Derron Winfrey knows how to grow a business. In the past five years, he's lifted two businesses off their feet and thrust them into sales that doubled and tripled those of previous years.
Winfrey is president of Electronic Check Services and Softgate Systems. ECS provides check processing, prepaid services, bill payment, gift card and loyalty programs to thousands of stores nationwide. Complementing these services, Softgate provides software and a transaction processing platform for its clients.
Under his leadership, Softgate Systems' profitability has more than tripled in just more than a year, processing nearly 1 million transactions a month worth more than $9 million. Winfrey believes Softgate Systems will again double in size by the end of 2009.
With a mass communications and journalism degree from Wichita State University, Winfrey honed his leadership skills juggling the various duties of a television news producer in Oklahoma City.
In 2002, he moved into the check services field, first in sales and service, then into the role of vice president.
Winfrey helped propel ECS and Softgate Systems from local players to nationally recognized service providers.
"My proudest accomplishment is the recent growth of our businesses during one of the most difficult times in the U.S. economy," Winfrey says.
His view of success, however, isn't all about increased sales.
It comes down to the people Winfrey can help along the way.
"The solutions created by my software company are providing jobs and creating revenue daily for nine different companies supporting nearly 200 employees and more than 200 independent sales agents," he adds, noting that in the past four years, ECS has added 10 direct employees and 60 independent sales agents to its staff.
"ECS has also recently captured four national contracts marketing our services to more than 100,000 retail locations," Winfrey adds.
Winfrey's also an advocate for the community.
As the former president and chairman of the All-Star Smiles Sertoma Club, he helped organize the Grid Iron Classic, a high school all-star football game.
To date, the Grid Iron Classic has raised nearly $200,000 for the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Tooth Truck, which provides free dental care to underprivileged children in Springfield.
He's also active in several professional organizations, including the Missouri Grocers Association and the petroleum associations in Missouri and Kansas.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
