AgentFirst

COVID, desk jobs, side gigs. A lot can happen in six years, but the pandemic is actually what kickstarted Agent Craig Baslee's career in payments. He knew he didn't want to sit at a desk for the rest of his life, and he finally felt like he was in the right place when he discovered merchant services. Now, he gets to look after his neighbors, and build a legacy that lasts in his family for generati...

When you truly enjoy what you do like Agent Steve Walkenshaw does, retirement isn't even in question. He's been in Sales for decades with no signs of slowing down, because he loves the challenge of it all: the new technology, the new strategies (that don't involve cold-calling), and the new territories. Because retirement isn't a grind, and Steve is still hungry for the grind—tune in for the exper...

"No Soliciting? I thought that said 'No Smoking'!" Julie Eads is three years into her payments career and already has the prospecting skills of a pro. But she didn't just fall into this industry, she swapped her long career in healthcare for one in payments, with determination to find success and freedom. For herself. For her kids. For their future. Tune into episode 5 of The Agentfirst Podcast to...

Agent Tom Rasmussen is part-Agent, part-Cowboy. And he somehow manages both when he's out in the field. With a background in military and farming, he found his way into payments without any sales experience. But sales experience be damned...because cowboys get it done. Eight years in, he's still successful, and his dreams of a quality life for him and his family are bigger than ever. _____________...

It takes a lot of strength to put your ego aside. Agent Rob Cervantez has been humbled, challenged, and pulled in every direction, but he never gave up on his mission to serve people. That mission took many forms, from church marketer to Marine Sargeant, and he eventually found his true calling in Payments. Now he's building a life he's proud of while uplifting others. ----------------------------...

Despite an amazing run in the corporate world, Agent Kristina Meyer knew it wasn't her endgame. The long hours weighed on her, and she didn't want her kids growing up with misery as the standard. The decision to let that go and dive into the unknown was daunting—but she put her trust in God and overcame her fear. The abundance poured in once she committed to being an Agent, and now Kristina works...

Thirty years ago, Mary Hogue's first paycheck as an Agent was $2.30. But after going from job, to job, to job, she wasn't going to give up. No more struggling. No more bologna sandwiches. She put in the work and built an empire—now she's a legend known as "The Credit Card Lady" in her hometown of Abilene, Texas, and she's sharing every bit of the journey with us in our Season 3 Finale.

When Justin Farnsworth joined the industry a few years back, he didn't see his small town as a setback—he used it as leverage.  Every mom & pop shop was an opportunity to get to know his neighbors and make their lives easier. Every relationship built led to more referrals. He bet on local business owners, driven by his relentless passion to serve others. Fast-forward to today: his numbers are off...

Brad Withrow has worn many hats, but he only found the perfect fit when he discovered payment processing—through an ad on Craigslist. He didn't know it, but that ad would change his life. Now, Brad leads a whole team of Agents, and reflects on his past experiences that prepared him to be a leader.

With 24 years of sales under her belt, Agent Connie Lewis still feels like she's only beginning. She's been through it all to keep a roof over her family: waitressing, cleaning, manufacturing—but she truly found her stride once she got into the payments industry. Connie opens up about her approach to cold calling, the freedom of 1099, and how she rides the wave of change in industry tech.

In a way, Richard Brown has been training to be a sales Agent since he was a kid. His job selling newspapers in adolescence set the tone for the rest of his career: service, consistency, and perseverance are the only things that matter. Now an industry veteran, he reflects on all of the changes he's seen in the past three decades and what the future holds for his career.

When he was a full-time employee, Brandon Springer barely made it to his son's birth. Years of long hours and being told what to do pushed him to fight for the freedom he craved—and he finally found that in the payments industry. It didn't happen overnight, but now just a few years later, he never misses his kids' milestones or ballgames.

A career pivot is hard—especially after retiring. So how did Carol Steen become an Agent after years of being a manager at AT&T? Carol took advantage of the resources around her and made networking the cornerstone of her business. Her testimony is proof that sales doesn't always mean door knocking or cold calling.

Agent John Williams is no stranger to hard times. From struggle meals to successful payment vet, his story isn't just inspiring—it's refreshingly honest. He and Justin reminisce on the early days of their careers while sharing the importance of work ethic and why sales Agents shouldn't pose themselves as a commodity.

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 A...

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 kn...

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 comp...

In this heartfelt bonus episode, Justin 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 a...

In this episode of  The AgentFirst Podcast , Justin Volrath sits down with industry veteran and all-around good guy Tim Toombs , 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 ris...

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 men...

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 e...

What do football, selling airplane engines, and closing deals in payments have in common? More than you think—just ask  Andy Roth . In this episode of the AgentFirst Podcast , Justin Volrath 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 ba...

In this continuation of our insightful conversation, Justin Volrath , founder and CEO of PayCompass, is joined once again by his wife and co-founder, Nini Volrath , and PayCompass agent Nick Goeman . 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 episo...

In this heartfelt episode, Justin Volrath , founder and CEO of PayCompass, welcomes special guests Nini Volrath , co-founder and his wife of 28 years, and Nick Goeman , 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 episod...

In this episode, Jon and Justin discuss different strategies for payment processing sales agents to find success and build their business. In this episode, they discuss: The importance of dedicating significant time to cold outreach and lead generation early on Becoming known as the local expert in your community through chamber memberships, Facebook groups, etc. Leveraging personal hobbies and in...