PayIt appoints new president and COO as fast-scaling KC govtech company hits pivotal moment
November 16, 2023 | Startland News Staff
A veteran govtech leader is joining one of Kansas City’s best-known scale-ups as the company eyes a new era of growth and the expansion of its national and international footprint.
PayIt — a leader in digital customer experience solutions with integrated payments for state, local, and provincial governments — announced on Thursday the appointment of Tom Nieto as its new president and chief operating officer.
Nieto, who comes with 15 years of industry experience, is expected to focus on driving strategy for PayIt, scaling its operations, and building out capabilities to continue to drive growth for the company.
“Tom’s rich blend of highly relevant professional experiences, strong leadership style, and passion for the PayIt mission made him an easy choice to help guide our business through its next stages,” said John Thomson, co-founder and CEO of PayIt. “I am confident that his contributions will drive our company forward, and our customers, current and future, will benefit from the progress we make with Tom on the team.”
PayIt currently has more than 225 employees distributed across North America, with its headquarters in downtown Kansas City, as well as offices in Nashville and Toronto.
Mike Plunkett and John Thomson, PayIt co-founders; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News
Thomson and co-founder Mike Plunkett will remain in essential roles with the company, PayIt said.
With Nieto on board, Thomson will be able to focus even more of his efforts on strategic growth and business decisions as the new president takes over overseeing more of the scaling business’s operations.
In his new role as chief development officer, Plunkett — who previously served as COO — will prioritize client relationships, key business development efforts, and leadership development within the company.
RELATED: PayIt co-founder: No one-size-fits-all formula for scaling one of KC biggest startup ideas
Nieto was most recently COO at Accela. He previously held leadership positions at companies including Box and Boston Consulting Group. Nieto holds an M.B.A. from Harvard University and B.A. in International Relations from Stanford University.
PayIt’s modern customer experience and payments platform for government simplifies the way government agencies serve their communities. Cities, towns, counties, states, and provinces use PayIt to collect revenue, work more efficiently, and deliver a better customer experience.
Click here to learn more about PayIt.
The company consolidates services including property tax, DMV, outdoors, courts, and utilities into one connected experience for residents — launching quickly and saving government agencies up to $6 per transaction, according to PayIt.
“Payit is at a pivotal moment in our continued growth trajectory,” said Nieto. “Our differentiated offering and talented team has us poised to continue our growth across North America.”
“I am excited to join PayIt to build our next phase of growth and deliver an unparalleled experience to our clients and the customers they serve,” he added.
2023 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
(Video) ESHIP Summit attendees ask: Can entrepreneurial support efforts actually be sustainable?
When more than 600 attendees gathered this week in Kansas City for the second ESHIP Summit, they each came with their own ecosystems, businesses, local governments and support networks in mind. They also brought questions. “What are they doing in their cities? What’s worked and what hasn’t worked? What can we adopt back at home…
Four key moments led to SoftVu’s exit (three missteps kept it from happening sooner)
Deals like the acquisition of KC-based SoftVu by an Alabama private equity firm don’t happen overnight. And founder Tim Donnelly gives near-equal weight to the trials and triumphs that led the marketing platform to its big exit. “We’ve done as much as we possibly can based on the mistakes we’ve made, the lessons that have…
Eyeing added impact, AltCap expands its KC service area
AltCap — a Kansas City-based community development financial institution that focuses on underserved populations — is expanding its footprint. In response to small businesses’ growing demand for capital, AltCap will now serve the entire Kansas City metro, including the Kansas counties of Wyandotte, Johnson, and Leavenworth. The move will allow AltCap to finance more small…
KC comic book creator Juaquan Herron refuses to wait on Hollywood any longer
Juaquan Herron has been to LA and back. The 32-year-old got tired of waiting. “I couch surfed, had a child who was not with me, but a supportive wife, and every day I was like, ‘What in the hell am I doing?’” said Herron, an actor and filmmaker who returned to Kansas City after being…