NMA Brings Multiple Jobs to Burbank -Finalist in VEDC Business Award

Sept. 15, 2011 - PRLog -- Burbank, California - (September 13, 2011)  National Merchants Association, a  financial services company, filled four more jobs in Burbank this month.  Since it’s April 2010 grand opening, the company has created over 15 local jobs and says another 10 are in the near future with at least 100 more planned as the company relocates its headquarters from Anchorage, Alaska.

National Merchants Association (NMA) is a nationwide Association dedicated to eliminating the unnecessary fees involved with credit card processing.  The company recently relocated its headquarters to Burbank to help small businesses survive in the rough California economy.  

Heather Petersen, founder of NMA, created the Association as an advocacy group for small business owners in 2004.  Today, the Association facilitates transactions for thousands of merchants nationwide and educates business owners on merchant services rules and regulations while reducing fees.  

The company secured an SBA loan funded from The Valley Economic Development Center (VEDC) for the purpose of job creation.  As a result, VEDC has named NMA a finalist for the VEDC Microloan Business Award to be awarded September 24 at the VEDC “A Celebration of Small Business” Gala Dinner.  Finalists were chosen for their record of business achievement, leadership and continuous commitment to their community.

“You take care of your customers, and your customers take care of you”, Petersen says is the foundation of NMA’s values.  She says the same goes for employees and feels that NMA “definitely takes care of its employees!”

Although a small business, NMA provides benefits and job security generally only found through larger corporations.  Health insurance benefits, tuition reimbursement, 401(k) plans, and more benefits are provided for NMA employees.  

“We’re not looking for temps or short-timers, we’re building our foundation one solid employee at a time.” Petersen says.  

The newly filled “Membership Consultant” positions attracted over 500 professional resumes of which only four were chosen to add to the NMA team.  

Richard Pallay Jr. joins NMA with over 25 years financial services experience and the distinguished G.E. Certification as a Six Sigma Black Belt in Quality Initiatives.  Richard is well known throughout the Burbank community from his most recent position as a Business Banker at Wells Fargo Bank.  Pallay has served on a variety of community boards and organizations including Day One Inc., Communities Organizing Resources Advanced Learning (C.O.R.A.L.) and Leadership Pasadena.  

Ivonne Almeida joins NMA with over 20 years customer service experience and retail advertising, most recently from Prudential Securities.  Her attention to detail, integrity, and customer-centric attitude will be an asset for the company.  

Albert Ghawi joins NMA with several years experience as an entrepreneur and business owner.  He brings confidence, dignity, and a welcoming approach to the team.  
Dianne Pallay joins NMA with over 20 years business management experience.  Pallay excels in customer service and is dedicated to helping merchants.

These new Membership Consultants are tasked with personally visiting each and every Burbank business owner over the next few months to share the benefits of The National Merchants Association.  Petersen says The Association hopes to enroll over 3,500 Burbank merchants as members before year-end 2013.

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As a member of The National Merchants Association, you not only save on your merchant services program, but you gain a partner in business development. We’ve used our expertise in business to bring to you a large variety of benefits to control costs