SAM ZIETZ

FOUNDER & CEO, TOUCHSUITE, BOCA RATON

Zietz, Ernst & Young’s Florida Entrepreneur of the Year in 2015, has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, a law degree from the St. Thomas University School in Miami and a master’s in taxation from New York University. In New York, he worked for PwC and as a corporate attorney for Skadden, Arps before starting TouchSuite.

The financial technology company creates and sells point-of-sale systems — including payroll management, client database systems, marketing tools and inventory and accounting reports — to small and medium-sized businesses, ranging from restaurants to salons, spas, retail establishments and pet services. The company has appeared on Inc. magazine’s Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America eight times.

In a TEDx talk, Zietz said, “The key is to hire the absolute smartest people you can find at the positions that you’re looking to fill. To be the best, you need to hire the best. Paying a 20% to 30% premium will pay instant dividends. A-players are 10 times more productive than B- or C-players. I’ll take 10 superstars over an army of mediocrity any day of the week. And A-players, they solve problems, and they solve problems that you don’t even know exist yet. And they do it without the constant management and babysitting that other employees require.”

A passionate advocate for entrepreneurs, Zietz serves on the board of the Chief Executives Organization (CEO), Florida Council of 100, Orange Bowl Committee and the Palm Beach chapter of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). He has testified before Congress on entrepreneurship and given a TED talk on achieving success through the entrepreneurial path. He is also an active angel investor with numerous investments under management.