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V O L . X X I I I N O. V I M A R C H 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 18 company purchased in 2014 for $532.5 million in cash, and Benaissance, a health care billing software fi rm acquired in 2015 for $80 million. Revenues in that division rose 44% to $161.1 million in 2016. e company's travel and corpo- rate payment segment, which oper- ates in North America, Europe, South America and the Asia-Pacifi c mar- kets, closed the year with revenues up 10% to $215.2 million. An upside of being a global com- pany, Smith says, is that meeting the diff erent needs of diff erent markets in a particular segment often spurs innovation that benefi ts WEX's other divisions. "We have products to deploy that we wouldn't have had otherwise," she says. " ere is more energy and inno- vation that comes with being a global company. It goes beyond what we'd done before. e level of innovation is higher. Diversity creates complexity, but it also adds innovation." Lessons in leadership, giving back For her own growth, Smith credits her mentors. "I always start with my mom. A divorced mom with three kids in her 30s, she taught us how to be independent." Next on her list is her predeces- sor, Michael Dubyak, who moved into the new role of serving as chairman of the WEX board after turning over the CEO reins to Smith in 2014. "He's passionate and tenacious," she says. Other than that, Smith says she tries to learn something from everyone she meets — particularly people who can think strategically but also are able to deliver and to do it in a way that acknowledges contributions made by others. e WEX ethos, she says, is built on the understanding "it's not just what you do, but how you do it." "I think you learn from others what you'd like to see in yourself as a leader," she says, adding that the fl ipside can be true as well, namely, learning what doesn't work. WEX's board is fi lled with "great people to learn from," she adds, including a board member who has taught entrepreneurship at Harvard Business School and encourages a Visit Patrons.com to find an independent Maine agent near you. Patrons Oxford Insurance Company For all the things you value. At Patrons Oxford, we set ourselves apart by offering superior customer service, compe ve pricing for our products, and strive to responsibly grow our business, our people, and our impact. Since the very beginning we've had you covered, but along with me comes change and the need to adapt and grow responsibly. The values we held in the past are s ll as strong today. We are as commi ed to our patrons now as we were yesterday, and as we will be tomorrow. N e w lo o k, sa m e g r e at co m pa N y. Representing businesses, developers, and individuals including Residential and Commercial Real Estate • Municipal and Land Use Issues • Business Planning/Formation • Construction • Banking/Finance • Wealth – Estate Planning and Probate Litigation • Employment York County's Largest Full-Service Law Firm www.bergenparkinson.com Kennebunk: 207-985-7000 62 Portland Road Kennebunk, ME Saco: 207-283-1000 144 Main Street Saco, ME » C O N T I N U E D F RO M PA G E 1 6 P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Melissa Smith, president and CEO of WEX, leads a company with $1 billion in revenue and 2,700 employees, including 750 in Maine. Here she makes time for offi ce teamwork-building with software engineer Krishna Kokatla, at WEX's Darling Avenue offi ces in South Portland.

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