MAG Insights

National Volunteer Week was April 18-24, which led me to reflect on the impact volunteers have made to our industry. While I wish I could cover everyone who has significantly contributed to the MAG and the industry, that would take a full novel. Maybe that could be my passion project once I retire; but for now, I will highlight a few people who have made a big difference in our industry.

Before I start, it is worth mentioning that one of the greatest things about the MAG is not just that people volunteer to help make a difference, but that they do it humbly. So, I hope I don’t embarrass the members I highlight but instead inspire others to follow in their footsteps. One of the members I am highlighting just announced her decision to leave her current employer to plan her next steps in her journey, so this is an opportune time to feature her contributions to the MAG.

For those of you who don’t know, Dee O’Malley recently announced she was leaving Best Buy. I believe I met Dee at my first MAG conference right after the MAG started. We met in the basement of a hotel with about seven round tables and a projector sitting on a table; it was not that fancy of a set up. Regardless of the setting, one thing was instantly clear – a passion among the participants to make the industry a better place for everyone. This humble beginning has evolved into a collaboration between all parties in the industry and improved the payments landscape for all participants.

Though many may not recall our humble beginning, Dee was the first chair of the MAG. The MAG struggled quite a bit in those days to convince enough merchants and sponsors to join so we could pay Dodd Roberts, the first CEO. Dee along with the rest of the core group, laid the foundation of the MAG which still exists today.  

Dee has since played a role in guiding the growth of the MAG as co-chair of the Engagement Committee. In addition, Dee has played a role in recruiting every CEO to the MAG, including myself. Payments professionals are attracted to the MAG due to their passion and drive to make the industry better, and Dee embodies these traits. I think John Manna said it best, “Dee is one of the few people I would say, that without her commitment and the ongoing efforts she put forth in building the MAG, it wouldn’t be the strong and healthy merchant advocate that it is today.”

If you have ever had the opportunity to talk to Dee about the MAG or payments, you can’t miss the love she has for both. Luckily for us, Dee plans to stay engaged with the MAG to help us continue to build and progress toward the future.

Dee is not alone in helping to make the payments ecosystem brighter; you may have noticed the MAG recently launched Merchant Payments 101, and this would not have been possible without the vision of Alok Mathur. Alok believes the key to the MAG’s success is having a highly educated merchant community who all promote an equitable payments landscape. Alok encouraged the MAG to develop a baseline education program several years back. Now we can proudly say we have close to 125 graduates and over 400 people who have taken a MP101 course.

In every Board strategy meeting, Alok asked what our plans were to move education forward. He attended countless meetings to discuss the best way to fund and launch the program. He helped us navigate through a couple of starts and stops before landing on our current program.

Alok would not let the Board forget the need for this program, and because of his passion the program is now a key pillar of the MAG. In a recent study, those who completed the program stated they overwhelmingly felt more comfortable in understanding the payments landscape. We have recently started on the development of MP 201, and Alok continues to be a key contributor, along with our Education Committee.

Special Interest Group (SIG) leaders are also additional volunteers who go above and beyond in their contributions to the MAG. Randy Gibbons is the long-time leader of one of the largest SIGs, eCommerce. Through Randy’s efforts we have identified multiple ways to improve the transactions for eCommerce. Whether for recurring building or through improvements to Secure Remote Commerce (SRC)/Click to Pay, Randy has helped the merchant community move these issues forward.

Randy also plays a role on the Innovation Committee, with a special interest in the role crypto can play. Through Randy’s participation, we have continued to develop the MAG’s thoughts on alternative payments. I can always count on Randy to contribute to the conversation and help us think through unintended consequences.

These are just a few examples of people making a huge difference in the industry. I could go on and on and brag on the many volunteers who have made the MAG successful and helped move the industry forward, as well as the countless sponsors who have presented at conferences or webinars.

Now for the call to action: it is time for the next group of leaders to step in and continue the progress. Every step makes a difference, from joining a committee or nominating yourself to be the next MAG Board member. If your next step is joining a committee, please fill in the form titled Join a Committee.