OptConnect, a leader in the managed wireless connectivity industry, today announced that President and CEO Chris Baird has been appointed U.S. Board Co-Chair of the ATM Industry Association (ATMIA). Baird will be serving two terms as one of two co-chairs of the U.S. Regional Board. ATMIA is the leading non-profit trade association representing the entire global ATM industry. Their regional boards are advisory groups that assist with determining region policy. As a key member leadership role, Baird will consult with the Executive Director regarding industry issues and other matters.
“I am excited to serve with ATMIA for the next two years as Co-Chair alongside Donna Embry,” said Baird. “I realize that I have some very large shoes to fill from past volunteers and industry giants and am hopeful that I can live up to their expectations.”
Since OptConnect began in 2009, the business has been leading wireless connectivity for the ATM industry. As a primary market for OptConnect, ATMs no longer had to worry about sharing lines with the store’s telephone, their fax machines, or their credit card terminals. OptConnect is dedicated to promoting that convenience for ATM deployers, and so is ATMIA. The mission of ATMIA is to promote ATM convenience, growth and usage worldwide; to protect the ATM industry’s assets, interests, good name, and public trust; and to provide education, best practices, political voice and networking opportunities for member organizations.
“The co-chairs of the U.S. Regional Board are important elements of member leadership, they assist ATMIA staff in determining chapter priorities and management of regional committee groups,” said David Tente, Executive Director of ATMIA. “I am pleased that Chris is able to contribute his time and expertise, and look forward to working with him over the next two years.”
For more information on ATMIA, please visit www.atmia.com. For more information about OptConnect, please visit www.optconnect.com.
About ATMIA
ATMIA is the leading non-profit trade association representing the entire global ATM industry. ATMIA serves more than 11,000 members from over 650 companies located in 70 countries spanning the entire ATM ecosphere, including financial institutions, independent ATM deployers, equipment manufacturers, processors and a plethora of ATM service and value-added solution providers. Founded in 1997, ATMIA has active chapters in the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America, AsiaPacific, Asia, Africa, India, and the Middle East to focus on the unique needs and issues of each region.
About OptConnect
Established in 2009, OptConnect has rapidly emerged as a premier provider of IoT connectivity solutions, serving diverse sectors including ATMs, vending machines, smart safes, digital signage, security assets and irrigation systems. With the strategic acquisition of Premier Wireless Solutions (PWS) in 2021 and the recent add-on addition of M2MDataGlobal in 2024, OptConnect has solidified its global presence and commitment to delivering cutting-edge wireless connectivity solutions. Our mission remains focused on helping customers design, deploy, and manage their IoT initiatives.
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