The DRF PaymentsEd Forum, a non-profit organization focusing on delivering educational and networking opportunities to card-not-present (CNP) payment professionals, welcomes Laura Lively as their new Executive Director.

"The DRF PaymentsEd Merchant Board has unanimously selected Laura Lively to be our next Executive Director," says Brian Kehn, board chairman and Director of Billing for HomeServe USA. "Laura's background uniquely positions her to assume the Executive Director role. She has been a member of the DRF PaymentsEd Merchant Board since 2013, most recently assuming the role of Education Chair."

Lively has more than 25 years of experience in the industry: first as a Fraud expert in card issuance, then as a Payments/Fraud/Risk expert as a merchant. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management, and a Master of Science degree in Economic Crime Management. She has many years of leadership experience, not only in her time in the corporate world, but also through her association with Toastmasters International.

Lively said "I am honored be taking on this mantle within the DRF PaymentsEd Group. We have exciting plans to solidify our role in the industry as the best place for payment professionals to turn to for education and networking. I look forward to the group's continuing success as we take our educational offering to the next level."

Barbara Hvasta, DRF PaymentsEd board secretary and Senior Director of Strategy and Payments at Telogis, Inc., said "Laura's commitment to continuing education for CNP professionals is clear when you look at our agenda and speakers for August 2016 DRF PaymentsEd Forum. Registered merchant attendees are up over 10% from 2015 and this can be greatly attributed to Laura's work and leadership as the Education Chair. We look forward to expanding the CNP education channels with Laura as the Executive Director."

The group's main event is the DRF PaymentsEd 2016 Forum in Charlotte from August 8-10, 2016. It's the industry's only event focused solely on educational and networking opportunities for payments professionals in a non-sales environment. The event gives attendees access to industry leaders and educational content that helps them to grow in their careers and become more successful and effective in their job. Register to reserve your spot.

To learn more about the DRF PaymentsEd Forum visit: www.paymentsed.org. Also, send a request to join our LinkedIn Group: DRF/Payments Education Forum.

About the DRF PaymentsEd Forum

For more than two decades, the DRF PaymentsEd Forum has been the leading source for card-not-present education (CNP). The DRF PaymentsEd Forum is strictly for educational and networking, providing premium sessions that give merchants relevant insight into current CNP trends, regulations and processes, as well as strategies to reduce risk and fraud without compromising revenue and customer loyalty.