Marc Gardner started North American Bancard (NAB), which is now called North. He has spent more than 30 years building a fintech empire from a one-person operation in Troy, Michigan, to a leading payments technology provider that processes more than $100 billion a year. His journey, which has included entrepreneurial grit, creative thinking, and a dedication to the community, has made him one of the most important people in the payments industry.
From Small Beginnings to Industry Leader Gardner started NAB in 1992 with one goal: to use cutting-edge technology to create new payment solutions that help merchants grow their businesses. Gardner started as the only employee of the company in a small office in Michigan. With his vision and hands-on leadership, he turned NAB into one of the top 10 acquirers in the country. The Electronic Transactions Association (ETA) named NAB the 2014 ISO of the Year.
North has grown to hire more than 1,300 people and has a network of more than 3,000 independent sales partners across the United States since he took over. With solutions for credit, debit, EBT, check conversion, ATM, gift and loyalty programs, and online payments, the company now serves more than 350,000 merchants in a wide range of industries. Gardner’s focus on new ideas led to the launch of PayAnywhere in 2011. This mobile point-of-sale solution competes with big names like Square by giving merchants cloud-based transaction processing and inventory management that works without any problems.
In 2024, NAB changed its name to North. Gardner said this was a sign of how the company had changed and become a leader in payments and business management. He said, “The name change highlights the direction and vision we have adopted as a company over the last thirty years.” This new name shows that North is dedicated to providing businesses of all sizes with the best products and services in the industry.
A Leader and Innovator Who Is Well-Known Gardner has won many awards for his leadership. Ernst & Young named him Entrepreneur of the Year for the Central Great Lakes region in 2008 because of how much he helped Michigan’s economy. He won a silver medal in the Executive of the Year category at the International Best in Biz Awards in 2013. Two years later, the Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA) gave him the Best of MichBusiness’ CEO of CEOs Award. This award recognized his ability to lead NAB through tough economic times while encouraging new ideas.
Gardner’s impact goes beyond the boardroom. He has been a popular speaker on Michigan’s economic future, giving a speech at the 2009 Mackinac Policy Conference and winning an award at the 2014 Crain’s Detroit Business Salute to Entrepreneurs Awards. Employees at North also give him a high rating, with a 78/100 CEO approval score on Comparably, which puts him in the top 10% of CEOs at companies of the same size. Women who work for him have given him very high marks, with a score of 93 out of 100 for his leadership.
A Promise to Compete and Innovate
You can see Gardner’s love for new ideas in North’s products. Storefront, a tablet-based transaction processor that came out in 2014, made North a direct competitor to Square’s Register system. Gardner hasn’t said much about PayAnywhere’s specific numbers, unlike many others in the industry. He has said that the company is smaller than its competitors but that it is growing steadily and has a lot of potential. When asked about the possibility of an IPO or acquisition, he has always been realistic, saying, “I always answer my phone,” which shows that he is open to strategic opportunities while still focusing on organic growth.
Gardner’s strategic vision is shown by North’s ability to handle more than $100 billion in transactions each year. The company’s partnerships with top tech companies and independent software vendors (ISVs) have let it offer customized, easy-to-use payment solutions that help businesses do well in a competitive market.
Giving to charity and getting involved in the community
Gardner is a dedicated philanthropist and supporter of the arts in addition to his business success. He is on the Board of Directors for the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) and gives money to groups like AIPAC, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Friendship Circle, Detroit Public Television, Cranbrook, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. His dedication to giving back shows that he believes in using success to help communities, especially in metro Detroit, where North is still based.
Obstacles and Strength
There have been problems with Gardner’s leadership. In 2020, Teresa Harwood, who used to be the COO, sued Gardner, saying that he created a “sexually hostile” work environment and punished her for speaking up. The court threw out some of Harwood’s claims, but it let her Title VII hostile environment and retaliation claims against NAB and her ELCRA retaliation claim against both NAB and Gardner go to trial. Other executives said that Gardner was very hands-on and intense as a manager. He would raise his voice and use bad language when things got tough. Gardner defended his style of leadership by saying that it was direct and entrepreneurial. He pointed out that he would reach out to any team member who was available to help with urgent needs.
Even though there is a lot of disagreement about him, Gardner’s record and employee approval ratings show that many people like his leadership. His ability to deal with legal and business problems while keeping North’s growth on track shows how strong and focused he is.
A Personal Touch
Gardner’s personal life also shows how brave and ambitious he is. His purchase of a $37 million waterfront mansion and adjacent lot in Miami Beach in 2021 made news. It was a sign of his success and love of big investments. But he still lives in Troy, Michigan, with his family, staying true to the community that has been a big part of North’s story.
Gardner has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin. He is both analytical and passionate about supporting local businesses. He has said that he would rather shop at small stores than big ones. This fits with his personal values and his professional goal of helping small and medium-sized businesses grow through North’s payment solutions.
Going Forward
Under Gardner’s leadership, North is changing and getting ready for more growth in the fintech space. Gardner is still committed to keeping North at the top of the payments industry by focusing on creating new products like PayAnywhere’s NFC-compatible solutions and growing the company through smart acquisitions. North will keep changing the way businesses are run and payments are processed because he never stops moving and has a team of top talent.
Marc Gardner’s story is one of vision, hard work, and making a difference. His leadership has changed North from a small office in Michigan to a fintech powerhouse. It has also made a lasting impact on the communities and the industry he serves. Gardner’s legacy as a pioneer in payments technology will only grow as he keeps coming up with new ideas and inspiring others.
, which is now called North. He has spent more than 30 years building a fintech empire){kind=link}