Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives.
Teresa Van Eps is as ambitious in her role of sales director for Segpay as the payment processing company itself.
We meet with our clients as often as possible, both virtually and face-to-face. Once a merchant goes live, we make sure they know we are always available and they should not hesitate to reach out if they need anything.
With a passion for growing the company by acquiring new merchants and ensuring current clients’ needs are handled effectively, Van Eps strives to fulfill the brand’s mission with determination.
From ensuring paperwork is in order, to monitoring merchant processing history and seeking bank approval, she coordinates with Segpay’s diverse team tirelessly.
By interfacing with colleagues in development, tech support, consumer support and compliance, Van Eps can proactively keep merchants on track smoothly.
To spotlight one of Segpay’s hardest workers, XBIZ sat down with Van Eps, the Woman of the Month, for this exclusive WIA profile.
XBIZ: Describe your professional background prior to Segpay.
Van Eps: After being a stay-at-home mom for 14 years to four beautiful and incredible girls, I put my schooling to work and was an executive assistant in a variety of business operations. I enjoyed preparing executives for board meetings and helping them run their company successfully.
XBIZ: What led you to join the company?
Van Eps: Through a prior relationship with Segpay’s CEO, Cathy Beardsley. I was looking to break into sales and Cathy offered me a place on her team. I spoke with a number of people at Segpay and was so impressed with the work ethic, the personalities and the way the company was run, I knew instantly I wanted to join the team. I could see Segpay was growing and I wanted to be a part of something really special.
XBIZ: As sales director, what are your primary responsibilities?
Van Eps: I am responsible for providing merchants with the best possible payment solution. That includes making sure the process of on-boarding with Segpay goes as smoothly as possible and being there to answer merchants’ questions on an ongoing basis.
There are many merchants that are aware of what the process is, in terms of gathering certain documents for bank and regulatory approval, however many are venturing into this space for the first time. It’s my job to help them understand how they can start taking payments quickly while managing their risk levels and enhancing their reputation with the banks and credit card brands over time.
XBIZ: Talk about your management style and how you ensure the Segpay team executes delegated tasks.
Van Eps: My primary responsibility is to manage a process and work with my team to make sure that process runs as smoothly as possible.
It’s a process that is very thorough, starting with making sure our clients’ paperwork is in order, followed by a stringent compliance review and bank approval, and finally a technical integration which culminates in the client going live.
On occasion, it is necessary for our development team to work with our merchants, and it is on me to make sure all the teams work together to help get things done for our merchants.
XBIZ: What is your approach to acquiring new clients?
Van Eps: At Segpay we pride ourselves on our reputation. We do a lot of networking, we attend a variety of trade shows and of course word of mouth from others is always a great way to acquire new merchants.
I like to use social media to acquire new clients, but ultimately it comes down to just talking with, and listening to people — whether that is when I am out on my own time at an expo or even at a new store, anywhere can present an opportunity to begin a relationship.
XBIZ: How do you ensure the needs of current clients are being met?
Van Eps: We do our best to be available in virtually any way that someone might want to communicate with us. We use Skype, email and of course phone. We monitor every clients’ processing history to make sure things are running smoothly, so we can intervene if necessary.
We meet with our clients as often as possible, both virtually and face-to-face. Once a merchant goes live, we make sure they know we are always available and they should not hesitate to reach out if they need anything. Our tech support team, consumer support team and compliance team all play parts in the merchants’ success, for example, ensuring postbacks are successful, security is running smoothly and making sure end-users are happy with the service our merchant is providing.
XBIZ: Discuss the state of payment processing. What unique challenges and opportunities are there in today’s market?
Van Eps: Keeping up with the latest regulations always presents a challenge. We have chosen to make that a strength of ours, so that merchants can feel confident they are working with a provider that is compliant with the latest laws and can help educate them by sharing what we have learned and implemented ourselves.
For example, we are the only high-risk payment processor to be certified as a U.K./E.U. Payments Institution. From a content perspective, the market is always changing, which can also provide the opportunity to be fresh and new to put things out there that others haven’t yet. You just never really know what will be the next diamond in the rough.
XBIZ: What has been one of your proudest accomplishments at Segpay, that presented a big challenge to pull off?
Van Eps: I’m really proud that I’ve gotten to the position I’m in through a desire to succeed and always asking questions. This industry is constantly changing, and I had no experience in this space prior to Segpay. I learned to not give up, even though there is so much to learn, every day. Ultimately, Segpay works as a team and that is the key to our success. I’m proud that I’ve become a meaningful part of this team.
XBIZ: Do you have any unique hobbies or interests that you’d like to share?
Van Eps: As a mother of four, most of my hobbies are my childrens’ hobbies! I spend a lot of time supporting my daughters’ synchronized swimming teams, along with other school activities, such as water polo and competitive swimming. These are incredibly unique sports.
That said, I love to experience live music, whether it’s an unknown local band or a well-known artist. As an ex-performing musician myself (I was an amateur string bassist) music has always been a passion. I also love nature — the outdoors is my favorite place to be, whether it’s on a boat, a farm or on a beach here in South Florida.
XBIZ: What are your primary ambitions for Segpay, this coming year and beyond?
Van Eps: To play a role in Segpay’s growth as we expand to new markets, both high-risk and mainstream. We have a full suite of capabilities that other billing companies dream about and the sky is truly the limit for this company.
We’ve worked extremely hard to be able to offer a variety of services for Payment Facilitator, Gateway and Direct Merchant accounts, with a full-service affiliate program and more, and now is the time to spread the word far and wide.
