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Meet Our Staff

Finding individuals who are committed to Excellence is not an easy task! Time and time again, we are asked -- ‘Where did you find your staff?’ and every time the answer is simple -- We got lucky AND we seek out integrity based people that are eager to embrace our service culture. Want to join our team?

Your Dedicated, Dynamic and Dependable TMC Team!

Dean Perry
Dean Perry 
Steady Support
When I started TMC 20 years ago, I had no idea where we would end up but I did know that we would be successful. Cheri and I enjoy working together and our strengths complement each other. You will never find me on a stage or speaking in front of a group (willingly) but I do enjoy the building aspect of business and finding ways to make things better. I guess you could say my passion is supporting my crazy bride!
 
Our business has caused me to grow outside of my comfort zone and I am very proud of the team and the company we have crafted over the years. I enjoy the fast paced environment of merchant services and providing a level of service that cannot be matched in the industry. I am committed to making sure that your experience with Total Merchant Concepts is one of Excellence! When I am not working on our business, you can find me hunting, fishing or working on a building project of some kind. Being outdoors, spending down time with my wife and my son energizes me and enables me to work more efficiently in the business. I love to get on the tractor and spend time improving our property (including having a killer garden).

Cheri Perry
Cheri Perry 
Leadership Is an Inside Job
Welcome to our TMC family! When I was growing up, I did not think- I would REALLY like to own and operate a ‘credit card processing company’. I did however, KNOW I wanted to Lead something and be a business owner like my parents. Over the course of the last 20 years I’ve learned that growing a business and a family has required lots of internal work.
 
We are all about personal growth and development here at TMC and we are now encouraging the businesses we serve to take a fresh look at enhancing their businesses with systems. Being involved with a dynamic group of dedicated individuals makes having PASSION for our business very easy! When I am not working on our business, I LOVE to speak and share with people, learn new things I can bring back to my team and more than anything, I love spending time with my Son Tyler and my Husband Dean- I am so blessed. It is my heart’s desire that you find more than just a business partner here at TMC, that you find a company filled with individuals dedicated to assisting you find your PASSION in your own business!
 


Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry 
TMC is Family
My parents started TMC the same year I was born so I pretty much grew up in the business. It is quite something looking back and realizing how much I learned and how much I actually remember from building the business with my parents. I always loved going with my Dad and delivering paper supplies while he installed the credit card machines. I also loved going with my Mom when she spoke to groups or tested cash advance terminals (I always got the dollars!!). Watching my parents work so hard and still find a way to make me feel like the most important aspect of their life was and still is my favorite part of TMC. People ask me if I will return to TMC and the truth is probably not. Both my Mom and my Dad have encouraged me to pursue my passion and currently, that is flying airplanes.
 
I recently received my commercial airline pilot’s license and I am working toward a career in that industry. I do know that if I ever wanted to run my own business, I would call my parents for a merchant account AND lots of advice! Total Merchant Concepts is part of our family and I am so thankful to be part of it!
Kerry McKendall
Kerry McKendall 
Life is a Garden, get out and smell the roses!
Relationships are crucial in the world of business just as they are in our personal lives. Having spent over 50 years in the business world and realizing the importance in this area, developing those trusted relationships with our Referral Partners and Merchants is my passion here at TMC. I believe one of the most important things we can do is to provide honest, helpful, and timely information to those we serve and maintain those valuable relationships.
 
On the personal side of life, I was married to my best friend and the love of my life for 49 years before he was called home. I am so very grateful for the time we had together, and for our family – Five awesome and successful kids, their spouses, twelve grandchildren, and one great-grandchild (with 2 more on the way). I have truly been blessed over the years.
In my off time, you might find me taking photographs of our beautiful Pacific Northwest, reading a good book, writing, doing medical or other research, or just going for a walk with my little Maltese Buddy. Life is a Garden, get out and smell the roses!

Bella Struckmeier
Bella Struckmeier 
Be Our Guest (from Beauty & the Beast)
Hello! My given name is Denise but I go by Bella since we have another Denise here at TMC. I have been married since 1997 and have a wonderful son (yes, he may be the best son in the world) who is entering his teen years. I love helping others and giving back when I can. I have volunteered as President and Treasurer for a local little league and now chair a position in the district staff, giving back to the kids and their love for baseball! Yes, that is right; I am a huge baseball fan. If you catch me on a Tuesday I will be proudly wearing orange to support the San Francisco Giants. My family comes before anything.
 
I graduated from Western Culinary Institute in 1997 with honors. I love food and worked in the culinary industry for over a decade. It is a true pleasure to use that expertise when working with restaurants or like businesses here at TMC. I have a strong passion for serving food AND people!. If I hear you say, “thank you for making my business easier,” I know I have done my job. I also have a passion for business management and that is why I find myself serving businesses here at TMC. You will find me here sharpening my skills and looking for more and more ways to be of service!

Renee Myers
Renee Myers 
Let’s GROW Together

Hi! I’m Renee (AKA Denise) and I’m excited to be part of the TMC team. As a certified LEAP coach/facilitator, and a certified ICF coach who has helped professionals of all levels develop profound leadership qualities, it is refreshing to be part of a team that is tasked with helping our referral partners GROW their business portfolios. With more than 27 years of executive leadership, management development, and strategic team building experience with a fortune top 500 company (Walgreens), I am excited to share that knowledge and work with my team as we help the companies we serve. 

 
Inspiring, engaging & re-energizing teams is my passion. When I am not shaking it up in the business world, I enjoy spending time with my husband Gregg and my wonderful children Morgan & Matt. I swing an occasional golf club and love music and traveling! I am looking forward to learning and growing with you!

Austin Cullen
Austin Cullen  
Life is an Adventure!
Hello. my name is Austin Cullen! My wife and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary in August 2019. After living in Seattle for nearly 8 years, we packed our bags and moved to Vancouver.
During my job search, I stumbled upon TMC in an article listing the top companies in the state of Washington. I immediately resonated with the mission statement and am so grateful I now get to be part of a team that values integrity so highly.
I love learning new things, meeting new people, and making great memories--life is an adventure.
I’m an old soul. I have a collection of Vinyl Records and love black and white films. I’m also a huge sports fan! During the football season, you can catch me rocking a purple jersey and cheering on the Minnesota Vikings for better or worse (but mostly worse).
Whether it’s a word of encouragement, an act of service, or a funny joke, I’ll find a way to brighten your day—because sometimes it’s the little things in life that help make the hard parts a little bit easier.
My wife and I are enjoying our new life in Southwest Washington and looking forward to purchasing a home and starting a family sometime in the near future.

Elissa Riman
Elissa Riman 
Life’s a song
My name is Elissa and I have worked in a variety of fields. I was a manager for over 8 years at McDonald's, flower arranger, barista, gardener for my grandfather on his farm, preschool teacher and many other fields. You could say that I have enjoyed many types of work but my PASSION is definitely Music. I started singing before I could even talk and over time I’ve found that there is a song for every situation. My passion for music comes from my mom who worked as a music teacher my whole life. Currently, I am working to get my Director Certification for Sweet Adelines; an acapella organization singing barbershop in 4 part harmony. I’ve been singing with Sweet Adelines since I was 14 years old and I am currently singing in 2 choruses and a quartet. I’m also a choreographer for one of my choruses and I dance in the front row for the other. In addition to my love of music, I have several activities that I love to do; camping, crafting, dancing, decorating, and more.
I love TMC because of the integrity that we have as a company. My official title is Legendary Service Specialist. I am thankful for the opportunity to work for such an amazing company and I look forward to bringing a smile to your face!


Kari Frabel
Kari Frabel 
Passionately Pursuing Service
Hi, My name is Kari!! Spending time with my amazing family and being outdoors really fuels me. I enjoy watching my children explore their interests, spending time with my husband Jeff and finding ways to use my creative gifts. You can often find me taking a hike, going camping on the weekends or working on our home.
 
I am passionate about people and about completing tasks and projects in an excellent manner and that is one of the main reasons I love working here at TMC. Every time I talk to someone and learn about their business and their life, it gives me the opportunity to learn something new and expand my ability to serve. It also warms my heart to receive the generous feedback our merchants and vendors share on a routine basis.
 
I am a firm believer in doing what you love because life is too short and I LOVE working at TMC.

Gerico Rodriguez
Gerico Rodriguez 
Success, to me, does not come from your assets or financial wealth
Success to me is an internal feeling of happiness and constant growth. I have lived most of my life making a conscious decision to learn and grow from any given situation. Now that I am a father of two amazing little girls and a husband to a wonderful wife, I have solely dedicated my entire self to becoming the best me I can be. I also truly believe in creating a legacy to be an example to others.
 
What I love about TMC is simple; the core values are non-negotiable and they are aligned with integrity. To me, this is the greatest thing about working here because it just pours into every facet of my life, whether I am working with a business owner or my family. I can just feel the magic. I absolutely love helping people feel happy about life, and I am so grateful to be working in an environment where that is our number one priority. I also have a passion for music production, cooking, and fitness. I really just like doing stuff. The more productivity and love I can pour into things that better my life or the lives of others, the better!

Phone: 888-249-9919
Hannah Lunt
Hannah Lunt 
LOVING life!
I am the proud owner of five dogs and one chinchilla, as well as an ever-growing collection of houseplants.
I’ve been a singer since the age of six when I sang in front of five thousand people for a Sweet Adeline’s International competition in Hawaii. I’ve been hooked on singing and performing ever since.
I was Homeschooled for most of my schooling career and graduated my freshman year of high school. After I graduated, I went to trade schools for Automotive technology and Cosmetology simultaneously. I graduated as an ASE certified entry-level technician and left with 1000 hours completed towards my Washington State Cosmetology license.
I now spend the majority of my days working on various art projects, going on road trips and adventures with my family, curating a never-ending pile of books, working with my lovely team at TMC, and LOVING life!

Rosy Vazquez
Rosy Vazquez 
TMC changed my life!

I was 24 years in fast food service before coming here, working crazy hours and not having enough family time.

Now my life is so much better. I have a set schedule, and I can enjoy time with my family.

TMC gave me that! I am so blessed to have this opportunity and be part of this team. Let me correct myself; be part of this family. They support each other and help you grow day by day.

Dean and Cheri, the owners, have such a great company, and it’s all about integrity and just doing it right for their team and their merchants.


Phone: 888-249-9919
Samantha McKendall
Samantha McKendall 
Passion Lies in Helping Others!
My name is Samantha I have worked in the Sales and Service industry for the majority of my life. It’s not surprising since my Father, my brothers and my sister all work in sales and service as well- you could say it’s in my blood! I have found that my passion lies in helping others which in turn has enriched my life in countless ways. As a mother of 3 beautiful girls, it is my desire to leave an intentional Legacy of Happiness, Self-Growth and an attitude of Never Give Up!! Working with business owners gives me the opportunity to do just that. I look forward to learning about your business and helping you achieve your goals!
Hope Sandusky
Hope Sandusky 
Serving and Leading Others, Because it is a True Calling
Hope; Often mistaken for Marvel Super Heroine “Jean Grey”, has 3 college degrees…. that she does not use. She discovered that helping business owners and their employees cope with daily business struggles was what she wanted to do for at least 40 hours a week.
 
She spends her time away from work rescuing animals and giving them a dream home, on her small hobby farm her husband bought her. Hope loves to live life and share her personal and work experiences with others in the “hopes” it will enhance their journey. Hope recently became a certified DISC behavioral specialist and looks forward to spending more time speaking publicly.

Elicia Taylor
Elicia Taylor 
I am passionate!
Hi, my name is Elicia, and I am the youngest person here at TMC. I am an intern here but am working my way up! I love the atmosphere of TMC. Everyone is so nice and truly cares about each other and our merchants.
 
It was so nerve-racking for me starting here when I was 17. TMC is my first job and I have grown a lot since I started working here. I have been able to come out of my shell, have more confidence, and learn new things every day.
A little to know about me is I love the outdoors. Anytime it is sunny here in Washington, I am outside enjoying the nice weather. I love going on walks with my family and our three dogs. We have our mama dog Millie who is a Goldendoodle, our daddy dog Leo who is a Labradoodle, and their baby Snickers. She is Millie and Leo’s puppy, so she is a Doubledoodle! I love animals and have grown up surrounded by fuzzy friends. Dogs are like TMC, they live for serving others, are a lot of fun, and are very loyal.
 
My sister was diagnosed with hearing loss when she was four years old. Because of her condition, she attended an Elementary school that was able to supply her with the necessary things she needed. I was going to a different elementary school at the time but switched so I could go to school with her. During that switch, I was so alone and had no friends. In my class, there were 3 deaf/hard of hearing students and their interpreters. The interpreter took me under her wing and made me feel more welcome and not alone. During those years I watched her interpret what the teacher was saying and picked up enough to start signing too. Later I took sign language classes in high school and am now fluent in sign language! I am passionate about signing and the deaf and hard of hearing community and look for opportunities to give purpose to that passion by helping others.

Jaime Novia
Jaime Novia 
Stay tuned for an amazing profile that will make you smile!
James Wright
James Wright 
Movement!
Hi, my name is James, and I’m considered a unicorn since I’m a Portland-area native. I worked in marketing and media for the last 18 years, getting my start in radio broadcasting as an intern, and worked my way up to being a host on Portland’s largest radio stations. My passions are music and public speaking. I spend my off time in my studio producing music for friends and podcasts for myself. I’m a Toastmaster, a former DJ, and an avid record collector. Classic Soul, Funk, and Hip Hop fill my collection and have been the soundtrack of my life. I was raised in Northeast Portland, but I have called Vancouver my home for the last nine years.
 
I’m excited to be part of the TMC staff and able to have the opportunity to showcase my skills in video production, event planning, and graphics. Integrity is what impressed me about TMC. Calling TMC a team undersells what we have here; the term you’re looking for is “movement.” Go TMC!
 

Peter Davy
Peter Davy 
Keeping Things FUN!
The TMC family has a strong foundation of business traditions and support. I feel being able to serve clients, in a positive and uplifting way, is key to excellent customer service. Everyone wants to be seen, heard and understood; especially when they are a customer in need. TMC rises to meet their needs!
 
Personally, I like to keep life fun and do so by being creative and experiencing nature. I’m currently passionate about illustration with painting and mixed media and I’ve rekindled my love of ceramics. I have a fondness for disc golf, which gets you hiking and playing a game of skill out in nature. Sometimes I will immerse myself into other games too. Whether they are boardgames or video games, I enjoy removing stress by diving into gameplay. As a gamer, I enjoy achievements and love even the smallest accomplishments.
 
My life partner Jenifer and I have enjoyed 7 years of loving, growing and learning from each other. We have a rescue Conure parrot named Pally, and a rescue Tibetan Poodle dog named Moksha.

Steve Lawson
Steve Lawson 
It is an honor to serve the entrepreneur!
I married my beautiful bride, Erin, 15 years ago. We enjoy the time we spend together on road trips, witnessing the successes and accomplishments of our three strong and vibrant children, and conquering life’s challenges together. Carter (10) is a natural leader who has a passion for doing the right thing. He enjoys fishing, playing golf, basketball, and a variety of other sports. Lydia (7) is very brave and enjoys being silly. She brings me to tears watching her dance and is very dedicated to learning every gymnastic movement possible. Brandon (1½) loves to laugh! He enjoys playing catch, running, wrestling, and anything his older brother is doing.
 
As a business owner for nearly ten years, I know the dedication and drive required to make a business successful. I believe that it is the entrepreneur that drives our economy and makes America the best place to succeed in life. Now, as a Trusted Business Consultant for TMC, it is an honor to serve the entrepreneur…those strong souls willing to build their dreams, strengthen the economy, and create freedoms for themselves and the clients they provide their goods and services to. I am passionate about finding integrity-based solutions that provide an entrepreneur with the ability to live out his/her purpose for being in business, and that is why I was attracted to TMC. Everyone is committed to the highest level of integrity. Integrity is the ideal foundation for any relationship and is vital for business relationships. I feel blessed to be surrounded by people who seek to do the right thing in every situation, and I look forward to helping our clients find the solutions that help them live out their passion!

Denise Walter
Denise Walter 
Lead With Relationships
I love to read and learn!!! Anything that provides personal and professional growth enriches me. I am a learner for life!! My husband and I have been married for over 30 years and we have two wonderful sons!! We are a tight family who loves to travel. I’ve recently dealt with the C word and been blessed by the addition of my Granddaughter Willow; my life has been transformed. Relationships have always been important to me but they are even more so today; life truly is SHORT.
 
I have been fortunate to have worked for some of the best companies both locally and internationally. Nothing compares to working for Total Merchant Concepts!! I am HUGE on integrity and I am thankful that the Perry’s and my fellow teammates have that same mindset!! My background is finance and accounting but I have also managed retail organizations and was a co-owner of a local fabrication shop. My goal is to provide our merchants with a phenomenal customer service experience that helps them grow their business and realize their dreams.
 

Sarah Carlson
Sarah Carlson 
Customer Service Is An Entire Company!
Hello, I’m Sarah and I am so excited to be a part of TMC! I am looking forward to using my years in customer service to benefit our merchants and my co-workers. A quote that I love about customer service has really been embraced here at TMC is: “Customer service should not be a department. It should be the entire company.”―Tony Hsieh
 
When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our 2 young sons. We enjoy camping, bike riding, and spending time with our 2 high energy dogs.

Joe Taylor
Joe Taylor 
Integrity Matters
Your true reputation is what people say about you when you leave the room. To most people, the evidence of success is seen as the type of car you drive, the house you live in, the size of your bank account, etc. To me a successful person has created a foundation of integrity built upon the bricks of honesty, hard work, patience, never-ending self-improvement, hope, courage, vulnerability, humility, compassion, self-reliance, love, personal responsibility, transparency, and faith. For over 20 years, TMC has been standing on a foundation that was built on these same bricks which I believe is why I have been partnered with TMC for over 10 years.
 
The fancy car, big house, boat, jewelry, and money can all be swept away in an instant, but a person’s reputation, character, and integrity cannot be taken away. It is this belief that fuels my drive to be a better man today than I was yesterday. I learned long ago to always be looking for ways to improve myself. I read books, listen to audio presentations, and attend seminars to help me go to the next level. I try to associate myself with people who are a few rungs higher than me on the ladder of success so that I am encouraged that I can get there and hopefully they will give me a helping hand on the way up.
 
In turn, I have dedicated myself to do the same for others. I enjoy helping people grow by adding value and encouragement to their lives. Working with an integrity based company allows me to build a strong foundation with our merchants creating long lasting relationships.

Kyer Huffstutter
Kyer Huffstutter 
I strive to be the best
Hello, my name is Kyer. Over the years I have worked in many different fields including being a children’s gymnastics teacher, working in a recording studio, running live music events, managing the Guest Service team at Target, driving a forklift, and selling and repairing bikes. Through all of these experiences, I learned that helping people is what I love the most! Here at TMC helping people and providing the best possible service is what we do!
I recently moved to Portland with my wonderful girlfriend Sarah and we live with our awesome rescue cat Harry, he’s 9 years old but still full of energy and cuteness. In my free time, I like going on hikes and enjoy riding my bike. I love getting out with my camera and taking pictures of anything around me, the best part is seeing the pictures come to life in the darkroom! No matter what I do I strive to be the best and TMC gives me the tools to do exactly that!
Shannon Fry
Shannon Fry 
Whatever You Need!
Hello, and thank you for stopping by to learn a little more about Shannon Fry, TMC’s Administrative Superstar! With a title like that, you’re probably asking yourself, “What exactly does an ‘Administrative Superstar’ do all day?” right? The answer is: pretty much everything!!
 
Ultimately, we like to think of our Superstar as our team’s “Right Hand”. This is probably a good thing, as Shannon has a hand in so many areas of the company; customer service, equipment/inventory management, team & referral partner support, billing, management & operations support and really, most anything that comes along that needs attention. With her high analytical aptitude, she is often utilized as a second pair of eyes (this has nothing to do with the fact that she wears glasses!). She has a talent for finding typographical errors, sorting through to help decipher funding challenges on merchant statements, and really, she helps to make confusing things make sense!
  
Shannon has been managing small businesses throughout most of her life ~ at 12 years old, she spent her newspaper-route money to buy ponies to train and then sell to local loving families (truth be told, the paper route was pretty much in place to fund her pony habit). As time passed, she found that there was something special about small/family owned businesses ~ there is a sense of family and community that seems to get lost in the corporate world. With this in mind, Shannon strives to help small businesses grow and thrive! She’s worked with family run franchises as well as independently owned businesses and has found that so many business have untapped potential ~ her goal is to help as many small companies as she can, to excel beyond their wildest expectations!
   
On a more personal side, Shannon and her husband Tim were married back in 1996, and have two amazing children. She finds the ocean rejuvenating, enjoys camping, traveling, reading (a lot! ~ Seriously! Share the title of your favorite book with her - she would love to read it!), and has a passion for writing. She attends several workshops each year to continue feeding her arsenal of tools to help anyone she comes into contact with ~ whether it is lending an ear to listen to concerns, offering advice or helping to construct someone’s future to see their dreams come true.
She looks forward to a bright future of both personal & professional growth and finding ways to share her knowledge and experience with everyone!