At CardConnect, partnership is more than a philosophy. It is how growth happens. Each year, the Circle of Excellence brings that belief to life by recognizing the sales agents and partners who consistently deliver exceptional results, push innovation forward, and help merchants succeed at scale.
The 2025 Circle of Excellence celebration returned to New York City, bringing together CardConnect’s top-performing partners for an immersive, two-day experience focused on recognition, connection, and shared momentum.
What Is the Circle of Excellence?
The Circle of Excellence is CardConnect’s premier annual recognition program, honoring partners who demonstrate outstanding performance across growth, activation, and long-term impact. More than an awards event, it reflects CardConnect’s belief that the strongest results come from strong relationships built on trust, collaboration, and shared success.
Partners invited to the Circle of Excellence represent the highest levels of achievement across the CardConnect ecosystem, spanning Clover® solutions, integrated payments, and year-over-year growth across key segments.
A Celebration Designed Around Partnership
This year’s celebration blended executive access, curated experiences, and formal recognition. The goal was not only to celebrate wins, but also to deepen relationships.
The event opened with executive remarks from CardConnect leadership, setting the tone for two days centered on partnership, progress, and what lies ahead. From there, guests enjoyed exclusive New York City experiences, including behind-the-scenes access to Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular, private tours of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Little Italy food tours, and afternoon tea at the iconic Plaza Hotel.
The celebration concluded with a black-tie awards dinner and ceremony, where partners were recognized for their exceptional contributions and business impact.
“Our partners are the heartbeat of our business. The Circle of Excellence is our way of saying thank you – and celebrating the incredible results they deliver year after year,” said Erik Nicholson, SVP and Head of Partner Solutions.
2025 Circle of Excellence Awards
The awards recognized excellence across multiple dimensions of partner success:
- Partners of the Year
Honoring the greatest overall performance and business impact during the qualification period
- The Clover Excellence Award
Recognizing top achievement with Clover® solutions, including hardware, software, and value-added services
- The CardConnect Integrated Partners Award
Celebrating exceptional growth and activation across CardPointe® integrated payments
- The Breakthrough Award
Recognizing the most improved year-over-year growth in key segments, including Clover and Emerging Partners
- The Rising Star Award
Highlighting standout performance from new partners across the business
Each award reflects the different ways partners create value, whether through rapid growth, deep integration, or expanding merchant adoption with the right mix of technology and service.
Why Recognition Matters at CardConnect
The Circle of Excellence is not only about celebrating past performance. It also reinforces what partnership with CardConnect looks like at its best.
By investing in meaningful recognition, executive engagement, and shared experiences, CardConnect continues to stand apart as a partner that prioritizes long-term success over short-term transactions. This approach helps agents grow their businesses, expand wallet share, and deliver more value to merchants in an increasingly competitive payments landscape.
Looking Ahead, Together
As CardConnect congratulates its 2025 Circle of Excellence winners, the focus remains firmly on what comes next. Continued collaboration, sustained growth, and shared momentum all play a role.
For merchant services sales agents looking for a partner that recognizes performance and supports growth, the Circle of Excellence reflects what it means to partner with CardConnect. Ready to work with a partner invested in your success? Sign up below for a free consultation.