Lisa Schwartz is the go-to credit card processing consultant for St. Francis
Hospital, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Goodwin College and
Hartford Stage and generated more than 100 new accounts in 2014 alone.
When Schwartz became a consultant for Glastonbury-based Integrity
Merchant Solutions — a firm that specializes in assisting merchants with
their credit card processing activities — six years ago, she was transitioning
from a 20-year-long career in retail managing multi-million dollar
accounts for major department stores.

While switching career paths late in the game might intimidate some,
Schwartz said she was confident that she could take the skills she learned
at big retail companies like Macy’s in Atlanta and G. Fox in Hartford and
turn them into a successful career helping businesses save money on credit
card processing.

“I came to Integrity knowing nothing and making zero dollars because my
position is commission-only,” said Schwartz. “But I was able to build a
business that is quite rewarding both financially and professionally.”
Last year, Schwartz was the second-highest producing sales person at IMS
and her clients include large Connecticut hospitals, the Hartford Dental
Society, major regional accounting firms and nonprofits like TheaterWorks
and Special Olympics of Connecticut.

Before her transition to the credit-processing industry, Schwartz spent five
years at Macy’s where she earned an accelerated promotion from the
company’s entry-level executive training program to buyer; she later served
as a regional manager of cosmetics responsible for a $63 million territory
at G. Fox.

For Schwartz, several principles have driven her career: problem solving
with a sense of urgency; building and maintaining a strong team; being a
mentor who likes to see others shine; and persistence.
Regarding persistence, Schwartz said she’s had to be unrelenting in every
position she’s held in order to be successful.

“There’s a real ‘never giving up’ approach to my career; I’m like a bull dog
— I won’t let go,” Schwartz said.

Sean McGrail, founder and president of IMS, said it can take anywhere
from a day to a year to snag some clients in the credit card processing
industry.

“There’s a lot of touches and contact before someone ultimately becomes a
client,” explained McGrail. “Lisa is filled with fire and enthusiasm; she’s
aggressive in her sales approach in that she doesn’t give up.”

McGrail said Schwartz’s high level of professionalism and strong follow-
through are also key contributors to her ability to land and maintain
clients.

“I’m nicely persistent,” explained Schwartz of her strategy. “I won’t hound
customers but I will stay in touch.”

Even with a heavy workload and a demanding client base, Schwartz said
she’s made it a priority to create work-life balance. To that end, she said
she always carves out time to volunteer with local nonprofits.

Schwartz currently serves on the gala auction committee for three
Connecticut charities: Easter Seals Capital Region, an outpatient provider
of medical and vocational rehabilitation services; Connecticut Children’s

Friends, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center’s volunteer organization;
and the Jordan Matthew Porco Memorial Foundation, a Hartford suicide-
prevention foundation dedicated to the memory of Jordan Porco who died
by suicide in 2011.

Schwartz said her strong relationships in the business community have
helped her score items for the charities’ silent auctions and she encourages
other women in business to use their professional skills, when possible, for
charitable causes.

“It’s very important for work-life balance that you give back to the
community,” said Schwartz. “You gain so much by helping those in need
and at the same time you can meet so many great women and you can
build so many relationships that it ends up helping you unexpectedly.”
Schwartz’s people skills, according to McGrail, are at the core of her career-
long success.

“She cares about her customers,” said McGrail. “She backs up what she
says and that’s why she continues to be successful and get referrals.”