SEAA | Southeast Acquirers Association

Bill Glass

Welcome to the Southeast Acquirers Association Podcast, where industry leaders and payment professionals come together to explore the dynamic world of acquiring. Join us as we dive into the latest trends, innovations, and challenges shaping the payments landscape. In each episode, we bring you insightful interviews with thought leaders and experts who share their experiences, strategies, and expertise in navigating the ever-evolving payments industry. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just entering the field, our podcast offers valuable insights to help you stay ahead in this rapidly changing landscape. From discussions on emerging payment methods to deep dives into risk management and compliance, we cover a wide range of topics to keep you informed and inspired.

  1. 2h ago ·  Video

    PayCompass CEO Justin Volarath on Leadership, Culture & the Future of Payments

    In this episode, Bill Glass sits down with Justin Volarath, Founder and CEO of PayCompass, to discuss how he built one of the fastest-growing ISO organizations by challenging traditional payment industry thinking. Justin shares his unlikely journey into merchant services, explains why an agent-first philosophy has fueled PayCompass' rapid growth, and offers practical advice on leadership, recruiting, technology, and scaling a successful payments business. The conversation dives into what separates companies that simply grow from those that build lasting cultures, why empowering sales agents creates better outcomes for everyone, and how AI, embedded payments, and ISV partnerships are reshaping the future of merchant services. Throughout the discussion, both Bill and Justin emphasize that while technology will continue to evolve, trust, relationships, and exceptional service remain the industry's greatest competitive advantages. Three Biggest Takeaways 1. Culture Drives Growth PayCompass' rapid expansion wasn't driven by technology alone—it was built by consistently making decisions that prioritize agents' success and hiring people who genuinely care about serving others. 2. Technology Should Empower, Not Replace From custom-built internal platforms to AI-assisted support, technology works best when it removes friction and helps people perform at a higher level rather than replacing human expertise and relationships. 3. The Future Belongs to Trusted Advisors As embedded payments, ISVs, and AI continue to reshape the industry, successful payment professionals will differentiate themselves through consultative selling, strategic partnerships, and delivering long-term value—not simply processing transactions.

  2. Jul 22 ·  Video

    Can AI transform payments without sacrificing trust, compliance, or human judgment?

    In this episode of the SEAA Podcast, host Bill Glass sits down with Leo Patching, founder of Kompliant (now part of LegitScript), and Tom Lineen, President of WestTown Payments to explore one of the most important shifts happening in financial services today: the evolution of AI-powered underwriting, merchant risk, and compliance. Together, they break down what agentic AI actually means in regulated payment environments, why "human-in-the-loop" decision-making remains essential, and how banks, ISOs, PayFacs, and fintechs can leverage AI to improve operational efficiency without creating unnecessary regulatory risk. The conversation dives into the industry's transition from traditional point-in-time underwriting to continuous merchant intelligence, discussing how organizations can better detect fraud, automate onboarding, strengthen ongoing monitoring, and build compliance programs that scale. The episode also explores why explainability, auditability, and defensible decision-making will become the defining characteristics of next-generation payment platforms and why simply deploying AI isn't enough.

  3. Jul 15 ·  Video

    The Future of High-Risk Payments Starts Here: Qredible + Sunfire POS

    What if the biggest threat to your business isn't sales—it's compliance? In this episode of the SEAA Podcast, Bill Glass sits down with Noah Fitzgerald (Qredible) and Joan Winnington (Sunfire POS) to discuss how the payments industry is evolving and why traditional underwriting is failing merchants in regulated industries. From CBD and vape to peptides, nutraceuticals, and other high-risk verticals, they break down the technology that's changing compliance from a reactive process into a proactive competitive advantage. You'll hear how Qredible and Sunfire POS have partnered to create a fully integrated compliance and point-of-sale solution that automates product-level compliance, digitizes COAs, continuously monitors merchant risk, and helps businesses stay audit-ready while reducing the manual workload that has traditionally overwhelmed merchants and underwriters.

  4. Jun 24 ·  Video

    CardFlight's Vision for the Future of Merchant Payments

    In this episode of the SEAA Podcast, host Bill Glass sits down with Rinda Sutrathada, Senior Account Manager, and Ashley Howard, Partnership Support Associate, from CardFlight to discuss how SwipeSimple is evolving beyond traditional payment acceptance and helping merchants run smarter, more efficient businesses. The conversation explores CardFlight's recently launched SwipeSimple App Marketplace, including integrations like QuickBooks Online Sync, appointment scheduling, text loyalty, and review management. Ashley and Rinda share how merchant and reseller feedback directly influences product development and what's driving adoption across the channel. Bill also dives into some of CardFlight's newest innovations, including Tap to Pay on iPhone, the growing demand for mobile-first payment solutions, and how merchants can leverage SwipeSimple's gateway, invoicing, payment links, recurring billing, and offline payment capabilities to support both card-present and card-not-present environments. The episode wraps up with an exciting preview of CardFlight's upcoming ACH by Nuvei release, bringing ACH acceptance to invoices and payment links and providing merchants with even more flexibility in how they get paid. Whether you're an ISO, agent, reseller, or merchant services professional, this episode offers valuable insight into how CardFlight is helping businesses simplify payments while expanding their operational toolkit. Guests: Rinda Sutrathada | (619) 793-9095 | rinda.sutrathada@cardflight.com Ashley Howard | (917) 579-7829 | ashley.howard@cardflight.com Tune in to hear how CardFlight is shaping the future of merchant payments through innovation, feedback-driven development, and a relentless focus on merchant success.

  5. Jun 3 ·  Video

    Allen Kopelman Reveals the Next Big Shift in Payments and Fintech

    In this episode, Bill Glass sits down with Allen Kopelman, Co-Founder and CEO of Nationwide Payment Systems, to discuss the evolution of the payments industry and where it's headed next. Allen shares his journey from restaurant owner to payments executive, offering insights on merchant services, fintech innovation, embedded finance, software solutions, and the strategies businesses can use to stay competitive in an increasingly digital world. They also explore how value-added services like lending, payroll, invoicing, and recurring billing are transforming merchant relationships and creating new growth opportunities for payment professionals. Connect with Allen Kopelman: Website: Nationwide Payment Systems LinkedIn: Allen Kopelman Podcast: B2B Vault Podcast If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others in the payments and fintech community.

  6. Mar 18 ·  Video

    Build vs Buy: The Software Decision That Can Make or Break a Payments Company

    In this episode, SEAA sits down with Adam Dill and Josh Adams, co-founders of DBA, to discuss how custom software is transforming modern payments infrastructure. Drawing from their experience building high-performance systems across fintech and other industries, they break down the key considerations payment companies face when deciding whether to build custom software or rely on off-the-shelf solutions. The conversation covers ROI, long-term maintenance costs, compliance requirements, and why a strong back-office architecture is critical to keeping payment systems running smoothly. The discussion also explores how automation and AI are rapidly reshaping the industry. From AI-powered dashboards and workflow automation to the emerging role of AI agents in business operations and consumer purchasing, Adam and Josh share insights on where payments technology is headed. For startups, fintech founders, and payment professionals evaluating custom software, this episode offers practical guidance on building scalable systems and making smart technology investments for the future.   Connect with the Guests: Adam Dill & Josh Adams — Co-Founders, Daring Bit Assembly 🌐 https://dbadbadba.com 📧 howdy@dbadbadba.com 📞 (877) 919-4322

  7. Mar 4

    Payroll, People, and Policy: Strengthening Businesses Through Smarter Operations

    In this episode, Lauren Tarbuk of Magnify Payroll sits down with Bill Glass of SEAA for an engaging conversation on the critical role payroll, compliance, and operational strategy play in building resilient organizations. Together, they explore how businesses can better support their workforce while navigating regulatory complexity, industry challenges, and growth opportunities. From the importance of choosing the right payroll partner to understanding how advocacy and education strengthen employers, this discussion offers practical insights for business leaders looking to streamline operations, reduce risk, and create a more sustainable future for their teams.   Contact Magnify Payroll: Lauren Tarbuk  Direct: 412-600-7577 | Email: lauren@magnifypayroll.com

  8. Feb 18

    Powering Payments: A Candid Conversation with PayProTec

    In this episode, Nate Manahan of PayProTec sits down with Bill Glass of SEAA for an in-depth conversation on the evolving payments landscape and what it takes to succeed in today's merchant services ecosystem. Together, they explore real-world perspectives on payment processing, operational challenges, risk management, and how providers can better support merchants in an increasingly complex and regulated environment. Nate shares insights from PayProTec's experience working with merchants and partners, while Bill brings an industry-wide lens shaped by advocacy, compliance, and growth strategy.   Contact PayProTec: Nate Manahan, Marketing Director Direct: 574-575-6891 | Email: partners@payprotec.com

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Welcome to the Southeast Acquirers Association Podcast, where industry leaders and payment professionals come together to explore the dynamic world of acquiring. Join us as we dive into the latest trends, innovations, and challenges shaping the payments landscape. In each episode, we bring you insightful interviews with thought leaders and experts who share their experiences, strategies, and expertise in navigating the ever-evolving payments industry. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just entering the field, our podcast offers valuable insights to help you stay ahead in this rapidly changing landscape. From discussions on emerging payment methods to deep dives into risk management and compliance, we cover a wide range of topics to keep you informed and inspired.

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