Team
Our executives are veritable gurus in loyalty marketing, database analysis, consumer promotions, card services, fulfillment services, call centers and engagement marketing services.
Joe Custer, President & CFO
Under Mr. Custer’s leadership, Young America has quickly become a proven leader in the Loyalty, Incentives, and Payment Services industries. Young America’s rapid success is built upon the strong client relationships established over the past 40 years with clients who see the value on integrating programs that drive and promote customer acquisition, growth, and retention. Mr. Custer leads the overall corporate strategy and brings 15+ years of experience spanning the services, software, and manufacturing sectors. Prior to joining YA, Mr. Custer led Business Development, Finance, and IT for Cooper Notification, a division of Cooper Industries and held a variety of marketing, business development, and finance roles with Stanley Security Solutions, a division of The Stanley Works. Mr. Custer earned his BS in Accounting from Indiana University.
Paul Hanson, Senior Vice President, Operations
Mr. Hanson is responsible for IT strategic planning and application development as well as infrastructure planning and deployment. Prior to joining YA, Mr. Hanson served as CIO for Fingerhut Direct Marketing, a national direct marketer with sales over $450 million. He was also a Co-Founder and VP of Engineering for Notiva Corporation, a financial supply chain software company. Mr. Hanson began his career at Cargill, and started two other consulting businesses which focused on technology consulting for retailers. Mr. Hanson holds a BS in Computer Science from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Janet Fahey, Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Ms. Fahey is responsible for managing a team of benefits, compensation, recruitment and human resources (HR) practice experts and for the delivery of HR services to Young America Corporation’s U.S. and Canada sites. Ms. Fahey is a HR professional with over 25 years of experience in corporate management and human resources and has served in leadership capacities, providing strategic and tactical support on business issues. Prior to joining YA, Ms. Fahey was the Investor Relations & Human Resources Manager for a privately held Real Estate & Investment Firm in Minneapolis. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota and is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management.
Leone Hunter, Vice President of Operations and Special Projects
Ms. Hunter is responsible for leading Young America’s operations. Ms. Hunter ensures the organization is well positioned in a rapidly evolving and competitive environment—making sure that industry leading best practices and standards are in place in a continuous improvement operational environment. Ms. Hunter’s experience includes 20+ years in various leadership roles in sales, marketing, operations and project management across multiple industries including information technology, marketing services and warehouse operations. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Business from Minnesota State University, Mankato and is a certified Project Management Professional.
Tina Baeyens, Vice President, Call Center
Ms. Baeyens is responsible for the successful operation of a 325 seat customer contact center, managing both human and material resources. Ms. Baeyens has 16 years progressive call center experience with extensive knowledge directing operations in highly demanding call center environments. Prior to joining YA, Ms. Baeyens held various management positions with Third Party Vendors and at Sprint Canada in Customer Care, Inbound Residential Account Sales, Outbound Commercial Account Sales and Retention and Loyalty Services. She has earned a diploma from Lambton College, Sarnia, Ontario.
Tim Crank, Senior Vice President, Marketing
Mr. Crank is a veteran of the marketing services industry with deep knowledge of the loyalty marketing and incentive space. In his role at Young America, Mr. Crank is responsible for assisting clients in the assessment, design and enhancement of consumer and B2B loyalty, incentive and engagement programs. Mr. Crank has brought a data-driven approach to consumer loyalty and channel incentives by applying Lifetime Value and other predictive modeling techniques to redesign and improve channel programs for clients in a variety of industries. In addition to a strong technical background in database marketing, CRM and analytics, he has extensive experience in strategic planning, new market development and product development. Mr. Crank holds a BS in Business Administrations from the University of Missouri.
Mark Lockwood, Senior Vice President, Payment Services
Mr. Lockwood leads the Payment Services division at Young America. Mark’s expertise in the prepaid industry combined with his experience in product management, marketing and sales have added a new dimension to Young America’s products and solutions. Mark is responsible for leading and implementing Young America’s prepaid strategy and delivering innovative solutions to Young America’s clients. Prior to Young America, Mark spent 5 years with MasterCard Worldwide in product management and strategy roles, culminating with 3 years as Vice President of US Consumer Prepaid Products and Services. Mark holds a BE in Civil Engineering from Vanderbilt University and a MBA in Marketing and General Management from the University of Illinois.