General Sessions
Three full days of networking opportunities,
Two-Day Conference with an expanded agenda and 8.5 hours of focused Exhibitor Interaction.
All sessions will be held in the Springs Ballroom.
Wednesday September 16th, 2026
Welcome, Wins, and Prizes: Opening Comments with Square and WSAA
TIME: 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
SPEAKERS:
- Pat Ford - General Session Host & WSAA Past President, Managing Partner at Oasis Consulting, LLC
- Kelsey Faron - Retail Specialist, Square
Details:
Come join us to kick off Day One General Sessions with opening comments from Square and WSAA. We'll set the stage for the sessions ahead, share what's new this year, and hand out some prizes to get the energy going before the real work begins.
Payments Trends 2026: Real vs. Hype
TIME: 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
SPEAKERS:
- James Wester- Director, Cryptocurrency / Co-Head of Payments, Javelin
Details:
Every year brings a new wave of "game-changing" payments trends — most don't survive contact with reality. AI, crypto, fraud, embedded payments: this session cuts through the hype on all of it, separating what's genuinely reshaping the industry from what's just noise, so you walk away knowing where to actually place your bets in 2026.
Unlocking Digital Currency: Opportunities for Merchants and Payments Leaders
TIME: 10:45 AM -11:30 AM
Moderator:
- James Sheppard - CEO, CCSalesPro
Speakers:
- Jay Sykes - CEO, BeadPay
- Eugene Rome - Founder and Principal, Rome LLP
- Ashvin Dhawan- CRO, Coinsub
Details:
As digital payments accelerate, this session examines the role of crypto, stablecoins, and tokenized assets in driving innovation. Panelists will break down how merchants can tap into growing wallet adoption, unlock new revenue streams, and navigate the convergence of crypto and traditional financial systems.
Build It to Exit It: Proven Strategies to Grow Value and Exit on Your Terms
TIME: 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Moderator:
- Anthony Malatesta - Managing Director, Wellesley Hills Financial
Speakers:
- Alex Daily - Director of Partner Relations, Cutter Financial
- Gretchen Bender - SVP, Strategic Partnerships/Embedded Payments, MAPP Advisors
- Charles Bishota - Payments & Fintech Attorney, Bishota Law
Details:
Whether you're managing a handful of merchant accounts or running a large portfolio, one question matters: what's it actually worth, and how do you grow that value? This session delivers proven strategies for building an exit-ready portfolio — from the fundamentals that boost value for feet-on-the-street agents to the structural moves that matter most to larger organizations. Walk away with a clear picture of what buyers are looking for and how to position your business, big or small, to exit on your terms.
From Reseller to Platform Partner: Technology's Role in the Next Payments Era
TIME: 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
Moderator:
- Nick Bencivenga - VP of Sales, Kurv
Speakers:
- Sarah Adams - CRO, ISVPay and WSAA, Treasurer
- Michael Martinez - CCO, Jupico
- Kyle Aceto - Director, Business Development & Partner Delivery
Fiserv
Details:
As software platforms and infrastructure providers take center stage, the role of the traditional ISO is evolving. This session examines how bundling payments with software, hardware, and services is changing go-to-market strategies—and how organizations can reposition themselves to stay competitive in a platform-first world.
Sales Reimagined: Structure, Transparency, and Growth in a Disruptor's Market
TIME: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Moderator:
- Jenn Reichenbacher - CMO, Stax and WSAA Advisor
Speakers:
- Mike Collins - Head of Resellers, Square
- Justin Volrath - Founder and CEO, Paycompass
- Shawn Dalton - SVP of Payments, Exectras
Details:
The payments sales model is being reimagined. From inside sales teams to agent-centric platforms and vertical go-to-market strategies, this session examines how ISOs can compete with modern disruptors while building scalable, high-performing sales organizations. Discover how structure, transparency, and better tooling are driving stronger growth and retention.
Improvise, Adapt, Overcome: Keynote Speaker - Paul de Gelder
TIME: 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Speakers:
- Paul de Gelder
Details:
Come join us for a keynote unlike any other on the agenda. Paul de Gelder — world-renowned speaker, former Australian Army paratrooper, and Navy bomb disposal diver — survived a shark attack that nearly cost him his life and turned it into a masterclass in resilience under extreme adversity. He'll share how the mindset that got him through the toughest moment of his life applies directly to navigating change, setbacks, and uncertainty in business. Don't miss this one.
Thursday September 17th, 2026
Welcome, Wins, and Prizes: Opening Comments with Visa and WSAA
TIME: 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM
SPEAKER:
- Pat Ford, Managing Partner Oasis Consulting, WSAA Past President
-
Tom Sheridan - Sr. Director, Account Executive, Visa
Details:
Come join us to kick off Day Two General Sessions with opening comments from Visa and WSAA. We'll set the stage for the sessions ahead, share what's new this year, and hand out some prizes to get the energy going before the real work begins.
Adapt or Die: Lessons from 40 Years in Payments
TIME: 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM
SPEAKERS:
- Pat Ford, Managing Partner Oasis Consulting, WSAA Past President
Details:
Having spent over 40 years building and leading in the payments industry, Pat Ford has watched plenty of "inevitable" changes reshape the field—from the rise of electronic payments to real-time rails to today's wave of AI-driven disruption. As a WSAA Past President and recently retired payments professional, he'll share the hard-won lessons on what separates those who adapt and those that don't.
Risk, Rules and Revenue: How to Win in a Compliance-Driven Market
TIME: 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
Moderator:
Ken Musante - Founder and President, Napa Payments and Consulting
SPEAKERS:
- Deana Rich - Co-Founder, Infinicept
- Joe Cohane - CEO at CDE
- Michael Williams - Attorney/CFO, Clym
Details:
Regulation is rewriting the rules of merchant onboarding and risk management — and the organizations that treat compliance as a growth lever, not a roadblock, are the ones pulling ahead. This session digs into how new requirements are reshaping merchant participation, where compliance actually drives responsible growth, and how to balance regulatory obligations with smart, risk-based decisions in emerging and higher-risk segments.
The Next Phase of AI in Payments Isn't About Experimenting: It's About Execution
TIME: 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
Moderator:
Jennifer Johnson - Principal and Fractional COS, Moreton Bay Advisory
SPEAKERS:
- Lisa Blandford - Director of Projects, The Strawhecker Group, WSAA Advisor
- Guiseppi Marzelli - Co-Founder and VP Business Development, Ovation CXM
- Aaron Caffey, Founder, StatementAI
Details:
This session dives into how leading organizations, and the sales agents driving their growth, are putting AI to work: connecting fragmented processes, speeding up merchant onboarding, and elevating merchant outcomes from the first pitch onward. See how AI is moving from a standalone back-office tool to a true growth engine — one that helps agents sell smarter, close faster, and retain longer.
The Retention Equation: Technology, Trust, and Long-Term Value
TIME: 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Moderator:
Brian Booth, Founder and CEO, Enroll & Pay
SPEAKERS:
- Scott Bryson - President, GETTRX
- Sean Feighan, Co-Founder and President, Cash Buoy
- Sebastian Jinete - CEO and Co-Founder, Arcum
Details:
Retention is no longer just about preventing churn—it's about building long-term value. This session explores how organizations of every size, from feet-on-the-street agents to large enterprises, combine technology, value-added services, and human relationships to strengthen merchant loyalty, increase revenue per account, and create more defensible, sale-ready portfolios.
Pursuing Risk with Intent: The Cost of "Yes"
TIME: 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
SPEAKERS:
- Shari Savlick - VP, Merchant Compliance - Merrick Bank and Immediate Past-President, APP
- Deborah Camm - SVP, Head of Acquiring, Quill Bank and WSAA Past President
Details:
Come join us for a candid conversation on risk, hosted in partnership with APP and led by two association past presidents. Every "yes" carries a cost — to your portfolio, your reputation, and your bottom line. This session explores what it really means to pursue risk with intent: how to make deliberate, well-informed underwriting decisions instead of reflexive ones, and why the easiest "yes" isn't always the smartest one. Walk away with a sharper framework for weighing opportunity against exposure.
Payments Beyond 2026: Visa's View from the Road Ahead
TIME: 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM
SPEAKERS:
- Sara Craven - General Manager for Acceptance Solutions, SMB and Tech Partnerships, Visa
Details:
Join Visa to close out the event with a candid, forward-looking conversation about where payments are really headed and what acquirers should be paying attention to now. AI, push payments, fraud, digital identity, embedded commerce, orchestration; the headlines are everywhere. Which changes are truly durable, and which are still more hype than reality?
Prizes, Please: Grand Prize & Sponsor/Exhibitor Giveaways
TIME: 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM
Details:
Stick around — this is the moment you've been waiting for. WSAA is putting up a grand prize worth showing up for, plus a stack of giveaways from our amazing exhibitors and sponsors. You have to be present to win, so don't head out early. Let's celebrate a great event and send you home with something to show for it.