Welcome to The Paycast Network! If you prefer reading over listening, you’ve come to the right place. We brought our live setup directly to the floor of the Midwest Acquirers Conference (MWAA) in Chicago (brought to you by Cutter).
Below is your complete, combined recap of our two bonus live episodes featuring Paycast favorite Jason Isidor and MWAA President Rod Katzfey. From live-streamed panel breakdowns to record-breaking conference stats and local Chicago trivia, here is everything you missed from the show floor.
Part 1: Stepping Outside the Comfort Zone with Jason Isidor
Day 1 at MWAA kicked off with high energy and a whole lot of live media. For the first time, The Paycast Network live-streamed the entire MLS (Merchant Level Sales) Forum directly to YouTube.
Regular guest Jason Isidor joined us at the booth to reflect on the experience.
Key Highlights from the MLS Forum
- A Live Experience: Unlike pre-recorded podcast episodes where minor edits can clean up mistakes, the live MLS Forum required playing it completely by ear in real-time.
- Giving Back to Newcomers: With 18 years of experience in the payments industry under his belt, Jason highlighted how rewarding it was to mentor industry “newbies.”
- Balanced Perspectives: The forum featured four men and four women across separate sessions. Special shoutouts went to Steve Morris for moderating the men’s panel and Angela for hosting the women’s session.
- On-the-Street Media: Beyond the forum, the Paycast team spent the day pulling attendees off the exhibit floor to share their stories, goals, and reasons for attending MWAA.
“Anything unknown makes me a little nervous, but it turned out great. It was an excellent opportunity to share our experiences and help out the next generation in payments.” — Jason Isidor
Part 2: MWAA Growth, Keynotes & Future Plans with Rod Katzfey
On Day 2, MWAA President Rod Katzfey stopped by the booth to share event stats, future plans, and the strategy behind growing a regional payments conference.
1. Record-Breaking Attendance
MWAA officially broke its all-time attendance record, surpassing 1,600 registered attendees. Rod attributed the massive crowd to strong industry support, dedicated sponsors, and a growing desire for meaningful, face-to-face networking.
2. Inspiration & Keynotes
- Damon West Keynote: Day 1 featured a powerful keynote speech by Damon West, which received rave reviews across the board.
- Looking Ahead to Year 25: Next year marks the 25th anniversary of MWAA. Rod shared that the board is actively pushing to secure a dynamic female keynote speaker to headline the milestone event.
3. Industry Collaboration & Organic Growth
Rod emphasized that long-term conference success requires steady, sustainable scaling rather than trying to explode overnight:
- Humble Beginnings: The MLS Forum originally started four years ago in a small hotel room in Schaumburg with just 20 attendees. Today, it packs out the main stage general session room.
- Expanding Partnerships: MWAA continues to expand its collaboration with organizations like PayTech Women, Fintech Atlanta, and Midwest Fintech (which hosted 55 attendees in its inaugural downstairs session).
4. Big Changes Coming in 2028
To accommodate the constant growth, MWAA announced a major location shift for 2028. The show will move down the street to the historic Hilton in Downtown Chicago, expanding the exhibit hall floor from 17,000 to 24,000 square feet.
5. A Call for Volunteers
MWAA operates as a 100% volunteer-run organization. Rod encouraged anyone passionate about payments and giving back to keep an eye out on LinkedIn for upcoming advisory board applications.
Part 3: The Chicago Trivia Roundup
We couldn’t broadcast live from Chicago without testing our guests’ local knowledge! Here are the Chicago trivia questions featured across both episodes:
Question 1: Why is Chicago nicknamed “The Windy City”?
- The Popular Belief: It’s due to the freezing winter gusts coming off Lake Michigan.
- The Real History: The nickname was heavily popularized by 19th-century journalists mocking Chicagoans and their “long-winded” politicians who wouldn’t stop boasting while competing to host the 1893 World’s Fair!
Question 2: What major architectural title does Chicago’s Home Insurance Building (1885) hold?
- The Answer: It is universally recognized by historians as The World’s First Modern Skyscraper. Standing 10 stories tall, it was the very first building to use a structural steel frame.
Question 3: What is the Sears Tower called today?
- The Answer: The Willis Tower. (And for extra credit: the second tallest building in Chicago is the John Hancock Center!).
Wrapping Up
Whether it’s live streaming on the show floor, testing industry leaders on historical trivia, or highlighting the growth of the payments ecosystem, MWAA 2026 proved to be an unforgettable event.
A huge thank you to Jason Isidor, Rod Katzfey, our sponsors at Cutter, and everyone who stopped by the booth. Be sure to check out our full video uploads on YouTube to watch the live streams and hallway interviews in action!