Blogs

Wishing Wendy Well!

By Ann-Marie Bartels posted 01-02-2020 13:43

Recommend

It is with mixed emotions that I share with all of you that @Wendy Wishon, AAP, NCP, will be retiring from her role as Senior Vice President of EPCOR, after nearly 24 years with the association, in February of 2020. Over the years, Wendy has contributed significantly to the growth and expansion of our programs, services and the association. Her knowledge and expertise, particularly related to bank operations, rules and regulations, will be greatly missed.

I am sure many of you, as I do, have special memories of Wendy. Did she assist you solving a complex Rules compliance problem, give you some ACH operations advice or help you pass the AAP exam? If you want to share a memory or send Wendy well wishes, I invite you to leave a comment on this blog.

Prior to joining our team, Wendy gained valuable experience working at several banks and thrifts in the Kansas City area, and later for a core system provider doing bank conversion. She joined Mid-America Payments Exchange (MPX) in 1996 as Member Services Manager, Software Specialist to support a partnership with Goldleaf Technologies and assist members in implementing ACH origination software. While working on this project, Wendy began making recommendations regarding our education offerings and publications, which ultimately lead to her becoming the Director, Education & Training in 1998 and Vice President, Education Services in 2001. In these roles, she developed and established many of our offerings that are still in place today. Over the years, Wendy’s contributions and responsibilities increased and she was named Senior Vice President in 2009. Wendy has conducted more seminars, workshops and webinars for our members than I suspect either of us can remember and has answered thousands of members calls over the years.

While I have many fond memories of the years spent working closely with Wendy, the one thing that always impressed me was that she was one of only two people I’ve ever known that could not only recite ACH Rules references, but knew the Article, Section and page number of the Rule she was referencing.

To my dear friend and co-worker, Wendy Wishon, I say congratulations on your retirement. I wish you all the best in your new endeavors and hope you enjoy many years of retirement!

15 comments

229 views

Permalink

https://community.epcor.org/blogs/ann-marie-bartels/2020/01/02/wishing-wendy-well

Comments

Wendy Wishon

02-03-2020 10:48

Thanks to all who shared a memory, it's been a great ride and my pleasure to work with all of you over the years. I wish you all well and will miss everyone so much. I am looking forward to a new chapter in my life, but appreciate the experiences I've had with EPCOR. To new adventures!!!

Cynthia Menkedick

01-31-2020 15:14

Wendy,
I'm not sure when or where was the 1st time I met you but you are such a great person. Always there to assist and help us thru the many crazy situations that come up in the Banking World. I always knew that if I stumped you on my initial call you would get right back with me about your best recommendation for the situation that had presented itself to us. Enjoy your retirement and don't spoil those Grandbabies too much!
Congratulations and Best Wishes, Cindy Menkedick

Betsy Smyth

01-22-2020 12:21

I'm not sure when or where I first had the pleasure to work with Wendy however to me she was MPX and is still EPCOR! The knowledge, help, assistance, and more importantly friendship she has given me over the years is priceless. Thank you Wendy for everything you have done for me and for always lending a helpful ear. I wish you only happy days and smooth riding in your new adventures. I'm certain that our paths will cross again and I will be very excited when it does! You will be missed!!!

Marcy Cauthon

01-17-2020 16:48

I have known Wendy for many years. We first met when we both worked for Merchants Bank. I started at Merchants Bank in 1985 (the year I graduated) as a proof operator. I worked my way up to the head office downtown and worked under the head of Operations with Wendy. Those were great times until the bank was bought by Boatmen's Bank. Wendy and I stayed on at Boatmen's (not for long) but moved in different directions until we wound up at a software company (Cardinal) that did bank software conversions. So we worked converting bank core software for a while then once again, went in different directions. Wendy went to MPX and I stayed doing bank conversions at several financial institutions. It would be years later that I wound up at EPCOR, again working with Wendy. So as you can see, we have been through a lot together and I have learned so much from Wendy over the years. She was definitely a mentor to me along my Payments journey. I want to thank you and wish you the very best in your retirement.

Kristel Goins

01-10-2020 16:24

I first met Wendy as a student at Nacha's Payments Institute when I attended as the 2008 Payments Central scholarship winner. No offense to the other instructors there that year but it was obvious, even to a complete payments newbie (me), that Wendy was in a league of her own. Her payments knowledge is truly phenomenal. She is like a walking payments encyclopedia. Her brain and her smile will be dearly missed by many.

Best of luck on whatever your next chapter brings you, Wendy! You've earned it :)

Laura Kilgore

01-08-2020 16:11

Congrats to you Wendy. May your retirement be happy & long. You deserve it. I have attended many seminars you have held and enjoyed them all. You definitely know your business. Many Blessings to You!!

Barbara Murray

01-07-2020 13:07

Happy retirement! I know you will want to drive into work on your first day just out of habit!! Enjoy all those trips on your motorcycle and think about us sometime. It has been great working with you!

Madison Howard

01-07-2020 10:32

Congratulations, Wendy! I'm sure your heart is bursting with excitement for all of the adventures (and grandkid time) to come! You will be deeply missed at EPCOR. I've definitely seen the impact you have made on the organization, and the industry overall, in my comparably short time with the association. I can only hope I'll leave a fraction of the impact you've made when my time comes to a close. Sending you all of the love and well wishes in your new chapter!

Rita Hoyt

01-07-2020 09:58

Congratulations on your retirement! May your next adventure take you to new heights! Enjoy your new chapter. Thank you for all the training you have provided over the years I have been involved with EPCOR! Keep smiling!

Chris Himes

01-07-2020 09:17

Wendy - my heart is full. . . with excitement and joy for you as you embark on this new journey, with thankfulness for the knowledge you've shared not only with members but with me specifically over the years, for being a mentor and such a positive role-model, and with sadness, selfishly, for those of us in the payments world who will no longer have Wendy at EPCOR! May this journey be as rewarding as your last (or even more so) as you enjoy the fruits of your labors with much love and laughter as you surround yourself with family - especially grandkids- and friends, making memories, having adventures and living the dream. Best wishes to you Wendy in your future - I will miss you!

Jennifer Kirk

01-07-2020 08:57

Congrats on your retirement! But more importantly...thank you!!! Thank you for all you have done for EPCOR, the industry and ME! Your knowledge has made such an influence on me, and for that I am so grateful! Good luck with your next adventure...I hope it is one that is exactly what you want!

Christine Harris

01-06-2020 10:09

I just want to thank you, Wendy, for all the times you've sat down with me and talked through challenging member situations, sharing your expertise and wisdom. I always come away from the discussion with a clearer understanding of the Rules and all the little nuances that make our jobs so interesting. I will miss your smiling face and willingness to always be a mentor and guide. I wish you all the best in the years ahead as you enjoy the fruits of your labors. Don't forget to stay in touch and let us know how you're doing. Enjoy!

Brandie Thacker

01-06-2020 08:45

Yay!! You've made it! :) Congratulations!! I know that you are so very much looking forward to spending time with those lovely grandkids. I wish you all the very best in this next chapter of your life. Enjoy every moment, you've earned it!

Shelly Sipple

01-03-2020 16:47

Congratulations Wendy on your upcoming retirement! It has been a pleasure working with you and learning from you over the past 14 years. Your payments expertise and overall banking knowledge have proven to be invaluable to me. You are a natural at presenting – able to make a complex topic easy-to-understand and never boring. Your work has truly made a lasting impact, and you will be sorely missed. May all the years ahead bring you great joy and relaxation (like you'll get that with grandchildren to spend time with – LOL)!

Brenda Dobson

01-02-2020 15:21

Wendy was a very big help to me with a payroll issue we were having. She talked me through how to help the company and made it easy for me to understand. Wendy has always been kind when talking to her at conferences. Thank you Wendy for all of the times you have been a help to me and you will be missed!!!!