April 17, 2013
Press Release
Media Contact:
Meghan Cieslak
(202) 677‐7406
meghan.cieslak@electran.org
Electronic Transactions Association Announces Nominees for 2013 Star Awards and the 2013 Distinguished Payments Professional
WASHINGTON,DC - The Electronic Transactions Association (ETA), the trade association of the global electronic payments industry, today announced the finalists for the prestigious annual Star Awards. The ETA Star Awards recognize contributions of individuals and companies to the payments industry, whether through innovation, business practices, or contributions to the association. In addition, ETA has announced that Diane Offereins, Executive Vice President, President - Payment Services Discover Financial Services is being recognized as the 2013Distinguished Payments Professional. Award winners will be announced live on April 30 during the payments industry's largest annual event,the ETA Annual Meeting and Expo, which runs from April 30 to May 2 in New Orleans.
As Executive Vice President and President of Payment Services for Discover Financial Services(DFS), Diane leads the Payment Services division,managing three payments networks:Discover Network, Diners Club International and the PULSE ATM/debit Network. Under her leadership, overall Payment Services volume grew 13 percent from the previous year,to end 2011 at a record $281 billion. Diane has been instrumental in shaping the ease and flexibility of payment offerings such as Discover's open‐acquiring model to the electronic transaction arena for ETA constituents. Diane has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance by American Banker Magazine for the past five consecutive years,moving up each year on the list to her most recent No. 7 ranking in 2012.
The ETA Awards and Recognition Committee, a panel of industry executives, narrowed down dozens of nominations to a group of finalists, ultimately voting on a winner in each category. The recipients will be announced at the ETA President's Dinner on Tuesday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. In New Orleans. Tickets to the event at the ETA Annual Meeting and Expo attendees can be obtained here: http://www2.electran.org/am13/doc/AM13RegisterSpecialEvent.pdf
"We are thrilled to have received so many excellent nominations for the ETA Star Awards," said Jason Oxman, ETA CEO. "The ETA awards program,symbolizes a tradition of excellence and commitment in the Payments Industry. I look forward to seeing the winners announced, and I'm thrilled that ETA is honoring Diane Offreins as the ETA Distinguished Payments Professional in recognition of her enormous contributions to our industry."
Finalists were named in the following categories: Business Partner of the Year, Member of the Year, Committee of the Year, Committee Volunteer of the Year, ISO of the Year and Technology Innovation of the Year.
The ETA Star Awards Finalists include:
Committee of the Year
- Mobile Payments
- Education
- Government Relations
- ISO Practices
Committee Volunteer of the Year
- Scott Goldthwaite, ROAM
- Curt Hensley, Impact Payments Recruiting
- Mike Cottrell, TriSource Solutions
- Bob Baldwin,Heartland Payments
Member of the Year
- Deana Rich, Rich Consulting
- Peggy Bekavac Olson, Strategic Marketing
- Henry Helgeson, Merchant Warehouse
- Business Partner of the Year
- Discover
- Merchant Warehouse
- SecurityMetrics
- NPC, A Vantiv Company
ISO of the Year
- TransNational Bankcard
- Priority Payment Systems
- North American Bancard
Technology Innovation of the Year
- Merchant Warehouse Genius
- ShopKeep POS
For media inquiries, contact Meghan Cieslak, 202.677.7406 ormeghan.cieslak@electran.org.
