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Feature

In memoriam the members. Grab a glass of Prosecco and raise it to the
heavens. We love you, Derek!"
Derek Vowels Known as much for his generosity and wit as his

industry knowledge, Vowels was born on June 1, 1973,
in Brandenburg, Ky. A Western Kentucky University
graduate, he studied journalism in college and went on to
use his storytelling skills at NPC, where he worked for 25
years, and other leading payments enterprises, including
Bank of America, Planet Payment, TSYS and Aliaswire.

"We shared so many of the same passions," Audrey
Blackmon, vice president of i2c Inc., recalled. "Religion,
politics, cooking, animals, interior decorating, family
values—we could talk about anything. Derek and I would
fight and make up like family. The love was always there
in our 16+ years of friendship. He would always be the one
to call me first after one of our disagreements. 'Hey Sugar,'
he'd say and my heart would melt. One of my fondest
memories was recently.

I lost my sister, and he called me after the funeral to check
on me, like we would do for each other. Like him, he
he Green Sheet, the Southeast Acquirers knew my family was very important to me. He wanted
Association, and numerous friends and pay- to see how I was doing after the funeral. But most of all,
ments industry colleagues of Derek Jason he wanted to hear about the preparation, decor and all of
T Vowels shared fond memories of him when the 'tea' (messy behavior). I shared one detail that meant a
word spread of his passing on May 11, 2023. He is particu- lot: we had given attendees herb seeds to plant when they
larly remembered for his team spirit, humor, boundless returned home. Derek quickly said he wanted to plant
enthusiasm and numerous contributions to the payments some of my sister's seeds in his garden.
fold.
He loved to garden and was getting ready to plant his
Danielle Thorpe, former assistant vice president of herb garden. Through the years, he had heard so much
marketing and media partnerships for The Green Sheet, about my sister's chef career that he felt he knew her. It
mentioned that Derek had helped her navigate the vast warmed my heart to hear him speak of the memories I
payments ecosystem when she was new to the industry. had shared with him. It reminded me of our long and deep
"I feel very blessed and fortunate to have met Derek when relationship.
I was so new to the industry," she said. "We first met at
a tradeshow and from that moment on, we were just 'No matter what, you are my big sister,' he would say Rest
connected." Thorpe also recalled his many funny sayings, in peace, my brother. May your garden continue to grow
noting that she and Kate Gillespie, CEO at The Green forever."
Sheet, memorialized some of them on a bracelet made
especially for him. In addition to being an unforgettable friend to so many,
Derek Vowels was a devoted husband to David Shaver,
"Derek Vowels. We wouldn’t venture to put into words whom he married in 2016. He was also a gifted chef and
the extraordinary person he was," Impact PaySystem's Dee gardener, as well as an animal welfare advocate who
and Emily Karawadra shared. "The news truly shocked us brought best-in-class negotiating skills and planning
and immediately regret set in. We just didn’t have enough expertise to the Southeast Acquirers Association, where
time with him! He was the greatest friend who shared he helped plan successful events for more than 16 years.
with us his life and we shared ours! He was the energy in He joined the association's Advisory Committee in 2007
every room he was present in. We miss him terribly. Can’t and Board of Directors in 2013. His obituary is available at
imagine SEAA without him. www.fosterfh.com/obituary/Derek-Vowels.

We will miss his calls, we will miss his voice, we will
miss his laugh, and most of all we will miss his love.
No doubt about it: he will be in attendance at this year's
SEAA conference. He championed the association and

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