Veteran with Issuing & Acquiring Expertise Helps Consumers “ChargeSmart”

Whether you’re looking to pay an auto loan or just your monthly utility bill, ChargeSmart has you covered. The ChargeSmart™ system processes and remits payments entirely electronically. The company’s new Vice President of Payment Solutions, Andrew Waskey, spoke with PYMNTS.com about the company’s technology-based approach to alleviating consumers’ payment pain points.

PYMNTS.com: Could you tell us a little bit about yourself, how you got into payments and what it means to be Vice President of Payment Solutions?

ANDREW WASKEY
: I have been in the payments industry since 2000, and having worked on both the Issuing side and Acquiring side, my experiences lend themselves very well to the ChargeSmart business model. ChargeSmarts’ customers are both the cardholders as well as billers; and our ability to balance their collective needs and offer solutions that previously did not exist, creates a rewarding work experience. As VP of Payment Solutions, I look forward to working with both new and existing partners, as well as strengthening our processing relationships as we continue to develop an innovative solution that is both cost effective and in demand.

PYMNTS.com: What was most attractive about ChargeSmart, and what was the driving factor to join?

WASKEY: I first met the folks at ChargeSmart nearly four years ago and have followed their growth closely since the beginning. In my previous positions, I worked with the management team at ChargeSmart to deliver a business model that allowed for their unique approach to the delivery of payments functionality, and when the opportunity arose for me to join the team in a more formal capacity, I was eager to jump on-board. With a firm understanding of their technology solution and business model, joining ChargeSmart to assist and participate in their rapidly accelerating growth makes sense on many levels. The ChargeSmart team is made up of seasoned professionals dedicated to technology-based innovative payment solutions, and their open dialogue and customer-centric approach to the payments industry has proven to be an exciting and highly rewarding experience.

PYMNTS.com: PYMNTS.com is all about “what’s next” in payments. How will you, in your role, help ChargeSmart define “what’s next” ?

WASKEY: In today’s economy, consumers expect options when it comes to making their monthly bill payments. Unfortunately, many businesses have had to limit their card acceptance capabilities due to a wide variety of factors, most notably the high fees and complexities associated with other processing entities. We see a huge opportunity to provide low margin businesses with a cost-effective solution enabling card acceptance for their customers, with a fully transparent, turnkey solution that  integrates seamlessly into their website. The typical ChargeSmart customer wants to focus on their core business proposition and not be weighed down with the burden of managing a complicated card acceptance program full of hidden fees. Our solution allows them to do just that, and it’s going to get even more streamlined in 2011 and beyond. Additionally, we have some very exciting developments in the pipeline with regards to acceptance for additional tender types, and although I can’t share all of the details just yet, I’m convinced that what we’re working on now will truly set us apart in the marketplace.

PYMNTS.com: Who or what has been your biggest influence in your career?

WASKEY: I have had several people in my career that have not only influenced but have also mentored my career path. Along the way I have worked with clients, both internally and externally that have allowed me to learn and grow. In my time at Global Payments, I had the honor of working with industry veterans Tony Abruzzio, Kurt Schaeffer and Steve Hicks, all of whom added a dynamic to my payments experience and offered perspectives that fostered growth and curiosity. I look forward to building many new great relationships in my position at ChargeSmart, as I continue to expand my knowledge base of the payments industry as we grow and evolve.


Andrew Waskey, Vice President of Payment Solutions, ChargeSmart

 

Andrew Waskey is vice president of payment solutions at ChargeSmart, a provider of convenience fee-based card acceptance for organizations. In this role, Waskey leads ChargeSmart’s strategic planning to foster further growth of the company by identifying and implementing existing and new business-to-business customer and alliance partner relationships.

With more than 12 years of proven experience in the electronic payment processing industry, Waskey has held several marketing and business development managerial positions. Prior to joining ChargeSmart, he served as vice president of sales and marketing for Dalcom Consulting, where he developed and executed a marketing plan to increase brand awareness and drive new business; as manager of business development for Payment Processing Inc., where he actively recruited software companies to meet business growth goals; and has served as director of business development at Global Payments, where he also spent time as a relationship manager and unit manager before being promoted to an executive level.