KENT, OH – Women’s Network in Electronic Transactions (Wnet), the premier non-profit organization serving professional women in the payments and fintech industries, congratulates the winners of the prestigious 2021 Wnet Awards. All nominees and winners were recognized at the Wnet Leadership Summit, presented by FIS, on November 3 and 4 in Atlanta, Georgia.
The annual award program is designed to encourage and honor significant contributions that support Wnet mission and values. The 2021 Wnet Awards recognize members who demonstrate excellence in engaging, influencing and championing diversity throughout the industry and in their own companies. Eleven award categories were presented, including two new honors: the Founders Award and the Presidents Award.
“Our 2021 nominees and winners exemplify our mission of creating a stronger and more diverse industry by empowering and investing in women,” noted Wnet 2021 President Mary Uslander, SVP and Head of SMB Solutions, Fiserv. “We are extremely proud of their accomplishments and honored to recognize them during our annual conference and 15-year anniversary celebration. Their energy, dedication and professionalism strengthen Wnet’s continued focus on increasing diversity and inclusion in our evolving payments and fintech industry.”
Wnet 2021 Individual Nominees:
- Tania Ali, Velo Payments
- Erin Barbeau, FIS
- Amanda Beam, Humboldt Merchant Services
- Gail Burgos, Girls of Columbus
- Maribel Davis, NEXGO
- Dawn Delaney, JPMorgan Chase
- Genevieve Dozier, Merchant’s PACT
- Lacey Frenzl, DishOut
- Brianna Frost, Discover
- Stephanie Giunta, Global Payments
- Angela Griffin, Global Payments
- Faiza Jivani, Global Payments
- Gabriela Loayza, Discover
- Alex McCandless, Payroc
- Laura Miller, JPMorgan Chase
- Debra Oglesby, FIS
- Guido Sacchi, Global Payments
- Rose Sikorski, FIS
- Tom Wimsett, Merchant’s PACT
Wnet 2021 Corporate Partner and Chapter Nominees:
- Fiserv
- Global Payments
- Green Rhino Recruitment
- Merchant’s PACT
- NCR
- Paya
- US Alliance Group
- Atlanta Chapter
- North Texas Chapter
- Southern California Chapter
The 2021 Award Categories and Winners:
In celebration of our 15 years, the Wnet Board introduced the new prestigious Founders Award presented to a current or past Wnet Board Member who has demonstrated outstanding service to Wnet by giving their time, talents and resources as a member to further the goals and objectives of the organization’s mission. The Founders presented the distinguished award to Linda Rossetti, founder and president. Bluestone Payments, now part of Payroc – a new Wnet Corporate Partner.
The Presidents Award, also created to honor Wnet’s 15th Year Anniversary, is given by the Wnet Past Presidents to a Wnet Board Member who has significantly contributed to advancing the Wnet mission, acted as a trendsetter within the industry, paved the way for the next generation by mentorship, allyship and/or sponsorship, advocated for Wnet and championed the core values and mission across the industry and within their organization. Dr. Gail Burgos, executive director, Girls Inc. of Columbus, was the inaugural Presidents award recipient.
The Individual Diversity Champion Award is presented to a person from a Wnet Corporate Partner who has exemplified the spirit of diversity through contributions to her organization in the last year. For 2021, there were three outstanding winners: Angie Griffin, senior TMO analyst, strategic initiatives, Global Payments; Gabriela Loayza, senior manager – regional product strategy, LATAM, Discover; and Stephanie Zirkle-Puerto, senior vice president, operations, Payroc.
The Lean In To Lead Award is given to a Wnet volunteer who has significantly stepped forward to take a leadership role adding ideas, expertise and support that directly champions one of Wnet’s strategic objectives. The winner of the 2021 award was Amanda Beam, CPP™, director, partner relations, Humboldt Merchant Services.
The Emerging Trendsetter Award celebrates an individual 40 years or younger who has a bright future in the payments industry and who showcases a commitment and energy to improving the industry. Erin Barbeau, business process manager, FIS, was the 2021 winner.
The Game Changer Award is given to a Wnet volunteer who has, through strategic thinking, audacious goal setting, outstanding leadership, commitment to implementation and attention to details, moved mountains and doesn’t take “no” for an answer. In doing so, she moves Wnet forward to stand on new ground toward the realization of our mission and vision.
The 2021 award winner was Genevieve Dozier, chief business development officer, Merchant’s PACT.
The Advocate Award is presented to a Wnet advocate who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to gender diversity through his participation in Wnet. This individual is a male leader who exemplifies the mission of Wnet by advocating for women in the industry. The winner of the 2021 award was Guido Sacchi, senior executive vice president & CIO, Global Payments.
The Corporate Champion Award is bestowed to an organization that embodies the Wnet mission by developing an internal program that supports enhancing women’s careers in the workplace. Congratulations to the 2021 winners, awarded by business size: Small Business: Merchant’s PACT; Mid-Size: Paya; and Enterprise: Global Payments.
Organizations exemplifying an exceptional commitment to promoting practices that advance diversity and inclusion and support Wnet’s mission and values are recognized with the Diversity Helping Hand Award. The 2021 winners, by business size, were: Small Business: Green Rhino Recruitment; Mid-Size: NCR; and Enterprise: Fiserv.
The Chapter LinkUp Virtual/Hybrid Program of the Year Award recognizes our Wnet Chapters and their efforts in planning and executing an online or hybrid program to stay in touch and support local members virtually. There was a tie for the winner of the 2021 award: Wnet Atlanta Chapter and Wnet North Texas Chapter. The Atlanta Chapter is led by Chair Dana Sills, director, partner relations, VyaPay. The North Texas Chapter is led by Co-Chairs Maribel Davis, vice president of sales, NEXGO, and Lacey Frenzl, director of product and partner development, DishOut, LLC.
The Rising Chapter of the Year Award is presented to a newly formed or recently revived chapter that displays high energy and enthusiasm towards Wnet mission and values while delivering creative programming and exceptional member engagement. The Southern California Chapter, led by Co-Chairs Amanda Beam, CPP™, director, partner relations, Humboldt Merchant Services, and Diane Driscoll, CPP™, director of compliance & risk, US Alliance Group, was the 2021 award winner.
“Wnet is inspired and sustained by dedicated volunteers who choose to lean in to present and implement ideas, pick up tasks, inspire and engage others and help us grow,” said Wnet CEO Wendy Holliday, M.Ed., CAE. “We recognize a few of the many deserving Wnet members for their exceptional leadership and commitment. Congratulations to all of the outstanding 2021 nominees and winners.”
About Wnet
The Women’s Network in Electronic Transactions (Wnet) – celebrating 15 years of empowering and investing in women – is the premier professional organization for women in payments and fintech, providing personal enrichment no matter what stage members are in their careers. The organization provides world-class national and regional programming, fosters networking and promotes mentoring to help members achieve greater personal success, influence and professional parity. Incorporated in late 2005 and launched in 2006, Wnet is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization serving thousands of women across the global payments industry annually. For more information about national and regional events and programming, or to become a member, please visit www.wnetonline.org. Follow Wnet on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
