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######## surrounding the article denotes it is a press release, it was not written by Leasing News nor has the information been verified, but from the source noted. When an article is signed by the writer, it is considered a byline. It reflects the opinion and research of the writer.

New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Michael Berger was hired as Asset Management Equipment Specialist, PNC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He works remotely from Morgantown, WV. Previously, he was at Siemens Financial Services, Inc., starting as Senior Portfolio Manager, July, 2020, promoted Director of Workout (April, 2025 - July, 2026). He began his career at DLL Financial Services, starting September, 2000 as Manager, Portfolio Management, promoted Director Portfolio Management, Collections & Recovery, January, 2014, promoted Project Manager, Operations/Collections & Recovery (October, 2016 - February, 2019).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-berger77

Austin Law, CLFP, was promoted at Stryker to Associate Manager, Portfolio Marketing, Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is located in Goodyear, Arizona. Previously he was Portfolio Manager, Stryker Flex Financial (July, 2023 - July, 2025); Investor, The Bucket List Studios (June, 2021 - Present). He joined AP Equipment February, 2021 as Sales Operations Manager, promoted VP, Front-End Operations (April, 2021 - June, 2023); Area VP of Sales, Equipment Finance, Centra Funding (March, 2020 - January, 2021); Business Development Officer, 360 Equipment Finance (September, 2018 - March, 2020). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-law/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-law/

Christian Schneider was hired as Risk Analyst, Canon Financial Services, Mount Laurel, New Jersey . She is located in Trevose, Pennsylvania. Previously, she was Intermed Associate Credit Analyst, Citi (October, 2024 - June, 2025); Credit Analyst, Bank Financial (July, 2023 - October, 2024); Senior Credit Analyst, PEAC Solutions (December, 2021- July, 2023); Credit Analyst, NewLane Financial (October, 2019 - December, 2021). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-schneider-a91b3614a/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-schneider-a91b3614a/

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Alternative Dispute Resolution: Friend Or Foe?
By Ken Greene, Leasing News Legal Editor, Emeritus

One of the most daunting hurdles in pursuing or defending lawsuits is the cost. Attorneys’ billing rates vary, but are rarely less than $300 an hour, and, in big cities, hourly rates can approach or exceed $1500. Even a simple lawsuit can cost $10,000, and more complex cases can cost tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Another impediment to resorting to the court system for dispute resolution is the time factor. It can easily take two years to get to trial on a relatively uncontested matter, more if there are multiple parties and counterclaims. Appeals can add another one to two years to the process.

Make you think twice about filing suit to collect an unpaid lease or loan obligation of, say, $25,000 doesn’t it? Especially when you add in the headache of having to spend valuable time preparing discovery responses or attending your deposition.

Enter the great savior of Alternative Dispute Resolution, often called ADR. According to the American Bar Association:

Dispute resolution processes have several advantages. For instance, many dispute resolution processes are cheaper and faster than the traditional legal process. Certain processes can provide the parties involved with greater participation in reaching a solution, as well as more control over the outcome of the dispute. In addition, dispute resolution processes are less formal and have more flexible rules than the trial courts.

That may be wishful thinking.

There are essentially three kinds of ADR - mediation, non-binding arbitration, and arbitration. A court may order the parties to pursue any one of these, although this may require the parties’ consent.

The simplest, easiest and least expensive ADR method is mediation, in which a neutral third party hears arguments and attempts to effectuate a binding settlement. The procedure is often relatively informal, utilizing few or no rules or procedure or evidence. Arbitration, on the other hand, is often more formal. Non-binding arbitration allows the parties to present their cases to a neutral third party to render a decision. However, that decision is merely advisory and either party is free to disregard it. The hope is that the parties will learn from the process and accept the arbitrator’s determination which, although non-binding, could be a harbinger of any subsequent judicial decision.

Mediation and non-binding arbitration can be extremely helpful or a waste of time. Binding arbitration is a different story. Depending upon the arbitrator, the proceedings can be relatively quick and informal or can so closely resemble a judicial proceeding as to be virtually indistinguishable. Some arbitrators allow just about every kind of motion and/or discovery available, though those are the very bugaboos that make litigation excessively time consuming and expensive. An upside of arbitration is that many arbitrators will relax the rules of procedure and evidence, and even limit pretrial shenanigans, thereby streamlining the process. It is almost entirely within the arbitrator’s discretion to do that.

Discretion. Ah, there’s the rub. Not only do arbitrators have sweeping authority to dictate the rules of arbitration, but they also have greater impunity than trial judges if a party is unhappy with a ruling. An aggrieved party in litigation almost always has a right to appeal to a higher court. Absent exigent circumstance, such as corruption, fraud, misconduct, or manifest disregard for the law, an arbitrator’s award is immune from attack.

Bottom line, in this lawyer’s opinion, beware the lure of ADR and proceed carefully before jumping into that potential snake pit. Before saying yes to binding arbitration, make sure you are aware of the risks and the benefits.

Ken Greene
Law Office of Kenneth Charles Greene
5743 Corsa Avenue, Suite 208
Westlake Village, California 91362
Tel: 818.575.9095
Fax: 805.435.7464
ken@kengreenelaw.com
www.kengreenelaw.com

Lyft’s Self-Driving Shuttle Buses
Are Coming Soon
By Mathew W. Daus, Esq.

Benteler Mobility

Lyft is partnering with Benteler Mobility to launch a self-driving shuttle service. In late 2026, Lyft plans to deploy the company’s all-electric Holon Urban shuttles in airports and cities around the U.S., allowing users to book trips from its ride-sharing app.

Holon, a subsidiary of Benteler, says its rectangular bus has enough room to fit up to 15 people. With a max speed of 37MPH, the self-driving shuttle comes equipped with an array of radar and radar sensors, along with 11 cameras, allowing it to operate with Level 4 autonomy. That means it can drive without human intervention, but isn’t capable of driving under all conditions. It uses autonomous driving technology from Intel’s Mobileye, which Lyft is also partnering with to launch a fleet of robotaxis next year.

Details about where Lyft plans to deploy the self-driving shuttles remain slim, as it doesn’t look like Holon has any established routes in the U.S. just yet. Last year, Holon announced plans to launch a manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Florida, and said it wants to deploy Holon Urbans in the city to “connect residential and business areas.”

Aside from deals with Mobileye and Holon, Lyft is gearing up to offer robotaxi rides in Atlanta with May Mobility this year. It also previously offered rides with the Alphabet-owned Waymo and lets users book trips with Motional in Las Vegas. All of these deals may help Lyft keep up with Uber, which recently struck a partnership with Lucid and Nuro to launch 20,000 robotaxis throughout the U.S.

Matthew W. Daus, Esq.
Partner and Chairman, Windels Marx Transportation Practice Group
Contact: mdaus@windelsmarx.com

Source: The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/news/713949/lyft-self-driving-shuttle-buses-holon-urban

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Leasing and Finance Help Wanted
Balboa Capital
We Are Growing Our Senior Sales Team Now

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"Thinking of going into another industry"
By Emily Fitzgerald, Recruiters International

Question:
“I have been in Leasing Sales for a long time and it just isn’t fun anymore, and deals just don’t get approved like they did in the old days. I am thinking of going into another industry. What are your thoughts?”

Answer: If it is a fear of “Artificial Intelligence” or “Fast Approval” or “Turn Around,” perhaps that just is part of your overall fear.

If you are considering using your sales talent in another industry … why? Have you really lost your passion for this industry. This industry is always changing and growing and cyclical. Or are you simply not happy where you are?

If it is the latter, why don’t you present yourself to another leasing company showing your progressive success within the industry AND offer to take a commission only compensation plan until you have proven yourself? This scenario can keep you within the industry you enjoyed for a long time until recently.

If you have lost your “drive” for this industry, then consider companies and/or industries that were similar to the equipment niche you were (are) in (e.g. truck manufacturer or even a truck distributor or top dealer).

Regardless, the best thing you can do is to be more of a generalist with a 10-15% focus on a specific equipment niche. For example, if you were a generalist (sales experience with a mix of asset types e.g. medical, IT, you would have a much larger window of opportunity for new positions). Keep these in mind moving forward ….

Please call me to see if I have any companies who you should be interviewing with.

Emily Fitzpatrick
Sr. Recruiter
Recruiters International, Inc.
Phone: 954-885-9241
Cell: 954-612-0567
emily@riirecruit.com

Invite me to connect on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emfitzpatrick/

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Key Takeaways

Active listing counts in the U.S. have steadily risen since their recent low of 346K in 2022, now reaching almost 1.1 million as of June 2025.
Listings in the states of Florida and Texas have reached nine-year highs, with California’s listings also trending upwards.

After hitting a low in 2022, the number of homes listed for sale across the U.S. has been climbing over the past three years, with states like Florida and Texas leading the rise.

The infographic breaks down the active home listings of the U.S. housing market since July 2016 to the latest data as of June 2025, highlighting key regional dynamics in the housing market.

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