered solutions. She then transitioned into strategic leadership roles across the enterprise software, retail technology, and payments sectors, demonstrating her ability to lead and drive impactful change.
At Disney, Christine served as a Product Owner for Disney+, contributing to one of the most high-profile consumer streaming products in recent years. At Zynstra (later acquired by NCR), she led project efforts to virtualize point-of-sale systems—transforming how retail systems are deployed and scaled. Today, she leads product solution discovery and integration strategy at Synovus Bank on the Third-Party Payments team, supporting ISVs and merchants through complex payment technology integrations.
With over 21 years of experience across startups and large enterprises, Christine brings a rare blend of technical depth, commercialization insight, and cross-industry perspective. She is especially passionate about making AI more practical for businesses and is committed to helping solution providers—especially those competing with VC-backed players—thrive in a complex market.
Christine also serves on the boards of the Technology Association of Georgia’s Consumer Experience Society and the Consumer Data Alliance, a professional network dedicated to advancing data-driven marketing and analytics, where she champions innovation, education, and leadership development across the Atlanta tech community.
Her journey with RSPA began through the Women Leading Conversations leadership course and continued through the Inspire conference and Women-to-Women (W2W) group. These experiences not only fostered a deep appreciation for the RSPA’s mission—supporting solution providers, advancing innovation, and building a collaborative and inclusive industry-but also strengthened her commitment to these values. It would be an honor and a privilege for Christine to earn your vote and serve this incredible community.
As a Montana native, Christine now resides near Lake Lanier, just north of Atlanta, with her family and cats. If elected, she will bring a strategic, execution-oriented mindset to the board, along with a deep commitment to community and collaboration. Her goal is simple yet powerful: to help solution providers grow, adapt, and lead— together.
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| Saturday – August 1, 2020 | |
|---|---|
| RSPA Board Meeting | 9:00A – 5:00P |
| Implementing an Effective Sales Management Program Key Components to Driving Results and Productivity of Sales Teams Download Video Download Audio Only |
Dave Menton |
| Learning From Another’s Forensic Engagement Download Video Download Audio Only | Adam Perella |
| Meet the Modern Marketer: Content Marketing Key Concepts Download Video Download Audio Only | Mark Fraker and James Korte |
| Things You Can Do Right NOW to Improve the Value of Your Business Download Video Download Audio Only | Tom Bronson |
Leadership in You -If You Don’t Prioritize Your Development No One WillDownload VideoDownload Audio OnlyKathy Meader and Shannon Reichart
| Breakouts | |
|---|---|
| Balancing Retail, Hospitality and Security (Slides Unavailable) Download Video Download Audio Only | Michael Weaver |
| Blocking Breaches with Blockchain Download Video Download Audio Only | Dee Duncan |
| Cloud or Client Server – A Winning Recipe For Each Download Video Download Audio Only | Bob Bauer |
| Credit Card Processing 101 – Winning Strategies for the Convergence of Industries Download Video Download Audio Only | Dan Brattland |
| Innovating as an SMB Reseller Download Video Download Audio Only | Alan Outlaw |
| Keeping Your Top Talent Download Video Download Audio Only | Chelsey Paulson |
| Positioning VAR Businesses for SMB Success Download Video Download Audio Only | Jeff Riley and Chris Rumpf |
| The Challenge of Implementing Saas Download Video Download Audio Only | Andrew Warker |
| The Voice of the Customer Download Video Download Audio Only | Ansley Hoke |
| Unlocking the Hidden Value of Recurring Revenue Download Video Download Audio Only | Chad Carr |
Sales Management: Fundamentals of managing sales deployment, process, forecasting and compensation.
Sales, Marketing & Customer Service: Portfolio expansion (adding to tech stack), How to find & retain customers
Executive Education: Business Management, Operations and/or Culture.
Express Education (These are short, 10–12-minute presentations followed by Q&A): Suggested topics include: Emerging Technologies, Security, Leadership, Sales
ISV Education: Channel Development, Strategies for Partnerships
Other: Please describe any session you are proposing that does not fit into one of the categories above.
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Each applicant is required to submit a Scholarship Application Essay. This is a two-page, double-spaced paper, which cannot be handwritten. Submit your essay by uploading a text file with your other materials. Your essay should be written and edited by you. RSPA will review all essays for potential use of AI and other writing tools as a substitute for the student’s original work.
Please choose one of the following topics below for your essay:
- It seems that everyone is talking about AI (artificial intelligence). Like most things, it has good and bad elements. On the plus side, AI provides huge amounts of information in an extremely short time. Also, it is easy to use by anyone who has the use of a computer. On the negative side, it can be misused. Students can use it to write papers and pass them off as their own work. Some might think that they would like that. Clearly, however, the students don’t learn anything. In addition, sometimes the information is inaccurate or incomplete. It might not tell both sides of a story. In your essay, decide if AI is good or bad. You may also discuss other issues related to AI. Please write it yourself!
- Regardless of politics, we can all agree that we need to be kind to the earth. Discuss ways we can address this problem either personally, as a group or as a country. If you don’t believe there is a problem, take that position and explain and defend your position.
TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR ESSAY SUBMISSION:
The essay should show original and serious thinking on the part of the applicant and should demonstrate the applicant’s ability to express those thoughts clearly and accurately. A third page may be added to cite sources if quotes, purported facts, etc. are used. The essay should be coherent; it should have a clear beginning, middle and end. Begin by introducing the topic and set forth the boundaries of the subject. Do not be vague or too expansive. Instead, be specific and well-disciplined. You may want to follow these steps in preparing your essay:
Outline your essay. Write a rough draft and review it by asking yourself such questions as: Is it clear? Are questions raised by this essay left unanswered? Is the topic clearly defined? Are the ideas well developed? Are the ideas concrete?
Finalize your essay, asking yourself these questions: Is this precise or too general? Is it concise or does it ramble? Have I used grammar properly? Is this essay persuasive? Are the quotes accurate? Are the facts valid? Are my thoughts and conclusions well organized?
The RSPA Academy proudly presents our second Regional Education Event being held on Tuesday, May 7th in Tampa, Florida. Join RSPA and sponsor EVO Payments, for a 1 day, on-site workshop like no other event in the industry. Agenda topics include:
- Market Sizing/Market Potential Indexing
- Sales Process Methodology
- Sales KPI’s/Metrics.
Hosted by EVO Payments at their headquarters in Tampa, FL and led by RSPA’s VP of Sales, Dave Menton and VP of Education, Kathy Meader, this interactive workshop event will help you think about change and transformation in your sales organization. Join your colleagues as they share best practices around:
- Identifying a target market
- Deploying a sales team to execute against sales targets
- Implementing a disciplined sales process
- Leveraging sales management best practices
- Measuring and monitoring Key Performance Indicators around Sales Activity and Results
Registration will open at 9:30 AM. The workshop will be held from 10:00 am – 3:30 pm and lunch will be provided for all attendees. Seats are limited, so click here to register today!
Registration is complimentary for Current RSPA Members. For lasped and non-member companies:
| $50 | 1 individual* |
| $75 | 2 individuals of the same company* |
| $100 | 3+ individuals of the same company (best value)* |
*Cost will be credited towards renewal or new membership fees if activated within 30 days of the event.
Join us as we review the lessons we learned from forensics investigations in 2018. Dave Ellis, SecurityMetrics’ VP of Investigations (PFI, GCIH, CISSP, QSA), also gives his forensic predictions for 2019 to help you strengthen your organization’s defense. Dave is also joined by John Bartholomew, SecurityMetrics’ SVP of Technology (PCIP), for a Q&A session where they answer questions about data security and breaches.
Let’s face it. Our most valuable resources walks out of our offices at the end of each workday…that resource is our people. The question every leader should ask themselves is “Have I done enough today to ensure they come back tomorrow?” Join Paul and Shannon for the 1st part of this 2-Part session that will assist you in developing your people. Part 1 will focus on HOW to develop your people and where to exert your time and energy.
In 2018 most processors began requiring resellers to sign up for MasterCard’s Terminal Servicer Program. We also saw a few changes to the program with the release of the updated QIR program. Join us on this webinar as we review the details of this program and how it applies to all POS resellers.
By incorporating the newest in payment technologies into your POS sales pitch, both POS VARs and ISVs can complement their existing sales points while differentiating their product from a competitor. Join Matt Bruno VP of Sales for Payment Logistics as he looks at a few of the new technologies, their functionality and, most importantly, how dealers can capitalize on these new tools.
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| Time | Function |
| 6:00pm – 7:00pm | Open Networking & Tabletops Open Bar & Passed hors d’oeuvres |
| 7:00pm – 7:10pm | RSPA Welcome & Intro RSPA President & CEO: John Kirk |
| 7:10pm – 7:55pm | Guest Speaker Michael Leblanc |
| 8:00pm – 8:55pm | Open Networking & Tabletops Hockey Hall of Fame Games |
| 8:55pm – 9:00pm | Closing RSPA Canadian Committee Chair: Paul Leduc |
7am-8am
- Hunter Allen
- Tom Bronson
- Jeff Riley
- Nathan Sweaney
1pm-3pm
- Hunter Allen
- Troy Leach
- Nathan Sweaney
7am-8am
- Hunter Allen
- Tom Bronson
- Jeremy Julian
- Jeff Riley
- Nathan Sweaney
1pm-3pm
- Hunter Allen
- Tom Bronson
- Jeremy Julian
- Jeff Riley
- Chris Rumpf
- Dave Sobel
- Nathan Sweaney
1pm-3pm
- Hunter Allen
- Tom Bronson
- Jeff Riley
- Nathan Sweaney
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