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A salute to Mercury

Vantiv’s presence here shows Durango’s workplace appeal

When Mercury Payments System was launched some 15 years ago by brothers Marc and Jeff Katz, it was probably inevitable that even though it was flourishing one day Mercury would become part of a larger company. The credit card payment business is that kind of a business, one that requires a large scale and capital to match its competitors.

Almost two years ago Mercury was purchased by Vantiv Integrated Payments, which is headquartered in Cincinnati and traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Last week, the Mercury name was fully replaced by Vantiv.

Durango is fortunate that Vantiv’s senior executives have kept such a significant workforce in Durango during the intervening months, and that they have said that they intend to continue Vantiv’s presence here. Multiple forms of electronic communication makes remote offices possible.

Matt Taylor, former Mercury CEO and now group president for Vantiv, has it right when he says that Durango as a workplace has appeal. While many people might want the metropolitan scene of Cincinnati, or Denver where some Mercury-now Vantiv employees have been working, there are those who enjoy the close-by mountain recreation and the bike-to-work informality and friendliness of a small community. On a larger scale, it is the climate, recreation and Western openness that have put Colorado among the top five states in terms of a fast-growing economy.

Taylor, who became Mercury CEO in 2009, has since his start layered an added bonus to Mercury-now Vantiv’s local presence. A Fort Lewis College graduate, Taylor has been clear about his enthusiasm for hiring Fort Lewis graduates.

Vantiv in Durango could be considered the company of today, and tomorrow: a key high-tech role in the financial economy, with an attractive new building along a river trail for walking and bicycling access, and workplace policies that encourage personal growth and community involvement. And, it is was founded and is now lead by individuals with local roots.

We have been impressed with Mercury’s success in the all-important world of retail credit processing and have wished it well. We extend that praise to the company now fully known as Vantiv Integrated Payments.



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