Advisory Board
Tim Birk
Independent Consultant
Mr. Birk brings 30 years of payment system industry experience with proven leadership skills and experience with both large and small businesses. His extensive leadership experience includes: President of FSV Payment Systems Inc., Executive Vice Presidfent of Springbok Services, President of the Retail Division of International Check Services Inc., and President / CEO of Deluxe Payment Protection Systems. Mr. Birk has served in a number capacities within the industry which include: Member of Branded Prepaid Card Association, Charter Member of NACHA Electric Check Steering Committee, Advisory Board Member of Altrec.com., Member of the Federal Reserve Bank's Payment System Task Force, Member of the National Retail Federation's Check Fraud Task Force. His professional education includes coursework at the NACHA Payments Institute and Seattle Pacific University.
Dan Charron
EVP Client Services, Chase Paymentech
Dan Charron oversees Chase Paymentechs' diverse network of customers and business partner relationships, including independent sales organizations (ISO), agent/referral banks, and Merchant Link. He is responsible for enterprise business operations, including merchant set-up and boarding, project management, call centers and help desks, and relationship management. In addition to developing strategic partnerships to penetrate new markets and channels, enterprise customer service and core business operations, Charron is responsible for all mergers and acquisitions for Chase Paymentech Solutions. Charron previously served as Chief Development Officer at the former Paymentech
Prior to joining the company, Charron was Managing Partner for marchFIRST (formerly USWeb/CKS), a leading global Internet professional services firm. He also spent nine years at Total System Service, Inc. (TSYS), where he oversaw a variety of functions, including system development, project management, conversions and corporate development.
A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Charron has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering/construction management from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a master's degree in business administration from Georgia State University in Atlanta. He retains an active role with early stage companies through his involvement on multiple boards.
Michael D. Shmerling
Chairman, Choice Food Group Inc.
Michael D. Shmerling is Chairman of Choice Food Group, Inc. (“CFG”), a Nashville, TN based food distribution and manufacturing enterprise employing nearly 300 people in the Nashville area.
A native of Nashville, he began his career as a Certified Public Accountant (“Inactive”) in 1977 with the Nashville office of Ernst & Young, formerly Ernst & Ernst CPAs. Mr. Shmerling has co-founded four (4) businesses since leaving the practice of public accounting, all of which were ultimately sold to publicly traded (NYSE or NASD) companies. He has received numerous Nashville Business Journal Future 50 – as well as INC. 500 Awards for companies in which he founded. In addition to this recognition, he received the Tennessee Society of CPAs – Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry Award in 1999. In 2007, he was awarded the Tennessee Society of CPA’s – Public Service Award.
He currently serves on the board of directors of Abe’s Garden, Fisk University, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, the United Way of Middle Tennessee, Nashville Public School Alliance, The Hermitage, Renasant Bank (“NASD – RNST”), Renewal House and HealthStream Inc. (“NASD – HSTM”).