New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Ronald Queen was hired as Chief Enterprise Risk Officer, North Mill Equipment Finance, Norwalk, Connecticut. He is located in Blackwood, New Jersey.  Previously, he was Vice President, Underwriting and Credit Operations, New Lane Finance (December, 2017 - May, 2026). Prior, he was at Marlin Business Services Corp., starting 1998, Credit Analyst,  promoted Senior Credit Analyst, 2002, promoted Vice President of Credit (2009 - December, 2017).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronald-queen-21761997/

Adam Gray serves as a Finance Manager at ElmBlue Equipment Finance in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a position he began in May 2026. Prior to this role, he worked on the sales team at Alliance Funding Group in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, from his college graduation in 2024 until May 2026. During his time at the University of New Hampshire , he also held student leadership and analyst roles in Durham, New Hampshire, serving as the Treasurer for the Theta Chi Fraternity - Zeta Chapter from 2023 to 2024, a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) sector analyst for The Atkins Investment Group from late 2023 to 2024, and an Industrial sector analyst for The Atkins Investment Group from 2022 to 2023.

K.D. Rhodes joined the BriteCap team as our Product Manager. Previously she served as a Director of Product Management at PeakDev Talent in Salt Lake City, Utah, a role she began in early 2026. Prior to this position, she worked at Entrata in Lehi, Utah, where she held multiple product leadership roles, including Senior Product Manager from 2022 to 2026, Product Manager II from 2020 to 2022, and Product Manager I from 2018 to 2020. Earlier in her career, she was a Product Owner & Operations Lead at Foundry-Stage SaaS Startup in Salt Lake City, Utah, from 2016 to 2018, and an Associate Product Manager / Business Analyst at Utah Tech Solutions from 2014 to 2016.

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Reflections from the 2026 ELFA Legal Forum in Baltimore
by Marshall Goldberg, Leasing News Chief Legal Editor

From May 1–5, 2026, equipment finance attorneys, in-house counsel, litigators, compliance professionals, and industry executives gathered at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor for the 2026 Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (“ELFA”) Legal Forum. The annual event once again proved why it remains one of the premier educational and networking conferences for the equipment finance industry. It was a picture-perfect event, presented under the direction of Legal Committee Chair Brad Salyer, Senior Legal Counsel at DLL, the Legal Committee and the ELFA Staff.

This year’s Forum delivered a timely combination of legal analysis, regulatory updates, litigation trends, technology discussions, and practical business guidance, all against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving commercial finance landscape.

A Forum Focused on Change

The overarching theme throughout the conference was adaptation.

Whether discussing artificial intelligence, fraud prevention, bankruptcy strategy, litigation risk, or state regulatory developments, panelists repeatedly emphasized that the equipment finance industry is operating in an environment of accelerated change. The conversations reflected a recognition that traditional approaches are increasingly being tested by new technologies, heightened scrutiny, evolving consumer and commercial finance laws, and increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes.

The conference opened with a general session where Robert Cohen of Moritt Hock and Hamroff was presented with the prestigious Edward A. Groobert Award for Legal Excellence, an honor recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the organization and the equipment finance industry. The program then quickly transitioned into substantive programming with the annual ELFA Update, covering many of the most pressing legal and regulatory developments affecting the industry today.

The Forum also included sessions tailored to first-time attendees and newer practitioners, designed to help professionals build meaningful industry relationships and better understand the unique structure and culture of the equipment finance ecosystem.

Look for more coverage in upcoming Leasing News editions

Marshall Goldberg
Glass & Goldberg, A Law Corporation
22917 Burbank Blvd.
Woodland Hills, CA 91367-4203
(818) 474-1532 Direct
(818) 888-2220 Main
(818) 888-2229 Facsimile
mgoldberg@glassgoldberg.com
www.glassgoldberg.com

 

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Using AI Copilot to Analyze Two Months of Borrower Bank Statements
Live Webinar (PAID) | May 27

Bank statement analysis remains one of the most judgment‑intensive parts of SBA 7(a) underwriting. Cash flow consistency, overdraft activity, recurring obligations, intercompany transfers, and liquidity trends all require documentation, interpretation, and lender judgment.

Most SBA lenders already have established underwriting processes. The discussion now is how experienced institutions are beginning to incorporate Microsoft Copilot AI into those workflows while maintaining SBA credit standards, underwriting discipline, and prudent lending practices.

In this Coleman webinar, Bob Coleman will review how lenders are using Copilot AI to support SBA 7(a) underwriting execution, including:

• Identifying overdrafts, NSF activity, recurring obligations, and unusual account patterns requiring lender analysis • Organizing transaction activity to support repayment ability and cash flow documentation • Structuring underwriting narratives and internal credit memorandums using Copilot‑assisted workflows • Improving consistency and efficiency while maintaining lender judgment and credit oversight • Comparing how SBA lenders are evaluating AI’s role within existing underwriting and documentation processes

For lenders responsible for SBA credit quality, underwriting consistency, and file documentation, this session provides a practical framework for evaluating where AI may fit within existing underwriting operations.

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Includes recording and e‑certification
Schedule and contact information

Help Wanted Ad
    Ameris Bank Equipment Finance

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Self-Accountability
By Scott Wheeler, CLFP

The disparity between average producers and top producers continues to widen. The reason is simple: top producers hold themselves to a higher standard than anyone else does. They measure what matters, they focus on what works, and they remain accountable to themselves long after they’ve exceeded the company’s expectations.

A top producer recently shared several insights that highlight this mindset shift:

• Daily call counts matter, but meaningful conversations matter more. Top producers track how many great conversations they have with actual decision-makers each day, not just how many dials they make.

• A large database is nice, but recent engagement is what counts. What matters is how many prospects have been contacted in the last 60 days, and how many vendors and end-users have funded a transaction in the last 90–120 days.

• Applications measure effort. Funding ratios measure talent. The percentage of applications that actually fund reflects how well an originator aligns their sales efforts with their real funding capabilities. As Larry S. said:

• “Any originator can find a deal. It takes real talent to attract, win, approve, and fund a transaction that will pay promptly for the full term.”

• A strong month is encouraging, but consistent production is the real benchmark. Sustained performance over quarters and years is the byproducts of disciplined short-term actions combined with long-term preparation.

This top producer also shared that his success in exceeding company targets comes from maintaining his own metrics, not relying solely on corporate goals. He views the company’s objectives as minimum expectations. His personal goals are at least 50% higher, and he holds himself 100% accountable for achieving them.

Average producers meet expectations.
Top producers redefine them.

Scott A. Wheeler, CLFP
Wheeler Business Consulting
1314 Marquis Ct.
Fallston, Maryland 21047
Phone: 410 877 0428
Fax: 410 877 8161
Email: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com
Web: www.wheelerbusinessconsulting.com 

Wheeler Business Consulting is working with individual originators and sales teams throughout the industry to ensure that they are well positioned in the market, capturing their fair share of business, and outperforming the competition. To schedule a one-on-one meeting contact Scott Wheeler at: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com

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Major Finance/Leasing Associations
Conferences with Leasing News reporting

NVLA Women in Leasing
May 20, 2026 11am CT/12pm ET
Virtual
Contact: Suzanne Fedie
sfedie@nvla.org
https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-vehicle-leasing-association/posts/?feedView=all

The National Vehicle Association Women in Leasing meet virtually on the third Wednesday of every other month at 11:00 am CT/12pm ET.
 
Meetings are open to NVLA members and non-members who are in the vehicle leasing industry and have an interest in learning more about this group and the association as a whole.
 
Meetings are open to NVLA members and non-members who are in the vehicle leasing industry and have an interest in learning more about this group and the association as a whole.

Next Events July 15, 2026
September 16, 2026
November 18, 2026
January 20, 2027

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June 1
DeBanked Broker Fair
Returns to NYC June 1, 2026, after 1,100 Turn-Out in Miami
https://debanked.com/2026/03/broker-fair-returns-to-new-york-city-june-1-2026/

Don Cosenza, CLFP,  Senior Vice President, Maxim  Commercial Capital, will cover the conference for Leasing News readers

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September 15 - 16
Brokers Expo, New York City
https://thefundersforumbrokerexpo.com/ny/

Edward Castagna, CEO, InPlace Auction will be covering the Brokers Expo

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September 28—30, NEFA Fall Conference
Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park
https://www.nefassociation.org/event/2026-fall-conference/

Don Cosenza, CLFP, Senior Vice President, Maxim Commercial Capital, will cover the conference for Leasing News readers

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October 21-23, AACFB Commercial Financing Expo
Hilton Irvine, Irvine, California
https://community.aacfb.org/events/event-description?CalendarEventKey=068b9817-3c58-4aaf-b21d-01999b13a2e4&Home=%2fevents%2fcalendar

Don Cosenza, CLFP, Senior Vice President, Maxim Commercial Capital, will cover the conference for Leasing News readers

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October 25—27, ELFA Annual Conference
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, Palm Desert, CA
Online Scheduling Coming

Randy Haug, LTi Technology Solutions, Leasing News Person of the Year 2024, will cover for Leasing News Readers

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FDIC Releases Staff Study of Deposit Flows
at Three Failed Banks in Spring 2023

Study focuses on depositor flight at Silicon Valley Bank,
Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank

WASHINGTON—The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)  released “Dissecting Depositor Flight: An Analysis of the Spring 2023 Bank Failures,” a detailed staff study of deposit flows at three banks that failed in the spring of 2023. Using transaction-level data from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Signature Bank (SBNY), and First Republic Bank (FRB), the analysis provides a day-by-day look at depositor behavior around the time the institutions were closed and placed into FDIC receivership.

Prior to failure, all three banks experienced deposit outflows that were unprecedented in their size and speed.

FDIC Chairman Travis Hill said, “I have long believed that regulators need to develop a more sophisticated understanding of deposit behavior. This study provides a highly detailed account of deposit flows during the fastest bank runs in U.S. history and deepens our understanding of run dynamics in today’s banking environment.”

Using operational data from the core deposit and wire systems of the three banks, FDIC staff studied depositor behavior in the weeks surrounding the failures of SVB, SBNY and FRB. Among other things, the study found that depositors with substantial uninsured funds were far more likely to run while fully insured retail depositors generally did not run prior to the banks’ failures.

The study also suggested that other considerations are important as well. For example, the largest depositors at all three banks were significantly more likely to run than other uninsured depositors, withdrawing all or nearly all their deposits across their accounts, including accounts that may have been used for business operations.

These withdrawal patterns also held true for certain categories of large depositors that maintained large insured balances on a pass-through basis.

Dissecting Depositor Flight: An Analysis of the Spring 2023 Bank Failures
https://www.fdic.gov/center-financial-research/staff-studies-may-2026.pdf?source

News Briefs

Carvana Grew Into a Used-Car Titan. Its New-Car Sales Project Has Dealers Rattled.
https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/carvana-grew-into-a-used-car-titan-its-new-car-sales-project-has-dealers-rattled-9ddf1eee?st=tisPRf&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Elon Musk’s bid to sue bitter rival Sam Altman fails because he filed too late
https://nypost.com/2026/05/18/business/elon-musk-loses-lawsuit-against-openai-in-unanimous-verdict/

TrumpRx expands to offer over 600 generic drugs, partners with Mark Cuban
https://nypost.com/2026/05/18/business/mark-cuban-to-join-trump-at-white-house-rollout-of-expanded-trumprx-drug-initiative-report/

Walmart and Amazon race to win over rural America with speedier deliveries
https://apnews.com/article/rural-areas-fast-delivery-walmart-amazon-9394ec7e7abcccb892f71e57f47541dc

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Massive dinosaur fossil unearthed beneath pond in Thailand
https://www.courthousenews.com/massive-dinosaur-fossil-unearthed-beneath-pond-in-thailand/

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Sports Briefs

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California News Briefs

Oakland office park is foreclosed as woes widen commercial sites
https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/05/14/economy-oakland-office-build-property-develop-loan-real-estate-bay-area/

Google’s Downtown West is paused. Its $1 billion bet on San Jose is not
https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/05/14/google-san-jose-billion-dollar-real-estate-bet/

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Gimme that Wine

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

Wine Industry Finally Gets Some Good News
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2026/05/wine-industry-finally-gets-some-good-news

DTC Wineries Share Strategies to Combat Rising Shipping Costs  by Sarah Brown
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/317757

Too Many Wineries, Not Enough Consumers
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2026/05/too-many-wineries-not-enough-consumers