New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Adam Doyle was hired as Head of Technology Finance, Alliance Funding Group. Previously, he was at CAA Financial, starting as Vice President, (2018 - 2021); EVP, Sales & Business Development (2021 - 2024); Managing Director, TCF Bank (2013 - 2016). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-doyle-54b32115/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-doyle-54b32115/

Rachel Lynch was promoted to Assistant Vice President, LTC Division, First American Equipment Finance. She joined  First American (January, 2022). Previously, she was at ESL Federal Credit Union, started as Teller II, January, 2020, promoted to Business Development Mortgage Origination Associate (December, 2020 - August, 2023).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynch-rachel/

Ernie Morales was hired as VP, Relationship Manager, Dext Capital, Oswego, Oregon. He is located in Pleasanton, California. Previously, he was Vice President, Program Management, Key Equipment Finance (2016 - 2023); Vice President, Business Development, ePlus, Inc (2014 - 2016); National Director, Technology Finance, LEAF Commercial Capital (2013 - 2014). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernie-morales-b7032852/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernie-morales-b7032852/

Jenny Small was hired as Senior Contracts Manager, Four Inc., Herndon, Virginia. She is located in Riverton, Wyoming. Previously, she was Senior Vice President, Federal Originations, Key Government Finance. She joined Key as Senior Contacts Manager (June, 2010 - May, 2017). Full Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-small-cfcm-52881860/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-sm

Arianna (Opel) Valena-Nelson was hired as Customer Experience Manager, KLC Financial, Minnetonka, Minnesota.  She is located in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area. Previously she was Health & Wellness Consultant, Self-employed (October, 2014 - Present); Assistant Operations Manager of Digital Styling Services (September, 2020 - April, 2024).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/arianna-valena-nelson-a049b985/

Andrew Simon was hired as Vice President of Business Development, Lendistry, Birmingham, Michigan. Previously, he was head of Digital Strategy, Exos (September, 2022 - March, 2024); VP, BDO, Ready Capital (April, 2017 - September, 2022). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewasimon/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewasimon/

Rhonda Zielinski was hired as Director, Marketing,  Transport Solutions, Woodinville, Washington. She is located in the Greater Chicago area. Previously, she was Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, DAK Solutions (August, 2019 - July, 2022); Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Union Leasing (July, 2015 - August, 2019). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhondazielinski/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhondazielinski/

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

New Breed Growing in
Commercial Finance Funding
By Randy Haug, LTi Technology

One of the positive sides of the current Equipment Finance liquidity turmoil is the rise of a relatively new breed of smart and well-financed equipment finance businesses. Today’s fastest growing and some of the best performing Equipment Finance companies can be found among very strong Independents or companies that act as independent equipment finance companies, as well as many larger Community bank equipment finance groups. Many are run by industry veterans that previously came from bank organizations with years of working with or for others.

Certainly, there are still many very successful larger regional and larger Bank equipment finance lenders still dominating certain sectors of the market but there is also a new quickly rising and fast growing leadership group that has made and is making their presence known. Their time for growth is now and they are certainly “shaping” certain segments of the market in ways not seen previously, and in a big way. Some are sticking to the markets they have known and in which they have succeeded while others are expanding with the availability of new origination teams and are expanding into new market segments that allow for selling at expanded margins.

This group of rising companies is led by very talented and forward thinking leaders who have assembled very talented teams under them that truly understand Technology, Operations, Originations and Portfolio performance. They understand their clients’ markets and have extensive asset delivery expertise in ways that make sense for their chosen markets. Then, they wrap the entire customer borrower experience in ways that make those customers continue to come back to them for repeat business. They offer a wide range of financial products that fit the profiles of how their customers like to acquire equipment and are easy to do business with. In many ways, they are much more agile, are able to work in the current market, and provide much higher levels of service and throughput than many of the past funders in this space.

There are a number of these quality, fast-rising new model Equipment finance companies in the market. Also, additional new entries are emerging with intentions of growing in markets that allow them larger spreads and they are attracting sales and origination talent to do so successfully. Equally important, they are attracting the capital and equity required to do so at the same time. They are not solely built on large balance sheets but are using sophisticated syndication models including the rebirth of securitization in the equipment finance sector to keep dry powder available for their growth. In many ways they require much more sophistication to operate effectively today than traditional Bank Equipment Finance companies have had to deal with in the past. Even larger Banks are also moving to this model to operate in the constrained capital environments that many banks find themselves in today.

Randy Haug | EVP/ Co-Founder
LTi Technology Solutions | w: 402.493.3445 ext. 1014
Mobile: 402-981-3155
rhaug@ltisolutions.com | www.ltisolutions.com

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Growth in Finance and Leasing
Part 2

 

This is the industry standard, easily with the most members. Currently, with a new CEO (formerly with the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank) and board of directors of industry leaders, extensive and diverse committee and industry groups, conferences, internet, and webmail. ELFA is active as the industry lobby in both state and federal legislation. Perhaps the most interesting is providing an app to all members over which to communicate immediate information on meetings, conferences, and activities online.

2023 Year-End Membership

Company Type	Count
Accounting	9
Bank	132
Broker/Packager	16
Captive	57
Collection Agency	5
Consultant	33
Equipment Management	41
Executive Search	4
Multi-line Commercial Finance Company	32
Investment Bank	13
Insurance Company	6
Independent	176
Law Firm	73
Publisher	2
Software Provider	33
University/government	6
Total	638

Equipment Leasing and Finance Association
1825 K Street NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202.238.3400
Fax: 202.238.3401
www.elfaonline.com

-----------------

This association has grown since the 1940's, absorbing local and national groups, whose chapters get together in their area at least once a month.

267 members

As the SFNet states on their website: "Secured Finance Network groups and committees offer a way to get involved on a more personal level with colleagues and peers, and to join in active conversations around SFNet events and initiatives. Committees and groups are open to employees of SFNet member companies."

They have many workshops, webinars and very active conferences. Members are active in Asset Lending, Factoring, True Leases and Finance Leases, Merchant Cash Advance, Vehicle financing, to name just a few.

Secured Finance Network
370 7th Ave. Ste. 1801, New York, NY, 10001
M: 551-999-5283 O 212-792-9396 
mocejo@SFNet.com▪ SFNet.com

----------------------------------------------------------

Canadian Finance & Leasing Association

Hugh Swandel, President, Meridian OneCap Credit Corp. is back and is a long time Leasing News Advisory Board member who has written articles and covered events and conferences for Leasing News since 2011. There are a number of financial groups of all sizes who do business in other countries.

2023 Year-End
Regular members: 134
Associate members: 54
Total: 188

This is notable for funders and brokers who do business in the United States and have clients with operations and other business in Canada, including sources for their clients, as well as Canadian operations with business in the United States.

CFLA/ACFL
15 Toronto Street, Suite 301
Toronto, ON, Canadá, M5C 2E3
tel: 416.860.1125
email: scott@cfla-acfl.ca

Growth in Finance and Leasing - Part 1
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Apr2024/04_01.htm#growth

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Leasing and Finance Industry Help Wanted

Commercial Finance/Leasing Finance Conferences
2024

April 16-18: AACFB Conference, Glendale, Arizona
https://annualconference.aacfb.org/home
Find Your Funder Here - Exhibitors List
Vicki Shimus, CLFP, Balboa Capital, will be covering for Leasing News

April 16-18: ELFA 35th Annual National Funding Conference, Chicago, IL
Funding Sources (list updated)- Schedule -Hotel-Registration
Edward Kaye, Inspiration Mobility, will be covering for Leasing News

April 30-May 1: AGLF Conference, Austin, Texas

May 5–7: Equipment Finance Connect, Nashville, Tenn.
https://equipmentfinanceconnect.com

May 20: deBanked Broker Fair, New York City
https://brokerfair.org/register
Pooja Nene, Balboa Capital, Broker Relations Manager, will be covering for Leasing News.

June 4-7: National Automotive Finance Association Annual Conference, Fort Worth, TX
Conference Info: https://www.nafassociation.com/naf2024#Hotel

Sept. 4-5:  AACFB Commercial Financing Expo New Orleans, LA

Sept. 10-12: CFLA Conference, St. John's, NL, Canada

Oct. 16-18: NVLA Conference, Clearwater Beach, Florida
https://www.nvla.org/page/2024conference
Sloan Schickler, Esq., Schickler & Schickler, wlll be covering the conference for Leasing News. She is also presenting there.

Oct. 27-29: 63rd ELFA Annual Convention, Austin, TX

Nov. 11-14: NEFA Funding Symposium, Indianapolis, Indiana

To be listed, email: kitmenkin@leasingnews.org

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

The First Quarter Report
By Scott Wheeler, CLFP

Leadership thrives in all economic cycles and exists at every level of an operation. Success requires leaders to navigate new challenges by committing to their stated strategies and making decisions which will move their teams forward as a single unit.

The first quarter of 2024 is now in the books. There are major confirmations and lessons-learned which will continue to influence the commercial equipment finance and leasing industry for the remainder of 2024 and likely into 2025:

• The transitional period that the industry has been experiencing over the past two years is continuing and access to capital will continue to be restrictive.

• The December 2023 anticipation of several interest rate cuts most likely will not develop in 2024. (Instead of three to five rate cuts, the conventional wisdom is settling into the possibility of one to three rate reductions in 2024.)
  
  
• Liquidity challenges for banks and other industry participants are continuing into 2024. Liquidity issues restrict growth and force the supply of capital to be employed in assets of higher quality with above average returns.

• Participants continue to be focused on bottom-line results rather than top-line sales volumes.

• More resources are being spent on collection efforts as delinquencies continue to creep up. Participants are reporting delinquencies rising in all industries and are no longer limited to high-risk industries or "D" credits.

Industry leaders will continue to focus on improving their defined positions in the market and providing a superior service to their stakeholders. Leaders are aligning all their actions (hiring, training, pricing, processes, marketing, collections, funding, etc.) with their long-term strategy. They are making the necessary adjustments to maximize current profitability while also investing in the future.

The current transitional period is confirmation that strong equipment finance and leasing companies are defined by leadership and the ability to build teams which are committed to the company's success, the company's strategy, and the creation of high-quality, long-term assets. Wheeler Business Consulting is working with leadership teams to maximize their success in 2024 and beyond.

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.co

 

Labrador Retriever
Lake Oswego, Oregon Adopt=a-Dog

Raleigh
Male Black
Puppy
Short Coat
Neutered
Up-to-date vaccinations
Good in a Home with
Other dogs, cats, children
Adoption Fee: $400

CHARACTERISTICS

Friendly, Affectionate, Loyal, Gentle, Playful, Smart, Brave, Curious, Independent, Funny, Athletic, Loves Kisses

Meet Raleigh! He's a wiggly little bundle of fur just bursting with white tippy toes and puppy love.

Raleigh is on the lookout for his forever home and can't wait to snuggle up with his new family. Like any puppy, Raleigh is a blank canvas of potential - ready to grow up and thrive in all sorts of homes! Also like most puppies, Raleigh has not not mastered the art of potty training just yet (oopsie!), but hey, Rome wasn't built in a day, right? With a patient and loving paw-rent like you, he'll catch on in no time!

Raleigh may be small now, but we think he will grow up to be a medium sized dog, we expect him to be about 40lbs fully grown. His capacity for cuddles and kisses knows no bounds! He's ready to soak up all the love and attention you've got to give and repay it tenfold. Whether you're looking for a sidekick for your daily adventures or a cozy cuddle buddy for hard days, Raleigh's your pup! Are you ready to open your heart and home to a sweet, goofy pup like him?

Raleigh's currently being fostered in Austin, TX. His adoption fee covers transport to the Portland here. Apply to meet him here: https://www.centraltexasruffugees.org/copy-of-foster

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Broker Fair 2024 New York City
May 20 Registration Open

Bringing together the commercial finance industry from small business lending, factoring, merchant cash advance, equipment leasing, SBA lending, and more.

Attendees can expect:

Education
Inspiration
Networking
Many Opportunities

Broker Fair is the largest gathering of MCA and business loan brokers in the country. Focused on commercial finance and small business lending alike, this exclusive one-day event offers brokers, lenders, funders, and service providers education, inspiration, and opportunities to connect and grow their business.

Register
https://brokerfair.org/register/

Hotel:
https://brokerfair.org/hotel-2024/

Pooja Nene, Balboa Capital, Broker Relations Manager, will be covering for Leasing News.

News Briefs

Tesla sales tumble nearly 9%, most in 4 years,
    as competition heats up and demand for EVs slows
https://apnews.com/article/tesla-sales-fall-electric-vehicle-demand-slows-1ce56d5948f9f96235b9c809e3380108

Boeing’s troubles are spilling
    to its airline customers
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/04/02/boeing-delayed-deliveries-united-airlines/

Second channel opened allowing some vessels to  
    bypass wreckage at the Baltimore bridge collapse site
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/04/02/nation/second-channel-opened-allowing-some-vessels-bypass-wreckage-baltimore-bridge-collapse-site

Rite Aid moves forward with bankruptcy   
    Restructuring and sale efforts continue
https://www.supermarketnews.com/laws-regulations/rite-aid-moves-forward-bankruptcy-restructuring

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

US job openings rise modestly to 8.8 million
    in February in strong labor market
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/04/02/business/us-job-openings-rise-modestly-88-million-february-strong-labor-market/

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Sports Briefs---

12.3 million: Iowa's victory over LSU is the most-watched women's college basketball game on record
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/sports/?ref=menu

Oakland A’s and city officials remain ‘far apart’
on Coliseum lease extension after Tuesday’s meeting
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2024/04/02/oakland-as-and-city-officials-remain-far-apart-on-coliseum-lease-extension-after-tuesdays-meeting/

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

California News Briefs---

 California is building fewer homes.
   The state could get even more expensive
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-04-02/california-is-building-fewer-homes-the-state-could-get-even-more-expensive

Santana Row office deal in San Jose offers
restate market hope
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2024/04/02/san-jose-real-estate-office-economy-tech-home-store-restaurant-jobs/

'It was just sand': How a mega lake with
    flamingos landed in the Calif. desert
https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/jw-marriott-mega-lake-with-flamingos-calif-desert-19372124.php

Highway 1 in crisis: What will it take for California    
    to keep its iconic road from collapsing?
https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/highway-1-crumbling-cost-infrastructure-19379465.php

Here’s why San Francisco was crowned
   America’s healthiest city in 2024
https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/sf-healthiest-american-city-19379896.php

[headlines]
--------------------------------------------------------------

Gimme that Wine

 

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

North Coast Wine Challenge kicks off
   with over 1,000 wines in competition
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/lifestyle/north-coast-wine-challenge-kicks-off-with-over-1000-wines-in-competition/

Greek Wine from Santorini Voted
World’s Best
https://greekreporter.com/2024/04/02/greek-wine-santorini-world-best/

Vaughn Duffy Wines maker on how life has changed   
after 2023 North Coast Wine Challenge win
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/lifestyle/vaughn-duffy-wines-maker-on-life-after-2023-north-coast-wine-challenge-win/

French wine industry suffering multiple
despite good harvest
https://www.yahoo.com/news/french-wine-industry-suffering-multiple-081708503.html