Where Payments
Meets Business
Recognizing Leaders & Awarding Innovators in Payments
Celebrating individuals and companies that have moved the industry forward.
Star Awards
NOMINATIONS CLOSE DECEMBER 11, 2023
The ETA Star Awards honors individuals and companies that have made a significant difference in the payments industry through innovation, business practices, or contributions to the association.
Nominations are judged by the ETA Industry Affairs Awards & Recognition Committee, made up of a panel of industry executives, who selected the finalists and winners in each category. All honorees will be recognized at the Visa Celebration & ETA Star Awards at TRANSACT, April 17-19, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.
Questions? Contact Linda Saye at lsaye@electran.org.
Individual Awards
COMMITTEE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
This award recognizes a volunteer who dedicated extra time and effort to a committee’s success.
PAY IT FORWARD
This award recognizes the unsung everyday heroes who work in the payments industry and make the world a better place through community service. The recipient is a current ETA member or company who has exhibited selfless acts of kindness to improve their community. The good deed may or may not be linked to the payments industry.
DISTINGUISHED PAYMENTS PROFESSIONAL
This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated significant leadership within the industry and is an acknowledged trendsetter, role model, and positive contributor to its efficacy and image.
The ETA Industry Affairs Awards & Recognition Committee nominates recipients of the Distinguished Payments Professional award which is approved by the Board of Director’s Executive Committee.
Company Awards
BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR
This award recognizes a current ETA member company who has demonstrated an exceptional level of support for the association as evidenced by activities such as sponsorship, advertising, speaking at ETA events, committee service, and otherwise helping to further the association’s goals and objectives.
ISO OF THE YEAR
This award recognizes an ISO who is currently registered with Visa and Mastercard, whose actions move the payments industry forward, exhibits high ethical standards and has successfully met industry challenges with demonstrated results. ISOs of all sizes who are current ETA members are eligible for this award.
MOST INNOVATIVE PRODUCT OR SOLUTION
This award recognizes an ETA member who has a proven product or solution in the market that does one of the following: promotes customer usability, increases profitability, reduces friction, or otherwise enables significant advances for the payments ecosystem. The nominated product or solution should be in current use in the marketplace with demonstrated results and not a concept or in beta testing. Candidates for this award can be VARs, ISVs, mPOS providers, Security Providers, Payment Facilitators, Embedded Payments providers, or other technology companies that have a product supporting or relating to payments.
Top 10 Payments ISVs
NOMINATIONS CLOSE DECEMBER 11, 2023
The ETA Top 10 Payments ISVs Award Winners are pushing the boundaries of payments innovation with their groundbreaking embedded payments solutions.
From start-ups to established players, these companies are empowering businesses and consumers with faster, more secure, and seamless payment experiences.
Nominations are judged by the ETA Industry Affairs Awards & Recognition Committee, made up of a panel of industry executives, who selected the finalists and winners in each category. All honorees will be recognized at TRANSACT, April 17-19, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.
Questions? Contact Linda Saye at lsaye@electran.org.
CRITERIA
Candidates for this award are ISVs who are integrating payments solutions that disrupt and drive the payments industry forward. The unique software used by organizations adds significant value and deepens the relationship between the user and the chosen platform.
Start-ups or organizations in business for at least one year, who have not previously won this award, are welcome to apply. ETA membership is not required for this award. Qualifying applicants include companies that have introduced disruptive software that improves the payment process, and:
- Offers end users an enhanced user experience
- Provides improved payments security and PCI DSS Compliance
- Enables a quicker, more efficient payments process for Merchants
- Generates increased revenue and stickiness
Unlike the candidates for the ‘Most Innovative Product or Solution Star Award’, who may or may not provide merchant acquiring services, the winner of this award must be an Integrated Software Vendor that enhances payments through emerging financial technology.
AWARD INCLUSIONS
Those companies chosen as a Top 10 Payments ISV will receive the following as part of their recognition:
- Announced in ETA marketing communications and highlighted on the ETA website.
AT TRANSACT
- Winners receive award live.
- A ~5-minute speaking session to showcase their solution and explain why it is disrupting payments.
- A 5x5 space* to display products / services in the “ISV Village” sponsored by MAPP Advisors, or an appropriate space as determined by ETA, located on the show floor.
*ETA reserves the right to determine and adjust the appropriate space on the show floor. Winners do not pay for show floor space or “standard” build. Extra costs, such as F&B, additional tech needs, etc., will be paid by the winner. Winners will be subject to the T&Cs as any other exhibitor.
Top Sales Professionals
NOMINATIONS CLOSE DECEMBER 11, 2023
NEW IN 2024! Sales professionals are indispensable in the payments industry because they drive growth, revenue, and innovation while providing essential support, education, and problem-solving for businesses navigating the complex world of payments. Their role goes beyond sales; they act as consultants and partners in helping businesses optimize their payment processes and achieve their financial goals.
Sales professionals in the payments industry can be successful due to their in-depth product knowledge, problem-solving skills, relationship-building abilities, industry expertise, and their capacity to adapt to evolving technologies and regulations. These qualities enable them to meet the diverse needs of clients in a complex and dynamic field.
ETA is honoring 50 sales representatives from member companies who have demonstrated commitment and passion for achieving excellence. Applications are welcome from all sectors of payment sales.
Questions? Contact Ali Furlong at afurlong@electran.org.
Each recipient will receive an award, featured on ETA’s website, a press release, and a special edition of TTWeekly.
CRITERIA
Applicants will be selected based on their responses to below:
- SALES PERFORMANCE
High sales performance and achieving or surpassing sales targets and quotas is typically a fundamental criterion. This may include factors like revenue generated, new accounts acquired and or transaction volume processed. - INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
Staying up-to-date with industry trends, regulations, and emerging technologies is essential. Successful sales professionals in the payments industry continuously educate themselves to provide valuable insights to clients and adapt to changes in the market. - CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND RETENTION
Exceptional customer service and a track record of maintaining positive client relationships are highly valued. Payments can be complex, and businesses often face challenges related to payment processing, fraud prevention, and compliance. Successful sales professionals can identify these challenges and propose tailored solutions to address them, demonstrating their problem-solving skills. - LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORK
Qualities like leadership skills, mentorship, collaboration with colleagues, and contribution to team success may be assessed.
ETA YPP
ETA YOUNG PAYMENTS PROFESSIONAL
PROGRAM SPONSORED BY
NOMINATIONS CLOSE DECEMBER 11, 2023
ETA YPPs, the rising stars of the industry, are offered valuable mentorship and leadership opportunities guided by some of the most successful and experienced leaders in the field.
2024 YPPs and their mentors will be recognized at TRANSACT, April 17-19, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.
Questions? Contact Ali Furlong at afurlong@electran.org.
ETA seeks mentors for the 2024 class of ETA YPP scholars. Mentors will help the ETA YPP scholars build knowledge, leadership skills and gain tools to advance goals through coaching and feedback.
GOALS & BENEFITS
The ETA YPP scholar program provides support, education and opportunity to young payments professionals, and encourages ETA YPPs to assume leadership roles within ETA and the industry.
ETA YPPs stand to gain invaluable insight through this program. ETA’s goal is to provide the elements needed to help our young payments professionals of today grow, build collegial relationships with a class of scholars, and meet with respected leaders from influential companies that matter to the future of payments innovation.
Following their year as an appointed ETA YPP scholar, ETA invites these young payments professionals to continue their involvement with ETA by volunteering on committees and councils, contributing articles, and taking on an advisory role with the next group of ETA YPP scholars.
Each of the 2024 ETA YPP scholars will receive benefits in 2024 as listed.
ELIGIBILITY
- Currently employed by an ETA member company
- Each of the 10 scholars will represent 10 different companies, though one company may have multiple applicants
- Between the ages of 21-35 years
- Working in payments for a minimum of two years
- Application approved by your supervisor
- Has not previously served as an ETA YPP
ETA YPP SCHOLARS RECEIVE
- Assigned a senior industry mentor
- Complimentary exam to earn ETA CPP Certification
- Complimentary registration and travel stipend (if applicable) to TRANSACT
- Complimentary registration to Payments Fly-In on Capitol Hill, Fintech Policy Forum and TRANSACT Tech events
- Dedicated networking time with industry leaders
- Opportunity to contribute to development of ETA YPP session at TRANSACT
Forty Under 40
PROGRAM SPONSORED BY
NOMINATIONS CLOSE DECEMBER 11, 2023
The ETA Forty Under 40 award recognizes the game changers of the payments industry. The ETA Forty Under 40 honorees represent all the evolving segments of the industry and are widely recognized for their contributions to the industry.
All honorees will be recognized at TRANSACT, April 17-19, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.
Questions? Contact Ali Furlong at afurlong@electran.org.
Nominees must be under the age of 40 as of April 30, 2024, to be eligible. Previous ETA Forty Under 40 honorees are not eligible to apply.
