About Mike Keresman
Mr. Keresman’s professional work history begins in the 1980’s. Not long after graduating from John Carroll University Michael blazed a trail as a vital member of the management team that created the first state-wide Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). Michael fully understood the implications of his influence as Group Health Plan of Northeast Ohio delivered superior health care at a more affordable price. There, his entrepreneurial spirits were ignited as he experimented with the actuarial skills that eventually changed not only America’s health care system but how we do business worldwide.
Michael’s insightful acumen eventually led to a new opportunity as a co-founder and CFO at STERIS Corporation, an innovative medical device start-up company. Mr. Keresman compiled and analyzed statistics daily, practicing his proficiencies in both management and Wall Street high finance to drive STERIS into a billion-dollar company in less than 12 years!
At this time Keresman recognized an emerging puzzle with business and commerce on the internet. The cumbersome technology back then was not safe or secure. Keresman recognized that online commerce could transform the world. For this to take place bank cards will need to be accepted and “authenticated” quickly. Michael asked, “How can I simplify buying on the internet? How can I make it safe? How can I remove the unnecessary friction or burdensome verification steps?” So, instead of just complaining Michael left his well-paid senior executive job and became Founder, Chief Executive, and Chairman of CardinalCommerce in 1999. If ever there was a David vs. Goliath, this was it. The status quo was continuously challenged as Michael and his small and remarkable team created the largest digital authentication company in the world! CardinalCommerce advanced proprietary technology again and again from 2000 to 2014 that simply could not be ignored. Mr. Keresman says, “All I was trying to do was make the internet work the way it was supposed to work.” CardinalCommerce conceived and designed well over a hundred patents that ultimately validated the authenticity of the customer to the merchant and bank.
“Yep, this person is a real customer. And yep, this is their real bank card. And yep, this person will ultimately pay their bill!”
Cardinal’s platform compared known facts about any person initiating an internet transaction, and oftentimes went through several hundred in the blink of an eye! Intelligent authentication assures all parties involved that this is not a fake or fraudulent transaction! Michael had to have patience, confidence, wisdom and most importantly perseverance to challenge the establishment and the credit card titans to make internet commerce acceptable. Then in 2017 the corporate goliath, VISA made sure of its own future in the service industry of online commerce by offering Michael Keresman, his shareholders and employees a buyout of CardinalCommerce. VISA then did the unthinkable. They doubled down on CardinalCommerce and accelerated growth in the last three years validating for the world Mr. Keresman’s talent and expertise. However, if you ask Michael today what he likes most about the VISA transaction of 2017 he most likely will tell you, it was the fact that VISA kept the entire operation and all key employees in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio for the foreseeable future. One place we know Michael loves!
Today Mr. Keresman has focused on a new and significant problem facing our society, the COVID-19 pandemic disease. Once again, Michael will use the actuarial talents cultivated over 30 years, to analyze all the data in a bold attempt to make our lives more safe and secure. Mr. Keresman is uniquely qualified and possesses the abilities necessary to shed significant light on this awful scourge. Elected officials and our healthcare system may freely benefit from the lifesaving pronouncements enclosed within The MAK Table. Millions of lives and dollars are at stake.
Mr. Keresman is the named inventor of over 70 US and international patents with more than 100 pending applications. Mr. Keresman currently serves on several prestigious institutional boards and think tank oversight committees in both higher education and local / federal governments.
For more information about The MAK Table please see The Declaration Page.