Kenneth W. Biel

Chairman

Ken, a CPA with over 25 years in banking, had an idea to help alleviate the back office burdens associated to a business managing checks. With this idea iStream was born. Ken’s focus was to develop and lead iStream just as he had successfully for prior companies over the years.

Before iStream, Ken served as a Senior Executive for Fifth Third Payment Processing via Fifth Third’s acquisition of Universal Companies. He coordinated the sale of Universal to Fifth Third Bank in 2001. While at Universal Companies, Ken served as the CEO and was an original founder of the business. He led Universal to be an industry leader with strategic planning and development of the Universal processes and systems that lead to the strategic merge with Fifth Third.

Prior to Universal, Ken had extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions with a Chicago venture capital group. Additionally, he started the first micro-securitized small ticket leasing program.

Richard (Fred) Joachim

President

Fred joined iStream in 2004 with over 25 years in data processing knowledge related, but not limited to, building and leveraging distribution channels. Fred focuses on the synergy and partnerships developing win-win situations for organizations that look to partner back with iStream or each other. During a combined 8 years at Fifth Third Bank and Universal Payment Processing, Fred implemented and developed a diverse sales distribution strategy making Universal a powerhouse in sales and strategic partnerships. 

Prior to Universal, Fred was Senior Vice President at First Data Corporation (FDC). During his 10 years at FDC, Fred experienced both the issuing and acquiring side of credit card processing. He ran the data processing center in San Mateo, CA, as well as, managed sales and distribution channels. He worked with major clients such as First USA and Brooks Brothers. He successfully negotiated FDC's alliances with Wachovia and Bank of Boston. Fred also served in various senior-level management positions at ADP (Automated Data Processing), Inc. and Xerox.

James (Jim) A. Button

General Counsel

Jim joined iStream in 2007, bringing over 20 years of experience in the financial services, electronic payments and information technology industries. As General Counsel of iTeam Companies and its subsidiaries, Mr. Button is responsible for all legal and regulatory matters associated with the enterprise. He also serves as Corporate Secretary for the Board of Directors and oversees Human Resource matters for the company.

Prior to joining iStream, Jim held various corporate counsel positions with Bank of America, Works, Inc., eFunds Corporation, Citibank, N.A., IBM Corporation and through his own commercial law firm that he founded in 2003. In these positions, Jim focused extensively on strategic relationships with money center banks and Fortune 100 companies. He has significant experience in a wide-variety of areas, including banking law and regulatory matters, commercial transactions, commercial lending, electronic commerce, employment and labor relations matters, financial services, financial transaction processing (ACH, EFT, credit card), information technology (information systems and technology development, sale/licensing, transfer and procurement), intellectual property protection, and mergers, acquisitions and other strategic business ventures. Jim has also spent significant time providing management and employee training and presenting at bar association and other legal seminars on a variety of topics. He holds a J.D. from Indiana University (Bloomington) and a B.A in Economics from Valparaiso University.

Lee Davis

SVP, Lending

Lee joined Kenney Bank and Trust, an affiliate company under the subsidiary of iTeam Companies in 2009. Lee leads and coordinates lending activities, loan and credit Committee, ALCO, investments, branch operations, etc. In addition, Lee manages the Kenney Bank and Trust budget and financial planning matters, CALL Reports, and assists in compliance matters. Lee has 17 years of experience in banking, and in particular bank lending and credit activities and operations management. He has served as a Credit Analyst for US Bank, Credit Manager and Branch Manager for Bank One (now JP Morgan Chase) and VP of Correspondent Banking with M&I Bank. In 2008, Lee graduated from Southwest Graduate School of Banking (Dallas, TX) where he completed a 3 year bank management program.

Chet Andrews

SVP, New Business Development

Prior to joining iStream, Chet was most recently a founder and President of e-Commerce Cubed, where he assisted with the development, design and distribution of the e-ValuCheck product, an online payment application. Chet is now the driving force behind development of the web-based merchant transaction product that iStream will offer in Spring 2010. With Chet's widespread customer base, he already has boarded several large ACH customers in the short period of time he's been with iStream.

Chet has extensive experience in e-commerce, Electronic Bill Presentment & Payment (EBPP), cash management, collections, call center payments and payment verification processing. He began his career at Fluor Corporation of Irvine, CA, first as Assistant Treasurer of Fluor Europe, then as Corporate Director of Treasury Operations. In 1983, he joined ValuTech to manage collection and payment processing activities for cash management systems. Eighteen years later, he helped found the ValuTech subsidiary eCommerce Cubed. Chet has vast experience in check processing and operations, and translates that experience today to the world of Check 21 payments. Chet is a graduate of Miami University (B.S. - Finance).

Dave Karcher

VP, National Sales Manager

Dave has managed sales, business development, and strategic alliances in companies including Metavante, iPay Technologies, and start-up companies in the payments and mobile payments vertical. He has significant experience in developing partnerships with large, strategic partners such as IBM Global Services, Fiserv, and Fidelity National Information Services. He is one of the original founders of First Commons Bank, Newton, MA, opened in July 2009.  First Commons is a nationally-chartered bank with over $94 million in assets.  Dave holds a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Wisconsin.