Just like you, we run a business, and we know the importance of income. That’s why we’re making it a little easier for you to get paid. Since 1997, we’ve helped thousands of businesses of all types and sizes accept credit cards easily, while keeping it affordable, secure, and reliable.
Today, where most everyone uses automated phone systems and email, we still like the old-school way of keeping things personal - you'll talk to a smart, hardworking, and friendly person every time you call us. We do appreciate modern technology though, and bring you forward-looking payment solutions when they first become available.
From business analytics to the latest fraud control technologies, we handpick tools that help your business perform its best. After all, for us, it’s all about supporting your growth and watching you succeed.
Behind every smooth-running, successful company is a group of hard-working individuals who team up to create an outstanding product and deliver exceptional service. We are that team.
We may be one of many companies in the payments industry, but we are one of the few with nearly two decades of experience in our line of business. Many of our team members have been
working in payments for a long time, giving us the upper hand when it comes to knowledge of payments and understanding of merchants’ business needs. So when you need help, we’ve got
your back and you can always count on a friendly and skilled Certified Payment Professional staff to be there for you to guide you every step of the way.
Beyond the world of payments, we’re a very diverse group of folks- we’re fitness lovers, foodies, sports enthusiasts, actors, vegans, martial artists, bookworms, tech geeks, and adventurers.
We also speak several languages including Armenian, Farsi, Hindi, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
Cliff Teston, CEO & Partner
With 25 years of executive management experience in the payments industry, Cliff is responsible for the development and execution of the company’s strategy and leads the implementation of the company’s long-and-short-term plans.
Before founding Signature, Cliff was Vice President of Sales at a very prominent payment processing company. During his time there, its parent company was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing private companies in the US.
Cliff is a part of the Advisory Committee for “The Green Sheet,” which is the first publisher to focus exclusively on the payment industry's ISO and merchant level salesperson channel. He is also a regular speaker at industry events and is a contributing author to several major publications. Outside the office, Cliff is a skilled, talented, and passionate real estate developer who can turn a seemingly lost cause into an unrecognizable property. Cliff has two golden retrievers, Buddy and Casey, and – although you would never be able to guess by looking at him – is a grandfather, twice.
Kirk Allen, COO, CTO & Partner
Kirk oversees all aspects of operations, compliance, and technology at Signature. He is also in charge of running daily operations including customer service, terminal deployment, and underwriting. Kirk developed Signature’s internal system, proprietary merchant portal that allows merchants to effectively manage their credit card processing anytime, and agent portal where agents and ISO’s are given tools and reporting features such as application tracking, merchants’ sales activity, residual reporting, and service tickets.
Kirk has worked in the payments industry since 1994. Prior to creating Signature, he was Vice President of Information Systems and Chief Information Officer at one of the largest payment processors in the industry.
Kirk is passionate about fitness and teaches a popular spin class in West Hollywood. Kirk is also a comic book enthusiast and has a collection of action figures, some of which you can find in his office. He, too, has a dog – a maltipoo named Anna Mae.
Christine Bednar, CFO & Partner
Christine has been in the payments business for nearly 25 years and oversees all financial forecasting, budgeting, and asset management for Signature.
Christine previously served as Vice President at AdGroup. While at AdGroup, she handled all marketing and advertising when the company created seven new divisions. In addition to the overall strategic marketing direction of these companies, she was responsible for cost control, budget preparation, and profitability. Earlier still, Christine worked for Young & Rubicam as an Account Executive on high profile accounts such as Lincoln/Mercury and Chevron.
Outside of the office, Christine has cultivated her green thumb to a point where she’s able to produce her own wine, which she pairs with a good book on her off time. She is the mother of two teenage boys and has a German shorthaired pointer named Lucy.
Jordan Stewart, VP of Business Development
Originally from Liverpool, England, Jordan Stewart is a well-rounded sales professional who understands the merchant services industry from numerous
perspectives. His industry experience includes everything from operations to door-to-door sales.
Before joining the Signature family, he served as VP
of Sales for a large Merrick Bank ISO where he was responsible for managing an inside sales team and developing agent relationships. Having also formed
his own company, he operated as an independent agent and had the opportunity to walk in the agents shoes, an experience he brings with him to Signature
that will help serve both existing and potential agent offices. His in-depth knowledge, passion, and dedication make him the ideal fit to lead our
ever-growing Sales Department.
A majority of Jordan’s spare time is spent with his wife and 2 children, Riley and Connor. As a huge sports fan, Jordan
proudly coaches Riley’s soccer team. He and his family also enjoy trying new cuisines, traveling all over the world, and playing with their English
Bulldog, Cali.
Anush Amiryants, EVP of Marketing
Skilled is an understatement when it comes to Anush’s marketing and branding expertise. With over 20 years of experience in her back pocket, she’s responsible for the creation and execution of innovative campaigns designed to build and maintain strong brand recognition and awareness for Signature and its products. Under her leadership, the company developed and successfully managed four independent brands.
In the past, Anush led brand development and management for an international media corporation, where she handled the company’s positioning with its Fortune 500 clients. She was also involved in high-profile projects with The White House, The Export-Import Bank of the United States, the US Chamber of Commerce, and the US Congress.
In her spare time, Anush volunteers as a crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line. She is also a talented chef who brings the best dishes to company potlucks. Anush has a love for planes and when she was a child, she could tell what type of plane was flying overhead based on how its engine sounded. Anush has two sons and is the odd one out with a cat named Fitzgerald.
Anthony Urquidez, SVP of Operations
Anthony puts 23 years of payments experience to use in the workplace, where he is responsible for the overall operations of the underwriting, customer support, deployment, risk, and compliance departments. He is also in charge of the development and maintenance of vendor relationships with banks and business partners. To top it off, Anthony provides daily personalized executive management level support to 100 high-revenue merchant accounts.
In his time before Signature, he was an Account Manager at Cardservice International and, prior to that, at Electronic Card Systems, Inc.
Anthony is a fitness enthusiast and wakes up at the crack of dawn to get his workout fix at Barry’s Boot Camp. He keeps it healthy most of the time and brings home-cooked lunches to the office, but Anthony maintains a balanced lifestyle by baking desserts and occasionally indulging in Vietnamese Pho. Anthony has a keen eye for landscaping and is responsible for keeping his own garden lush and green. He also enjoys hanging out and playing in the park with his dog, a shihpoo named Gracie, and often ends up visiting her at lunch to take her on walks. Anthony loves spending time with his family and grabbing dinner with friends.
Jacob Bennett, SVP of Underwriting and Risk
Jacob Bennett is an analytics expert who is passionate about trends and forecasting. Risk mitigator and strategist eliminating competitive, regulatory and technological threats to capital and earnings. Jacob is a a surfer and snowboarder who builds strong teams facilitating impactful processes and procedures.
A strategic and effective leader in risk management, Jacob Bennett brings more than 12 years of bankcard industry experience.
Bennett maintains low loss ratios and drives organizations to reach significant annual growth. With a thorough understanding and mastery of regulatory compliance and the payments processing landscape, Bennett has helped shape overall long-term growth plans, while promoting alignment with business goals.
A recognized payments professional driven by plans to move the industry forward, Bennett is an ETA Certified Payments Professional™ and an active member of the Merchant Acquirer’s Committee (MAC) and the Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) Professional Development Committee as well as a frequent speaker, thought leader, and contributor to industry publications. In 2018, Bennett was recognized as a game-changer in digital payments and inducted into ETA’s Forty Under 40 inaugural class.