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Allen Kopelman, co-founder and CEO of Nationwide Emily Karawadra, COO for Impact PaySystem, noted that
Payment Systems, remembered meeting Riad Alakkam, even the ads have stories to tell. "The advertisements in
who later founded JR's POS Depot, in 2000. "Riad gave me The Green Sheet are more than just promotional content,"
two copies of The Green Sheet and encouraged me to start she said. "They provide a nuanced understanding of how
my own company," he said. "Now I tell his son Sami, 'It's various entities in payment, hardware, and service sectors
your dad's fault that I'm in this business.'" position themselves in a dynamic market."
Expanding reach Karawadra also mentioned the Spotlight Innovator

Elizabeth Rucker, director of sales for VizyPay, recalled section that offers a deep dive into emerging companies,
hearing about the unique industry resource within the payments innovations and the broader industry narrative.
first week of starting in payments. "Austin Mac Nab, our And the online forums, she noted, create a melting pot of
CEO, was adamant that if I wanted to do big things in the ideas, discussions and diverse perspectives.
industry, I needed to immerse myself in it," she said. "The
Green Sheet was one of the first things he pointed out to Rucker said her favorite Green Sheet resources are the
stay current on all the trends." MLS Forum and Street Smarts. "I love that all previous
articles and sections are still readily available," she added.
Starting out not knowing anyone and being geographically "Understanding where the industry came from and the
distant from in-person networking opportunities, Rucker different perspectives of people who lived it are vital to
found that the articles and other platform features quickly building my confidence, keeping an eye on the future and
gave her a pulse on the payments space and painted a developing sales training programs."
picture of the players in the industry's landscape.
Murray agreed, stating, "My favorite sections are company
Austin Mac Nab, co-founder and CEO of VizyPay, profiles, Street Smarts columns, and, quite frankly, the
recounted how The Green Sheet helped launch his payments ads. I always learn something with every issue."
career. "I was a 1099 contractor in the field and heard Brand building
from another contractor about a magazine that covers the
payments space," he said, describing it as a timely resource Payments industry stakeholders have shared opinions,
for a new person in a relatively new industry that provided research and commentary as contributing writers, Street
insights on technology, mergers and acquisitions and Smarts columnists and Reader's Speak correspondents.
SM
other trending topics.
Cvijanovic, a former Street Smarts columnist, who
SM
"I always rushed to the M&A section, not because I could helmed the biweekly column from September 2022 to March
even do it, but because it showed me what is possible in 2023, described it as a rewarding experience. "It provided a
the payments space, keeping me in," Mac Nab said, noting platform to share my knowledge and perspectives with a
that the past 17 years have been marked by consolidation, larger audience, fostering connections with industry peers
disruption and innovation. Through it all, he said the and creating a sense of community within the payments
magazine's best articles have offered true advice without industry," she said. "Interactions on the MLS Forum were
hidden sales pitches. equally enriching, enabling meaningful discussions and
knowledge exchange."
Fan favorites
When asked about favorite sections, respondents cited Olson appreciated The Green Sheet's collegiality and
everything from ads to cover stories, and some, like respect, which afforded "tremendous leeway to write
Cvijanovic, chose more than one. articles on marketing topics that helped payments industry
companies and individuals advance brand awareness
"While it's challenging to pick just one, I've always enjoyed and professionalism, generate and close more leads, and
the Street Smarts column and Industry Update sections," optimize marketing activity and spend."
SM
she said. "They consistently provide fresh perspectives
and insights into emerging technologies, regulations and Being a contributing writer helped Olson build her brand,
market shifts." she added, noting she recently met a Green Sheet reader
at a San Francisco airport who thanked her for sharing
Peggy Olson, president and CEO at Strategic Marketing, marketing tips.
cited lead articles, company profiles and new product
stories. "I read cover stories to keep up with what's Dunn also met a payment professional at an airport, when
happening in the payments industry, company profiles to waiting to board a flight. "I spotted an issue of The Green
familiarize myself with new companies entering the space, Sheet in the hands of a guy ahead of me in the TSA security
and new product stories to learn about new offerings and line," he said. "Turns out he was a fairly new sales agent
opportunities to grow business." who was trying to get up to speed on new markets and
solutions. The distinctive look of the magazine is what
brought us together and was an immediate tip-off that he
was into payments."
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