MAG Leadership

John has been CEO of the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG) since 2019. As CEO, John helps MAG’s merchant members drive positive change and innovation in the payments industry, serving merchants’ interests through collaboration, education, and advocacy. Under John’s leadership, the MAG has grown considerably and launched new efforts including Tech Forum, MAG International, and Merchant Payments self-directed eLearning series.

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.

In addition to his work at the MAG and Walmart, John has participated in many cross-functional payments industry groups including the Faster Payments Council and U.S. Payments Forum, where he has held Board positions. John also speaks at many of the payments industry’s key events. Industry stakeholders have recognized John for his ability to collaborate, find common ground, and drive positive outcomes from opposing views.

John attended Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree. He currently lives in Venice, Florida.

Beth Provenzano is Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Events, and Education at the Merchant Advisory Group.  In this role, Provenzano serves as the MAG’s spokesperson; directs communications strategy and outreach to the media; leads advocacy efforts with policymakers and regulators; and oversees conferences, events, and education.

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.

Bryan Penny is Vice President, Operations, at the Merchant Advisory Group. In this role, Bryan oversees the MAG’s collaboration efforts with stakeholders in the payments ecosystem; and the MAG’s engagement with payments technology industry stakeholders.

Prior to joining MAG, Bryan Penny was with American Express as Vice President, Policy and Data Standards since March 2020. In this role, Bryan oversees a team that analyzes, consults and develops policies and data standards for American Express issuers, acquirers, service providers, and their customers.

Bryan previously worked with Nordstrom, where he led the Merchant Payments team for six years. In this role, he led all payment innovation, including product management, store technology, and establishing co-branded credit card programs in Canada and Puerto Rico. Bryan recently served as the Vice Chair of the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG), has been an active speaker at various payments conferences, and is looked to as a leader in the merchant payment community. Earlier, Bryan was responsible for vendor management and information security for Nordstrom’s bank, having initially joined as a Controller for their bank in 2007. Prior to Nordstrom, Bryan held several accounting and finance roles with Quark, an international digital media software company, and First Data.

Bryan holds an MBA from Webster University and a BA in Economics and Accounting from the University of Illinois/Urbana. When he is not at work, he enjoys spending time with his friends dining out, going to the theater, and enjoying the outdoors. Bryan has been involved in the Denver community over the past 20 years, where he was a founding member of the local neighborhood association. Bryan and his husband, Matt, live in Denver.

Laura Townsend currently serves as Vice President, People & Culture, to the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG).  In this role, she is primarily focused on organization and people management. Laura leads and directs efforts on strategic plans for the organizational structure and talent management to foster growth and evolution of MAG, supporting the CEO and MAG leadership team. Townsend believes advocacy for people is a rewarding experience and is integral to the success of MAG on behalf of our members.

Previously, Townsend led operations of MAG as Chief Operations Officer for which the human resources function was a portion of her current role.  In addition, she led operational optimization strategies on behalf of MAG’s merchant members driving positive change in payments through multi-stakeholder collaboration and education, an integral part of MAG’s overall mission.  Before joining MAG, she led cashless and digital payments initiatives for McDonald’s Corporation as Senior Director, Global Cashless and Digital Products, as well as serving as a member on the MAG’s Board of Directors.

Townsend is as an independent consultant to the MAG and the broader retail community.  She has an undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University and is a native of the Midwest spending time between Illinois and Florida.

Paul Tunstall is the Merchant Advisory Group’s (MAG) Vice President, International. In this role, he oversees the MAG’s International efforts including collaboration from merchants and other payments stakeholders.

Tunstall is an accomplished sales leader with over 20 years of experience in banking, finance, and payments. He has built and led successful teams in international payments for retail and eCommerce, with extensive exposure to U.K., EMEA, and U.S. markets. His experience in collaborating with some of the largest global brands has provided him with a unique perspective on how to deliver scalable growth opportunities.

Recognized for his sales leadership, customer-focused strategic vision, and forging strong relationships, his strength lies in aligning high-performance teams with business objectives. Tunstall’s passion for innovation has resulted in developing new strategies that transformed global businesses and created sustainable competitive advantages.

Kelly Andrus is Director, Collaboration at the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG). In this role, Kelly assists the MAG’s collaboration efforts with stakeholders in the payments ecosystem. She also works with our Special Interest Group (SIG) Leaders.

Kelly is an industry veteran with over 30 years of experience in merchant payments. Most recently, Kelly developed and delivered on strategic initiatives as the Director of US Payments for EG America. Prior to that, Kelly worked for a downstream refiner marketer and got her start in payments working for an acquirer.

Kelly was one of the ~50 attendees of the inaugural MAG conference in 2008 and has been engaged with the MAG in many capacities since. Her innate curiosity, pragmatic approach, and ability to foster meaningful relationships make her well-suited to lead our collaboration efforts with MAG merchants and sponsors.

Abby Arseneau is the Merchant Advisory Group's (MAG) Communications Coordinator. In this role, Abby assists with social media content, email marketing (MAGMails), and the editorial calendar; supports the Advocacy and Communications and International Committees; and collaborates across pillars to execute communications support of MAG’s programs and events.

Abby graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a degree in Communications and a minor in Marketing. After graduation, she worked for Pinnacle Dermatology. Most recently, Abby worked at We Are Nuts, where she lead fundraising, marketing, and assisted with sales.  

Abby grew up in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, with her parents and two older sisters. She has a Newfoundland named Ellie and in her free time, Abby enjoys playing soccer, spending time with friends and family, going to the gym, watching a good movie (thrillers are her favorite), and traveling.

Sophia is a Senior Conference and Events Planner with the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG). Specializing in speaker management and conference planning, Sophia works on speaker recruitment and assistance, logistics and future events planning. 

Previously, she worked for Crittenden Partners assisting in the management of virtual, hybrid, and live conferences, executing three conferences quarterly. 

Sophia graduated from Brigham Young University - Idaho with her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, emphasizing in the fields of event planning and business management. A native of Illinois, Sophia now resides in Idaho.

Steve Cole is the Tech Engagement Director with the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG), whose mission is to drive positive change and innovation in the payments industry that serves the merchants interest through collaboration, education, and advocacy.  In this role, he is responsible for coordinating and implementing strategies of collective interest to the MAG merchant member community with respect to payments technologies. 

Prior to joining the MAG, Steve was a Senior Product Manager at FIS Worldpay for 16 years with a focus on authentication, security products and EMV.  He is a former steering committee member of the U.S. Payments Forum and participated as a business and technical associate at EMVCo.

Leah Collins is Sr. Director, Marketing and Design for the Merchant Advisory Group. In this role, Leah has oversight of the MAG's marketing strategy focusing on optimizing customer experiences, leveraging digital platforms, and maintaining brand consistency. In addition, Leah has oversight of the MAG’s creative design strategy, and website. Leah guides our marketing strategy by working collaboratively with key stakeholders to develop strategic initiatives that support our global growth.

Leah has over a decade of expertise in Nonprofit Organizational Management, Education, Communications, and Marketing. She is an expert at developing creative marketing strategies and overseeing the creation of internal and external collateral materials.

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.

Lisa supports the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG) as our Instructional Designer. She has been a collaborator with the MAG since 2019 as a consultant, through her company Engagethem, partnering with our team and external Subject Matter Experts to build engaging and effective instructional programming. In her oversight of our Learning System, she will also help you connect, troubleshoot, and navigate to the information you need when you need it.

Lisa comes to the MAG with more than 25 years of cross-industry experience (Healthcare, High Tech, Manufacturing, Consumer Goods) in Project Management, HR/OD, and Learning Design. She is an expert Learning Designer and Facilitator, Certified Professional Coach, and Six Sigma Green Belt Project Manager. Through these experiences, she has focused on creating engagement across groups to stimulate learning and shape long-term success.

Lisa is also committed to helping other learning professionals grow their ability to create effective learning experiences. To amplify that platform, she recently accepted a board position with the Association for Talent Development (ATD) in her home state, Connecticut, as the Director of Programming. In this role, she works with the board and members to present engaging, interactive programs that support Talent Development professionals to remain current in their knowledge and skills.

Erica Forman is the Merchant Advisory Group’s (MAG) Communications Manager.  In this role, Erica manages website content, email marketing (MAGMails), and the editorial calendar; supports the Advocacy and Communications and International Committees; and collaborates across pillars to execute communications support of MAG’s programs and events.

Erica has worked in the trade association industry for 20 years in marketing and communications, with extensive experience in content marketing and member retention. In her previous role, she worked on web content management, graphic design, and email marketing. 

Erica received her associate's degree in web design from Minneapolis Community and Technical College and resides in Minnesota.

Sarita Harris is the Director of Marketing at the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG). In this role, Sarita spearheads innovative marketing initiatives that amplify MAG’s mission to drive positive change in the payments ecosystem.

A strategic and collaborative marketing leader, Sarita specializes in driving growth, elevating brand presence, and fostering engagement through integrated marketing, thought leadership, and audience connection. Passionate about connecting merchants, payments innovators, and industry stakeholders, she is dedicated to advancing MAG’s vision and expanding its influence in the evolving payments landscape.

With a track record of delivering multimillion-dollar impact through data-driven demand generation, brand strategy, and digital transformation, Sarita brings deep expertise in building high-performing marketing programs. Prior to the MAG, she led global marketing efforts at Coursera, driving millions in revenue and scaling a strong pipeline. She also transformed member engagement and brand strategy at the Association of Governing Boards for Universities and Colleges.

Sarita holds an M.S. in International Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus and a Digital Marketing Certificate from Cornell University. In her free time, she enjoys Pickleball, spin classes, yoga, running, and traveling abroad to explore different cultures.

Kari Hartley currently serves as the Executive Administrative Assistant for the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG).  In this role, she is responsible for coordinating Board of Directors and committee meetings in 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.

Chad Oswald is Manager, Web Content and LMS Administrator at the Merchant Advisory Group. Chad manages the content on the MAG website as well as the content on the MAG Learning Management System.

He holds degrees in Web Programming and in Theatre Performance.

Chad lives in the greater Seattle area with his spouse and cat. Chad and his spouse are actively involved as company members at Annex Theatre and have a small line of herbal teas together. In his free time, he enjoys gaming. 

Emilie serves as part of the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG) staff in a variety of roles. She is responsible for database management, supports member engagement and renewals, facilitates sponsor renewals and onboarding, and supports various projects and initiatives the MAG takes on. Emilie has 6 years of Association Management experience and has been a part of the MAG team for 5 years.

Emilie 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).

Carrie Potorff is the Merchant Advisory Group’s (MAG) Collaboration Coordinator. In this role, Carrie assists with the MAG’s collaboration efforts with stakeholders in the payments ecosystem.

Carrie has over 15 years of experience working in various roles in the payments world.  During her career she has split her time both in the acquiring space, working for First Data (now FISERV), and in the merchant space, working for McDonald’s Corporation.

In her most recent role as Senior Manager Treasury at McDonald’s Corporation, Carrie was responsible for managing the overall cost of cashless for the U.S. Business and Franchisees, managing relationships with the card brands, acquirers, and digital payments partners, and liaising with Technology, Operations, Security, and other internal departments to complete payments-related initiatives.  She also maintained a role within the McDonald’s digital organization providing education and driving payment strategy and customer experience for the McDonald’s Mobile App.  During her time at McDonald’s, Carrie also became involved in the MAG by volunteering as SIG leader for the MAG Small Ticket group.

In her free time, Carrie enjoys spending time with her husband, Chris, and kids, Jack and Haley.  Her hobbies include reading, volunteering, and playing tennis.

Josh Pynn is the Merchant Advisory Group's (MAG) Senior Manager, Payments Content. In this role, Josh assists with the MAG's content strategy including the planning of webinars, conference sessions, and resource materials. 

Josh is an experienced payments professional with intricate knowledge of the merchant payments ecosystem, spanning from card fee structures to APM considerations. Prior to joining the MAG, he advised merchants on their payments acceptance strategy and building robust optimization roadmaps at CMSPI. 

Josh has used his expertise to build compelling narratives from complex data analysis to the service of advocating for fairer and more competitive payments in the United States. He had a significant role in several recent advocacy efforts, such as delaying the global network interchange increases, the introduction of the Credit Card Competition Act in 2022, and the Federal Reserve clarification on Regulation II.

Josh is excited to be a part of the MAG to continue servicing and educating merchants on the complexities of payments acceptance, as well as advocate for them as payments continue to evolve.

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.

Jill Steimel is the Merchant Advisory Group’s (MAG) Design Coordinator. In this role, Jill assists with the editing and creation of the MAG’s graphics. 

 Jill has 23 years of experience as a graphic designer at AT&T and has a strong understanding of design principles, typography, color theory, and layout techniques. She has managed and developed a diverse range of projects, from customer-focused proposals to video production. Jill specializes in brand identity and crafting powerful PowerPoint presentations. 

 In her free time, Jill stays busy with her two teenagers and enjoys cooking, attending concerts, playing golf, and everything outdoors.

Meg Thaxton is the Merchant Advisory Group's (MAG) Manager, Sponsorship Programs. In this role, Meg assists with the MAG's sponsorship program.

Meg has an extensive background working in and with trade associations. She started her career at the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association where she held multiple positions, including Membership Manager and Meeting Planner. Meg previously worked at the American Gaming Association and at mdg, A Freeman Company, as a Marketing Account Manager where she executed strategic marketing campaigns for her many clients.

Meg hails from Northern Virginia and currently lives in Old Town Alexandria. In her spare time, she enjoys taking long walks around her neighborhood and testing out new recipes in the kitchen. She also writes screenplays and loves to explore the horror and sci-fi genres.

Jennifer Whitlock supports the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG) as Manager, Conference and Events. In her role,  Jennifer works closely with the MAG Director of Tech Engagement to lead all of the logistical and content planning efforts for our Tech Forums. She also plans, manages, and executes all of MAG webinars and provides additional planning and logistical support to the Conference Director to execute the Annual and Mid-Year Conferences.

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 graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, with an emphasis in Conference and Event Planning, and currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri.

Julie supports the Merchant Advisory Group (MAG) as our Strategic Project Manager. Julie has over a decade of experience in non-profit organizations, special projects, and team management. She has relied heavily on the use of data analytics in her roles.

Julie is a native Texan, born and raised in Fort Worth, and she currently resides in Orlando, Florida. Julie’s educational background has allowed her to create a foundation for her work based on healing, advancing women’s rights, and organizing non-profits through volunteer work and full-time employment. In her free time, Julie enjoys visiting theme parks, reading, or playing basketball.