Local payment processing tech provider gives back

Heartland, an entrepreneur-focused financial technology company headquartered in downtown Oklahoma City, is helping the Festival of the Arts go cashless this year.

A community celebration and time-honored tradition spanning nearly six decades, the event — hosted in Bicentennial Park — brings together a variety of visual and performing artists, attracts more than 550,000 visitors each year and, for many, serves as a rite of spring.

The festival has experienced a lot of change and growth since its start in 1967, partially through its partnerships with companies like Heartland. This year, all artists and vendors can securely and easily take payments via tap, dip or swipe without having to keep track of cash and coins.

“Once we decided to go fully cashless, our first meeting was with Heartland, a long-time and trusted partner of Arts Council Oklahoma City,” said Angela Cozby, Executive Director of Arts Council OKC. “We knew Heartland was the right organization to support us in this transition with an event that yields over $1.83 million in art sales annually. Purchasing art at Festival of the Arts will now be much more efficient for our guests, thanks to our partnership with Heartland.”

“At this 4-day event, each of the 144 participating artists will be equipped with Heartland software and devices to process payments,” said Lance Haffner, Chief Revenue Officer at Heartland, “allowing artists to accept payments 100% digitally for the first time in the event’s 50+ year history.”

Committed to being a complete technology solution for new startups and experienced enterprises alike, Heartland offers the technology to make and move money, manage employees and engage customers. Budding entrepreneurs, the next generation of go-getters in Oklahoma City, are just as important to the organization.

That’s why Heartland is funding the Children’s Area, which features “high-quality arts experiences and educational opportunities for families.” Kids can create a make-and-take art project in the Children’s Art Field tent as well as begin building their first art collection in the First Collector’s Club (formerly Young at Art Mart). The latter provides a unique shopping experience for attendees under age 12, allowing families to learn about different artistic mediums and affordably purchase donated artwork from young creators.

“Our credo at Heartland is Entrepreneurs Respectfully Serving Entrepreneurs,” said Haffner. “We work with people every day who own their own business, who have found passion in turning ideas into innovation, and we are thrilled to support them in their journey.”

While Heartland’s mission is helping small businesses thrive and putting entrepreneurs on the path to success, the company keeps several tenets to honor the well-being of its employees and communities.

“Heartland is committed to creating happy and healthy communities that help keep the people and businesses we care about thriving,” said Heartland’s VP of Business Operations & Chief of Staff, Randie Vasso. “We have a set of giving pillars that stand as our guideposts for how to give back, and one of those ways is through volunteerism; by providing volunteer opportunities for Heartland employees, we [give] them the opportunity to learn more about the communities where we work.”

“The work that is done outside of our office is just as important as what happens inside,” Vasso continued.

Heartland’s charitable giving and volunteerism span multiple causes across the city, including community development, inclusion and diversity as well as STEAM and education work — and the company is just as excited to support and serve the renowned Festival of the Arts in its 58th year.

“Through our partnership with the OKC Festival of the Arts,” Haffner said, “we are able to help artists and entrepreneurs realize their dreams while supporting our local community.”