PYMNTS Announces 2016 Innovator Award Winners
BOSTON--PYMNTS.com, the premier source of news and commentary on innovation in payments and commerce is pleased to honor the recipients of the 2016 PYMNTS Innovator Awards that were announced during a live Ceremony and Awards dinner to celebrate the conclusion of Innovation Project 2016 a two-day thought leadership event for payments executives.
The PYMNTS Innovator Awards are viewed as the most prestigious recognition in the payments industry and boast a submission, selection and voting process that is unmatched in intellectual rigor and competitive energy. In addition to facing 9 judges at the top of the payments industry, award candidates were also received thousands of votes from their payments peers. Gold, Silver and Bronze awards were distributed across 16 categories including Most Innovative, Most Disruptive and Best Technology.
"I’m so pleased to congratulate all the award winners," Karen Webster CEO of PYMNTS.com says.“We had a record breaking amount of votes this year and thanks to our impressive caliber of judges,I think we were able to truly recognize the best of the best in the payments industry this year."
A representative from Square were on hand to receive the prestigious Catalyst Award, which recognizes companies that live up to the true spirit of innovation. In the year of its public debut, Square has done this by entering new markets and launching products like the Cash Drawer feature.
Uber was honored with PYMNTS first-ever Matchmaker Award, which honors a platform that has served a diverse group of customers while creating a highly disruptive platform.
The event also recognized the talents of an outstanding woman in the payments industry. The W.net Women To Watch award was given to Talbott Roche, CEO and President of leading prepaid and payments network Blackhawk Network. Roche joined the company in 2001, when it was still a part of Safeway’s marketing division.
Dan Charron, First Data Executive Vice President and Head of Global Business Solutions, was named the YoPro Leader and Mentor, which acknowledges those who work to bring young professionals into the payments industry.
Boomtown CEO and Founder Chip Kahn earned the Mike P. Duffy Leadership award, an accolade honoring the entrepreneurial spirit of the late Chase Paymentech executive Mike Duffy, who passed away in 2013 shortly before the first Innovation Project. Kahn founded and run four payments & tech companies before launching BoomTown, which provides corporate tech support.
For more information about the awards dinner and to see a full list of the PYMNTS Innovation Awards winners please visit the Innovation Project website.
About PYMNTS.com
PYMNTS.comis reinventing the way in which companies in payments share relevant information about the initiatives that shape the future of payments and commerce and make news. This powerful B2B platform is the #1 site for the payments and broader commerce ecosystem by traffic and the premier source of information about “what’s next” in payments. C-suite and VP level executives turn to it daily for these insights, making thePYMNTS.comaudience the most valuable in the industry. It provides an interactive platform for companies to demonstrate thought leadership, popularize products and, most importantly, capture the mindshare of global decision-makers. PYMNTS.com, where the best minds and best content meet on the web to learn “What’s Next” in Payments and Commerce.
About the Innovation Project
Over two content -packed days this March 16 & 17,The Innovation Project 2016, powered by PYMNTS.com, will convene the most thoughtful minds from established players, emerging disruptors, and entrepreneurial visionaries in the world of payments and commerce on the campus of Harvard University. Leading and participating in these discussions will be the most innovative, thoughtful and dynamic players from their sectors.
*Please note that The Innovation Project™ and PYMNTS.com℠ are not affiliated with Harvard University, nor is the Innovation Project™ 2016 a Harvard University program or activity.
Contact For PYMNTS.com
Lauren Miyamoto