WSAA welcomes feet on the street

The Western States Acquirers Association will hold its sixth annual conference from Oct. 14 to 15, 2009, at the Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort, located directly across the street from Disneyland.

This year's conference features:

• Mark Dunn's Field Guide Seminar
• Payments industry update from industry veteran Paul Martaus
• Forum panel discussion
• Breakout sessions on security and compliance
• Passes to Disneyland
• Cash and prize giveaways worth thousands of dollars
• Exhibit hall with vendors
• Networking receptions
• Keynote speaker Craig Virgin, a three-time Olympic distance runner

A straightforward mission

"We're a real simple organization," said Steve Eazell, Director, National Sales and Marketing for San Diego-based Secure Payment Systems Inc. "We look at this event – as we always have – as an MLS [merchant level salesperson] show. We want the feet on the street to feel that this is something that is designed around them. And we guarantee that not a single moment will be lost time. It's really all about helping them get out there and be fresher and more motivated."

An opening night reception – with food and an open bar – will be held for MLSs to network with exhibit hall vendors. The conference will conduct open discussion forums on payment gateways and security, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, as well as how to deal with economic ebbs and flows, generate more revenue opportunities, and improve merchant account retention.

An enriching incubator

"This is something very different for us," Eazell said. "We're going to have some well-known industry pundits addressing the questions and concerns associated with surviving in today's economy. And Paul Martaus, as he does every year, will speak on industry updates. He is quite entertaining, but more importantly he knows his stuff and is always well received." Eazell expects the event will be educational and pleasurable while addressing every facet of what's occurring in the industry today. "It's going to be educational and entertaining," he said. "And there is something special about that face-to-face, press-the-flesh kind of environment that really can't be duplicated. However, we realize that in taking an MLS off the streets for even a couple of days, we know we have to speak to them directly and offer them value or they won't come back," Eazell added.

For more information, visit www.westernstatesacquirers.com/html/register.htmlb .

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