New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Kaitlyn (Doherty) Guidry, CLFP, was promoted to Senior Funding Manager, Financial Partners Group, Carmel, Indiana. She is working remote from Spokane, Washington. She first joined as Funding Manager (September,2021 - January, 2026). Previously, she was at Sovereign Lending Group Incorporated, starting August, 2020, promoted Collateral Documentation Specialist, (February, 2021 - August, 2021).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlynguidry/

Kyle Hess was promoted to Business Development Manager at CapTech Financial by Onset Financial. He is located at St. George, Utah. Previously, he was National Account Executive
(August, 2023 - January, 2026); Assistant Regional Manager, A Place for Mom (October, 2022 - July, 2023); Sales Manager, GoHealth (March, 2021 - October, 2022). He started at Clearlink as Sales Representative (March, 2016 - November, 2019); promoted Sales Support Analyst (July, 2019 - November, 2019); AT&T Sales Coach (November, 2019 –(October, 2022).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylehess3/

Justin Pavek M.S. was promoted General Manager, Wallwork Financial, Fargo, North Dakota,  where he is located. Previously, he was Chief Credit Officer (November, 2019 - January, 2026); He joined CoBank as Credit Officer April, 2016,  promoted Credit Supervisor (March, 2019 -November, 2019): Senior Credit Analyst, Wealth Management, U.S. Bank (September, 2014 - April, 2016); Associate Bank Examiner, Farm Credit Administration (April, 2012 - September, 2014).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-pavek-m-s-28975171/

Lorraine Perkins, CLFP, was hired as Senior Financial Solutions Specialist, Agilent Technologies,  Santa Clara, California. She is located in Cinnaminson, New Jersey. Previously, she was Healthcare Account Manager, GreatAmerica Financial Services, Cedar Rapid, Iowa (August, 2021 - January, 2026); Senior Financial Specialist, Philips Medical Capital (PMC) (March, 2019 - August, 2021); Vice President,  Business Development Officer, Beneficial Equipment Finance Corp (Beneficial Bank) (December, 2016 - March, 2019): Senior National Account Executive, De Lage Landen Financial (September, 2003 - August, 2016). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorraine-perkins-clfp-0a17b36/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorraine-perkins-clfp-0a17b36/

Dillon Silk, CLFP, was hired as Senior Director of Operations, First National Equipment Finance, Scottsdale, Arizona. He is located in Phoenix, Arizona. Previously, he was at MAZO Capital Solutions, starting as Product Development Manager (July, 2023), appointed Head of Syndication (April, 2024 - January, 2026). Previously, he was at Currency, starting as Syndication Manger, October, 2018). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dillon-silk-clfp-633960114/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dillon-silk-clfp-633960114/

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2026 Major Finance/Leasing Conferences
Updated

Febuary 10-11, SF Net’s Asset-Based
     Capital Conference
2026 Encore at the Wynn, Las Vegas, Nevada
https://www.sfnet.com/home/events/event-detail/2026/02/10/default-calendar/sfnets-asset-based-capital-conference-2026

February 12, DeBanked
Biggest Show – You won’t want to miss!
    Fontainebleau, Miami, Florida
https://www.debankedmiami.com/page/5137529/registration

March 4, National Vehicle Leasing Association
    Nashville, Tennessee
https://www.nvla.org/page/2026Conference
Early Bird Registration New Wednesday, January 14
NVLA Room Rate: $309+
Attorney Sloan Schickler, Schickler & Schickler will cover the conference for Leasing News, as well as a spear at the conference.
   
March 4-6, Funders Forum/Broker Expo
    Hollywood Florida. Tee Off Funders Forum 2026
    Dan Marino Guest Speaker
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/---Networking-Starts-Here---Kick-Off-Funders-Forum-at-the-RBFC-Golf-Tournament-.html?soid=1133130637774&aid=jJMUS1-TyJY
Bob Rodi, Member at Franchise Loans Direct will Cover the Forum for Leasing News Readers. His second time Attending.

March 30-April 1, NEFA Spring Conference    Huntington
 https://www.nefassociation.org/event/2026-spring-conference/ Beach, California
Don Cosenza, CLFP,  Senior Vice President, Maxim  Commercial Capital will cover the conference for Leasing News Readers.

April 14-16, ELFA National Funding Condense
    Chicago, Illinois
Online scheduling coming in late January, 2026 
Randy Haug, LTi Technology Solutions, will be covering the conference for Leasing News Readers.

May 5–May 7
American Association of Commercial  Finance Brokers
Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, Disney Springs, Orlando, Florida
https://members.aacfb.org/Conference
Leasing News Coverage by Vicki Shimkus, CLFP, Finance, Brokers Relationship Manager, Ameris Bank Equipment.  

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

October 25–27, ELFA Annual Conference,
    Palm Desert, California  
Online Scheduling Coming later.
Randy Haug, LTi Technology Solutions, will be covering the conference gore Leasing News Readers

November 11–13, SF Net, 81st Annual Convention  
Marriott Hotel. Los Angeles, California 
https://www.sfnet.com/home/events/event-detil/2025/11/11/default-calendar/sfnets-81st-annual-convention

Help Wanted Ad
    Ameris Bank Equipment Finance

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Last Multi-Job Count Shows Reality
By Felix Richter, Statista

US Government Job Employment records are not always correct, especially since cuts in employees and keeping accurate records.  Perhaps the most noticeable is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showing multiple jobs.
The last count was November, 2025, which found the highest number ever recorded since the bureau starting tracking numbers.

The last count showed the numbers two full time jobs, one full time, two part-time jobs and hours vary on first and second job.

Felix Richter of Statista writes about the economic necessity: "Several years of elevated inflation have left a legacy of high prices while wages have barely kept up. Housing costs, for example, have risen 28 percent over the past five years, while wages have only increased 24 percent. That leaves many families financially strained, especially as the prices of other necessities, food in particular, have also outpaced wage growth.

"Another reason for the rise in multiple jobholders is the changing labor market: for one, the rise of remote jobs has made it easier for many people to work a second job, possibly from home. Then there’s the availability of jobs in general: for large parts of the past few years, the number of job openings has vastly exceeded the number of job seekers, leaving workers willing to earn an extra paycheck with plenty of options.

"The gig economy has created new opportunities for people to complement their income, offering flexible work schedules and relative freedom. As our chart shows, most multiple jobholders have one full-time and one part-time job, while two full-time jobs is the rarest form of multiple employment."

Felix Richer, Senior Writer
Statista

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Financial and Sales Training
(For our "Lease School/Franchisors" list, please click here)

Several hold classes, and most will travel to their client's premise.

These are not schools or franchisors which can be viewed by click below:
http://leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/School-Franchisors.htm

Many of the associations also have financial and sales training classes for their members and non-members with a higher fee: http://leasingnews.org/associations.htm

Second Column: YCS - Year Company Started | YELB - Years in equipment Leasing Business

Name City, State Contact Website Leasing Association	YCS YELB (see above for meaning)	Geographic Area	Specialty
Adrian Miller Port Washington, NY Adrian Miller amiller@adrianmiller.com 516-767-9288 www.adrianmiller.com www.adrianmiller.com/blog/	1989 31	International	Highly results-driven, informative and enjoyable sales skills training programs  that will leave participants empowered for bottom-line success.  AMST guarantees a positive return on training time and investment.
Bill Bosco Leasing101 Jupiter, FL 914-522-3233 info@leasing-101.net leasing-101.net/our-training/	2004 51	US Focused with IFRS 16 solutions available	The training program offers a cost-effective way to provide comprehensive lease and finance training to ALL their staff for one price on a subscription basis.  The training package includes 11 narrated PowerPoint presentations, eight scripted sales call role-plays, 30 insightful articles, sample pitch books, and proposal letters. The content is includes basic industry knowledge and advanced topics, with a focus on mid- to large-ticket sales and structuring.
Open Advance San Ramon, California Steve Chriest www.openadvance.com/contact/ 925-263-2702 www.openadvance.com/	2000 38	International	Consultant. Training. Production. Your training can be branded, delivered in workshops, accessed via our OA Cloud app. or housed in your LMS. Our objective is to help people learn faster, retain knowledge longer and promote critical thinking skills.
Wheeler Business Consulting, LLC Fallstow, Maryland Scott Wheeler, CLP Scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com 410-877-0428 www.wheelerbusinessconsulting.com	2008 37	USA	Provide multiple educational products to individuals and companies engaged in the leasing/financing industry. Encourage & facilitate personal and corporate strategy building to promote efficiencies, increase productivity & future success.

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Being Nice Is a Superpower
Ken Lubin, Managing Director, ZRG Partners

Somewhere along the way, “nice” got confused with “soft.”

Nice got lumped in with weak, passive, or trying to be liked. In business, especially at senior levels, that misconception is everywhere. The loudest voice in the room gets credit. The hardest edge gets rewarded. And kindness? That’s treated like a liability.

That thinking is wrong.

Being nice—genuinely nice—is one of the most underappreciated competitive advantages in leadership, performance, and long-term success.

Not fake nice. Not formative politeness. Not smiling while quietly keeping score. Real nice. The kind rooted in confidence, boundaries, and self-respect.

Nice Isn’t Weak. It’s Controlled Strength.
The strongest leaders I’ve worked with don’t need to dominate. They don’t posture. They don’t flex titles or credentials. They’re calm. They listen. They treat people with respect—regardless of rank.

That’s not softness. That’s control.

It takes far more confidence to stay composed, kind, and fair when you could apply pressure—but choose not to—than to default to intimidation or ego. Anyone can be aggressive. Not everyone can be grounded.

Niceness, when it’s authentic, signals that you’re not operating from fear.

People Don’t Forget How You Made Them Feel
Here’s the part most people underestimate: people may forget what you said, but they never forget how you made them feel.

Being nice builds trust faster than strategy ever will. It lowers defenses. It opens conversations that would otherwise stay closed. It turns transactional interactions into long-term relationships.

In my world—executive search and leadership—this shows up constantly. Candidates remember who treated them with dignity, even when the answer was “no.” Clients remember who was honest and respectful under pressure. Those relationships compound over time.

Nice creates memory and then memory creates opportunity.

Nice Has Boundaries
Let’s be clear: being nice does not mean being a pushover.

Some of the kindest people I know have the firmest boundaries. They tell the truth directly. They say no without drama. They don’t tolerate disrespect.

That’s the difference.

Being nice is not about avoiding conflict—it’s about handling it without unnecessary damage. It’s about clarity without cruelty. Strength without ego.

You can be warm and decisive. Calm and firm. Respectful and uncompromising.

Nice Scales. Ego Doesn’t.
Ego burns energy. Whereas Niceness creates momentum.

Ego demands attention. Niceness builds loyalty. Ego creates short wins. Niceness creates long games.

The leaders who last—the ones people actually want to follow—aren’t the loudest. They’re the most consistent. They show up the same way on good days and bad days. They treat people well when there’s nothing to gain.

That kind of behavior scales. It travels. It gets talked about when you’re not in the room.

The Real Flex
In a world addicted to noise, aggression, and constant self-promotion, being genuinely nice is disruptive.

It catches people off guard. It disarms. It builds trust faster than any résumé, title, or LinkedIn post ever will.

So no—niceness isn’t weakness.

It’s restraint. It’s confidence. It’s emotional discipline.

And in the long run, it’s one of the most powerful advantages you can have.

Thanks for reading

Ken-

klubin@zrgpartners.com
Managing Director, Executive Search Strategist
Building Elite Leadership Teams, High-Performance Advisor
ZRG Partners, LLC
Americas I EMEA I Asia Pacific
C: 508-733-4789
https://www.linkedin.com/in/klubin

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Finance and Leasing Industry Recruiters

These companies have experience in the finance and leasing industry

Second Column: YCS - Year Company Started | YELB - Years in equipment Leasing Business

Name City, State Contact Website Leasing Association	YCS YELB (see above for meaning)	Geographic Area	Specialty
Executive Solutions for Leasing & Finance, Inc. Atlanta GA 30308 Jon Gerson, President jongerson@exsolutions.com 678.528.8996 LinkedIn www.exsolutions.com	1990 (1990)	Nationwide	Search firm specializing in leasing industry. Services include retained and contingent search, strategic consultation, compensation analysis, sales & management training, & customizable consulting products.
Recruiters International, Inc. (RII) Pembroke Pines, FL 33025 Emily Fitzpatrick Sr. Recruiter info@rirecruit.com Phone: 954-885-9241 www.riicareer.com LinkedIn Also follow us on Twitter @RIIINFO	2000	North America	Explanation:  Boutique Executive Search Firm Specializing in the Finance & Equipment Leasing Industries. Our goal is to build long term relationships with our Clients & Candidates, keeping both sides abreast of current and future changes that effect supply & demand of Top Talent.  Excellent References & Testimonials
ZRG Partners 69 Milk St Third Floor Westborough, MA 01581 Contact: Ken Lubin,  klubin@zrgpartners.com Gerry Ricco, gricco@zrgpartners.com www.zrgpartners.com	1999 (32)	Global (Completed search in 33 countries   in leasing and lending)	Senior Level retained Search firm doing C-Suite searches, board searches and VP level positions, We work on a client focused, project basis

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Top Ten
January 6 - January  9

(1) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2026/01_06.htm#hires

(2) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2026/01_09.htm#hires

(3) California SB 362: The Words You Use Now Matter  58 3
    as Much as the Disclosures You Give
      By Marshall Goldberg, Chief Legal Editor
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2026/01_06.htm#ca

(4) How to Create More Sales with Sales/Leasebacks  31
    Free ½ Hour Webinar - Amembal & Halladay
      Friday, January 16th, 12:00PM Pacific Time
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2026/01_06.htm#how

(5) All of the World’s Oil Reserves by Country,  18
     in One Visualization
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2026/01_06.htm#all

(6) Funders Looking for Broker Business
    to update or change: kitmenkin@leasingnews.org
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2026/01_09.htm#look

(7) E-Bike Laws Evolving Fast:
    What Riders Need to Know in 2026 
      By Marshall Goldberg, Leasing News
        Chief Legal Editor
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2026/01_09.htm#ebike

(8) Credit and Risk Professionals,
    Steps You Should Be Taking Now to Protect Your Career 
     Career Crossroads by Emily Fitzgerald
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2026/01_09.htm#cc

(9) Your Future Starts Now - We're Hiring! 
    Ameris Bank Equipment Finance
 https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jan2026/01_06.htm

(10) Video shows ICE agent in Minneapolis fired at driver 
     as vehicle veered past him
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/01/08/video-ice-shooting-minneapolis/

News Briefs

“President Donald Trump’s historically low poll numbers have reached alarming levels as Americans express disapproval of his handling of the economy and his military and foreign policies, which international observers have described as “nakedly imperialist” and aggressive.

“In November 2025, Trump’s approval fell to 36 percent in Gallup polling, the lowest mark of his second term.

As of January 12, trackers like The Economist place his average approval at 39 percent, with 56 percent disapproving.
Before the end of the first year of his second term, Trump’s job approval rating dropped “five percentage points to 36 percent, the lowest of his second term, while disapproval had risen to 60 percent,” according to Gallup.

“Donald Trump has reached the lowest approval ratings of his second term thus far. By: MEGA {MSN)

Largest nursing strike in New York City history begins amid stalled contract negotiations About 15,000 nurses across the city walked off the job on Monday.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/largest-nursing-strike-new-york-city-history-looming/story?id=129100789

Fed's Powell reveals DOJ has subpoenaed the central bank
   and is threatening a criminal indictment against him
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/feds-powell-reveals-doj-has-subpoenaed-the-central-bank-and-is-threatening-a-criminal-indictment-against-him-033156531.html

New Yorkers Cheated by Capital One Will Receive $34  
  Million Settlement Doubles in Value plus Require $425   
     Million Restitution/Better Rates
https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2026/attorney-general-james-applauds-new-capital-one-settlement

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49ers' George Kittle got tequila delivered
     to locker room midgame after injury
https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-george-kittle-tequila-locker-room-delivery-21290268.php

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Sports Briefs---

This is the first time in NFL history there were 4 games
 decided by 4 points or fewer in a single postseason round.

Rams beat Panthers by 3
Bears beat Packers by 4
Bills beat Jaguars by 3
49ers beat Eagles by 4

That is not fair!': Hall of Fame coach says
    NFL screwed 49ers with short week
https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/hall-fame-coach-nfl-screwed-49ers-short-week-21290937.php

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California News Briefs---

Federal child care funding freeze could
devastate Silicon Valley
https://sanjosespotlight.com/federal-child-care-funding-freeze-could-devastate-silicon-valley/

 

California’s moving van outflow slowed in2025
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/01/12/californias-moving-van-outflow-slowed-in-2025/

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Gimme that Wine

 

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

Wine’s downturn ripples through to North Coast suppliers
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/01/12/wine-supply-chain-economic-impact/

Wine Country’s flashiest winery owner quietly
    closed two Napa Valley tasting rooms
https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/boissett-collection-napa-valley-closed-21290573.php