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CompanyProfile

Founded on integrity

and transparency

n 2017, when Laura Demke-Calixte established
Electronic Processing North America LLC, a
Chicago-based payment processing provider, her
I primary objective was to create a merchant services
firm that could be trusted for its integrity and ethics.

"I was seeing a significant decrease in customer service, ISO/MLS contact:
as well as a significant increase in merchant fees through Esther Pochron
the recent mergers and acquisitions," said Demke-Calixte, Chief Business Development Officer
who serves EPNA in the roles of president and CEO. info@epnallc.com
"There is very little integrity left in this industry, and it 847-859-6002
shows every time we review a merchant statement."
All-female powerhouse advantage of working and selling inside a bank, and the

As a 15-year merchant services sales veteran, Demke- customer is always first."
Calixte brought a strong foundation of experience into
her venture. This included multiple years serving in And the customer is central to EPNA's mission. According
both the acquiring and banking sides of the industry, to EPNA's website, the firm is committed to transparent
where she witnessed everything from giant mergers and merchant pricing with no hidden fees or unexpected
acquisitions, to regulatory changes, to a rise in deception increases. EPNA also focuses first on training and
when dealing with merchants. consultative services for the merchant at the front end
and is not interested in short-term gain, Demke-Calixte
Frustrated, Demke-Calixte decided it was time to build noted.
a merchant services company that operated on the
principles of honesty, transparency and availability. She "I wanted to establish EPNA to do merchant services the
also defied industry odds by founding one of the only right way," she said. "We review credit card processing
payment companies with an all-female leadership team. statements and assist merchants with understanding
their fees – that's the first step."
From EPNA's beginning, Demke-Calixte endeavored to Innovating the merchant experience
strengthen the firm with meaningful credentials such
as by earning regional and national Women Business The founder also noted innovation is critical to the
Enterprise certifications and bringing in respected merchant services arena. "You really have to stay on top
professionals to join the EPNA executive team. These of all the innovation that encompasses this industry,"
include Charlene Mitchell and Esther Pochron, who now she stated. "It all goes back to the trust and integrity and
respectively serve as chief analytics officer and chief being able to learn the next thing."
business development officer at EPNA.
For EPNA, one of those "next things" was the invention
According to Demke-Calixte, Mitchell's legal background, of a merchant storefront. "One of the first things I wanted
as well as Pochron's English degree and 25-year history in to do was open a retail storefront for merchants, partners
payments, have enhanced EPNA's leadership assets and and agents," Demke-Calixte said in her podcast interview.
strengthened its ability to win new business. "We're in a congested business district, so we have the
ability to meet merchants on site where they can actually
Together, the three women have worked to take the touch and feel the product, and it's been an amazing
startup through several rigorous certification processes, experience."
answer dozens of requests for proposal (RFP) inquiries,
open a flagship merchant storefront, and establish EPNA It's gone so well, EPNA aspires to open another storefront
as a growing business enterprise. in central New York soon, as well as others wherever
Putting the customer first the business leads them. "Since the certifications are all
in place now, boarding agents to sign on with EPNA has
Demke-Calixte feels the corporate side of payments been the true icing on the cake," Demke-Calixte said,
isn't always doing the best for merchants. "Integrity is a referring to the company's growth plan. "Movement will
key differentiator in this industry," she stated during a also come as we complete other RFPs and gain significant
recent Merchant Sales Podcast interview. "I've had the business in other areas."
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