Kurt Strawhecker
Kurt Strawhecker, Co-Founder and President of The Strawhecker Group, is a well-respected and admired leader in the electronic transaction industry with 25 years of executive experience in marketing and financial services. Strawhecker provides specialized consulting services to diverse organizations in the merchant acquiring space including ISOs, acquirers, financial institutions, card associations, third-party processors and providers.
Seeing a need for specialized services in an industry that always held his fascination and passion, Strawhecker started his own consulting business in 2001. With an extensive network of contacts, coupled with widespread knowledge and expertise, Strawhecker introduced Strategic Management Partners to the acquiring space. In 2006, SMP was reorganized and rebranded as The Strawhecker Group, which became the largest consulting firm in the US Acquiring industry within one year. Over a five year period, the firm has advised 30 of the 50 largest US Acquirers, as well as the major processors – including First Data and TSYS, and the industry card brands including Visa and MasterCard.
Prior to his success with TSG, Strawhecker spent 16 years at First Data Corporation where his contributions were felt in a number of areas. He created a new division to introduce advertising inserts in credit card statements. His expertise in advertising translated to a very successful service that has been embraced by many major companies in the processing industry. During his tenure at First Data, Strawhecker also assumed several management positions. He created a new division called Client Marketing that sold additional products and services to existing First Data customers. In 1990, he relocated to the United Kingdom for First Data to assist with the company’s initial international expansion. During that time, Strawhecker also helped facilitate First Data’s acquisition of Signet, the largest processor in the UK. Upon his return to the United States in 1993, Strawhecker helped to manage sales and marketing of another new business entity for First Data—First Data Merchant Services. He was responsible for the formation of many several strategic acquiring Alliances at First Data for the next two years, including the management of First Data’s Merchant Services Omaha Platform.
Committed to giving back to an industry that has given him so much, Strawhecker has been an active member of the Electronic Transaction Association for over 10 years. He has served on the ETA Board of Directors and Advisory Council for nearly a decade, and has served as Chairman of several Committees. He has spoken at numerous industry and ETA events as well as national and regional industry seminars. Recognized as a leading expert in all aspects of the bankcard business, Strawhecker has been interviewed for national broadcasts and has been quoted in countless industry publications.
Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Strawhecker brings a strong Midwest work ethic to his company. His business philosophy is just as strong and is built on the belief that anything is possible if you work hard enough and have a plan, it will happen.
Strawhecker attended the University of Nebraska and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Advertising. Upon graduation, he accepted a position in the marketing department of Omaha National Bank (now US Bank). After three years, Strawhecker was offered a management position with the bank’s advertising firm and for the next seven years, he was in charge of such national accounts as TD Ameritrade and Godfather’s Pizza. So successful were his campaigns that he was recruited by Godfather’s Pizza as their Director of Marketing and moved to California where he oversaw marketing and advertising operations for the next two years. Shortly thereafter, he was recruited by First Data.
Strawhecker is married with three grown children and keeps in shape with tennis and his passion for scuba diving.