New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Aaron Brand was hired a Vice President of Business Development, Iron Horse Credit, San Diego, California, where he is also located. Previously, he was Vice President, Business Development, First Business Bank (February, 2023 - July, 2025); Head of Business Development, Founders First Capital AP Partners (June, 2021 - January, 2023); EVP, LQD Business Finance (September, 2018 - April, 2021). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandaaron/details/experience/

Bill Summers was promoted to Member/Partner, Summers Engineered Capital, Franklin, Tennessee. He is located in Nashville Metropolitan Area. He joined Summers January, 2025 - July, 2025); Retired CEO,  Civista Leasing & Finance, a division of Civista Bank. He joined Civista December, 1993, Chief Executive Officer. He was with Civista Leasing & Finance 30 years, 8 months. Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/summerswilliamp/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/summerswilliamp/

Ben Tishelman was hired as Vice President, Equipment Finance Operations Manager, Peapack Private Bank & Trust, Bedminster, New Jersey. He is located in Hartsdale, New York. Previously, he was at North Mill Equipment Finance  LLC., 15 years, 4 months, with last position AVP, Operations (December, 2020 - December, 2024). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-t-a2692a28/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-t-a2692a28/

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

### Press Release ###########################

Sun Setting a Legacy: PEAC Solutions Celebrates the Retirement
of Industry Leader Tibor Horvath

Mount Laurel, NJ –– PEAC Solutions announces the upcoming retirement of Tibor Horvath, Senior Vice President, from his full-time role as the Global Lead in the Construction, Transportation, and Industrial (CT&I) Division, effective July 31st, 2025. A respected veteran in equipment finance, Horvath is concluding a distinguished four-decade career and transitioning into a consultant for PEAC, focusing on building the Material Handling and Forklift business sectors.

PEAC’s Global CEO, Bill Stephenson, said, "I have had the pleasure of working with Tibor for many years.

“His knowledge, leadership, and strong work ethic have played a crucial role in establishing PEAC Solutions as a leader in the construction industry. Less than three years ago, when we launched PEAC, we had minimal visibility or presence in the market. Thanks to Tibor's dedication, we are now recognized as one of the leading global leasing companies in this sector."

Horvath joined PEAC in 2022 during a time of strategic expansion. His focus on building scalable vendor relationships has positioned PEAC as a premier financing partner across the CT&I space. Under his leadership, this business segment grew from $125 million in volume in 2022 to $340 million in 2025, and he played a direct role in on boarding over 20 new vendor partners during that time.

Before joining PEAC, Horvath held executive leadership roles at several global finance institutions, contributing to his reputation as one of the industry’s most well-rounded and respected voices.

Ralph Cioffi, Vice President – Industrial Retail Sales at PEAC, stated, "As I reflect on my time working with Tibor, I can say the last three years have been the most transformative of my career, and I credit a lot of that to Tibor’s presence. His leadership style didn’t just guide – it challenged. He consistently pushed boundaries, encouraging me to think beyond conventional limits and approach problems with bold, strategic vision."

Throughout his time at PEAC, Horvath has been more than just a leader – he’s been a trusted mentor and advocate for his team and partners. His global perspective, deep industry expertise, and people-first leadership style will leave a legacy at PEAC and within the equipment finance community.

Jeff Gocken, Vice President – National Account Manager at PEAC Solutions, commented, “Tibor’s knowledge, experience, and passion for equipment leasing in the material handling and construction segments is irreplaceable. It has been my good fortune to have him as a mentor, a colleague, and most importantly, a friend.”

The leadership team and employees of PEAC Solutions extend our heartfelt gratitude to Tibor for his outstanding contributions. Horvath will continue to share his expertise and provide strategic guidance to PEAC Solutions. This shift marks not only the culmination of a remarkable career but also the beginning of a new way for Horvath to support PEAC's growth and future initiatives.

About PEAC Solutions: PEAC Solutions is a leading multinational asset finance platform specializing in providing innovative finance solutions to equipment manufacturers, distributors, and dealers across a wide range of industries and asset classes. With a strong focus on customer service, PEAC Solutions offers lease and loan products that enable businesses to access the equipment and technology they need to enhance productivity and growth. Operating across North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom, PEAC Solutions has built a robust global network capable of delivering tailored financial solutions to diverse markets. For more information, visit www.peacsolutions.com.

####Press Release ###########################

California Supreme Court Upholds Forum Selection Clauses
Good News for Lenders and Lessors
By Marshall Goldberg
 Leasing News Legal Editor

In a major decision for the finance and leasing industries, the California Supreme Court has ruled that forum selection clauses remain enforceable—even when they require litigation in a state that doesn’t allow jury trials.  The case, EpicentRx, Inc. v. Superior Court (July 21, 2025), overturns the 2019 Handoush decision, which had held that such clauses were invalid if they deprived California litigants of their right to a jury. That ruling had created uncertainty for lenders and lessors who rely on out-of-state forums to avoid jury trials in California, where juries often favor borrowers.

The Supreme Court clarified that California’s jury trial right applies only in California courts and does not override a valid agreement to litigate elsewhere. The decision restores confidence in using forum selection clauses as a tool to manage litigation risk.

Bottom line: Lenders and lessors can once again count on having their disputes heard in their chosen forum—even if it means no jury.

While the decision limits the ability to use the absence of a jury trial as a standalone argument, it does not foreclose other public policy challenges.

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

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

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

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

Originators Are Hunters
By Scott Wheeler, CLFP

The most valuable originators in the commercial equipment finance and leasing industry are hunters—those who proactively seek out and build relationships with vendors and end-users that yield high-quality assets. These top producers thrive on the chase. They approach the market with confidence and enthusiasm, taking genuine pride in winning new business. In contrast, most salespeople operate as account managers and processors. While managing existing relationships and handling inbound transactions are essential functions, they rarely lead to extraordinary results. Becoming a top performer requires a willingness to hunt.

The hesitation for many is a lack of confidence and product mastery. True hunters possess a deep understanding of the solutions they offer, and they take pride in helping prospects realize the value those solutions bring. They are passionate advocates for their company’s offerings and are eager to share their insights. Hunters don’t wait—they initiate. They engage. They expand the footprint.

It may be time to ask yourself:

• Are you a hunter, or simply a processor?
• How many new relationships have you initiated in the past three to six months?
• What intentional activities are you embracing this week, this month, and throughout the remainder of 2025 to cultivate new partnerships that will deliver high-quality assets?

The choice is yours. Embrace the hunt or manage the desk.

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

This "Sales Tip" is provided by Wheeler Business Consulting.
Comments, questions, and suggestions regarding
weekly tips are welcome.
Phone: 410-877-0428
email: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com

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

When It's Time to Move On
By Ken Lubin, Managing Director, ZRG Partners

Know when to cut the cord. It happens in business, sports, you current job, and anything else that involves leadership. Once you start going down the road of hope versus certainty, you must be willing to get out.

I see it with deals that I negotiate and with interpersonal relationships. Once they start hoping that that person will come back to them or that deal may close if we do this, it’s too late. You must be proactive versus worrying about it after the fact; it should have been done six months ago.

The most important decisions a leader can make is understanding when to get out. You don't want to be the person who always "buys high, sells low. “You want to be the person who "buys low, sells high." You don't want to be on the downward trajectory. Your career is more important than the job you have now.

Ken Lubin
Managing Director
ZRG Partners, LLC
Americas I EMEA I Asia Pacific
C: 508-733-4789
https://www.linkedin.com/in/klubin

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

### Press Release##########################

SLIM Capital Reports Impressive First-Half 2025 Milestones
with Significant Year-Over-Year Growth

Beverly Hills, CA –– SLIM Capital, a leading nationwide direct finance company specializing in equipment financing and leasing, announced its remarkable growth metrics for the first half of 2025, highlighting record-breaking performance and operational efficiency gains that underscore the company’s strategic evolution.

Key performance highlights for H1 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 include:

• 99% increase in total amount funded
• 71.42% increase in number of deals funded
• 16% increase in average funded deal size
• 18% increase in total number of applications received
• 18.11% decrease in total dollar amount of applications processed

Despite processing 18% less in total application volume, SLIM Capital nearly doubled its total funded volume, a testament to the company’s increased efficiency and ability to identify and capitalize on high-quality opportunities.

CEO Shervin Rashti, said, “Our first-half results demonstrate the payoff from deliberate investments we made in our people and technology.

“Compared with the same period last year, we financed 99% more deal volume while reviewing 18% less dollar volume, and our look-to-book ratio improved by 45%, reflecting a more efficient pipeline and higher closing rates.

“This leap forward is a direct result of deploying AI-driven underwriting tools and overhauling our internal processes to speed decisioning and reduce friction. We also strengthened our
leadership team with a new CFO, a seasoned VP of Operations and other key hires to steer our growth.

“We anticipated that a new administration’s industrial-policy agenda and higher tariffs would encourage companies to front-load equipment purchases, and we’re seeing that play out—
equipment and software investment surged nearly 22% in Q1 2025, according to ELFA, while industry new-business volume is up 11.9% year over year, per the Equipment Leasing &
Finance Foundation.

“Our team processed 1,473 applications across various sectors, including construction, restaurants, healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing. Our AI-enhanced underwriting allowed us to focus on the right opportunities. As we look toward the rest of 2025 and beyond, we’re confident that our systems, processes and leadership bench position SLIM Capital to
deliver even greater value to our clients and partners.”

As SLIM Capital continues to scale, the company remains committed to leveraging innovation, people, and purpose-driven service to help businesses across the U.S. access fast, flexible
financing solutions.

About SLIM Capital
SLIM Capital is a direct finance company that specializes in financing and leasing equipmentacross a wide range of industries, including construction, manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and restaurant operations. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, SLIM Capital delivers customized solutions with speed, transparency, and a human touch.

For more information:
Visit www.slimcapital.com
Contact: info@slimcapital.com | (949) 535-2353

### Press Release##########################

News Briefs

Union Pacific to Buy Norfolk Southern in $85 Billion    
    Railroad Deal
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/business/union-pacific-norfolk-southern-merger.html

A Game-Changing Climate Rollback, E.P.A. Aims
    to Kill a Bedrock Scientific Finding
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/climate/epa-endangerment-finding-repeal-proposal.html

India and Trump Still Don’t Have a Tariff Deal: Here’s  
Why That Matters
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/business/trump-tariffs-india-trade.html

JP Morgan Chase Nears a Deal to Take Over Apple’s
Credit-Card Program   
https://www.wsj.com/finance/banking/jpmorgan-chase-nears-a-deal-to-take-over-apples-credit-card-program-0bbcdda8?mod=hp_lead_pos1

The Country Where 76% of Cars Sold Are Electric
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/business/nepal-electric-vehicles-china.html

Mark Zuckerberg adds hundreds of acres to
sprawling Hawaii compound
https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article/hawaii-zuckerberg-buys-kauai-land-20792415.php

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

Where Is the Economy Going? A ‘Monster Week’
    of News Could Help Decide.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/business/economy-tariffs-fed-jobs.html

Welcome to the Grocery Store Where Prices Change
100 Times a Day
https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/surge-grocery-prices-electronic-shelf-labels-a3d47701?mod=business_feat2_retail_pos5

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

Sports Briefs---

 

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

California News Briefs---

Vintners Join Forces to Explore Bold New Model
    to Revive and Energize Wine Industry
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/305776

US Wine Trade Alliance Urges Final Wine Exemption
as US-EU Tariff Agreement Advances
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/306070

I should get a say in how my dollars are spent:
Local wineries respond to proposed wine tax
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/lifestyle/sonoma-county-wine-tax/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pd_exclusive&pupeml=152777

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

Gimme that Wine

 

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

Paso Robles Winemakers Gear Up for a Promising 2025
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/305957

Syncline Winery owner shares devastating impact of
    Burdoin Fire on vineyard
https://katu.com/news/local/syncline-winery-owner-shares-devastating-impact-burdoin-fire-vineyard-wine-wildfire-graps-damage-firefighhters-klickitat-county

'White House rescinds $20m for clean water in
   pesticide-contaminated rural California
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/24/water-pesticide-polution-california-trump