Clayton Shivers on Transitioning from the Military to Merchant Services
This episode of the Paycast Network is sponsored by Sigma, a direct processor focused on delivering faster payments and higher profits. The host sits down with Clayton Shivers, a US Army Veteran currently based in the Columbia, South Carolina area. Before diving into the details of his career, Clayton shares a humorous opening story about his early experiences meeting his professional mentor, Steven Morris.
Military Background and Discipline
- Clayton entered West Point immediately following his high school graduation in 2016.
- He spent a total of five years at West Point, completing one initial year at the preparatory school followed by the traditional four-year academy track.
- Upon graduation, he commissioned as an infantry officer and completed his Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) at Fort Benning, Georgia.
- Clayton then served as an Army platoon leader at Fort Bliss for 15 months, followed by a 6-month stint as an assistant S3.
- His military service also included a 4-month rotational deployment to South Korea.
- He finished his active-duty career at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where he served as the executive officer for Bravo Company.
Discovering Merchant Services
- Confronted with an upcoming medical retirement, Clayton utilized his 18-month transition window to map out his civilian career.
- Wanting to generate an extra $5,000 a month to supplement his upcoming VA disability compensation, he began researching passive income ideas online.
- This research led him to the merchant services industry, prompting him to partner with a small Independent Sales Organization (ISO) that provided his initial training.
- While still serving on active duty, Clayton managed to write roughly 15 deals during his first six months by prospecting exclusively on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Clayton attributes much of his sales grit directly to his infantry officer background, noting that the military fundamentally teaches individuals how to endure tough days and maintain forward momentum.
The Modern Paradigm of Payment Sales
- Clayton highlights that in the 1990s and early 2000s, payment agents frequently needed a massive portfolio of around 500 accounts to earn a stable living due to low-margin pricing structures like 10-and-10 or 5-and-5.
- In the modern landscape, an agent leveraging integrated software solutions can establish a robust recurring revenue stream of $10,000 to $15,000 a month with only 50 to 60 high-quality merchant accounts.
- He stresses that contemporary sales professionals must focus heavily on mastering vertical-specific software ecosystems rather than simply deploying standalone credit card hardware terminals.
- His company name, ClayPay, represents this exact operating model: delivering custom-tailored payment solutions that can be flexibly molded and adapted to the precise operational needs of a merchant, much like clay.
Inside the Midwest Acquirers Association (MWAA) 2026 Conference
The second half of the broadcast turns its focus to the upcoming Midwest Acquirers Association annual conference. The host welcomes Rod Katzfey, the President of the MWAA, alongside long-time advisory board member Steven Morris to break down what attendees can expect.
Conference Logistics and Overview
- The MWAA 2026 conference is scheduled to take place on July 22nd and July 23rd in Chicago.
- The official venue for this year’s gathering is the downtown Chicago Marriott Magnificent Mile.
- Registration is actively open, and organizers urge attendees to secure both their event passes and hotel rooms through the official event portal before room blocks close.
- As an official media partner, the Paycast Network features a specialized promo code,
PAYCAST2026, which provides complimentary registration for attendees.
The Famous MLS Forum Goes Live
- The educational component kicks off on July 22nd at 11:00 AM Eastern with the highly anticipated MLS Forum.
- The forum functions as a dedicated mentorship platform explicitly designed to provide industry newcomers with essential foundational guidance.
- The expert panel for 2026 features Steven Morris, Carlos Nieto, and Tony Drescher.
- In a first for the event, the Paycast Network will broadcast the entire MLS Forum live on its YouTube channel, styling the stream after a professional sports broadcast complete with pre-game, halftime, and post-game commentary.
- Virtual participants watching the live stream will have the ability to submit questions directly within the chat window to be answered live by the panel.
24 Years of Industry Evolution
- The year 2026 marks the 24th annual event for the MWAA, which originally commenced in 2002 at the Allegro Hotel.
- The conference has grown tremendously from its early days—which sometimes saw tiny crowds gathered in closet-sized rooms—to welcoming nearly 1,400 registrants last year.
- With 2026 tracking numbers surging well ahead of previous metrics, the conference is rapidly outgrowing its current Marriott venue.
- The 2026 exhibition space features 131 distinct open-booth exhibitors alongside expanded specialized networking tracks for groups like PayTech Women and various emerging FinTech organizations.
- The schedule also includes the exclusive, invitation-only Executive Forum, a curated mastermind session centered entirely around operational, financial, and business management strategies for ISO owners.
- Attendees are highly encouraged to visit the Paycast Network mobile studio located right at the front of the show floor to participate in their signature “Sell This Duck” sales game for a chance to win prizes.