New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Jim Denning was hired as Senior Vice President, Head of Vendor Finance Services, Alliance Funding Group, Tustin, California. He is located in Nashville, Tennessee. Previously, he was Senior Vice President, Director of Sales, Midland States Bank (January, 2018 - May, 2025); Senior Vice President, National Sales Manager, Scottrade (January, 2013 - January, 2018); Vice President, TCF Equipment Finance (February, 2009 - January, 2013); Vice President, Division Head, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico (January, 2007 - February, 2009).

Denning brings more than 40 years of experience in equipment finance and banking, with prior leadership roles at Midland States Bank, Scottrade Bank, TCF Equipment Finance, and Banco Popular. His background includes building and scaling vendor finance platforms, developing national sales strategies, and supporting OEM, dealer, and distributor relationships across multiple industries.

“Jim brings deep experience in building vendor programs and leading high performing teams,” said Brij Patel, Founder and CEO of Alliance Funding Group. “The launch of Vendor Finance Services is a strategic priority for AFG, and his leadership will be instrumental as we expand our capabilities and presence in the vendor channel.”

The Vendor Finance Services division is designed to provide a comprehensive financing solution for manufacturers, dealers, and distributors, with programs integrated directly at the point of sale. The platform will support a wide range of transaction sizes and credit profiles, including:

• Competitive pricing for top tier credits
• Structured financing solutions for complex transactions
• Flexible underwriting across a broad credit spectrum 
• Unsecured Working Capital program for growing businesses

“Alliance Funding Group has built a strong foundation as a direct lender with the ability to structure transactions that fall outside traditional bank parameters,” said Denning. “The opportunity to build a vendor focused platform on that foundation is compelling. Our goal is to deliver a consistent, reliable financing solution that supports our partners’ sales processes and customers’ needs.”
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimdenning/

Kelley German was hired as Search Marketing Manager, Anthropologies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is located at Medford, New Jersey. Previously, she was at Holan, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, as Supervisor of Agency Management and Paid Media (January, 2026 - April, 2026). She joined August, 2025, Retail SEM Strategist; Digital Operations Specialist (October, 2023 - August, 2024); Marketing Director, Calvary Delran, Part-time (March, 2024 - January, 2026). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelley-german-31342b1ab/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelley-german-31342b1ab/

Liz Jaramillo was hired as Equipment Portfolio Manager at DLL Group in a remote capacity from April 2026 to the present. Prior to this, she spent over 29 years at Key Equipment Finance in Superior, Colorado, where she held several leadership roles: Senior Vice President - Head of Asset Management from May 2023 to March 2026, Vice President - Asset Management from October 2016 to May 2023, Lead Equipment & Portfolio Analyst from January 2010 to October 2016, Lead Equipment & Remarketing Analyst from February 2005 to January 2010, and Sr. Brokerage Analyst from 1997 to 2005. Earlier in her career, she worked at Leasetec Corporation in Boulder, Colorado, as a Treasury Administrator from 1996 to 1997, a Customer Service/Billing Manager from 1994 to 1996, and a Program Administrator from 1993 to 1994.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-jaramillo-b174157/

Kassidy Small was hired as the Structured Credit Manager for Food, Ag & Outdoor at DLL in Johnston, Iowa, a role she began in May 2026. Her extensive tenure at DLL also includes positions as the Head of US Litigation and Recovery in Des Moines, Iowa, from December 2023 to May 2026, Director of Litigation & Recovery (All US Large Ticket) in Johnston from July 2023 to December 2023, Director of Litigation & Recovery (Food & Agriculture) in Johnston from August 2019 to July 2023, and Manager of Financial Processes in Johnston from September 2017 to August 2019. Outside of her corporate career, she has been a Co-Founder of Elevation Golf Club - Urbandale in Urbandale, Iowa, since June 2025. Her earlier professional experience includes serving as an Adjunct Accounting Instructor at Des Moines Area Community College from August 2015 to September 2017, an Audit Associate at Timmins, Kroll, & Jacobsen, LLP in Des Moines from December 2014 to July 2015, and a Staff Auditor at McGowen Hurst Clark Smith in West Des Moines from February 2012 to September 2014.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassidy-small-mba-clfp-54739151/

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CLFP Foundation Welcomes
22 New CLFPs Including Photographs

The Certified Lease & Finance Professional (CLFP) Foundation is proud to announce that 22 individuals have recently earned their CLFP designation after successfully passing the online proctored CLFP Exam. The newest CLFPs represent a wide range of companies and roles across the equipment finance industry, reflecting a shared commitment to professional excellence and ethical standards. They are:

Annie Barnes, CLFP Associate – Finance Coordinator, APPROVE

Lucas Barnes, CLFP – Senior Customer Service Analyst, Channel

Laura Bartholomew, CLFP – Telesales Executive, DLL

Benjamin Beattie, CLFP – Underwriting Analyst III – Working Capital, Channel

Heather Bienapfl, CLFP – Funding Coordinator II, Channel

Jessica Buehler, CLFP – Collections Specialist, Channel

Brittany Cornelius, CLFP – Underwriting Analyst II, Channel

Elizabeth Henderson, CLFP – General Counsel, Altec Capital Services, LLC

Kimberly Her, CLFP – Accounting Analyst, Channel

Samuel Johnson, CLFP – Credit Administrator, Arvest Equipment Finance

Colette Kampa, CLFP – Senior Accounting Analyst, Channel

Ryan Larson, CLFP – Debt Collector, DLL

Ricardo Leon Mayorga, CLFP – Credit Manager, Quality Equipment Finance

Neil Manns, CLFP – Sales Manager - Renewals, Channel

David Moteelall, CLFP – Team Leader Lease Accounting, Compeer Financial

Gray Salter, CLFP – Senior Finance Manager, APPROVE

Jason Sawicki, CLFP Associate – Telesales Executive, DLL

Brian St. Louis, CLFP – Head of Collections and Recovery – US, DLL

Amber Stevens, CLFP – Creative Director, Beacon Funding Corporation

Matthew Sutherland, CLFP – Regional Account Specialist, Arvest Equipment Finance

Adam Thornberg, CLFP – Underwriting Analyst, Channel

Nicole White, CLFP – Senior Accounting Analyst, Channel

Gray Slater said, "I graduated from Appalachian State University in 2020 as a Journalism major, spending most of my time working in radio and broadcasting. When I received the opportunity to begin working in sales for APPROVE, I primarily received the opportunity due to interpersonal skills, rather than any extensive knowledge or previous experience with financing. 

"During the last 5+ years, I have learned primarily through day-to-day experience and the insight of my colleagues. The Academy and CLFP certification provided an opportunity to get specialized, formal training about things I now encounter every single day. I was excited to push myself to understand the material in depth and further hone my knowledge within my professional field. After receiving my CLFP certification, I was formally promoted to Senior Finance Coordinator here at APPROVE. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have taken the course and am proud to be the newest CLFP!"

The CLFP designation represents the highest standard of knowledge and integrity in equipment finance, uniting professionals who are committed to advancing the industry through excellence and continued learning. There are currently Certified Lease & Finance Professionals and Associates located throughout the United States (including Puerto Rico), Canada, India, Pakistan, Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. For more information, please visit www.CLFPFoundation.org.

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Being a Fierce Competitor
By Scott Woodward, CLFP

Competition is good for originators — fierce competition is even better. It forces originators to sharpen their skills, elevate their services, and push harder than they would on their own. In a $1.3 trillion commercial equipment finance and leasing industry, there is more than enough business for well-positioned originators who stay disciplined and proactive.

Here’s the twist: Your competitors often see you more accurately — and more positively — than you see yourself.

Competitors see the deals you win, the structures you create, the professionalism you deliver, and the consistency of your execution. They don’t see the internal bottlenecks, the occasional credit backlog, or the one deal that stalled months ago. They see your best work, not your daily frustrations.

High performers focus on their strengths, lean into their market reputation, and position themselves as the fierce competitor; the professional others prepare for, talk about, and try to beat.

That’s why top originators ask themselves a powerful question: How does my competition describe me? If your competition described you today, would they call you a threat?

Top originators make sure the answer is yes.
They lean into their strengths.
They amplify their wins.
They position themselves as the competitor others prepare for.

Don’t fear the competition. Become the originator that others fear and respect as a top professional who delivers superior services to vendors and end-users.

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

Help Wanted Ad
    Ameris Bank Equipment Finance

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Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta plan to spend
more than $700 billion on capex this year

Big Tech’s big capital spending continues to surge even higher than the companies had previously expected.

Alphabet raised its 2026 capex outlook to between $180 billion and $190 billion, up from $175 billion to $185 billion. Meta increased its 2026 forecast to $125 billion to $145 billion, up from $115 billion to $135 billion. Microsoft, meanwhile, said it’s planning on spending $190 billion this calendar year, about $55 billion more than the FactSet analyst consensus. Amazon, the lone outlier, didn’t boost its capex forecast, keeping it at a cool $200 billion.

Combined, Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta plan to spend more than $700 billion on capex in 2026, nearly double what they spent last year and $100 billion more than they’d expected just last quarter, as they continue to build out the AI infrastructure to support their AI futures.

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Major Finance/Leasing Associations
Conferences with Leasing News reporting

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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Mapped: America’s Most Visited States by Tourists

Key Takeaways

• Just four states—New York, Florida, California, and Nevada—attract 57% of all international visitors
• New York leads by a wide margin, with nearly 10 million tourists
• Illinois is the only Midwestern state to receive over a million foreign visitors in 2024.

With rugged, picturesque landscapes and some of the world’s most famous cities, the United States has long been a favorite destination for international travelers.

This map highlights the states which received the most visitors from overseas in 2024, excluding arrivals from both Canada and Mexico. It utilizes data from the ITA National Travel and Tourism Office.

News Briefs

Iran fires on U.S. ships in Strait of Hormuz, in threat to ceasefire
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/05/04/us-ships-iran-hormuz-ceasefire/

U.S. sinks 7 small Iranian boats as Iran launches attacks on UAE and ships in Strait of Hormuz
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-trump-strait-of-hormuz-ship-attack-threat-peace-proposal/

Tuesday’s big stock stories: What’s likely to move the market  in the next trading session
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/04/tuesdays-big-stock-stories-whats-likely-to-move-the-market.html

A Federal Housing Handout Has Ended. Foreclosures Will Follow.
https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/a-federal-housing-handout-has-ended-foreclosures-will-follow-a27f8783?st=oCrdvT&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Foreclosures hit highest level in 6 years as insurance, property tax costs squeeze homeowners
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/foreclosures-hit-highest-level-6-years-insurance-property-tax-costs-squeeze-homeowners

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ELFA Honors Robert S. Cohen with
Edward A. Groobert Award for Legal Excellence

Washington, D.C., May 5, 2026 – The Equipment Leasing & Finance Association (ELFA), the trade association representing the $1.3 trillion equipment finance industry, has awarded Robert S. Cohen, Partner, Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP, the distinguished 2026 Edward A. Groobert Award for Legal Excellence. This honor is awarded in recognition of extraordinary contributions by a legal professional to the equipment leasing and finance industry. Cohen was formally honored during ELFA’s Legal Forum on May 4 in Baltimore, MD.

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Sports Briefs

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California News Briefs

Bay Area builder buys site of failed Los Gatos housing project
https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/04/30/home-build-economy-los-gatos-develop-property-real-estate-house

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Gimme that Wine

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

Paso Robles winery wins top honors at London competition
https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/paso-robles-winery-wins-top-honors-at-london-competition/220113/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=paso-robles-winery-wins-top-honors-at-london-competition

100-point winemaker launches under-the-
radar Sonoma County tasting room
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/04/28/100-point-winemaker-launches-under-the-radar-sonoma-county-tasting-roo

Far Niente Unveils a Reimagined Great Hall in Its Historic 1885 Napa Valley Winery = The careful update honors the past while welcoming today's guests with warmth and elegance
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/317329

Domaine Carneros Sets Sail on Its Next Culinary Voyage with  the Newest 'Bubbles & Bites' Menu = Colors of the Caribbean:
A New Food & Wine Pairing Adventure Debuts May 1, 2026
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/317267

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits Announces Expanded Distribution  Agreement With J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260430984829/en/Southern-Glazers-Wine-Spirits-Announces-Expanded-Distribution-Agreement-With-J.-Lohr-Vineyards-Wines