Andrea Nugent plays a key role in helping businesses move from application to activation as a Merchant Onboarding Specialist at Woodforest Acceptance Solutions. Her work blends precision, problem-solving, and cross-functional teamwork — all with the goal of getting merchants set up to accept payments quickly, securely, and seamlessly. Acting as a liaison between sales, operations, and technology, she manages the end-to-end onboarding process across multiple platforms and ensures every piece comes together smoothly.
What Andrea enjoys most about her role is the balance between technical work and human connection. She collaborates daily with teams across sales, underwriting, compliance, and technology to align efforts and deliver a streamlined onboarding experience. For her, seeing a merchant go live is always rewarding, knowing she helped create a foundation that supports growth and success.
The collaborative culture at Woodforest Acceptance Solutions is another aspect Andrea values deeply. From her perspective, the work is never about simply checking boxes — it’s about building real solutions for businesses. Leadership encourages growth and empowers team members to make an impact, creating an environment where efficiency, accuracy, and merchant success are at the forefront.
Andrea is particularly passionate about supporting small to mid-sized businesses in industries like retail, hospitality, and personal services. She enjoys working with entrepreneurs and helping them set up efficient systems that streamline payments and support their expansion. Her background in project management, honed during her MBA at Sam Houston State University, makes her especially skilled at process improvement, cross-functional coordination, and reducing friction across workflows.
What drew Andrea to the payments industry was its fast-paced, constantly evolving nature and the vital role it plays in every transaction — whether in person or online. The complexity of onboarding across platforms like CyberSource, TSYS, MeS, and iAccess keeps her motivated to learn and refine her skills. Each merchant presents unique challenges, and Andrea thrives on turning that complexity into simple, reliable solutions for clients.
Outside of work, Andrea’s colleagues are often surprised to learn about her background as a collegiate soccer athlete. She earned a full-ride scholarship for five years, completed her MBA in just one year, and made history as the first female athlete to earn an NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) deal. That experience instilled in her a strong sense of discipline, resilience, and leadership under pressure — qualities she continues to bring into her professional life today.
Andrea’s competitive edge, dedication to excellence, and passion for helping businesses succeed make her an invaluable part of Woodforest Acceptance Solutions. We’re proud to have her guiding merchants through one of the most important stages of their journey: getting up and running with confidence.
