The Power of Starting Over (Again & Again) - Guest: Nini Volrath
AgentFirst
Our favorite duo takes on AgentFirst once again, and this time they fully flesh out the PayCompass journey. Tune in to listen to our kickass co-founders, Justin and Nini, discuss their roles and what it's like navigating the growth while maintaining authenticity. Justin shares his deep involvement in sales throughout his career, and how his experiences emphasized the importance of listening to Agents. This sentiment continued to inform his leadership decisions and ultimately led to the fruition of the #AgentFirst philosophy. Nini expands this perspective by highlighting operational...
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Entrepreneurship, Arizona Style (Guest: Mike Spangenberg)
AgentFirst
We're switching things up with a very special guest: local legend and State Forty Eight CEO/Co-founder, Mike Spangenberg. PayCompass has developed a strong partnership with State Forty Eight over the years, creating some of our best swag to date. Most Arizona locals know and love the iconic clothing brand but very few know Mike's inspiring journey as a local entrepreneur. His story is one we knew our audience needed to hear. Mike discusses the power of local pride, and how that force ultimately led to the company's launch with the help of his friends. From slinging...
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Cold Calls & Hot Closes (Guest: Kristy Thompson)
AgentFirst
In this episode of The AgentFirst Podcast, Justin sits down with PayCompass agent, Kristy Thompson, who shares her winding journey from insurance in Chicago to real estate in Florida, and finally into the world of merchant services. 💸🌴 Kristy opens up about the ups and downs of cold calling, building a business alongside her husband, and making bold moves—literally and figuratively—to stay competitive. From crashing in Florida’s saturated markets to rebooting in Arizona, she unpacks lessons on resilience, reinvention, and staying scrappy. Kristy also shares her refreshingly honest...
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A Tribute to Jon Skelly: After the Close—Building Merchant Relationships
AgentFirst
In this heartfelt bonus episode, honors his late co-host John Skelly with a personal story and a powerful conversation on how agents can turn sales into long-term relationships. The episode dives deep into what comes after the deal is closed—turning merchants into loyal partners, supporters, and referral machines. Justin shares practical, real-world strategies on: Why the first follow-up after install matters more than you think How to use early wins to ask for referrals (the right way) Building real relationships by becoming a customer of your customers Staying top-of-mind without...
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18 Pizza Shops Walk into a Sales Pitch... (Guest: Tim Toombs)
AgentFirst
In this episode of The AgentFirst Podcast, sits down with industry veteran and all-around good guy , who opens up about his accidental entry into the world of credit card processing—starting with a Budweiser warehouse job and somehow ending with 18 signed pizza shops in his very first week. This isn't just a story about selling. It's about grit. It's about taking risks (like starting 100% commission work 13 days before Christmas ). It's about having a partner who believes in you when no one else does (shout out to Tim's better half, Emily!). And it's about lighting someone...
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No Salary, No Limits (Guest: Misay Khoundara)
AgentFirst
This episode of the AgentFirst Podcast is a masterclass in sales, hustle, and learning to trust yourself. Justin welcomes PayCompass' very first agent, Misay Khoundara, who has sold just about everything—vacuum cleaners, cars, credit card processing services and, most importantly, himself as a trusted expert. Misay isn’t just another sales guy; he’s a closer, a relationship builder, and a mentor who chose a career in commission-only sales because he trusted in his abilities and his work ethic. During this episode these two discuss: 💡 The Real Hustle – How early...
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From Plumbing to Payments
AgentFirst
In this special episode of The AgentFirst Podcast, Justin sits down with his father, Mike Volrath, to discuss his unexpected path into the credit card processing industry. They dive into his career shift at 55, navigating life’s challenges while building a thriving business, and the key lessons he’s learned about customer retention, sales strategies, and the power of relationships. In this episode you'll hear about: ✅ Mike's Career Reinvention at 55 - How he transitioned from plumbing to the payments business ✅ The Power of Relationships – Why warm leads and referrals trump cold...
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From Linebacker to Deal Closer: Andy Roth’s Playbook for Winning in Payments
AgentFirst
What do football, selling airplane engines, and closing deals in payments have in common? More than you think—just ask . In this episode of the AgentFirst Podcast, sits down with Andy to unpack his journey from the gridiron to the boardroom, including lessons learned from wakeboarding wipeouts, working in aviation sales, and taking a sabbatical in Breckenridge to give back. Andy shares insights on: ✅ The one mindset shift that transformed his sales career ✅ Why picking up the phone (instead of overthinking) is the key to success ✅ How PayCompass is shaking up the payments game by...
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Honoring the Past, Building the Future Part II
AgentFirst
In this continuation of our insightful conversation, , founder and CEO of PayCompass, is joined once again by his wife and co-founder, , and PayCompass agent . They dive deeper into the evolution of PayCompass, reflecting on how the company has scaled rapidly through strategic partnerships, cutting-edge technology, and a strong company culture. In this episode, they discuss: 🤝 The role of partnerships and innovation in scaling PayCompass 🛞 Why leveraging existing products rather than reinventing the wheel is key in the payments industry 🔑 The importance of relationships in the...
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Honoring the Past, Building the Future Part 1
AgentFirst
In this heartfelt episode, , founder and CEO of PayCompass, welcomes special guests , co-founder and his wife of 28 years, and , one of PayCompass’s founding agents. Together, they discuss the evolution of PayCompass over the past five years and share stories of perseverance, growth, and the unwavering commitment to the #AgentFirst philosophy. In this episode, they explore: 🙏 Honoring the legacy of former host John Skelly 🏢 Key milestones in PayCompass's journey from a bedroom office to a 17,000sf office 👨‍💻 The pivotal role of the #AgentFirst approach in transforming...
info_outlineIn this episode, Jon and Justin continue their conversation with Chad Rapper, president of True North Payment Solutions. Chad shares some of the lessons learned from his competitive gymnast background and his experience with multiple merchant service firms. He talks about the pride and satisfaction of managing a team of sales agents and shares his perspective with anyone new to the merchant services industry.