Leasing Industry Job Wanted
Asset Management - Credit

Asset Management

Experienced Asset Manager / Remarketer seeking position.  At IBM Global Financing I managed the IT lease portfolio of PC and PC Server assets.  I mainly focused on creating secondary transactions with leased assets (sales and renewals).  In other roles I was focused on managing remarketing of assets after end of lease.  I am in the Chicago area and I am comfortable and experienced at working remotely.  Contact: lorenw999@gmail.com   LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loren-r-williams/

Credit

Experienced credit underwriter, financial analyst & vendor program manager seeks part time, remote work opportunity to assist in managing/evaluating vendor programs, loss pool analysis, credit requests, restructurings and workout situations. Emphasis on asset based and secured financing to the middle and large ticket market. Multiple industry experience including: Commercial, Industrial, Manufacturing, Transportation, Construction and Distribution segments. Interested in approximately 20 to 30 hours per week, no benefits required. East Coast Location. Contact: ch2capital@gmail.com

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M&T Bank and People’s United Bank
Leaf Commercial Capital and People’s United Bank

Leaf Commercial Capital Employees

In the last Leasing News edition, the article asked what was going to happen to Leaf Commercial Capital, a division of the People’s, after the completion of stock transfer, most likely the end of this year.  It is not only that M&T was heavily into leasing and finance but the past experience.   Unmentioned in Monday’s article was the previous purchase; People’s United Financial was a fierce competitor of Financial Federal.

In February, 2010, People’s United Financial, the division of People’s Bank, completed its acquisition of Financial Federal Corporation, “a $1.3 billion financial services company providing collateralized lending, financing and leasing services nationwide to small and medium sized businesses nationwide. The combined company has over $22 billion in assets.”

The press release further stated, “The transaction is a great fit on many levels with shared conservative credit cultures and very little overlap in the sectors that we serve."

A statement to the press that M&T said, “that it expects the merger will boost earnings by up to 12% by 2023, thanks in part to $330 million in annual cost synergies.”

Barron’s reported, “M&T Bank has a history of successful bank mergers and is a proven integrator. M&T Bank had spent the prior few years investing meaningfully in its franchise, which we believe has also put it in a better place to consummate a deal today,” Ken Usdin, analyst at Jefferies, wrote   Monday. 

“People’s United is also an attractive target with an efficiency ratio of 54%, below the peer average of 59%,” Usdin noted.

It seems Wall Street liked the merger but will Leaf like it by the end of 2022?

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New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Jacob Cotta was hired at UBS, Bahnhofstrasse 45, Zürich, as "Authorized Officer." He is located in Atlanta, Georgia. Previously, he was Financial Crimes Consultant, Dominion Advisory Group (September, 2020 - February, 2021). He joined Deserve March, 2019, as Fraud Analyst; promoted October, 2019, BSA/AML Compliance Analyst. He joined BlueVine, January, 2017 as Credit Underwriter Intern; promoted October, 2017, Risk Underwriter; promoted April, 2018, Risk Portfolio Analyst; Security Cashier and Customer Service Representative, Orchard Supply Hardware (February, 2013 - May, 2017).  Education: University of Maryland University College.  Master's degree, Finance and Financial Management Services (2018 - 2020); San Jose State University, Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Business Administration and Management, General (2012 - 2017). Valley Christian High School (2009 - 2012). https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-cotta-219342113/

Dawn (Dawn Holmes) Day was hired as Senior Vice President, Equipment Finance and Commercial Lending, Renasant Banki, Tupelo, Mississippi. She is located in Brandon, Mississippi. Previously, she was Vice President, Equipment Finance Division, BancorpSouth (January, 2018 - February, 2021; Vice President, Commercial Lending, Ouachita Independent Bank (February, 2012 - January, 2018); Vice President/Relationship Bank, Citizens National Bank (August, 2003 - January, 2012); Branch Manager, Assistant Vice President, AMSouth Bank (2002). Volunteer: Gala Chair Cancer League of Jackson (2007 – 2008). Mississippi College, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Banking, Corporate, Finance and Securities Law (2006 - 2009).  Vanderbilt University, Southeastern School of Advance Commercial Lending, Commercial Lending (2006 - 2007); University of Mississippi, Mississippi School of Bank (2003 -3005).  Mississippi College. Master of Communication, Business and Corporate Communication. (2002 -2005); Belhaven College. Bachelor of Science, Business Administration and Management, General, Cum Laude (2000 - 2002).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-day-55648237/

Jacob Fahl was promoted to Vice President, Funding and Portfolio Services, Hitachi Capital America Corp., Marshall Minnesota. He joined the firm June, 2014 as Leader, Funding and Portfolio Services. “(He...) replaced Don Link upon his retirement in mid-January, joined the organization in 2014... (He) has helped grow the Funding & Portfolio Services division through securing third-party relationships in the small to mid-size ticket equipment finance space." Prior, he was Regional Sales Manager, US Bank (November, 2011 - May, 2014); Relationship Manager, Bremer Bank (June, 2009 - November, 2011); Adjunct Professor, Southwest Minnesota State University (January, 2011 - March, 2011); Account Executive, US Bank (January, 2004 - June, 2009).  Volunteer: Speaker. Teacher, "Engaged in teaching college students, athletes and professionals to think differently; raising awareness, establishing discipline and defining their own lives according to their own will.” (September, 2014 - Present). “(Currently he)...is actively engaged in the Equipment Lease and Finance Association where he currently serves on the Emerging Talent Advisory Council.) Education: Southwest Minnesota State University, Masters, Business (2006 - 2007).  Southwest Minnesota State University. BA, Business Administration (1999 - 2003). 2015 Hall of Honor. Activities and Societies: Men's Basketball. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobfahl/

Zerka Gul was hired as Vice President of Operations at Star Hill Financial LLC, a certified Women Business Enterprise, Fairfield, Connecticut. Previously, she was Capital Markets Account Executive, syndications, TIAA Bank (June, 2016 - 2020); Contracts and State Compliance Manager, Legal, EverBank (now known as TIAA Bank ) (October, 2010 - June, 2016); Asset & Portfolio Manager, EverBank (February, 209 - October, 2010). Education: Ramapo College of New Jersey. Bachelor's Degree, International. Business/Management/Finance/Trade/Commercial.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/zerka-gul-ab6145163/

David Hill was promoted to Senior Director Sales Dominion Leasing Software, Powhatan, Virginia. He joined the firm in 2003.  Previously, he was SVP, Innovative Data Systems (2003 - 2002); Director, GMAC Mortgage (1999 - 2001). Education: Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. BS Sec. Ed., Mathematics. Penn State University. Business Administration.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-hill-423a033/

William Johnston was hired as Account Executive, Financial Services at DocuSign, San Francisco, California. Previously, he was at BlueVine, starting September, 2019, Sales Development Representative; promoted July, 2019. Account Executive; promoted February, 2021, Senior Account Executive; Sales and Service Representative, 24 Hour Fitness (July, 2017 - September, 2018); Assistant Manager, Twisslman Enterprises (June, 2013 - September, 2019).  Education:  University of California, Davis. Bachelor of Science (BS), Business/Managerial Economics (2014 - 2018). Activities and Societies: UC Davis Club Rugby Team Ruby, Merchandise & Social Chair.  Scotts Valley High School. High School Diploma (2010 - 2014). https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-johnston-6237b8132/

Gary W. LoMonaco was hired as Director, The Alta Group, Glenbrook, Nevada. He is located in Bartlett, Illinois." (He will…) primarily serve in the consultancy’s Strategy & Competitive Alignment Practice. Previously, he was Chief Financial Officer, Symbria, Inc. (September, 2019 - February, 2021); Vice President, Credit and Client Financing, Sirius Computer Solutions (October, 2017 - September, 2019); Vice President, Treasurer, Forsythe Technology, Inc. (Acquired by Sirius Computer Solutions October, 2017); Executive Vice President, TCGi Capital (January 2008 - September, 2009); Senior Vice President, Bank of America (May, 2002 - January, 2008); Senior Vice President, Heller Financial (1985 - 2002); Senior Credit Analyst, Deutsche Bank (1982 - 1985). Volunteer: "He is active in the equipment finance industry, having twice served on the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) Board of Directors. He also formerly chaired the association’s Captive and Vendor Finance and Independent Middle Market steering committees." Education:  Southern Illinois University, Carbondale/ Bachelor of Science, Administrative Sciences (1977 - 1980). https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-lomonaco-3486a55/

Peter McCaffrey, CLFP, was hired as Senior Business Development Manger, NewLane Finance, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Previously he was at Marlin Capital Solutions, starting December, 2010, National Account Executive; promoted January, 2014, Retention Specials; promoted January, 2015, National Sales Manager; promoted March, 2019, National Sales Manager. Account Executive/Branch Manager, American Home Patient (December, 2009 - December, 2010); Home Improvement Contractor, FNM Corp. (August, 2007 - December, 2009); Mortgage Consultant, First Home Mortgage (May, 2007 - February, 2008); Mortgage Consultant, Citizens Bank (June, 2006 - May, 2007); Mortgage Consultant, Citizens Bank (June, 2006 - May, 2007); Mortgage Consultant, Terra Financial Group (June, 2005 - June, 2006); Mortgage Consultant, American Eagle Mortgage Corp. (January, 2003 - June, 2005); Account Executive, Teligent (October, 1999 - July, 2001); Branch Manager Trainee/Customer Service Manager, Beckett Healthcare (September, 1998 - October, 1999); Rehab Equipment Specialist, Young's Medical (September, 1995 - September, 1998). Certifications: Certified Lease & Finance Professional (November, 2017).  No Expiration Date. Education: Cardinal Dougherty High School.  La Salle University. https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-mccaffrey-clfp-4b241a7a/

Scott Pemmons was hired as Vice President, Verdant Commercial Capital, Cincinnati, Ohio. He is located in Corvallis, Oregon.  Previously, he was AVP, CIT Financing (January, 2018 - January, 2021); Market Director, CTX/Xerox (February, 2003 - December, 2018); Professional Baseball Player, Cincinnati Reds (June, 1989 - September, 2003).  Education: Lubbock Christian University.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-plemmons-52962260/

Steffanie Ragland was hired as Vice President, Documentation Manager, Atlantic Equipment Finance, Inc., a subsidiary of Atlantic Union Bank, Alpharetta, Georgia.  Previously, she was Vice President Documentation Manager, Suntrust Equipment Leasing & Finance  Corp. (August, 2017 - October, 2020); Vice President, Bank of America (May, 2011 - August, 2017); Buy Desk Deal Closer, IBM Credit, LLC (December, 2006 - March, 2010); Vice President Documentation and Funding, GMAC Commercial Mortgage (January, 2002 - December, 2006); Management, Documentation/Funding, Textron Financial (March, 1997 - April, 2000); Transaction Group Leader CIT Group (1994 - 1997). Education: Robert Morris University, Business Administration. https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffanie-ragland-2781931b/

Michael D. Schultz was hired as National Manager, Ridge Commercial Capital, Wenatchee, Washington. He remains President, Premier Financial, Inc. (March, 2012 - Present).  Previously, he was National Account Manager, Allegiant Partners Inc. (April, 2013 - February, 2021); Vice President, Cashmere Valley Bank (June, 1997 - January, 2012): Assistant Manager, The Associates Financial (March, 1995 - June, 1997). Educating: Washington State University, Business Administration and Management General (2009 - 2010); Pacific Coast Banking School, Undergraduate Degree of Banking (2005 - 2008); Highline Community College, Associate's degree (1989 - 1992). https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-d-schultz-b7194413/

Alex Shields was hired as Vice President, Sales Vendor Relationship Manager, ByLine Financial Group, Byline Bank, Chicago, Illinois. "He will be"...specializing in the agriculture and construction equipment industry. In this role, Alex will focus on securing new dealer and manufacturer finance programs for the company." He is located in Melbourne, Florida.  Previously he was District Sales Manager, Kaeser Compressors USA (May, 2019 - January, 2021); National Account Program Manager, Wells Fargo Equipment Finance (November, 2006 - May, 2019); Chief Operating Officer, TCM Distribution USA (October, 2004 - November, 2006); Vice President of Sales and Marketing, MMD Equipment (February, 1994 - September, 2004).  Education: Regis University, MBA, Business (2003 - 2006). Saint Leo University. Bachelor of Arts, Business Management (1998 - 2001); Rowan University, Bachelor of Arts, Geography (1988 - 1993). https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-shields-b8912212/

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Leasing Industry Help Wanted

 

Retail to Come Roaring Back
“Promises to be biggest year in retail sales in years”

The National Retail Federation (NRF) released its annual forecast for the year ahead—and it’s an extraordinary one—anticipating retail sales growth between 6.5%-8.2%. The NRF says as more Americans get vaccinated, and the economy sparks back to life, retail revenues will top $4.33 trillion.

Online sales (which are part of the $4.33-$4.4 trillion predicted) are likely to grow between 18%-23%, hitting $1.14 trillion to $1.9 trillion (topping a trillion dollars for the first time).

NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay says, despite the “continuing health and economic challenges” COVID-19 wrought, they’re “very optimistic healthy consumer fundamentals, pent-up demand, and widespread distribution of the vaccine will generate increased economic growth, retail sales, and consumer spending.”

Retailers, he notes, “have gone above and beyond even the most conservative safety guidelines to protect and serve their associates and consumers alike.” That is key to the recovery—both retail employees and customers need to feel comfortable going in the store.

The NRF is optimistic about the overall economy as well, expecting it to add 220,000-300,000 jobs a month as we head into the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2021.

And 2020 retail sales surprised everyone, with retail sales boasting growth of 6.7% over 2019, to $4.06 trillion, almost doubling the originally projected growth of 3.5%--and that’s in the middle of a global pandemic. This unexpected growth was, no doubt, driven by online sales, which soared 21.9% in 2020 to $969.4 billion.

Holiday sales (November 1-December 31) accounted for 19.4% of 2020’s retail sales, coming in at “an unexpectedly high 8% to $787.1 billion, with online sales growing 22.6% to $206.9 billion.

NRF chief economist Jack Kleinhenz says they expect “accelerated growth” to start mid-year and “the economy is expected to see its fastest growth in over two decades.” And Kleinhenz expects the service sector, which normally accounts for 70% of consumer spending, will bounce back as well.

Consumers have become “attached to the convenience and product selection of buying online,” which means you need to maintain a robust e-commerce website and continue to offer BOPIS (buy online, pickup in-store) and curbside pickup options.

Online sales (which are part of the $4.33-$4.4 trillion predicted) are likely to grow between 18%-23%, hitting $1.14 trillion to $1.9 trillion (topping a trillion dollars for the first time).

NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay says, despite the “continuing health and economic challenges” COVID-19 wrought, they’re “very optimistic healthy consumer fundamentals, pent-up demand, and widespread distribution of the vaccine will generate increased economic growth, retail sales, and consumer spending.”

Retailers, he notes, “have gone above and beyond even the most conservative safety guidelines to protect and serve their associates and consumers alike.” That is key to the recovery—both retail employees and customers need to feel comfortable going in the store.

The NRF is optimistic about the overall economy as well, expecting it to add 220,000-300,000 jobs a month as we head into the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2021.

And 2020 retail sales surprised everyone, with retail sales boasting growth of 6.7% over 2019, to $4.06 trillion, almost doubling the originally projected growth of 3.5%--and that’s in the middle of a global pandemic. This unexpected growth was, no doubt, driven by online sales, which soared 21.9% in 2020 to $969.4 billion.

Holiday sales (November 1-Dec 31) accounted for 19.4% of 2020’s retail sales, coming in at “an unexpectedly high 8% to $787.1 billion, with online sales growing 22.6% to $206.9 billion.

NRF chief economist Jack Kleinhenz says they expect “accelerated growth” to start mid-year, and “the economy is expected to see its fastest growth in over two decades.” And Kleinhenz expects the service sector, which normally accounts for 70% of consumer spending, will bounce back as well.

Consumers have become “attached to the convenience and product selection of buying online,” which means you need to maintain a robust e-commerce website and continue to offer BOPIS (buy online, pickup in-store) and curbside pickup options.

Source: growbizmedia.com

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Top Mark Funding Announces Expansion with New Hires
and a return to Travel for Dealer Account Representatives

TopMark Funding, the premier funding destination for commercial vehicle dealers, announced three key additions to the team in the first months of 2021. The moves correspond with the company’s continued implementation of its post-pandemic growth strategy including a return to travel for TopMark’s dealer account representatives. The company is forecasting 60% year-over-year growth for 2021 as it emerges from the pandemic.

TopMark has added two specialist roles to its roster as well as a dedicated sales recruiter.

The first specialist is a dealer marketing position dedicated to introducing TopMark’s solutions to dealers as a first touchpoint for any potential partnership. TopMark added this role in an effort to move full throttle into building long-term relationships with top-performing dealerships looking to both upgrade and maximize the finance options available to their customers.

Larry Molenburg, Senior Vice President of Business Development, TopMark Funding, LLC, said, “We have found it valuable to meet face-to-face with dealers at the onset of a new partnership to help ensure the dealer understands all of TopMark’s financing options for their customers, and it allows us to demonstrate the speed and ease of using our DealerLinc system to submit transactions.”
 
The second specialist is a dedicated customer service role which will serve as one of the first and most important points of contact for TopMark customers.

Evan Lang, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, TopMark Funding, LLC. said, “In 2021, our attention continues to be on expanding the team to find and retain industry experts who have a passion for the commercial vehicle funding space and will contribute to the overall culture of the organization.”

“As our focus continues to grow around TopMark’s dealer program offerings, we know that it is time to allow our top sales reps to safely return to building those key dealer relationships across the country,” continued Lang.

The Sales Recruiter is a dedicated position focused on identifying and sourcing top sales talent from within the industry to support the company’s growing sales needs and assist with the flow of transactions coming from TopMark’s growing dealer base. These hires are part of TopMark’s talent strategy to build high-performing teams in every facet of the organization.

As the country begins to rebound and vaccinations are rolled out to essential workers including truck drivers, TopMark has revved its engine on growing the Dealer Referral Network and its sales team will be returning to the field in the coming months.

As part of the company’s dealer program offerings growth, customers can expect additional features in DealerLinc to be rolled out soon as the program is expanded. DealerLinc is TopMark’s comprehensive platform for dealers to close transactions more quickly and with better communication throughout the process. To learn more about DealerLinc, visit TopMarkFunding.com.

 

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ELFA January New Business Down 33%
from December, 2020

(Chart: Leasing News)

The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) reports overall new business was $8.1 billion, down 12% from year-over-year for new business volume in January 2020.  Volume was down 33 percent month-to-month, stating it was "following the typical end-of-quarter, end-of-year spike in new business activity."

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(Chart: ELFA)

Full Listing of 35 MLFI Participants

1. Bank of America Global Leasing
2. Bank of the West
3. BB&T Bank
4. BMO Harris Equipment Finance
5. Canon Financial Services
6. Caterpillar Financial Services
7. CIT
8. Citizens Asset Finance
9. Dell Financial Services
10. DLL
11. Fifth Third Bank
12. First American Equipment Finance
13. Frost Equipment Leasing and Finance
14. GreatAmerica Financial Services
15. Hitachi Capital America
16. HP, Inc.
17. HPE Financial Services Company
18. Huntington Equipment Finance
19. John Deere Financial
20. Key Equipment Finance
21. LEAF Commercial Capital Inc.
22. M&T Bank
23. Marlin Capital Solutions
24. Merchants Bank Equipment Finance
25. PNC Equipment Finance
26. Societe Generale Equipment Finance
27. Siemens Financial Services
28. Stearns Bank
29. Stonebriar Commercial Finance
30. TCF Capital Solutions, a division of TCF National Bank
31. TD Equipment Finance
32. TIAA Commercial Finance, Inc.
33. US Bancorp Business Equipment Finance
34. Volvo Financial Services
35. Wells Fargo Equipment Finance

An Overview of Cannabis Legislation Approved
Across the US

While lawmakers recently tabled a bill seeking to legalize cannabis at the federal level, legislators from four states approved new marijuana legalization bills in various committees. In the wake of last year’s slew of cannabis reform victories at the state level, legislators have been keen on cannabis legalization, whether by leveraging the momentum of the state-level legislation or by getting ahead of campaigners to craft their own cannabis legislation rather than wait for policy change through the ballot.

In Hawaii, the Senate Committee responsible for Intergovernmental, Public Safety and Military Affairs gave the nod to two bills that would legalize cannabis and increase the allowed limit. Bill SB-767 aims to legalize marijuana for adults aged at least 21 years, as well as allow state-licensed businesses to grow, produce and sell cannabis products. Adults aged 21 and over would also be able to grow a maximum of three mature plants for their personal consumption. Bill SB 758 would increase the threshold one can possess from 5 grams of cannabis to 28.5 grams (one ounce).

Minnesota’s House Committee in charge of Commerce and Finance Policy approved a bill to legalize cannabis. Filed this month by Majority Leader of the House Ryan Winkler and joined by other legislators, the bill seeks to allow adults who are at 21 years old to buy and possess a maximum of 1.5 ounces of marijuana as well as grow up to eight cannabis plants, including four mature ones.

In New Mexico, the House committee in charge of Health and Human Services passed a proposed measure to legalize cannabis through a 7–4 lawmaker vote. The measure plans to allow adults aged at least 21 to possess two ounces of marijuana and cultivate a maximum of six immature plants as well as six mature plants for their own personal consumption. It also seeks to create a mechanism to regulate and tax cannabis sales, with the tax revenue being used to reinvest in communities that were impacted the most by the drug war.

A North Dakota committee narrowly passed a Republican-sponsored measure that would legalize recreational marijuana use by adults. The Human Service House committee passed the bill, which plans to allow adults who are at least 21 years or more to have cannabis and buy up to an ounce for their personal use, through a close 7–6 narrow win. The bill is now expected to head to the Appropriations Committee before being considered on the floor.

New Jersey passed three bills into law,  decriminalizing small amounts of cannabis possession and made adult-use cannabis legal in the state. After the bills were approved, state officials moved to end arrests and dismiss any pending cannabis charges.

This makes New Jersey the 13th state in the United States to legalize marijuana, joining Massachusetts, California, Vermont, Colorado and Maine, where marijuana is legal. The state legislature in Pennsylvania is also considering legalizing cannabis.

The legislations also limit the use of prior cannabis convictions and create a carefully regulated marijuana marketplace that will give the state of New Jersey a boost economically. Murphy stated that in place of unreasonable cannabis laws were laws that would help establish a new industry that was based on equity, and that would reinvest into communities.

Other states that saw drug reform action include California, where a number of lawmakers tabled a bill to legalize psychedelics possession; Virginia, where both Houses of the legislature voted to legalize cannabis; Washington State, where a committee passed a bill to decriminalize personal use of small quantities of all currently illegal drugs; and Wisconsin, which published a budgetary proposal calling for the legalization of both therapeutic and recreational use of cannabis.

Business is thriving in states that already have legal cannabis markets. For example, Golden Leaf Holdings Ltd. (CSE: GLH) (OTCQB: GLDFF) is licensed in Nevada and Oregon in addition to having distribution partnerships in California. These operations have seen the company recruit a total of at least 160 permanent employees to serve its growing client base.

Source: Cannabisnews.com

 

 

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### Press Release ############################

ENGS Develops Digital to Business Platform
that Predicts Customer Financing Behaviors

ENGS Commercial Finance, a Mitsubishi UFJ Lease and Finance company, developed a digital center that is “always connected” to vendors and customers. The digital center, through data driven intelligence, delivers a digital to business (D2B) solution that predicts customers’ financing behaviors and customizes a solution for their exact needs. The ENGS digital center leverages decades of lending information from tens of thousands of customers to deliver financing solutions to customers and vendors.

According to ENGS, the digital center is always connected to all aspects of the equipment finance lifecycle, delivering a full suite of digital finance solutions aimed at enhancing the customer experience and promoting repeat business.

Christopher D. Johanneson, Managing Director of Operations, Marketing and Digital Strategy for ENGS, said. “ENGS has greatly invested in digital technology and created a digital center responsible for analyzing customer data to deliver D2B customized financing products at the essential time for our vendors and customers.

“Creating a new business unit centered around our customer data and best-in-class technology tools is a necessary progression today. Adapting to an increasingly digital market environment and taking advantage of digital technologies create a better customer experience and improves our operational efficiencies, both of which are imperative for success.”

Steven Holben, CLFP, Director of Digital Sales Strategy for ENGS, will lead the ENGS digital center.

“Digital transformation and adaption in today’s ever-evolving culture is essential for companies to succeed,” Holben said. “ENGS has developed a dynamic digital infrastructure that allows us to innovate faster, collaborate efficiently and drive value for our vendors and customers. The exceptional customer experience we pride ourselves on delivering will accelerate with the analytical intellect of the digital center.”

“We are excited to have Steven in this very important role for the company to deliver on our commitments to our vendors and customers,” Johanneson said. “This is an important initiative for ENGS, and I am confident with Steven’s leadership, experience and strong support of his team, we will deliver exceptional results and an unmatched customer experience.”

##### Press Release ############################

 

 

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Fernando Croce Reviews
Watch at Home

In Criterion’s latest batch of restored classics, there are extensive collections, caustic comedies, harrowing coming-of-age stories, and masterpieces of paranoia. Check them out with Netflix.

The Essential Fellini: Released to celebrate one hundred years since his birth, this 14-film set beautifully illustrates the career trajectory of master Italian director Federico Fellini (1920-1993). Ranging from 1950 to 1987, the films show his early roots in earthy, realistic portraits as well as his later forays into dreamy, playful surrealism. There’s his debut with “Variety Lights,” as well as his international breakthroughs with “La Strada” and “Nights of Cabiria.” Later there’s the kaleidoscopic study of modern decadence of “La Dolce Vita,” and the self-reflexive magnum opus of “8½,” a benchmark in personal cinema that’s influential to this day. The daring “Satyricon” and “Roma” were to follow, along with the nostalgic, Oscar-winning “Amarcord.” Highlighting the classics along with lesser-known films, this is the perfect tribute to a cinema genius. With subtitles.

Mandabi (Ousmane Sembene, 1968): Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembene follows his shattering debut “Black Girl” with this acidic comedy, which follows the effect a money order has on a man and his surroundings. Ibrahima (Makhouredia Gueye) is an unemployed clerk who lives in Dakar with his two wives and many children. One day an order of 250 francs arrives from his nephew in Paris. Cashing it proves to be quite a challenge for Ibrahima, who has no ID and must go through a torturous bureaucratic labyrinth to get one, often spending money that he doesn’t have. In the meantime, friends and debtors come to his house after hearing that he’s become rich. With his customary unfussy visuals and societal critique, Sembene offers a withering study of inequality, corruption, and desperation. With subtitles.

The Parallax View (Alan J. Pakula, 1974): A specialist in making paranoia tangible, Alan J. Pakula (“All the President’s Men”) turns this tense political thriller into a key work of the 1970s. Warren Beatty stars as Joseph Frady, a brash reporter determined to get to the bottom of things after the mysterious assassination of a presidential candidate. The deeper he burrows into the web of intrigue, however, the more dangerous things become for those around him, including his newspaper editor (Hume Cronyn) and a former girlfriend (Paula Prentiss). Eventually, Frady must risk his own life by going undercover into the shadowy Parallax Corporation, where a much bigger conspiracy emerges. Thrilling in its cinematic virtuosity and chilling in its depiction of systematic menace, Pakula’s film attains the feel of a true nightmare.

Smooth Talk (Joyce Chopra, 1985): Laura Dern had her screen breakout with an immensely compelling performance in this coming-of-age drama adapted from a Joyce Carol Oates story. Dern plays Connie, a teenaged high-schooler navigating the unsettled waters of young womanhood during an eventful summer. As she cruises shopping malls with her friends, her growing interest in boys goes from flirty to intense, especially after she meets an imposing older man named Alfred (Treat Williams). When she finds herself home alone after her parents (Levon Helm and Mary Kay Place) leave for a barbecue, Arnold drops by with a combination of seductiveness and danger. The territory is familiar, yet director Joyce Chopra keeps things unpredictable by starting out on naturalistic, observational mode and going down a darker, more haunting road.

Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese (Martin Scorsese, 2019): Two wildly different yet equally passionate artists, director Martin Scorsese and singer Bob Dylan, team up for this one-of-a-kind mix of documentary and fiction. Much of it chronicles the 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue concert tour, which Dylan brought together with such other songwriters as Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell. Footage from that event, thrillingly restored and commented upon by modern-day interviews, is combined with comic fictional characters such as an artsy filmmaker and a pesky reporter. With Dylan as mercurial ringmaster, where does reality end and fiction begin? Capturing, celebrating and expanding on a moment from 45 years ago, Scorsese and his trickster star present an epic crazy-quilt about fame and creativity, brimming with exceptional musical performances.

Labrador Retriever & Shar-Pei Mix
Mankato, Minnesota  Adopt-a-Dog



Charlie

Male
Medium size
Yellow/Tan/Blonde/Fawn
Vaccinations Up-to-Date
Neutered
Adult Home Preferred/Single Dog Home

Meet Charlie
Hi, I'm Charlie! I am a handsome dog with a can-do attitude! I love to chat with my people, take them for walks, and trick them into giving me lots of pets and back scratches! And bacon! I love bacon! I will definitely sit for bacon. I would love to find a home with adults who want me to be their only spoiled pet! Does that sound like you? Then please fill out an application and have your people get in touch with my people.

Sincerely,
Charlie

Ask About Charlie
https://www.petfinder.com/dog/charlie-50439210/mn/mankato/blue-earth-nicollet-county-humane-society-mn133/

Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society
1250 N. River Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
info@benchs.org
507.625.6373

 

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Reid Raykovich, CLFP
Leasing News Advisor
Reid joined the Leasing News Advisory Board January 1, 2019

 

Reid Raykovich, CLFP
Executive Director
Certified Lease & Finance Professional Foundation
(206) 535-6281
P.O. Box 146, Northbrook, IL 60065
reid@CLFPFoundation.org
www.CLFPFoundation.org

Reid Raykovich, CLFP, is the Executive Director at the Certified Lease & Finance Professional Foundation. Reid took over the Foundation in 2012 and has grown the membership by over 550%. In 2014, she was honored with the Foundation’s Cindy Spurdle Award of Excellence.

Reid began her career in the commercial equipment leasing and finance industry at Great American Insurance where she obtained her CLFP designation. She has also held various positions at McCommon Leasing, Irwin Commercial Finance and Financial Pacific Leasing where she was presented the “Above and Beyond Leadership” Award. She was also given the Leasing News Person of the Year Award in 2016, was named as one of the top 50 most powerful and influential women in the industry by Monitor magazine in 2019, and also named as the 2020 Pioneer Icon by Monitor.

Reid has authored and co-authored several articles regarding certification and continuing education and has spoken on various panels and presented at many industry conference sessions. In 2018, she traveled to Australia and spoke in three cities regarding the certification.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with minors in Classics and Business from the University of Washington where she graduated magna cum laude in two and a half years.

In her spare time, she loves crafting and making gifts for others. She has a daughter Milla, a purebred mutt Sophie, and a loving cat Toonces who all keep her on her toes.

 

[headlines]
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Ken Lubin PodCast
Rocky Harris-CEO of USA Triathlon

Rocky Harris was named Chief Executive Officer for USA Triathlon, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic National Governing Body for the sport, in August 2017. In his first year of tenure, Harris spearheaded a technology initiative to streamline USA Triathlon’s data, oversaw campaigns for anti-doping and SafeSport, and implemented key upgrades to the USA Triathlon Annual Membership program.

Prior to his current role. he was the COO at Arizona State University, where he directed overall strategic planning, implementation, administration, direction, supervision, and day-to-day operations of Sun Devil Athletics. He also spent time with Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo, the Houston Texans and the San Francisco 49ers.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rocky-harris-015b713/

Podcast:

 

 

Ken Lubin
Managing Director
ZRG Partners, LLC
Americas I EMEA I Asia Pacific
C: 508-733-4789
https://www.linkedin.com/in/klubin

 

News Briefs---

Manhattan wine store’s entire $300,000 inventory
   stolen: police
https://nypost.com/2021/02/24/nyc-wine-stores-entire-300000-inventory-stolen-police/

Post Office Purchase of Gasoline Trucks
    Seems to Defy Biden Order
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-24/post-office-purchase-of-gasoline-truck-seems-to-defy-biden-order

[headlines]
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You May Have Missed---

Where does the new McDonald's chicken sandwich rank?
    Turns out, the Arches fall flat
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Where-does-the-new-McDonald-s-chicken-sandwich-15980095.php?IPID=SFGate-HP-Editors-Picks

[headlines]
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Sports Briefs---

Rusell Wilson hasn't demanded a trade
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30963438/qb-russell-wilson-demanded-trade-seattle-seahawks-agent-says

Report: Teams have called to make trade offers for Deshaun Watson, Texans won’t talk
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/02/25/report-teams-have-called-to-make-trade-offers-for-deshaun-watson-texans-wont-talk/

[headlines]
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California Nuts Briefs---

Gov. Newsom’s vaccine plan
    aims to reopen California classrooms
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/gov-newsoms-vaccine-plan-aims-to-reopen-california-classrooms/

Stanford University says juniors, seniors can opt
   to return to campus in spring quarter
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/02/25/stanford-juniors-seniors-can-return-to-campus-in-spring-quarter-university-says/?campaign=sjmnbreaking

Big Sur: Highway 1 to reopen this summer
     after $11.5 million slide repair
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2021/02/25/highway-1-in-big-sur-to-reopen-this-summer-after-11-5-million-slide-repair/

Pups on the Patio: 25 Dog-Friendly Restaurants
    in Sonoma County, California
https://www.sonomamag.com/dog-friendly-restaurants-in-sonoma-county/?

[headlines]
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“Gimme that Wine”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJnQoi8DSE8

Duckhorn Wine Co. files for $100 million
     initial public offering of stock
https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/business/duckhorn-wine-co-files-for-100-million-

Calistoga solidifies policy to limit tasting rooms
https://napavalleyregister.com/business/calistoga-solidifies-policy-to-limit-tasting-rooms/article_71d64323-d169-50a6-a884-d6b606019346.html

Charles Krug Winery Lot Receives $10,000 Winning Bid
     in Premiere Napa Valley Auction
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/?go=getArticle&dataId=242101

Free Wine App
https://www.nataliemaclean.com/mobileapp/

Wine Prices by vintage
http://www.winezap.com
http://www.wine-searcher.com/

This Day in History

     1732 - Mass was celebrated for the first time at St Joseph's Church in Philadelphia, the only Roman Catholic church built and maintained in the American colonies before the Revolutionary War.
    1750 - Population estimated the number of white inhabitants of all the colonies to be 1,165,000, and blacks (who were mostly slaves) to be 260,000, distributed as follows: WHITE/BLACK: Massachusetts-207,000/3,000; New Hampshire-50,000/3,000; Connecticut-133,000/3,500; Rhode Island-35,000/4,500; New York-85,000/11,000; New Jersey-73,000/5,000; Pennsylvania and Delaware-195,000/11,000; Maryland-104,000/44,000; Virginia-168,000/116,000; North Carolina-70,000/20,000; South Carolina-40,000/40,000; Georgia-5,000/2,000. Since the English Revolution in 1688--a period of only sixty-six years--the growth of the colonies in population had been marvelous. New England had increased from 75,000 to 425,000; New York, from 20,000 to 85,000; New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, from 47,000 to 372,000; Virginia, from 50,000 to 168,000; and the Carolinas and Georgia, from 8,000 to 135,000. The assertion of a letter of an "American Farmer" was almost literally true when he wrote: "We are all tillers of the earth from Nova Scotia to West Florida. We are a people of cultivation, scattered over an immense territory; communicating with each other by means of good roads and navigable rivers; united by the silken bands of mild government; all respecting the laws, without dreading their power because they are equitable."
    1829 - Bavarian immigrant Levi Strauss (d. 1902) was born in Buttenheim. His company, Levi Strauss & Company began in San Francisco in 1853.  He created the world's first pair of jeans—Levi's 501 jeans—for California's gold miners. They were made of sail canvas and rivets were used along with sail making thread. He dyed them blue to hide the marks from the riveting apparatus and to make them more attractive. The pants style is still popular today, but now in “designer” styles from full boot to slim leg and more.
    1846 - George C. Stebbins (d. 1945) was born in Orleans County, NY.  American Baptist music evangelist. A composer of over 1,500 songs during his lifetime, Stebbins is still remembered today for writing the melodies to such hymns as: "I've Found a Friend," "Take Time to Be Holy," "Have Thine Own Way, Lord" and "Jesus is Tenderly Calling Thee Home."
    1846 - William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s (d. 1917) birthday at Scott County, Iowa. He claimed to have killed more than 4,000 buffaloes. Buffalo Bill started working at the age of eleven after his father's death and became a rider for the Pony express at age 14. During the Civil War, he served for the Union from 1863 to the end of the war in 1865. Later he served as a civilian scout to the US Army during the Indian Wars, receiving the Medal of Honor in 1872. Subject of many heroic Wild West yarns, Cody became successful as a showman taking his acts across the US and to Europe. 
    1848 – “The Communist Manifesto” was written by Karl Marx and Friederich Engels on the eve of the revolutions of 1848.
    1870 - The first pneumatic subway, invented by Alfred Ely Beach, known first as the Beach Pneumatic Underground Railway, was opened to the public in New York City. It consisted of a circular tube nine feet in diameter and the cars, which were well upholstered, carried 222 persons each way. They were propelled by a rotary blower that drove a blast of air through the tunnel against the rear of the car, carrying it along “like a sailboat before the wind.”
    1870 - Wyatt Outlaw, black leader of Union League in North Carolina, was lynched. Wyatt Outlaw, the Negro police officer who had fired upon the Klansmen at their first appearance in the county, was head of the Union League, an anti-Ku Klux Group in the County. His death had been determined by certain members of one of the Klan orders. A party of them rode into Graham, seized Outlaw in his home, and carried him to a tree in the courthouse square. There they hanged him, leaving on his breast the inscription: "Beware, ye guilty, both black and white.” Many blacks were killed by the Klan, and black homes and property burned/destroyed for the next sixty-five years, into the late 1920's.
http://www.wm.edu/~srnels/posnc/timeline.html
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncalaman/centennial.html
http://www.ccharity.com/northcarolina/adjutantgenl.htm
    1873 - The American bison, also called the buffalo, was almost extinct, even though at the start of the nine­teenth century estimates placed the North American bison population as high as 60,000,000. Bison were essential to the way of life of the Indians of the Great Plains, who depended on them for food, clothing, and shelter. The symbiotic relationship of the Indians and the bison threatened neither group. However, with the coming of the railroad, professional buffalo hunters, and the settlement of the West, the situation changed. Bison were slaughtered far beyond any need for food or hides. Although in 1865 about 10,000,000 bison still roamed the plains, by 1890 only 1000 or so were left.  Recovery efforts expanded in the mid-20th century, with a resurgence to roughly 31,000 animals today, largely restricted to a few national parks and reserves.
    1882 – Husband E. Kimmel (d. 1968) was born in Henderson, KY.  A four-star Admiral in the US Navy and Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Kimmel was relieved of his command ten days after the attack and he was reduced to the two-star rank of Rear Admiral.  The base for the fleet had been moved from its traditional home at San Diego to Pearl Harbor in May, 1940. On February 18, 1941, Kimmel wrote to the Chief of Naval Operations:  “I feel that a surprise attack (submarine, air, or combined) on Pearl Harbor is a possibility, and we are taking immediate practical steps to minimize the damage inflicted and to ensure that the attacking force will pay.”  The Roberts Commission appointed by President Roosevelt to investigate the attack, determined that Kimmel and his counterpart, Army Lt. Gen. Walter Short, were guilty of errors of judgment and dereliction of duty in the events leading up to the attack. Kimmel defended his decisions at several hearings, testifying that important information had not been made available to him.  Subsequent exhaustive writings about the near-attack events seem to support him.
    1885 - Birthday of Lavinia Lloyd Dock (d. 1956) in Harrisburg, PA.  Nurse, settlement house worker, suffragist, she trained as a nurse at Bellevue Hospital, the first American school to follow Florence Nightingale's principles of patient care and nurse self-reliance. Dock nursed during a yellow fever epidemic in Jacksonville, FL, and at the Johnstown, PA flood. She wrote “Materia Medical for Nurses” (1890), the standard nursing text for a generation. Moved to the Henry Street Settlement house Lillian Wald had created, she became a member of Wald's inner circle, and lived there for 20 years. She also wrote “A History of Nursing” (1907) with Adelaide Nutting which explored the glorious historical past of women's involvement in nursing, until men took over to bring "general contempt" to nurses and "misery" to patients, until Florence Nightingale came to the rescue." She had to move out of the Henry Street Settlement because of her actions - including arrests - in connection with the radical American Woman's movement.
    1887 - Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander (d. 1950), Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, was born at Elba, NE. Suffering from epilepsy, haunted by his experiences in combat during World War I, and shadowed by alcoholism, Alexander was still able to win 373 games during a 20-year career, the third highest total in Major League history, pitching for 20 years with the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. He won 30 or more games three times and won the National League earned run average title five times. In Game Seven of the 1926 World Series with St. Louis ahead, 3-2, he staggered in from the bullpen to strike out the New York Yankees' Tony Lazzeri with the bases loaded and held New York at bay for the last two innings. Alexander pitched complete game victories in Games 2 and 6 and according to teammate Bob O’Farrell in “The Glory of Their Times,” after the game six victory, Alexander got drunk that night and was still feeling the effects when he was sent out to pitch the next day in Game 7.  Ronald Reagan played Alexander in the moving, “The Winning Team.” Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1938.
    1887 – William Frawley (d. 1966) was born in Burlington, IA.  Although Frawley appeared in over 100 films, he is best known for his television work, playing landlord Fred Mertz in the long-running “I Love Lucy” and Bub in “My Three Sons.”
    1893 – Wallace Fard Muhammad (d. 1934) was born.  There is considerable doubt as to this date and the location of the birth for the founder of the Nation of Islam. He arrived in Detroit in 1930 with an obscure background and several aliases, where he taught a distinctive form of Islam to members of the city's African-American population. He disappeared in 1934. 
    1894 – Major League Baseball introduced rule changes that made foul bunts strikes, and the infield fly rule is instituted.  The infield fly rule dictates that with the bases loaded or runners on first and second bases, and there are fewer than two outs, if the batter hits a pop-up that in the judgment of the umpire can be caught by an infielder, the batter is automatically out and the runners advance at their own risk.
    1905 - Violinist/producer/composer Bill Russell (d. 1992) was born, Canton, MO.
http://www.hnoc.org/russell.htm
http://www.delmark.com/delmark.214.htm
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/reviews/r0401_051.htm
    1907 - The United States Congress raised their pay to $7500, for both House and Senate members. The Cabinet members and the Vice President earned twelve thousand. At that time, the Vice President was paid enough to buy half a dozen houses. The richest man in the world, John D. Rockefeller's oil fortune was, at that time, worth no more than $300 million.
    1910 - Parts of Washington State were in the midst of a storm which produced 129 inches of snow at Laconia between the 24th and the 26th, a single storm record for the state. A series of storms, which began on the 23rd, led to a deadly avalanche on the first of March. By late on the 28th, the snow had changed to rain, setting the stage for disaster.
    1916 - American musician, comedian and actor, John Herbert "Jackie" Gleason (d. 1987) was born at Brooklyn, NY. Best known for his role as Ralph Kramden in the long-running television series "The Honeymooners," he also developed “The Jackie Gleason Show.”  Gleason's big break occurred in 1949, when he landed the role of blunt but softhearted aircraft worker Chester A. Riley for “The Life of Riley.”  He was hired to host DuMont's “Cavalcade of Stars” variety hour in 1950.  Renamed “The Jackie Gleason Show,” the program became the country's second highest-rated television show during the 1954–55 season. By far, Gleason's most popular character was blustery bus driver, Ralph Kramden. Largely drawn from Gleason's harsh Brooklyn childhood, these sketches became known as “The Honeymooners.” The show was based on Ralph's many get-rich-quick schemes, his ambition, antics with his best friend and neighbor, scatterbrained sewer worker Ed Norton (played by Art Carney), and clashes with sensible wife Alice (Audrey Meadows), who typically pulled Ralph's head down from the clouds. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Gleason also enjoyed a secondary music career, lending his name to a series of best-selling "mood music" albums with for Capitol Records. Among his notable film roles were Minnesota Fats in the Academy Award-winning 1961 drama “The Hustler” (co-starring with Paul Newman), and Buford T. Justice in the “Smokey and the Bandit” series from 1977 into the early 1980s, in which he co-starred with Burt Reynolds.
    1917 - First jazz record of history: Original Dixieland Jazz Band cuts “Livery Stable Blues,” “One Step,” NYC.
    1919 - Grand Canyon National Park was established by an act of Congress.  An immense gorge cut through the high plateaus of northwest Arizona by the raging Colorado River and covering 1,218,375 acres, Grand Canyon National Park is considered one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world.
    1919 - The Lafayette National Park was established, later renamed in 1929, the Acadia National Park, the largest east of the Mississippi.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/feb26.html
    1920 – Tony Randall was born Leonard Rosenberg (d. 2004) in Tulsa, OK.  In a career that spanned five decades in film, stage and television, he is best remembered as Felix Unger in the long-running series, “The Odd Couple.”  He also founded the National Action Theater, dedicated to performing the classics of theater.
    1921 - Birthday of Betty Hutton (d. 2007), born Elizabeth June Thornburg in Battle Creek, MI.  Brash actor/singer best known for her role in the movie “Annie Get Your Gun” (1950).
    1926 - First Black middle-weight boxing champion, Theodore "Georgia Deacon" Flowers (1895-1927), defeated Harry Greb in New York. Also known as “Tiger” Flowers.
http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/flowers.htm
http://www.aaregistry.com/detail.php3?id=1457
    1929 - Antoine (Fats) Domino (d. 2017) was born in New Orleans.  He is the biggest-selling '50s rock 'n' roll artist, with the exception of Elvis Presley. The New Orleans R&B pianist has sold more than 65-million records. By the time he joined trumpeter Dave Bartholomew's band in the 1940's, he had already mastered the classic New Orleans piano style of such performers as Professor Longhair and Amos Milburn. In 1949, Fats Domino had his first million-seller, "The Fat Man." But it wasn't until 1955, with "Ain't That a Shame," (#10) that he attracted the white record-buying public. Domino eventually collected 23 gold singles, for such hits as "I'm In Love Again" (#3), "Blueberry Hill" (#2), "When My Dreamboat Comes Home" (Pop No. 14), "Valley of Tears" (Pop No. 8), "It's You I Love" (Pop No. 6), "Whole Lotta Loving" (Pop No. 6), "I Want to Walk You Home" (Pop No. 8),  "Be My Guest" (Pop No. 8) and "I'm Walkin'" (Pop No. 4).  When Hurricane Katrina was approaching New Orleans in August, 2005, Domino chose to stay at home with his family, partly because of his wife Rosemary's poor health. His house was in an area that was heavily flooded.   The Domino family was then taken to a shelter, after which they were picked up by JaMarcus Russell, the starting quarterback of the LSU football team, and Fats' granddaughter's boyfriend. He let the Dominos stay in his apartment. "We've lost everything," Domino said.  By January 2006, work to gut and repair Domino's home and office had begun. In the meantime, the Domino family resided in Harvey, LA.  President George W. Bush made a personal visit and replaced the National Medal of Arts that President Bill Clinton had previously awarded Domino. The gold records were replaced by the RIAA and Capitol Records.  In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked him No. 25 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time."  This was a true legend of music.
http://www.history-of-rock.com/domino.htm
http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/costello/472/fatsbio.html
http://covers.wiw.org/artist.php/1357
http://www.yesterdayland.com/popopedia/shows/music/mu1257.php
http://www.hoyhoy.com/fats.htm 
http://www.rockhall.com/hof/inductee.asp?id=91
    1930 - Seven years after Garrett A. Morgan invented traffic lights, the first red and green signal lights were installed on New York 's Manhattan street corners.
    1932 - Country singer Johnny Cash (d. 2003) was born in Kingsdale, Arkansas. In 1954, Cash met guitar player Luther Perkins and bass player Marshall Grant. As Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, they sold a million copies of "I Walk the Line" on the Sun label in 1956. Cash signed with Columbia in 1958, and two years later, drummer W.S. Holland was added to make the Tennessee Three. Cash's string of hits for Columbia have included "Ring of Fire," "A Boy Named Sue" and "Folsom Prison Blues." Johnny Cash's records have always been on the border of rock and have often crossed over to the pop charts. The marching bass lines, which characterize many of Cash's songs, influenced the work of Waylon Jennings and others in the outlaw country movement of the 1970's. In 1994, Cash's career was revived with the release of "American Recordings," an album of just the singer and his guitar. It was embraced by everyone from traditional country fans to alternative rockers.
http://www.johnnycash.com/
    1934 - Federal Communications Commission was created at the order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, to oversee communication by radio, wire or cable. TV and satellite communication later became part of its charge.
    1935 – A 40-year old Babe Ruth signed a three–year contract with the Boston Braves after being released by the New York Yankees. He played in only 28 games before retiring June 2.  Ruth's new contract with the Braves also gives him a share of the team's profits. Ruth hit the final three home runs of his Major League career on May 25 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving him a total of 714. His last home run became the first to clear the right field grandstand at Forbes Field and traveled an estimated 600 feet.
    1936 - Wallace “Buddy” Werner (d. 1964), skier, was born at Steamboat Springs, CO. Werner skied on three US Olympic teams and was the first American to break into the sport's top rank by winning important races in Europe. While filming a ski movie, he was overtaken by an avalanche that he attempted to outrace and died at St. Moritz, Switzerland, April 13, 1964.
    1937 - Canadian composer, arranger and vibraphonist Hagood Hardy (d. 1997) was born in Angola, Indiana. He grew up in Oakville, Ontario and from 1957 to 1961, while studying at the University of Toronto, he had his own jazz group. From 1961 to '67, he performed in the US with such musicians as Gigi Gryce, Herbie Mann, Martin Denny and George Shearing. Hardy returned to Canada in the late '60s, becoming a leading composer of radio and TV jingles. In 1975, his single "The Homecoming," written three years earlier as a Salada Tea commercial, became an international hit. The song won Hardy Juno Awards as best composer and best instrumentalist, and Billboard magazine named him instrumentalist of the year. http://www.canoe.ca/JamMusicPopEncycloPagesH/hardy.html
http://www.channelproductions.com/tribute.htm
    1942 - The Academy Awards were presented for movies that were shown in theatres during 1941. "How Green Was My Valley" won the award for Best Picture. The star of "Sergeant York," Gary Cooper, took home the Oscar for Best Actor and the Best Actress statue was presented to Joan Fontaine for her performance in "Suspicion." "How Green Was My Valley" garnered Oscars for Best Supporting Actor, Donald Crisp and Best Director, John Ford. Mary Astor was voted Best Supporting Actress for her role in "The Great Lie."
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0148172.html
    1943 - Guitarist/harmonica player Bob “the Bear” Hite (d. 1981) was born
Torrance, CA.  Canned Heat lead singer.
http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/ebony/546/chbath.html
http://theoinquirer.com/index-648.html
http://www.putnampit.com/blues.html
http://starbulletin.com/2001/08/31/features/story7.html
http://www.drfeelgood.de/c_heat/ch_songs.htm
http://www.drfeelgood.de/c_heat/
http://www.borderlinebooks.com/us6070s/c1z.html
    1944 - Sue Sophia Dauser, superintendent of the US Navy's Nurse Corp, was the first woman to receive the rank of Captain. On December 14, 1945, she became the first Navy nurse to receive the Distinguished Service Medal.
    1945 - Top Hits
“Accentuate the Positive” - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
“I Dream of You” - The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (vocal: Freddy Stewart)
“Don't Fence Me In” - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
“I'm Losing My Mind Over You” - Al Dexter
    1945 - Woody Herman cuts “Caledonia.”
    1945 – Mitch Ryder was born William S. Levise, Jr. in Hamtramck, MI.  He and The Detroit Wheels had limited success until they met songwriter/record producer Bob Crewe.  They recorded several hits in the mid to late 1960s, most notably "Devil with a Blue Dress On,” their highest-charting single at number 4, as well as "Sock It to Me-Baby!," a number 6 hit in 1967, and "Jenny Take a Ride!," which reached number 10 in 1965.

    1951 - James Jones' novel, “From Here to Eternity,” was published in New York by Scribners.  It was Jones’ debut novel, based upon his own experience in the pre-World War II Hawaiian Division’s 27th Infantry and the unit in which he served, Company E ("The Boxing Company").  It won the National Book Award and was named one of the 100 Best Novels of the 20th century by the Modern Library Board.  The book was later made into an Academy Award-winning film starring Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift and Frank Sinatra, as well as two television adaptations and a stage musical.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385333641/inktomi-bkasin-20/
102-1682336-8966565
    1951 - INGMAN, EINAR H., JR., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Cpl.), U.S. Army, Company E, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Maltari, Korea, 26 February 1951. Entered service at: Tomahawk, Wis. Born: 6 October 1929, Milwaukee, Wis. G.O. No.: 68, 2 August 1951. Citation: Sgt. Ingman, a member of Company E, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. The 2 leading squads of the assault platoon of his company, while attacking a strongly fortified ridge held by the enemy, were pinned down by withering fire and both squad leaders and several men were wounded. Cpl. Ingman assumed command, reorganized and combined the 2 squads, then moved from 1 position to another, designating fields of fire and giving advice and encouragement to the men. Locating an enemy machine gun position that was raking his men with devastating fire he charged it alone, threw a grenade into the position, and killed the remaining crew with rifle fire. Another enemy machine gun opened fire approximately 15 yards away and inflicted additional casualties to the group and stopped the attack. When Cpl. Ingman charged the second position he was hit by grenade fragments and a hail of fire which seriously wounded him about the face and neck and knocked him to the ground. With incredible courage and stamina, he arose instantly and, using only his rifle, killed the entire gun crew before falling unconscious from his wounds. As a result of the singular action by Cpl. Ingman the defense of the enemy was broken, his squad secured its objective, and more than 100 hostile troops abandoned their weapons and fled in disorganized retreat. Cpl. Ingman's indomitable courage, extraordinary heroism, and superb leadership reflect the highest credit on himself and are in keeping with the esteemed traditions of the infantry and the U.S. Army.
    1953 - Top Hits
“Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes” - Perry Como
“Till I Waltz Again with You” - Teresa Brewer
“Keep It a Secret” - Jo Stafford
“Kaw-Liga” - Hank Williams
    1954 - Singer/songwriter Michael Bolton was born Michael Bolotin in New Haven, Conn.
    1955 - R&B singer LaVern Baker appeals to the United States Congress in a letter to Michigan Representative Charles Digges Jr., to revise the Copyright Act of 1909. She says that recording artists should be protected against "note-for-note copying" by white artists and arrangers of already recorded R&B tunes and arrangements. Her request was denied.
    1955 - Billboard reports for the first time since their introduction in 1949, 45 rpm discs are outselling the old standard 78. Another change in the industry is also noted. On some New York City jukeboxes, it now costs ten cents instead of five cents to play a record.
    1956 - Buddy Holly's first recording session for Decca is held in Nashville.  Holly's recording sessions at Decca were produced by Owen Bradley. Holly was unhappy with Bradley's restrictions and the results of their work, and went to producer Norman Petty where, among other songs, they recorded a demo of "That’ll Be the Day." Holly was still under contract with Decca and could not use his name.  It was decided a band name was to be used. Bandmate Jerry Allison proposed the name "Crickets."  Petty became the band's manager and he sent the demo to Brunswick Records, which released it as a single credited to "The Crickets." In September 1957, as the band toured, "That'll Be the Day" topped the “Best Sellers in Stores” chart and the UK Singles chart. Its success was followed in October by another major hit, "Peggy Sue." 

    1960 - David Jenkins of the US won the gold medal men's figure skiing at the VIII Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley, Ca.
    1961 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Pony Time,'' Chubby Checker. A version of the song by the Goodtimers entered the chart the same week as Checker's version, but only reached No. 60.
    1961 - Top Hits
“Pony Time” - Chubby Checker
“There's a Moon Out Tonight” - The Capris
“Surrender” - Elvis Presley
“North to Alaska” - Johnny Horton
    1962 - In New York City , the Best Play award winner of 1962, "Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feeling So Sad" opened for 454 performances.
    1965 - Nineteen year-old Jimmie Lee Jackson was killed by state troopers at a voting rights demonstration in Marion, Alabama. As a result, the Selma-to-Montgomery march was organized and took place a month later when Dr. King led 20,000 marchers 50 miles east from the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma to the state capitol in Montgomery. Five months later, President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, and by year's end, more than 250,000 new black voters were registered
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USACjacksonJL.htm
http://www.watson.org/~lisa/blackhistory/civilrights-55-65/selma.html
    1966 - The Beatles' LP "Rubber Soul" rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart, becoming the group's seventh US album chart topper. Paul McCartney conceived the album's title after overhearing someone's description of Mick Jagger's singing style as "plastic soul." To date, the album has sold over six million copies in America.
    1966 - The Rolling Stones released "19th Nervous Breakdown."   It reached number 2 on the US charts and was their fifth consecutive UK number one.
    1966 - Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" hits #1.
    1967 - YABES, MAXIMO, Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Phu Hoa Dong, Republic of Vietnam, 26 February 1967. Entered service at: Eugene, Oregon. Born: 29 January 1932, Lodi, Calif. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Sgt. Yabes distinguished himself with Company A, which was providing security for a land clearing operation. Early in the morning the company suddenly came under intense automatic weapons and mortar fire followed by a battalion sized assault from 3 sides. Penetrating the defensive perimeter the enemy advanced on the company command post bunker. The command post received increasingly heavy fire and was in danger of being overwhelmed. When several enemy grenades landed within the command post, 1st Sgt. Yabes shouted a warning and used his body as a shield to protect others in the bunker. Although painfully wounded by numerous grenade fragments, and despite the vicious enemy fire on the bunker, he remained there to provide covering fire and enable the others in the command group to relocate. When the command group had reached a new position, 1st Sgt. Yabes moved through a withering hail of enemy fire to another bunker 50 meters away. There he secured a grenade launcher from a fallen comrade and fired point blank into the attacking Viet Cong stopping further penetration of the perimeter. Noting 2 wounded men helpless in the fire swept area, he moved them to a safer position where they could be given medical treatment. He resumed his accurate and effective fire killing several enemy soldiers and forcing others to withdraw from the vicinity of the command post. As the battle continued, he observed an enemy machinegun within the perimeter which threatened the whole position. On his own, he dashed across the exposed area, assaulted the machinegun, killed the crew, destroyed the weapon, and fell mortally wounded. 1st Sgt. Yabes' valiant and selfless actions saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers and inspired his comrades to effectively repel the enemy assault. His indomitable fighting spirit, extraordinary courage and intrepidity at the cost of his life are in the highest military traditions and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
    1967 - Having spent so much time in the saddle, Elvis delays an already-postponed trip to Hollywood to begin filming what will be his twenty-fifth film, “Clambake.” Barbara Little, girlfriend of Memphis Mafioso George Klein, suggests calling her doctor, George Nichopoulos, to help with the singer's saddle sores. Thus begins a professional acquaintance that would last until Elvis' death.  In 1980, ‘Dr. Nick’ was indicted on 14 counts of overprescribing drugs to Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and twelve other patients. The district attorney ruled out murder charges because of the conflicting medical opinions about the cause of Presley's death. In 1977 alone, the year Elvis died, Nichopoulos had prescribed over 10,000 doses of amphetamines, barbiturates, narcotics, Tranquilizers, sleeping pills, laxatives, and hormones for Presley. Nichopoulos claimed he had tried in vain to reduce Elvis' dependency, even going so far as to manufacture one thousand placebos for Elvis, but to no avail. The jury concluded that he had tried to act in the best interests of his patients. He was acquitted on all counts.
    1969 - Top Hits
“Everyday People” - Sly & The Family Stone
“Build Me Up Buttercup” - The Foundations
“Can I Change My Mind” - Tyrone Davis
“Until My Dreams Come True” - Jack Greene
    1969 - The "100-hour snowstorm" was in full swing across the Boston area and the rest of New England as well. By the time snow ended on the 28th, Boston recorded 26.3 inches of new snow. Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire was buried under an incredible 77 inches and Long Falls Dam, Maine reported 56 inches. Both Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Portland, Maine set new single storm snowfall records with 33.8 inches and 26.9 inches, respectively. Rockport, Massachusetts measured an impressive 39 inches.
    1969 – The Red Sox’ Carl Yastrzemski became the highest paid player in AL history when he signed a one-year deal for $130,000.  He led the AL in batting in 1968 with a .301 average.  This title-winning low average and the stunning ERA of 1.12 by Bob Gibson in the NL led MLB to lower the mound to its present height to bring some offense back into the game.
    1972 - Harry Nilsson began week #2 at number one with "Without You," a love song that spent four weeks at the top spot.
    1972 - The "Buffalo Creek Disaster" occurred in the Buffalo Creek Hollow of Logan County in West Virginia. A coal slag dam on the middle fork of Buffalo Creek burst sending a 50-foot wall of water down a narrow valley killing 125 people and causing $51 million damage. 3 days of rain atop 6 inches of snow cover prompted the dam break.
    1972 - Joe Tex's funk record "I Gotcha" enters the Billboard Pop chart and begins its climb to #2. Much the success of the song is rumored to be Tex's slurred delivery of the line "Told you not to play with my affection," which caused many listeners to mistake the last word for one that rhymes with it.
    1973 – Pro Football Hall of Famer and golfer, Marshall Faulk, born New Orleans, LA.
    1975 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit:  “Best of My Love,'' Eagles. The song is the group's first No. 1 hit.
    1977 - Top Hits
“New Kid in Town” - Eagles
“Love Theme from ‘A Star is Born’" (Evergreen) - Barbra Streisand
“Fly like an Eagle” - Steve Miller
“Say You'll Stay Until Tomorrow” - Tom Jones
    1979 - The sitcom, "Flatbush," first aired on CBS-TV, featuring the exploits of five recent high-school graduates living in a middle-class, Italian neighborhood in Brooklyn's Flatbush section. Joseph Cali starred as Presto Prestopopulos, a taxi driver and one of five street youths calling themselves the Flatbush Fungos.  The gang also included Adrian Zmed as Socks Palmero, a clothing store employee; Sandy Helberg as Figgy Figueroa, a grocery deliveryman; Randy Stumpf as Joey Dee, a plumber's assistant; and Vincent Bufano as Turtle Romero, a restaurant worker. Also featured were Helen Verbit as Mrs. Fortunato, the neighborhood busybody; and Anthony Ponzini as Esposito, a pool hall owner. The ethnic stereotypes the show portrayed offended Brooklyn's Borough president, who demanded the series be taken off the air before it gave Brooklyn a bad name. CBS cancelled the show after 3 episodes.
    1983 - Charley Pride's "Why Baby Why," written by George Jones and Darrell Edwards, topped the country music charts. Jones found national fame in the United States with his own version of the song in 1955.
    1983 - Michael Jackson's "Thriller" hit #1 in the U.S. The album spent a total of 37 weeks at number one. The tracks: "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "Baby Be Mine," "The Girl is Mine" (w/Paul McCartney), "Thriller," "Beat It," "Billie Jean,", "Human Nature," "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)," "The Lady in My Life." To date (2018), “Thriller” has sold 66 million copies worldwide, making it, by far, the best-selling album ever released by between 15 and 30 million copies. Some estimates report Thriller's total sales over 100 million, though this refers to total records from the album (combining album sales, single sales and video sales).
    1984 - The last United States Marines in the multinational peacekeeping force in Lebanon left Beirut.
    1985 - Top Hits
“Careless Whisper” - Wham! featuring George Michael
“Loverboy” - Billy Ocean
“Can't Fight This Feeling” - REO Speedwagon
“Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On” - Mel McDaniel
    1985 - "The Grammy Awards" became the seventh highest-rated television music show of the 1980s when a 23.8 share of the viewers watched. The Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Male award was given to Phil Collins for, "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now);" Best New Artist for 1984 went to Cindi Lauper, and Best Album of the year award went to Lionel Richie for "Can't Slow Down." Tina Turner was a big winner, taking Best Song, Best Record and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Female for "What's Love Got to Do with It."  Chuck Berry is the recipient of the annual Lifetime Achievement Award.
    1986 - Robert Penn Warren, the first official poet laureate of the United States, was so named by the Library of Congress and great historian, Daniel J. Boorstin. Warren was born in Guthrie, KY, in 1905 and won three Pulitzer Prizes, two for volumes of Poetry, and one for his 1946 novel, “All the King's Men.”
    1987 - The Tower Commission report on the Iran-Contra affair was critical of Pres. Reagan for failing to understand or control the secret attempt to trade arms to Iran for the release of American hostages being held in Lebanon and divert profits from the sale to the Nicaraguan Contras. The commission appointed by the President in Nov. 1986, said Reagan must take responsibility for the policy, which ended in “chaos” and caused the U.S. much embarrassment abroad. Blame was placed also on Donald T. Regan, the White House chief of staff, whom the president replaced with former Senator Howard H. Baker, Jr. on February 27. It also faulted former National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane and his successor, Admiral John Poindexter, and CIA Director William Casey. Casey had resigned on 2 February for health reasons; McFarlane attempted suicide on 9 February; and Regan resigned 27 February. In a television address on March 4, the president said he took “full responsibility,” but he did not admit that the plan for dealing with Iran was basically wrong.
    1988 - Eight cities in the central and western U.S. reported new record high temperatures for the date, including Lamoni, IA with a reading of 67 degrees. Temperatures in North Dakota were as warm as those in Florida.
    1989 - An upper level weather disturbance brought snow to parts of the central U.S. which just one day earlier were enjoying temperatures in the 60s. Snowfall totals in Missouri ranged up to nine inches at Rolla.
    1990 - Unseasonably cold weather followed in the wake of the winter storm in the northeastern U.S. Ten cities reported record low temperatures for the date, including Syracuse, NY with a reading of 10 degrees below zero. Freezing temperatures in southeastern Virginia caused considerable damage to plants and fruit trees. The barometric pressure reading of 30.88 inches at Wilmington, NC was February record for that location.
    1991 - "Rockline on MTV" premiered with host, Martha Quinn, giving viewers a chance to talk to the stars. The first guest was MC Hammer.
    1991 - Tim Berners-Lee introduces the Web browser.  He presented an early version of a Web browser to a work group at CERN, the European Particle Physics Laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland. He conceived the Web as a way for physicists at different universities around the world to instantaneously share information. Throughout the next year, he modified the architecture, released early Web browsers on the Internet, and solicited feedback and input from Internet programmers. By late 1991 and early 1992, the Web was widely discussed, and in early 1993, when Marc Andreessen released his Mosaic browser (Netscape's precursor), the Web rapidly became a popular communications medium.
    1991 – Bill Veeck and Tony Lazzeri were elected to the Baseball hall of Fame. 
    1993 - World Trade Center Bombing.  A 1,210-lb bomb packed in a van exploded in the underground parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing six people and injuring more than 1,000 (mostly from smoke inhalation). The powerful blast left a crater 200 feet wide and several stories deep. The cost for damage to the building and disruption of business for the 350 companies with offices in the Center exceeded more than $591 million. Fifteen people--the fundamentalist Moslem cleric Sheik Omar Abdul Rahman and fourteen of his followers--were indicted for the bombing. Rahman was given a life sentence and the others received prison terms of up to 240 years each. This is considered the first bombing of the United States by foreign terrorists.
    1997 - Celine Dion won two Grammy Awards for "Falling into You" - album of the year and best pop album. At the time, "Falling into You" had sold more than 21 million copies worldwide.
    2002 – The Bee Gees played what is to be their final concert, performing at Miami Beach's Love and Hope Ball, a benefit for the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation.
    2002 - John Fogerty, Elton John, The Eagles, Stevie Nicks, and Billy Joel, among others, perform at the multi-venue Los Angeles charity benefit Four Concerts for Artists' Rights, proceeds of which benefit a labor-friendly musicians' organization called the Recording Artists Coalition.
    2004 - With hundreds of on-lookers, including a man covered in ivy, singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” the foul ball made famous by Steve Bartman in the 2003 NL Championship Series was blown up at Harry Caray’s restaurant in Chicago. The infamous ball's demise is executed by Michael Lantieri, a Cubs die-hard fan and Oscar Award winner who has worked on similar special effects in the films Jurassic Park and Back to the Future.
    2009 - A 10-minute version of The Beatles' "Revolution 1" leaked onto the internet, giving fans a never-before-heard listen of what the White Album sessions must have been like. Only two copies of the take were made when the song was completed on June 4th, 1968. One copy left the studio with Lennon that day and the other remained behind. It is unclear which copy appears on the bootleg, nor how anyone acquired it.
    2012 – Unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, was returning to his father’s townhome in Sanford, FL when he was shot and killed by armed neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman.  Charges were initially not forthcoming, owing to Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” statute, and the mishandling of the case unleashed racial violence across the US.  Zimmerman was eventually charged, tried and was found not guilty.
    2013 - Representatives from the U.S., China, Germany, France, Russia and the U.K., began to discuss Iran's nuclear program with Iranian officials.
    2014 - NASA announced that its Kepler space telescope discovered 715 planets in other solar systems, bringing the instrument's new-planet tally to 961.  Four of the latest discoveries are thought to have an orbit favorable to habitation, but the distance of these planets makes exploration impossible with current technology
    2015 - Federal Communications Commission approved net neutrality rules, which guarantee equal Internet access to all users.  Broadband companies had been seeking the ability to sell faster access to certain customers while slowing access for others.