Friday, September 11, 2020
"I've had the pleasure of working with Laura since 2006," Gillespie said. "She's a gifted editor, journalist and storyteller who brings out the best qualities in writers, team members and fellow professionals."
Holland thanked Gillespie, stating that she has enjoyed day-to-day challenges of working in the ever changing payments industry. "And really, none of this would be possible without the leadership of our CEO, Kate Gillespie, who often encourages me to 'go for it,'" she said. "I am honored that she has named me our editor in chief."
Dale Laszig, senior staff writer and content marketing specialist at The Green Sheet, agreed that Holland is skilled in mentoring both professional and aspiring writers and was instrumental in helping launch her career as a journalist.
"I would not be where I am today without Laura McHale Holland," Laszig said. "Through the years, Laura has helped transform my ideas into objective, data-driven analysis, properly framed in AP style. Her penchant for brainstorming and out-of-box thinking makes every day fresh and exciting."
These sentiments were shared by numerous contributing writers, public relations representatives and payments industry executives who have worked with Holland throughout her tenure at The Green Sheet.
Adam Atlas, Attorney at Law, recalled Laura's ability to enliven potentially dry, technical topics. "Laura draws out the most interesting stories with input from compelling innovators, to deliver substance that is the envy of other media," Atlas said. "She also connects with subjects outside of the core topic to broaden the reader's horizon. Finally, Laura is perhaps the kindest editor I've ever known, accommodating foibles and author eccentricities to, again, bring out the best in us. Congratulations Laura!"
George Sarantopoulos, founder and CEO of Access One Solutions Inc. and contributing writer at The Green Sheet, congratulated Holland on her promotion and praised her collegial and openminded management style. "She is always open to new story ideas, even from people like me, who are not professional writers," he said.
Dee Karawadra, CEO at Impact PaySystem LLC, congratulated Holland and thanked her for helping him meet his deadlines and stay on top of his grammar during his two times as a Street Smarts columnist. "Laura always has great suggestions, and she truly understands our industry and the audience," Karawadra said. "Even with her edits, she was able to carry on the spirit of the article. Needless to say, my articles would have not been as effective had she not helped me with all the edits."
Emily Karawadra, CFO at Impact PaySystem LLC and fellow Street Smarts columnist, concurred, stating, "On a personal note, many years ago at the SEAA in New Orleans, I had a pleasure of working next to her when we volunteered to fix a playground at the City Park. She is top of class at everything she does."
Jeff Fortney, former Street Smarts columnist and senior vice president, business development and partnerships at TouchSuite, has also worked with Holland for more than a decade. "Laura has been a pleasure to work with all these years," Fortney said. "She is an excellent sounding board with a passion for both the business and the people in the business. This passion has served her well and I know she will be a continued advocate of the payments world."
Ben Abel, director of sales, Bank Associates Merchant Services, was equally positive about his Street Smarts run, which was his first foray into writing a scheduled column with deadlines every two weeks. "There was a bit of a learning curve working with an editor and sticking to a submission schedule for content," he said. "Laura, always a consummate professional, made me feel like an old veteran as I navigated the process. I have nothing but confidence in her as she takes on this new role and wish her the best. Congratulations, Laura, you are an incredible resource to the payments industry and I look forward to seeing what you do next."
Holland graciously thanked supporters, stating that she looks forward to continuing collaborations. "I've always had great confidence in the judgment of the experts who contribute articles to our magazine, and this faith in them has never turned out to be misplaced," she said. "I love being in the background, helping them get their messages out to the payments community. The same is true for our staff writers. The more I count on them to make key decisions, the more they come into their own, and I love being part of that." 
The Green Sheet Inc. is now a proud affiliate of Bankcard Life, a premier community that provides industry-leading training and resources for payment professionals. Click here for more information.
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