Richard joined Valmar Merchant Services in October 2019 and currently serves as Chief Executive Officer where he is responsible for overseeing the execution of the company’s strategic vision. Prior to this role, he was Valmar’s Chief Financial Officer where his direct responsibilities included accounting, finance, risk, and compliance. Rick has 18 years of experience in the specialty finance space and spent several years in public accounting, where he managed audit and consulting teams for numerous high-profile clients in industries that include manufacturing, service, and specialty finance. He has been able to leverage this experience to spearhead major projects that include establishing internal control frameworks, BSA/AML programs, and the restructuring of operations to create efficiency and scalability. Mr. Heaton is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Buffalo.