John Cullen is the Chief Executive Officer of Payliance, where he leads the company’s efforts in providing innovative payment processing solutions to both merchants and consumer installment lenders. Under his leadership, Payliance has become a trusted partner in the financial services industry, known for its ability to deliver value-driven solutions that enhance payment efficiency and customer experience. John’s strategic vision has been instrumental in driving the company’s growth and expanding its market presence, solidifying Payliance as a leader in payment processing.

With over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, John has founded three companies and achieved two successful public exits. Prior to joining Payliance, he served as Managing Director at Purepay Capital, where he raised a $100M buyout fund and executed numerous M&A transactions. He also founded and led CMS Communications, a telecommunications infrastructure software company, and POV Partners, a technology consulting firm, both of which he successfully grew and sold.

John’s early career includes roles at Accenture and JP Morgan Chase, where he developed a strong foundation in financial services and technology. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Marietta College and is based in Columbus, Ohio.

Paula Ley is the President of Payliance, where she leads the company’s strategic growth initiatives and customer experience excellence across all business verticals. Under her leadership, Payliance continues to strengthen its position as a trusted partner in the payments processing industry, known for its ability to deliver innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency and drive measurable results. Paula’s strategic vision has been instrumental in expanding the company’s market reach and solidifying its presence as a leader in specialized payment processing.

With over 20 years of executive leadership experience in financial services and payments, Paula has built a distinguished career driving growth and operational excellence at industry-leading organizations. Prior to joining Payliance, she served as Head of Global Issuing Solution Sales at Visa, where she led strategic sales initiatives and client enablement programs.  She also held senior executive roles at JPMorgan Chase, including Business Banking Servicing and Operations Executive and Managing Director for Consumer Banking, where she developed strategies for customer experience enhancement and new product rollouts.

Paula’s early career includes roles at JPMorgan Chase, where she developed expertise in retail operations, strategy development, and customer relationship management. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, where she also lectures and serves as a board member of the Professional Sales Academy Advisory Board. She is based in Columbus, Ohio.

John Gilbert is the Chief Information Officer at Payliance, where he champions the principle that every transaction matters.

Prior to Payliance, John served as a Senior Technical Consultant at CareWorks Tech and held various leadership roles at Kaseya, including Director of Business Information Systems and Senior Software Engineer. His career also includes positions at ObjAcct, ProjectVillage, and eLedger.com, where he developed and managed financial software solutions.

John holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Heidelberg University. His certifications include SuiteFlow: Workflows for Developers, Certified System Administrator, Certified Implementation Specialist, and Edge Encryption Technical Accreditation.

Kellie Amodeo serves as Director of Product Development at Payliance, where she leads the development of innovative payment solutions designed to enhance customer experiences. Based in the Tampa Bay area, Kellie brings a wealth of expertise in product management, strategic planning, and operational efficiency to her role.

Before joining Payliance, Kellie held leadership roles at Till Payments and FIS Global/Certegy Payment Solutions. As a Product Manager at Till Payments, she spearheaded the launch of ACH solutions across North America, driving significant market growth and cost efficiencies. At FIS Global, she served as Vice President of Customer Experience and Risk Operations, where her initiatives significantly reduced fraud losses and operational costs, while optimizing ACH products across multiple sectors.

Kellie holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of South Florida. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, camping, and reading, and is dedicated to spending quality time with her family, including her husband and two teenage daughters. Kellie’s deep knowledge of the payments landscape and commitment to delivering value make her an integral part of the Payliance leadership team.

Tommy Chipman is the Vice President of Channel and Technology Partnerships at Payliance. He brings extensive experience in the payments and technology sectors to his role, focusing on solving payment acceptance challenges for a diverse range of clients, including lending management providers, embedded payment providers, and technology platforms.

Tommy’s career spans digital media, fintech, and blockchain. He started at Flipboard, spent eight years at Visa in roles from Customer Success to Director, then led sales at Blockdaemon. Most recently, he served as VP of Revenue and Partnerships at Locl before becoming an advisor, demonstrating his expertise across various tech sectors.

Tommy holds a BA in Philosophy from San Francisco State University and is based in Bend, Oregon.

Darren Fleishman is the Chief Financial Officer at Payliance overseeing mergers and acquisitions, strategic development, and post-merger integrations.

Before Payliance, Darren was the Chief Financial Officer at Leaderpromos and held a similar role at DHL Supply Chain’s Power Packaging. He also served as a Contract CFO for various post-merger and startup organizations, Senior Director at DHL Supply Chain/Exel, CFO at Residential Finance Corporation, Managing Partner at Stein Fleishman, LLC, and First Vice President at ABN AMRO/LaSalle Bank.

He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BS in Economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. His key skills include Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Strategy, and Financial Analysis, and he is a candidate for Chartered Financial Analyst certification. His approach to leadership combines a fact-based perspective, action orientation, and strong CEO partnerships.

Shannon Barrow brings over 25 years of comprehensive marketing expertise to Payliance, where she has led the marketing team since September 2022. Her efforts center on showcasing the value of Payliance’s payment, verification, and recovery solutions to lenders, merchants, and their customers, fostering growth through strategic marketing initiatives.

Before joining Payliance, Shannon spent a decade in the FinTech sector, focusing on Mortgage, Payments, Fraud, and Risk Management. She served as Head of Product Marketing at Early Warning Services and Zelle, and as VP of Marketing at First American Docutech, where she translated complex financial technologies into clear, compelling value propositions. Her career includes significant roles in various industries and strategic marketing agencies, driven by a passion for aligning great companies with their audiences.

Shannon earned a BS in Marketing and Communications from the Fashion Institute of Technology and holds certifications in Brand Strategy, Product Strategy, Marketing Strategy, and  a mini MBA in AI for Business.