Technology >> CEO Interviews >> August 3, 1998

Stephen Katz – Global Payment Technologies Inc (gptx)

STEPHEN KATZ is Chairman and CEO of Global Payment Technologies, Inc. Mr. Katz was also one of the founders and former Chairman and CEO of Nationwide Cellular Service, Inc. of Valley Stream, Long Island, New York. Mr. Katz graduated from Hofstra University with a degree in Finance and began his business career at Cohn, Hall & Marx in 1967. From there, he went to work for Suzette Fashions, where he later became a Sr. Vice President and Partner. Concurrently, he also became President of three separate companies: Confecciones Generales de CV, Hidaway Creations Inc. and Contrans Trucking, Inc. In 1975, Mr. Katz was named Chairman and President of the Manhattan Leasing Group. Profile
EDWARD SEIDENBERG is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Global Payment Technologies, Inc. ('GPT'). Having joined GPT as Vice President in August, 1996, he added the title of COO in March 1997 and the President's title in March 1998. He has spearheaded many changes in the organization including forming a new management team, under which the Company ended in 1997 fiscal year with a 43% increase in sales and an even larger increase in profits. Mr. Seidenberg has also played a major role in the formation of three joint ventures, providing local sales and service in Europe, Australia and South Africa. In 1990, he joined Nationwide Cellular Service, Inc. as its Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Here he was one of three executives responsible for all day-to-day operations and during his tenure, the company grew from 55,000 customers to in excess of 300,000 and annual revenues nearly quadrupled between 1990 and 1995 to approximately $260 million. Mr. Seidenberg graduated cum laude from the S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo with a BS in Accounting in 1978 and from Emory University with an MBA in Finance and Marketing in 1980. He began his business career at United States Lines, Inc. where he was promoted twice in two years to become Manager, Financial Systems for a $350 million division. In 1983, Mr. Seidenberg joined Hearst Corp. as Director of Finance for Cable Communications Group. In this role, he developed a flare for acquisitions as he played a large role in the acquisition of three cable television systems and he also served on the Finance Committee of Arts & Entertainment Network and Lifetime. In 1986, he joined Strategic Information, Inc. as Vice President, Finance & Administration for this publicly traded information services company. Profile
TWST: Give us a brief summary on Global Payment Tech and then bring us

up to date. What do you see as the challenges and opportunities for this

company over the next two to three years?

Mr.