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Chair Kathy Hanna The Kroger Co. Sr. Director, Enterprise Payments & Store Support Enterprise Payments Dept.
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Vice Chair Denis Bouchard The Wendy's Company Assistant Treasurer
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Treasurer Chris Priebe Southwest Airlines Sr. Director – Treasury Payments and Risk
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Secretary Alok Mathur Hughes Network Systems, LLC Senior Director - Revenue Management
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Member Director John Aglialoro Verizon Communications Director - Verizon Finance
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Member Director Kelly Andrus EG America LLC Head of Payments
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Member Director Kristy Cook Target Director, Payment Acceptance Technology
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Member Director Patricia Cox Whataburger Director of Restaurant Technology
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Member Director Ed Dzadovsky Circle K VP Information Technology & Systems, N.A.
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Member Director Justin Fletcher Best Buy Director - Technology
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Member Director Ken Grogan Wakefern Food Corp. Director Treasury Services
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Member Director Jamie Henry Walmart Vice President Finance, Emerging Payments
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Member Director Sorin Hilgen EG America LLC CIO
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Member Director Peter Jessiman 7-Eleven, Inc. Payment Card Acceptance and ATM
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Member Director Jim Jett Southwest Airlines Company Sr. Director - Technology
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Member Director Santhosh Kumar Dunkin' Brands, Inc. VP of IT
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Member Director Frank Liberio Restaurant Brands International Chief Technology Officer
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Member Director John Manna Lowe's Companies, Inc. VP, Operational Controller
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Member Director Dee O’Malley Best Buy Vice President, Financial Services
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Member Director Gina Powers Inspire Brands, Inc. Director, Treasury Services
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Ex Officio Director Dean Sheaffer
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Member Director Donna Steele-Ponder McDonald's Corporation Sr. Director
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Member Director Wes Sweet Walmart Senior Director
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Chief Executive Officer John Drechny
Chief Executive Officer
John Drechny
John is CEO of the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG). As CEO, John helps MAG’s 140 plus merchant members to drive positive change and innovation in the payments industry, serving merchants’ interests through collaboration, education and advocacy.
Prior to joining the MAG, John enjoyed a 20-year career at Walmart holding various leadership positions in Payments Acceptance, Marketing and Financial Services. As part of the leadership of Walmart’s Payments team, John helped shape and implement a comprehensive strategy increasing the ease of payments in an omni-channel environment while ensuring Walmart could deliver on its brand promise of helping its customers save more so they can live better. John chaired both the Merchant Advisory Group and the U.S. Payments Forum Steering Committee. He also held a steering committee seat for the Federal Reserve’s Faster Payment effort, as well as a seat on the Governance Framework Formation Team.
Industry stakeholders have recognized John for his ability to find common ground and drive positive outcomes from opposing views. John attended Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree. He currently lives in Bentonville, Arkansas.
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Chief Operations Officer Laura Townsend
Chief Operations Officer
Laura Townsend
Laura serves as the COO of the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG). In this role, she is responsible for delivering on operational optimization strategies on behalf of MAG’s merchant members through collaboration with industry stakeholders which is an integral part of MAG’s overall strategic plan. Laura is as an independent consultant to the Merchant Advisory Group and the broader retail community with focus on strategic planning, operational optimization strategies, and cost control tactics specific to consumer payments, emerging payment technologies and trends, and corporate cash management.
Previously, Townsend led corporate cash, consumer payment, and global digital product management initiatives including emerging innovative consumer experience opportunities at McDonald’s Corporation most recently as the Senior Director, Global Cashless & Digital Products. In addition, Laura has held various leadership roles on external industry boards and special interest groups with the objective to drive positive change in payments through multi-stakeholder collaboration and education. Laura has an undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University and is a native of Illinois.
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Vice President, Public Affairs Beth Provenzano
Vice President, Public Affairs
Beth Provenzano
Beth Provenzano is vice president for public affairs at the Merchant Advisory Group. In this role, Provenzano serves as the MAG’s spokesperson; directs communications strategy and outreach to the media; and leads advocacy efforts with policymakers and regulators.
Prior to joining the MAG, Provenzano was vice president of government relations and political affairs at the National Retail Federation, lobbying on financial services, technology and intellectual property issues before Congress and the Administration, as well as directing advocacy and political engagement with Members of Congress and staff. Previously she served as deputy chief of staff for the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, handling a variety of duties including serving as spokeswoman for the office, preparing testimony and organizing Senate leadership events. Provenzano spent a number of years on Capitol Hill, serving in the offices of former Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, D-W.Va., and former Senator Bob Graham, D-Fla.
A graduate of George Washington University, Provenzano received an M.A. in political management. She graduated with honors from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism.
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Vice President, Collaboration and Education Eric O'Brien
Vice President, Collaboration and Education
Eric O'Brien
Eric serves as Vice President Collaboration and Education for the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG). In this role, he has responsibility for all of the educational programs MAG offers including webinars, conference content, development of Best Practice & readiness material and eLearning. In addition to providing cross education on payments business and technology issues, Eric is also responsible for the strategic direction of MAG’s Special Interest Groups.
Previously, Eric served as Senior Manager of Payment Operations & Analytics at Dunkin’ Brands. In his role there, Eric oversaw the business vertical of payments acceptance for Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins with a focus on financial analytics, accounting, and franchisee relations regarding payments. In addition to day-to-day responsibilities, Eric also managed the relationships with the card brands and acquirers, ensuring rules compliance and representing payments throughout the Dunkin’ ecosystem with many cross-functional teams on digital initiatives and fraud mitigation.
As a merchant, Eric served as the Co-Chair of the MAG Collaboration Committee and led the Small Ticket/Restaurant Special Interest Group. He has a Business Degree from Suffolk University and is a native of Boston.
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Director, Education and Design Leah Collins
Director, Education and Design
Leah Collins
Leah has oversight of MAG content, marketing, and overall communications editorial calendar intended to offer relevant information, education, and learning for merchants’ payments professionals through various delivery channels striving for consistency in message and timeliness in delivery of content. Providing expertise on instructional design efforts and development of learning activities to support overall MAG education efforts.
Leah has over a decade of expertise in Nonprofit Organization management, Learning Development, Communications and Marketing. She is an expert at developing creative marketing strategies and overseeing the creation of internal and external collateral materials. In previous positions, Leah has led the development and standardization of corporate policies and comprehensive customer focused procedural documents.
Leah received a bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Catherine in Communication Studies and a Master’s in Education degree from Saint Mary’s University in Learning Design Technology. -
Director, Member and Administrative Services Kari Hartley
Director, Member and Administrative Services
Kari Hartley
Kari currently serves as the Director, Member and Administrative Services for the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG). In this role she is responsible for managing members and sponsors, coordinating board of directors and committee meetings in addition to assisting with conference efforts and providing administrative support. Kari has been with the MAG since 2011.
Kari graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. Prior to joining the MAG Kari was an Executive Assistant for a large direct selling company in Minnesota. Kari currently resides in Northwest Arkansas.
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Account Executive Emily Johnson
Account Executive
Emily Johnson
Emily serves as part of the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG) staff in a variety of roles. She is responsible for database management, planning and facilitation of MAG webinars, supports with website and communications content, coordinates event registration, , assists with member engagement and renewals, and supports various projects and initiatives the MAG takes on. Emily has 4 years of Association Management experience and has been a part of the MAG team for 3 years.
Emily graduated with a bachelor of arts in psychology from the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University in St. Joseph, MN. Prior to joining the Harrington Company, Emily did two years of AmeriCorps with a non-profit called College Possible. She is a member of Associations North and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).
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Administrative Assistant Karen Kielmeyer
Administrative Assistant
Karen Kielmeyer
Karen is an Administrative Assistant for the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG). In this role she assists the Director of Member Services as well as MAG staff. Karen has been with the MAG since 2013.
Karen graduated with a BA degree in Elementary Education, minors in Mathematics and Psychology from the University of Minnesota. Karen also runs her own art quilting business and competes internationally. Previously, she worked as the Sales and Marketing Manager for a manufacturing company in Minnesota. Karen currently resides in Northwest Arkansas.
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Strategic Project Manager Ally Leff
Strategic Project Manager
Ally Leff
Ally serves as the Merchant Advisory Group’s (MAG) Strategic Project Manager. In this role she provides project management to MAG’s Collaboration and Education Committees, Communities of Practice, and Special Interest Groups as well as supports the organization’s Conference, Advocacy/Communications, and Innovation strategic pillars. She brings more than eight years’ experience in the events, project management, and client relations space to the team.Most recently, Ally was the Manager of Meeting & Event Services at U.S. Travel Association where she oversaw sponsorship strategy and event production for more than a dozen events annually. Prior to her role at USTA, she led event operations for the Washington International Horse Show as Event Director.Ally is based in Washington, DC where she received her undergraduate degree from American University and her Professional Certificate in Project Management from Georgetown University. -
Conference Planner Jennifer Mammele
Conference Planner
Jennifer Mammele
Jennifer joins the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG) as the Conference Planner. Jennifer graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, with an emphasis in Conference and Event Planning.
Prior to joining MAG, she served as the Meetings and Events Manager for the North American Primary Care Research Association. She was responsible for the planning and execution of mid-year and annual conferences and brings experience in multiple facets of the events industry for both in-person and virtual events. Jennifer currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri.
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Communications Manager Mary Platz
Communications Manager
Mary Platz
Mary is the Communications Manager for the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG). In this role she is responsible for sharing relevant and beneficial content for MAG merchants’ payments professional members. Mary joined the MAG in February 2021. She has four years of association management experience and was previously employed as an Education Specialist at the American Hospital Association.
Mary graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Communication from Western Michigan University. She has spent the past six years as a Chicago resident and is planning to return to her home state of Michigan soon. She is a member of Associations North and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Her favorite part about the association world is supporting professionals as they grow in their careers.
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Director, Conference and Events Andrea Rouse
Director, Conference and Events
Andrea Rouse
Andrea serves as the Merchant Advisory Group’s (MAG) Director of Conference and Events. In this role, she collaborates with staff and key stakeholders to lead MAG's conference strategy and logistics.
Andrea was previously Senior Program Manager with Freddie Mac, where she oversaw conference and event management and a variety of other critical projects for the multifamily division. Prior to her time at Freddie Mac, she was Director of Administration for the financial industry trade association CRE Finance Council (CREFC) where she managed Human Resources, Financial Operations and was an integral member of the conference planning team.
A native of Minnesota, Andrea currently resides in Maryland. She attended The Ohio State University where she earned undergraduate degrees in International Business and Spanish before moving on to complete her MBA degree from George Washington University in Washington, DC. Andrea holds both Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) certifications.
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Executive Director Amy Sellheim
Executive Director
Amy Sellheim
Amy serves as the Executive Director for the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG). In this role, she is responsible for coordinating day-to-day operations including working with the Board of Directors and MAG staff to accomplish strategic goals, plan educational programs and conferences, member engagement, marketing efforts, database management, and financial and budget oversight. Amy has over 15+ years association management experience and has worked with a variety of professional associations during her tenure.
Amy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. Prior to joining the Harrington Company, Amy worked as a college recruiter for a computer software company in the Denver area. She is a member of Associations North and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).