Cardinal culture

Operating in the world of real-time finance puts a great deal of pressure on Michael Keresman and his employees.

Keresman, president and CEO of CardinalCommerce, founded the company after identifying a need for authentication for online transactions. The company develops and markets software authentication that provides security by definitively identifying parties involved in the transaction. The software eliminates fraud and ensures merchants get paid. The company works with the likes of Visa, MasterCard and PayPal.

The success didn’t come overnight, and Keresman focused from the beginning on building a winning team by fostering citizenship within the company. He believes that a successful company and work environment should be built by the people within it instead of by defining a predetermined corporate infrastructure. Each associate takes responsibility for his or her work, as well as for the overall success of the company.

The free-form structure of the company enables the various operating groups, as well as the individuals in those groups, to work in tandem with one another, expanding creativity and ultimately reinforcing corporate citizenship. By unifying the company with the underlying goal of customer satisfaction above all, associates are always positioned to understand the role everyone plays in the day-to-day business operations.

Cardinal functions within a peer performance review framework, in which results are measured by expectations and customer satisfaction requirements. This peer review structure provides healthy motivation and pressure for completing tasks in a timely manner because each associate is aware of his or her responsibilities and the consequences of failure.

Associates are rewarded for their successful efforts through a stock ownership plan, providing them with tangible ownership of the company’s accomplishments and an important sense of possessing the ability to make a difference.

How to reach: CardinalCommerce, (440) 352-8444