Board of Directors Election -

Test 2

Madeline Stockwell

Test 1

Maddie Gainza

Maddie Gainza leads partner marketing at Esper, working daily across OEMs, VARs, MSPs, and distributors — a cross-ecosystem view that most board candidates simply don’t have. She brings a PR degree from WSU, a Master’s in Communication Management from USC, and a career built on growing communities and telling stories that move people.

Her platform: amplify the channel’s story so the next generation finds their way in, and build programming around what this community already does better than anyone — competing with courage and collaborating generously.

Kevin Trala

RSPA Life Member Nominations

Comments
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Inductee for the current year will be selected in mid-June and recognized at RetailNOW. The deadline to nominate for the current year will coincide with the closing of the Vendor Awards of Excellence voting at which time the nominations process will reset. However, nominations for the subsequent year are accepted anytime after this date.
Nominator Information
Your Name*
First Last
Your Company*
Your Email*
Your Phone Number (optional)
Nominee Information
Nominee Name*
First Last
Nominee Company*
Nominee Email*
Nominee Phone Number (optional)
Significant contribution to and/or influence on the association*
Minimum of 150 words

H. O. Whistler Award Nominations

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Inductee for the current year will be selected in mid-June and recognized at RetailNOW. The deadline to nominate for the current year will coincide with the closing of the Vendor Awards of Excellence voting at which time the nominations process will reset. However, nominations for the subsequent year are accepted anytime after this date.

Nominator Information

Your Name*

First Last

Your Company*

Your Email*

Your Phone Number (optional)

Nominee Information

Nominee Name*

First Last

Nominee Company*

Nominee Email*

Nominee Phone Number (optional)

Significant contribution to and/or influence on the association*

Minimum of 150 words

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Jerry Abiog

Jerry Abiog is the CEO and Co-founder of Standard Insights, a predictive analytics/AI software development company started in 2018. He has given talks, both nationally and internationally, on how companies can leverage their data for a competitive advantage and has been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, Atlanta Business Chronicle, and RFID Journal. Jerry’s goal is to educate companies to play chess with their AI initiatives, focusing on implementing AI solutions for the long term rather than checkers, which only focus on short-term reactive moves.

Jason Diaz

Jason Diaz is founder and CEO of Bodega AI, an AI-first operating platform for independent retailers. His 30-year career spans payments infrastructure, transportation technology, and AI-native business building. He built TaxiPass, enabling mobile point of sale for 30,000+ taxi operators nationwide. He began his career as a strategic consultant at Monitor Company (now Deloitte) and holds an honors degree from the Wharton School of Business. Jason brings operator-level experience at the intersection of payments, technology, and independent commerce, exactly where RSPA members live every day.

Travis Hare

After more than a decade as a software reseller and ISO, Travis transitioned into the ISV space, bringing with him a strong servant-leadership mindset. Today, he leads a team of exceptional people leaders at LINGA, focusing on growth, performance, and customer success. Outside of work, Travis enjoys playing golf and going to the movies.

Allie Haskell

Allie Haskell is Vice President of Brand and Marketing at CBS NorthStar, current RSPA Software Vendor Board Member, and recipient of the 2024 RSPA Woman of the Year award. With a background spanning support, sales, implementation, marketing and leadership, she brings a real-world perspective and a passion for helping people succeed. Allie is known for building connections, elevating voices, and creating momentum across the industry. She believes the strength of the RSPA community comes from the people behind the work and is committed to helping shape a stronger, more connected future for the channel.

Mahdi Hussein

Mahdi Hussein is the Founder and CEO of SuperSonic POS, an operator-built retail technology platform serving local convenience stores, grocery, liquor, restaurant, and specialty retailers nationwide.

With a background rooted in retail, Mahdi built SuperSonic POS to help independent businesses access enterprise technology without enterprise complexity. Under his leadership, the company has expanded to over 3500 stores through innovations in payments, AI-driven tools, loss prevention, and all-in-one commerce solutions designed to help merchants run faster, smarter, and more profitably.

Stephanie Sebastyn

Stephanie is a channel development and marketing leader with experience across the retail technology ecosystem, including roles with an MSP, distributor, and manufacturer. As Director of Channel Development at SpacePole, she focuses on partner engagement, reseller growth, and strategic marketing initiatives within the retail and hospitality IT channel. Stephanie has been actively involved with the RSPA for over a decade through committees, leadership programs, and industry events. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, sports, great food, and making meaningful connections with people across the industry and beyond.

Till Freier

Till grew up in Dresden, Germany. During his high school years, he developed a strong passion for software development and computer science. In 2006, he joined Combase AG, which was founded by his father, Thomas Freier, in 1994. He quickly took a leading role in the development of the cloud-based point of sale and back-office, KORONA POS. In 2012, he relocated to the United States to lead COMBASE USA in its efforts to bring KORONA POS to the North American market. Today, KORONA POS serves thousands of businesses across the United States and Canada and continues to grow.

Michael Tash

For over two decades, I’ve dedicated my career to driving innovation in the Point of Sale and hospitality technology sectors. As the Co-founder and Vice President of Essential Systems Solutions (ESS), I have focused on delivering robust, cutting-edge POS and payment solutions that empower businesses to streamline operations and enhance the customer experience. My passion for shaping the future of retail and hospitality technology also extends to my work on the RSPA Board of Directors, where I collaborate with industry leaders to guide market trends, foster channel growth, and champion the next generation of secure, seamless payment integration.

Sandee Finley

Sandee Finley is a respected professional in the payments industry with a passion for relationship building, leadership, and community engagement. Known for bringing people together and creating authentic connections, she actively supports initiatives that encourage growth, mentorship, and innovation across the retail and payments space. Outside of business, Sandee values family, personal development, and giving back to the community. Based in Houston, she believes strong leadership starts with listening, collaboration, and a commitment to helping others succeed.

Lora Coggins

Lora Coggins, a respected industry leader in the channel community, with more than 40 years of experience in retail technology and POS ecosystem.
She currently serves as Senior Sales Alliance Partner Manager for North America at Diebold Nixdorf, where she focuses on strategic growth and channel partner collaboration. Recognized for her 25-year tenure at Toshiba. A dedicated member of the RSPA community, she has participated in 24 RetailNOW, 10 INSPIRE events and has previously served as board member. Lora is passionate about advancing innovation, education, and next-generation initiatives across the RSPA reseller community. Looking forward to serving our great community.

Don Wilczynski

Payments industry executive with 29 years of experience building, scaling, and leading high-growth organizations across the fintech industry, serving both issuing and acquiring sectors. Don has held several senior leadership roles supporting publicly traded companies, driving revenue expansion, operational execution, strategic partnerships, and national sales growth. Over the last seven years, Don has leveraged that enterprise experience as an independent executive, advising businesses on payments innovation, risk management, customer acquisition, and operational strategy. Known for aligning vision with execution, he brings a practical, board-level perspective focused on sustainable growth, governance, leadership development, innovation and long-term stakeholder value.

Kate Orara

Kate Orara, Channel Account Manager at Elo Touch Solutions, brings more than 20 years of channel experience working with resellers, manufacturers, distributors, and partners across the retail technology industry. She has served on the RSPA Board of Directors since 2024 and is passionate about mentorship, partner growth, and strengthening the future of the RSPA. Kate has been actively involved in RSPA communities including WIT and NextGen and is a strong advocate for the RSPA Scholarship Program. She is committed to helping the association continue to grow its impact and value for members across the industry.

Chantelle Benesh

Chantelle Benesh is a senior marketing and business growth leader with deep expertise across Cyber, SaaS, and Fintech. Known for driving strategic brand elevation and revenue impact, she currently leads marketing initiatives for LANDI Global in North America. Chantelle has built a career, with companies like Verifone, Dell Technologies, First Data (FISERV) and Mastercard, shaping go to market strategies, strengthening partner ecosystems, and delivering measurable business outcomes. A longtime advocate for women in technology, she previously served on the WIT Connect Committee and was recognized on the 2023 CRN Women of the Channel list. She brings a passion for innovation, collaboration, and empowering teams to excel.

LMS Pilot Program

Preliminary Agenda-at-a-Glance

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

Branch tracks
8 Key Drivers of Business Value Download Video Download Audio Only	Jim Kahrs
Best Practices for Qualifying your Prospects Download Video Download Audio Only	Phil McCarthy
Building A Sustainable Sales Team in Times of Change Download Video Download Audio Only	Chris Lybeer
Capital For Business Growth Download Video Download Audio Only	Jon Engleking
Delivering the Right Content Download Video Download Audio Only	Stephen Bergeron
Expect Change For Success Download Video Download Audio Only	Mark Schulze
Hijacking Customer Success Download Video Download Audio Only	Butch Langlois and Jake West
How to Create an Effective Sales Compensation Plan Download Video Download Audio Only	P.J. Tierney
Innovation as the Key to Success Download Video Download Audio Only	Mark Paley
Innovative and Simple Solutions for SMB Payments Download Video Download Audio Only	Jim Parkinson
Marketing In The Digital Age Download Video Download Audio Only	Stephen Bergeron
Merging Payments and the Ideal Customer Experience Download Video Download Audio Only	John Arato
Practical Customer Service Tools Download Video Download Audio Only	Andrew Bourne
Put On Your Own Mask Before Helping Others – Critical Security Controls for Resellers Download Video Download Audio Only	Nathan Sweaney
There is No Silver Bullet -Why Multi-Layer Security Strategies are Critical to Success Download Video Download Audio Only	John Ayers
VAR & ISV Secrets to Maximizing Your Vendor Partner Relationships Download Video Download Audio Only	Moderated by Jim Roddy
Win More Business by Selling 24.7.365 with Marketing Automation Download Video Download Audio Only	Jeremy Julian

Leadership in You -If You Don’t Prioritize Your Development No One Will Download Video Download 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

Pacesetter Awards

Topics for 2024

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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Job Match Profile

Essay Instructions

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.

REGISTER NOW!

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.

REGISTER NOW!

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.

REGISTER NOW!

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.

REGISTER NOW!

RSPA Academy

From the following, select ALL that you are interested in.
- Canadian
- Security
- Education and Certification
- Membership
- Marketing
- NextGEN
- Scholarships and Awards
- Strategic Technology Solutions (STS)
- W2W - Women in Retail
Canadian: Responsible for identifying new members in the Canadian market and assisting with annual Community networking events (one in-country).

Security: This committee’s focus is to help the retail technology industry better understand the realities and risks of PCI Compliance and to provide the voice of our community to strategic partners, such as the PCI-SSC.

Education and Certification: This committee serves as the advisory board for the RSPA by providing recommendations on content and assisting with the execution of industry education for members. Included in this has been support with content and breakout sessions for both INSPIRE and RetailNOW.

Membership: Responsible for helping to grow and retain RSPA membership. This committee also assists in outreach to other organizations to encourage membership and engagement.

Marketing: This committee helps raise awareness of the RSPA brand and image, as well as works closely with the RSPA team on creating and branding campaigns and initiatives.

NextGEN: We are working to build a community of RSPA members that will help the industry evolve and continue to flourish. Those that are creating and offering new solutions as well as those that will take ownership as the previous generation begins to transition who are at any level of their organization (executive, sr management, management, entry level, etc). You don’t have to be a leader today to help guide the RSPA for tomorrow.

Scholarships and Awards: Assists with assessment of the RSPA scholarship program and evaluates and provides suggestions regarding RSPA’s Vendor Awards of Excellence awards program. This year we will break into two separate work streams: one to evaluate the awards categories and voter engagement and the other to promote donations to the scholarship fund.

Strategic Technology Solutions (STS): The STS committee works to identify emerging technologies that may be of benefit/interest to RSPA members and/or their customers. The committee also provides an article published in each issue of connect magazine.

W2W - Women In Retail: The W2W Committee works to unite, lift and empower women in technology by providing educational opportunities and peer to peer collaboration in a supportive environment.
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NextGEN Community at RetailNOW

NextGEN Community at RN18

W2W Leader of the Year Nominations

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The W2W Leader of the Year award has been created to recognize a woman in the Retail Technology Industry, who is determined to reshape the industry and create a smarter and more inclusive future.

This honor recognizes a woman who has demonstrated key characteristics of a pioneer paving the way in the Retail Technology Industry. These include:

Professionalism – commits to the continual improvement of knowledge and skills, while providing motivation to others in the industry
Leadership – is a positive role model and actively seeks to bring greater diversity to the technology industry
Mentorship – enables professional growth of those they manage or mentor through their actions and encouragement
Communication – displays strength in both interpersonal and organizational communication

Winner for the current year will be selected in mid-June and will be recognized at RetailNOW. The deadline to nominate for the current year will coincide with the closing of the Vendor Awards of Excellence voting, at which time the nominations process will reset. However, nominations for the subsequent year are accepted anytime after this date.

Disclaimer: By submitting this ballot RSPA member confirms they are employed by a member company in good standing. Incomplete nominations, or nominations that do not address all criteria, will not be considered.

Nominator Information

Your Name*

First Last

Your Company*

Your Email*

Your Phone Number (optional)

Nominee Information

Nominee Name*

First Last

Nominee Company*

Nominee Email*

Nominee Phone Number (optional)

Please describe why you believe this candidate is deserving of this award. Please provide examples where possible. Specifics are appreciated.*

Minimum of 150 words

W2W Community at RetailNOW

W2W Community at RN18

Canadian Community at RetailNOW

Canadian Community at RN18

Hall of Fame Nominations

"*" indicates required fields

Phone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Inductee for the current year will be selected in mid-June and recognized at RetailNOW. The deadline to nominate for the current year will coincide with the closing of the Vendor Awards of Excellence voting at which time the nominations process will reset. However, nominations for the subsequent year are accepted anytime after this date.

Nominator Information

Your Name*

First Last

Your Company*

Your Email*

Your Phone Number (optional)

Nominee Information

Nominee Name*

First Last

Nominee Company*

Nominee Email*

Nominee Phone Number (optional)

Significant contribution to and/or influence on the industry*

Minimum of 150 words

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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NextGEN Email List Sign Up Form

NextGEN Scholarship Nomination Form

Become a NextGEN sponsor

Course 7: Recommended Paperwork to Complete a PCI Compliant Installation

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Course 6: Providing Ongoing Support

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Course 5: How to Administer & Maintain a PCI Compliant System & Environment

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Course 4: Installing a Compliant System

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Course 2: Security Regulations

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Course 1: Payment Industry Overview

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RSPA Board of Directors
Election

Non-Software Vendor Candidates

Reseller Candidates

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RSPA Board of DirectorsElection

Non-Software Vendor Candidates

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RSPA Board of Directors
Election