By:
Suzanne Luse
P
icture
it: You wake up in the largest conference center/ hotel in the Southwest,
head over to the state-of-the-art fitness center to either swim some laps
or run a few miles on your choice of the indoor or outdoor track. Then,
it’s a quick shower and down to the free breakfast of fresh fruit and
warm muffins and croissants. You take a seat at a table with that industry
member you’ve been trying to connect with all year. You enjoy your
breakfast, network a bit, and then head into the L’Entrecote Room and
enter yourself to win a Palm Pilot, VeriFone terminal, free admission to
the ETA meeting, a virtual terminal and shopping cart from Total Merchant
Services, champagne from Bankserv, and a Biggest Bertha Hawkeye golf club
worth $400. Welcome to The Green Sheet Seminar!
This
may sound like a commercial for an executive retreat but this was The
Green Sheet Seminar in Dallas, Texas, at the Wyndham Anatole. The morning
session started off with opening remarks from our own Paul Green, followed
by Patti Murphy who enlightened us with information about the evolution of
our payments system. After a brief refreshment break we had a chance to
demo the products at the tradeshow tables. Next, it was back to the
L’Entrecote Room where we took part in a panel discussion about
equipment solutions for the twenty-first century, followed by Don
Harrington of Hypercom explaining how the POS will meet the Web with
advertising and enhanced service opportunities.
Before
we knew it, it was 12:30 and we were off to lunch in the Peacock Room,
which overlooks the lush courtyard of the Anatole. While munching on
poached salmon, fresh vegetables, and pasta, Ed Freedman of Total Merchant
Services discussed the multitude of opportunities e-commerce affords ISOs.
After a little cheesecake and pecan pie, we headed over to the tradeshow
tables, did a little networking, and made our way back to the
L’Entrecote Room where Dan Lewis of Certified Merchant Services detailed
the ins and outs of building a portfolio’s value. Dan’s presentation
was followed by Patrick Cummins’ discussion about the benefits of check
conversion and how technology can end the paper trail. Next, we took an
ice cream break, which afforded us another opportunity to check out the
product demos and meet a few more attendees, which could result in some
lucrative business. Then, back to the presentations, where we took part in
a dialog about check services, which included representatives from
Equifax, CrossCheck, and International Check Services. The final speaker
was Vaden Landers whose presentation focused on determining a
portfolio’s value and negotiating profitable contracts.
To
end the day, we moved on to the reception area, where we enjoyed the local
flavor (Corona), and made a few more contacts. After Darrell Story of
Interstate Merchant Services walked away with the door prize, we retired
for the evening with a binder full of information, a pocket stuffed with
business cards, a head full of ideas, and a belly full of delicious food.
Now, where was that fitness center again?
If
you haven’t attended The Green Sheet Seminars 2000
Financial Services—The Road Ahead please join us in Chicago on May 12, New York on June 9, or Los Angeles on
July 7. For details or to register call (800) 757-4441 or visit www.greensheet.com.
Back | Next
© Copyright 2000; The
Green Sheet, Inc.
|