New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Ryan Durgin was promoted to Account Executive, Universal Finance,  Lynnfield, Massachusetts. He is located in Westford, Massachusetts. He joined Universal Business Development Representative August, 2024 - June, 2025); Credit and Debt Servicing, Navitas Credit Corporation (May, 2023 - January, 2024); Wealth Management Remote, Morgan Stanley (January, 2023).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-durgin-0a5695230/

Lea (Reeves) Stevens was promoted to Senior Vice President, CSI Leasing, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri. She is located in Savannah, Georgia. She joined CSI July, 2017, Account Executive, Promoted Vice President Sales, November, 2022, promoted Senior Vice President, Sales  (June, 2025); Vice President, SunTrust Bank; Associate Account Executive; Associate Account Executive, CSI Leasing (March, 2011 - March, 2013); Leasing Specialist, CLASS, Inc (May, 2009 - July, 2010).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-stevens-48580311/

Scott Wall was promoted to Executive Director, Investor Relations, ATEL Capital, San Francisco, California, where he is also located. He joined ATEL May, 2019, Director of Investor Relations (May, 2010 - June, 2025). Previously, he was Client Services Executive, Zenith American Solutions (February, 2016 - May, 2019) Scott Wall was promoted to Executive Director, Investor Relations, ATEL Capital, San Francisco, California, where he is also located. He joined ATEL May, 2019, Director of Investor Relations (May, 2010 - June, 2025). Previously, he was Client Services Executive, Zenith American Solutions (February, 2016 - May, 2019) Investment Associate, RVK, Inc.(April 2015 - February, 2016); Account Executive, Associated Third Party Administrators (ATPA),  (March, 2011 - April, 2015).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcwall/

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California Passes Law Extending Debt Collection Rules
Effective July 1
By Ken Greene, Leasing News Legal Editor, Emeritus

 

The new year brings yet more distressing news from the Golden State. If you are in the commercial finance space, and you want to collect that gold in California, you will soon have to heed all the rules that, until now, only applied to consumer debt collectors.

Beginning July 1, 2025, commercial loans of $500,000 or less will be subject to the debt collection protections of the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“RFDCPA”). What is potentially more troublesome is that the statute will apply not only to debt collectors, but creditors! That means that your in-house collection department will have to heed all the prohibitions and restrictions of the RFDCPA.

The rules are fairly straightforward and apply to debt collectors and creditors attempting to collect on their own paper. There are many, including:

1. It will be a crime for collection notices to simulate legal or judicial process or give the appearance of being authorized by a governmental agency or attorney (if it is not).
2. If a borrower claims identity theft, collection efforts must cease once the borrower provides certain information which confirms the identity theft claim.
3. The use, or threat of use, of physical force or violence is prohibited, as is telling a borrower that failure to pay a debt will result in an accusation that the borrower has committed a crime.
4. Debt collectors/creditors can only initiate judicial proceedings in the county in which a non-natural person is located.
5. There are many restrictions as to the timing of collection notices and calls.

There is a plethora of other rules, but you get the picture.

There are other important issues, i.e.:

1. Are your attorneys bound by these rules? In my opinion, the answer is yes. At least I intend to comply.
2. How liable is a creditor for its independent contractors who perform collection activities?
3. Can you send emails at night? What if they are computer generated?
4. Some of the terms of the law i.e. communicating with “such frequency as to be unreasonable” are vague, subjective and rich fodder for consumer plaintiff’s lawsuits. Lender beware!
5. The new law will prohibit the “false representation that a legal proceeding has been or is about to be instituted” if payment is not made. Gone are the days of sending that threat to sue if you don’t really mean it. So, if you make that threat, are you compelled to sue? I
6. am sure the consumer lawyers will claim foul!

One good thing about the expanded statute is that there is no licensing requirement for commercial debt collectors/creditors (yet!).

There is much more, but it is, as they say, beyond the scope of this article. My best advice is to have an attorney prepare a best practices guide to help you navigate this minefield. That is exactly what I am doing for my clients.

I am publishing a best practice guide to help creditors through the new law. If you are interested in it, please contact me at ken@kengreenelaw.com.

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

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Methods of Promotions I Have Observed
By Ken Lubin, ZRG Partners, Managing Director

As an executive recruiter with years of experience, I have witnessed firsthand the impact of self-promotion on career advancement. Through hearing about what the successful have
accomplished is what I can relate to readers.

There are many tools that were expressed:

a) Optimize Your Online Presence: Establish a compelling and professional online presence through platforms like LinkedIn, personal websites, or online portfolios. Craft a concise and impactful professional summary that highlights your key achievements, skills, and career progression. Leverage keywords relevant to your industry to improve search ability and attract the attention of recruiters.

b) Thought Leadership Content: Creating and sharing thought-provoking content positions you as a subject matter expert in your field. Start a blog or contribute articles to industry publications, focusing on topics that showcase your knowledge and insights. Leverage social media platforms to amplify the reach of your content and engage with industry peers.

c) Networking and Relationship Building: Technology has revolutionized networking, providing ample opportunities to connect with professionals across industries. Leverage platforms like LinkedIn to expand your network, engage in meaningful conversations, and cultivate relationships with influencers and decision-makers. Actively participate in relevant industry forums or virtual communities to demonstrate your expertise and build a reputation within your field.

As an executive recruiter, I have observed that those who effectively leverage technology for self-promotion often enjoy enhanced career opportunities and professional growth. By understanding the power of self-promotion and employing ethical strategies, you can stand out from the crowd and achieve success in your chosen career path.

 Embrace technology as a valuable tool, and combine it with authenticity and integrity to unlock the key to career advancement.

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

Leasing and Finance  Help Wanted
Balboa Capital
We Are Growing Our Senior Sales Team Now
Maxim Commercial Capital, LLC
Looking for Chief Operating Officer

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Top Ten Most Read by Readers
June 9 to June 13

(1) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2025/06_11.htm#hires

(2) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
    and Related Industries
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2025/06_09.htm#hires

(3) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
    and Related Industries
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2025/06_13.htm#hires

(4) Texas Supreme Court Clarifies Usury Law
By Ken Greene, Leasing News Legal Editor, Emeritus
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2025/06_13.htm#tx

(5) NMEF Announces Strategic Joint Venture
    With Oaktree To Accelerate Growth
       In FMV Leasing Platform
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2025/06_11.htm#nm

(6 ) New Story Credit Financing Different Approach
  Business Loans, SBA Loans, Working Capital
    Footnotes First
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2025/06_09.htm#credit

(7) ELFA Capitol Connections, Capitol Hill
  Royal, Sonesta, Washington, DC.
   By Randy Haug, Exec. VP, VP Chairman, Co-Founder LTi
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2025/06_09.htm#elfa

(8 )To Those Who Know There’s Another Gear
By Ken Lubin, ZRG
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2025/06_09.htm#top

(9) North Dakota Law Regulates
  "Alternative Financing" as a "Loan"
    By Robert F. Gage, Hudson Cook LLP
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2025/06_13.htm#nd

(10) Back Office Companies
    List
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2025/06_11.htm#bo

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Conferences and Forums – Coverage  Updated
Commercial Finance/Leasing Finance

September 10-12: AACFB Commercial Financing Expo, Austin, Texas

• Gain industry insights from expert-led sessions  
• Explore tools and trends shaping the future of finance 
• Experience top-tier networking — all in a dynamic, fun-filled setting!
• Register today and be part of the energy, the innovation, and the harmony that will make this event unforgettable.

Hotel Details: AT&T Hotel and Conference Center1900 University Avenue, Austin, TX 78705
Group Rate: $199/night
Bonus Night: Discounted rate of $299 available for Friday, September 12
Cut-Off Date: August 18, 2025
https://members.aacfb.org/Expo/

Mel Vinson, CLFP, Vice President of Marketing and Development, CLFP Foundation, will be covering The conferences for Leasing News reads.

September 17: Brokers Expo NYC returns at Center415 on Fifth Avenue in Midtown 
Register Now:
https://thefundersforumbrokerexpo.com/ny/

Don Cosenza, CLFP, will cover the Expo as he did last year for Leasing News readers.

October 14-16: National Equipment Finance Association Fall Conference, Renaissance Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Conference Details Coming Soon

Vicki Shimkus, CLFP, Balboa Capital Relationship Manager, will be covering the conference for Leasing News readers.

October 26- 8: ELFA 64th Annual Convention, Marco Island, Florida
Annual Convention: Call for Presentations Coming Soon!
The 2025 ELFA Annual Convention, Oct. 26-28 in Marco Island, Fla., will open our Call for Presentations SOON! Keep your eyes open for emails, promotion, banners, LinkedIn posts and more. We want YOUR ideas and innovative sessions. Additional details and session topics coming soon

Randy Haug, LTi Technology, will be covering the conference for Leasing News.

October 28 - 29 DeBanked B2B Finance Expo, Wynn, Las Vegas, Nevada
B2B Finance Expo is back for its highly anticipated second edition at the Wynn Las Vegas! We're thrilled to once again partner with the Small Business Finance Association (SBFA) to deliver an even bigger and better experience, uniting top professionals in the commercial finance industry.

This groundbreaking event will bring together leaders from Small Business Lending, Equipment Finance, Real Estate Lending, Merchant Cash Advance, and beyond.  Over the course of this exclusive two-day event, brokers, lenders, funders, and service providers alike can expect networking opportunities, expert panels, and much more.

Join us for an exceptional networking and educational opportunity as we bring together the best in the industry!

Questions? Email us at events@debanked.com

To Update: kitmenkin@leasingnews.org

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Most Influential Lawyers
in Equipment Finance and Leasing

Andrew Alper
Julie Babcock
Bill Carey
Richard Contino
Jonathan Fleisher
Marshall Goldberg
Kenneth Greene
David G. Mayer
Allan J. Mogol
Frank Peretore
John G. Sinodis
Mark Stout
Kevin Trabaris
Allan Umans
Mark Wada
Irwin Wittlin

 

Andrew K. Alper is a recognized influential attorney representing equipment lessors, funding sources, and other financial institutions since 1979. He is a longtime contributor to the Legal Column for the Monitor magazine. He has been a director of Western Association of Equipment Lessors and United Association of Equipment Lessors, now the National Equipment Finance Association, as well as being active with the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, including serving as instructor for its Principles of Leasing class. He has presented seminars on Equipment Leasing for the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Mr. Alper also sits on the Los Angeles County Bar Commercial Law Committee.

Julie Babcock has been practicing law in the leasing industry since 1993. Julie joined the Key Equipment Finance law group in 2002 and is currently legal counsel for the Specialty Finance, Vendor, and Syndications groups. For a brief period, Julie left Key Equipment Finance to provide legal counsel for KeyBank’s Commercial Lending Group, supporting commercial real estate, real estate construction, commercial loan servicing, healthcare, Native American lending, asset- based lending, letters of credit, SBA, multi-family, and middle market lending.

Prior to joining Key, Julie was the head of the Legal Department at Republic Financial Corporation, Assistant General Counsel at MetLife Capital Corporation, an associate with the law firm of Bogle & Gates, and an Independent Petroleum Landman. She has been a frequent speaker at the Legal Forum of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association. She received the Award for the Article Making the Greatest Contribution to the Leasing Industry for her article, “Buyer Beware: Key Issues Related to Acquisitions,” Journal of Equipment Lease Financing, Vol. 13/No. 1, Spring, 1995.

A Colorado native and avid Colorado Buffaloes fan, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree (with distinction) and her Juris Doctor degree (Order of the Coif) from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. She lives in Windsor, Colorado with her husband and three dogs.

Bill Carey served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for USXL since it was founded in March 2004, and he continued in that position at Tygris Vendor Finance, now EverBank Commercial Finance. He has over 15 years of experience in the commercial finance industry, serving in leadership positions as an attorney with CIT, Newcourt Commercial Finance and AT&T Capital, and handling transactions in vendor leasing, commercial lending, fractional aircraft finance and venture leasing, M&A and other corporate finance matters. For a three-year period, Bill was the executive vice president and general counsel of a London-based technology publisher.

He also received two additional nominations:

"Bill Carey is the most effective leasing lawyer I have ever worked with—and I have worked with many! Bill is the perfect example of a legal business partner, akin to an HR business partner, or a Finance business partner. He provides timely, organized, and meaningful legal guidance to senior management regarding overall business matters, and to the sales teams regarding individual transactions and/or vendor program legal issues and opportunities."

"I worked with Bill for over 5 years while at *** and found him to be one of the best in the business for many reasons. In sales-driven organizations, in-house counsel often have to maintain a fine balance, managing risk by providing good sound legal advice while not being so conservative that they become an obstacle to the company achieving its mission. Bill always excelled at that; he understands the business. He was reasonable and creative in his approach to resolving problems, very accessible, responsive and balanced. He was always a gentleman in his dealings with customers and vendors, diplomatic and poised regardless of the situation.  In addition, Bill was a great coach to his Legal Dept. as well as to his internal “clients,” always making time for a teaching moment. Bill is well known in the industry. He has served as a past Chair of the ELFA Legal Committee and I’m certain he left his positive mark there as well."

Richard M. Contino is an internationally-recognized equipment leasing expert, with an extensive legal, business, marketing, tax, transaction structuring, financial and management background.  He is an advisor on all types of start-up and on-going equipment leasing business activities for lessors, lease lenders and syndicators, equipment vendors, lease investors and corporate lessees.  He is former General Counsel of De Lage Landen, Wayne, Pennsylvania, a subsidiary of The Rabobank Group, and the 14th largest equipment lessor in the U.S. Mr. Contino is the author of eight books on business, negotiating, and equipment leasing. He has conducted private on-site and publicly-held business success, communication, finance, and negotiation seminars throughout the United States for professional organizations (e.g., American Management Association, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, National Seminars Group, Practicing Law Institute, and University of California Graduate School of Law) as well as corporations (e.g., AT&T, EXXON Corporation, NYNEX, and Texas Instruments Corporation). He is a retired JAG Captain, US Air Force.

Jonathan Fleisher is a Toronto, Canada attorney whose practice
focuses on the commercial finance industry with a particular emphasis on innovative cross-border transactions and equipment and asset finance, where he has been recognized as a leading lawyer by the Canadian Legal Expert Directory and Best Lawyers. He has particular expertise assisting public and private US commercial finance companies with both establishing operations in Canada and purchasing and selling finance and lease companies, providing both legal and practical business advice.  He is also a prolific writer on topics related to equipment finance and cross-border transactions. Jonathan is the legal editor for Fleet Digest magazine and has completed both the Equipment Finance and Subordinated Debt chapters for Canadian Forms & Precedents. He has also drafted specific guides for US lenders expanding operations to Canada. He is a Director of the Canadian Finance and Leasing Association, Member of the Legal Committee of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, member of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers.

Kenneth Charles "Ken" Greene is Leasing News Emeritus and Past Leasing News Legal Editor.  He has sat on the Board of the National Equipment Finance Association Board twice as well as Legal Committee Chair, Legal Line Editor, Regional Committee Chair and Conference Chairman. He is very active in music, music production, and musical theater at the school and community levels and he has served on many community associations. Ken received his B. A. at Brandeis University, graduating cum laude. He received his J.D. at Santa Clara University in 1980, also graduating with honors.

Marshall Goldberg has been an active member and leader for many years in financial institution associations, including the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association ("ELFA"), and the National Vehicle Leasing Association ("NVLA"). For ELFA, Marshall has served on the Legal Committee, the Credit and Collections Management Committee and as a member of the Editorial Review Board of the Journal of Equipment Lease Financing. He is currently the Chairman of the Professional Development, Education and Information Sub-Committee for the ELFA Legal Committee. He is responsible for developing, organizing, managing and editing the Legal Website, which includes an online compendium of legal issues pertaining to the 50 States, "What's New in the Law," and the "Catalogue of Legal Information." He developed and now chairs and monitors the Legal Listserve, an daily online forum for attorneys to discuss pertinent legal issues. He is also the sole 2009 recipient of the annual "Excellence in Leasing Award," presented on behalf of ELFA and its Legal Committee.

Marshall is co-author and co-editor of the “Executive Guide to Remedies,” and the “Executive Guide to Lease Documentation.” He also speaks and instructs extensively within the legal and business communities. He has given numerous educational and strategic seminars throughout the United States on subjects including Loan and Lease Enforcement, and he provides annual legal update presentations for financial association lawyers, including written summaries of current case and statutory law.

David G. Mayer, Perhaps best known as the author of "Business Leasing for Dummies" (September, 2001) as well as an online newsletter "Business Leasing and Finance News" (2002-2012) which had 6,000 subscribers in 33 countries. He has written other articles, primarily on business aviation, aircraft leasing and finance, for which he is known, especially involving international and cross-border transactions.  He started this specialty, rising to Senior Counsel, GATX Corp, then going as corporate counsel, primarily in transportation equipment, including aircraft, vessels, truck and trailers, including project financing and operation. He is active in the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, as well as has been a contributing author to the Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation surveys. He is an Eagle Scout.

Alan J. Mogol, Over the last 40+ years, created a large volume of the middle market lease documentation currently used by the majority of the larger bank and finance companies in the industry, including standard forms of lease documentation for syndication, assignment, notice of assignment, participation and motor vehicle titling trust documents. Much of what Mogol has created is considered de facto industry standard in the bank middle market space. He is a frequent lecturer and author in the equipment financing area.

Frank Peretore has written many articles on leasing for the news media as a recognized expert on commercial lenders and lessors, including two books, "Workouts and Enforcement for the Secured Creditor and Equipment Lessor" and "Secured Transactions for the Practitioner: How to Properly Perfect Your Personal Property Lien and Assure Priority." He is currently the Secretary of the National Equipment Finance Association, serving on the board since 2009, as well as serving on many legal committees. He was also on the Board of Directors, Eastern Association of Equipment Lessors, and served on legal committees for the Equipment Leasing & Finance Association. He brings his law experience to his writing and leasing association meetings and conferences. He is highly respected by his colleagues for his dedication to the finance and leasing industry as well as to law.

 

John G. Sinodis' practice emphasizes the representation of equipment lessors and funding sources in all aspects of equipment leasing including litigation, documentation, insolvency, and transactional matters. Besides representing equipment lessors and funding sources, Mr. Sinodis represents financial institutions and asset-based lenders in the areas of commercial litigation, secured transactions, asset recovery, loan restructure and business litigation. Mr. Sinodis is an active member of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) and the National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA). Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Sinodis served as the president of General Leasing Co. and is presently a member of its board of directors.

 

"In just three days, Mark Stout helped me to locate, obtain and return a stolen truck to one of my lessees after the truck had been driven across the state of Texas by utilizing his expertise and relationships 6 counties away. This could have been a disaster for my lessee. I called Stout who called whoever it was he called and the truck was returned. Easy – and that’s what I like."

Mr. Stout represents in excess of thirty financial institutions and leasing companies.

Within the last four years, Mr. Stout has represented commercial lenders in excess of 150 state court proceedings. Mr. Stout handles an extensive trial docket that generally entails at least three court appearances each week in various courts in Texas. In conjunction with his state court proceedings, Mr. Stout frequently utilizes sequestration/replevin proceedings to quickly recover his client’s collateral. Mr. Stout has filed approximately 200 sequestration/replevin actions in Texas. Mr. Stout represents in excess of thirty financial institutions and leasing companies. Within the last four years, Mr. Stout has represented commercial lenders in excess of 150 state court proceedings. Mr. Stout handles an extensive trial docket that generally entails at least three court appearances each week in various courts in Texas. In conjunction with his state court proceedings, Mr. Stout frequently utilizes sequestration/replevin proceedings to quickly recover his client’s collateral. Mr. Stout has filed approximately 200 sequestration/replevin actions in Texas.

Kevin Trabaris has extensive experience representing banks, financial companies, equipment lessors, insurers, and other funding and intermediary entities and borrowers in connection with thousands of business financing matters.  He has handled everything from small ticket transactions to billion dollar syndicated loans, real estate financing to asset-based facilities. He is an active member of the Commercial Finance Association, LinkedIn Capital Equipment Leasing Group and Equipment Leasing Professionals Group. He has an excellent reputation among his colleagues.

Allan Umans is in charge of documentation and legal affairs at Pacific Rim Capital, reportedly the nation's largest independent lessor of material handling equipment. In his field, he has an excellent reputation. He previously served as General Counsel and Secretary of Relational Technology Services, Inc. and Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of El Camino Resources, Ltd., both independent technology leasing companies. Mr. Umans has a JD degree from Southwestern University Law School and a BA degree in Economics, with honors, from the University of Manitoba.

Mark Wada, founding shareholder of the Portland, Oregon law firm Farleigh Wada Witt, has been listed in Oregon Super Lawyers for the tenth consecutive year in the specialty area of banking and finance. And for the seventh consecutive year, Mark was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for banking and finance law. Mark has expertise in representing banks, commercial lenders, equipment lessors, private equity funds, lenders in commercial loans and leases to high tech companies, including intellectual property security agreements and warrant terms and other financial service providers; numerous commercial lenders and lessors in workouts, collateral liquidations, collection matters and sales of individual loans and portfolios. In 2010, he was appointed to serve a three-year term on the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association Legal Committee. He is past-president of the Oregon Law Foundation and Campaign for Equal Justice and has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar Debtor-Creditor Section, the Board of Directors of the Multnomah Bar Association, as well as its treasurer, representative to the American Bar Association House of Delegates, and the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Irwin Wittlin is well-known in the leasing industry as he was past member of the Board of Directors of the United Association of Equipment Leasing (UAEL) at time of merger and formation of National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA). He is a past chairman of the legal committee and has spoken on a variety of legal issues at recent conventions, including the topics of, "Effective Lease Collections," “Working With Outside Counsel," "Fraud Prevention," "Maintaining Your Business Credit Line," and “Selected Issues in NorVergence." He is an instructor for the Certified Lease Program Foundation ("CLP") on the subjects of lease law, lease documentation, and collections. Mr. Wittlin is a frequent speaker on various legal and collection related topics for various professional organizations, with an emphasis on leasing, business litigation and collections.

News Briefs

What’s Behind PayPal’s Will Ferrell Ads?
https://www.wsj.com/business/media/whats-behind-paypals-will-ferrell-ads-558eb81c?mod=business_lead_pos3

These Charts Show Why Wall Street’s Gloom
Over Deals Is Overblown
https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/these-charts-show-why-wall-streets-gloom-over-deals-is-overblown-c0043f8d?mod=business_lead_pos5#:~:text=Over%20Deals%20Is%20Overblown

Oil Prices Climb Further After Israel Strikes
    Iran’s Energy Assets
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/15/business/energy-environment/oil-prices-israel-iran.html

ICE ordered to pause most raids on farms,
   hotels and restaurants
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-immigration-officials-told-largely-pause-raids-farms-hotels-nyt-reports-2025-06-14/

Meta Is Building a Superintelligence Lab.
What Is That?
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/technology/meta-scale-ai-super-intelligence-lab.html

How to Say No at Work, Most people are conditioned
   to say yes. It’s harder to turn things down.
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/how-say-no-at-work-109872d7?st=Uk7atM&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

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Wait, is America a nation of small towns?
 NBA Commissioner Adam Silver dropped a bizarre but
  beguiling statistic about city sizes. Is it true?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/06/13/wait-is-america-nation-small-towns/

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

Sports Briefs---

Former Santa Clara star Williams overcomes shooting
woes help Thunder regain footing in NBA Finals
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/06/15/jalen-williams-resilience-helps-thunder-gain-solid-position-heading-into-game-5-vs-pacers/

Bobrovsky shines for Panthers in Stanley Cup Final
    as Oilers have goalie debate
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/06/15/oilers-dealing-with-stanley-cup-final-goalie-debate-panthers-1-win-from-repeating-have-bobrovsky/   

Like father, like son — 49ers coaches Shanahan,
  Lombardi, Kubiak got started at an early age
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/06/15/like-father-like-son-49ers-coaches-shanahan-lombardi-kubiak-got-started-at-an-early-age/

Dodgers tried to stop Spanish version of
    US national anthem before SF Giants game
https://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/dodgers-tried-to-stop-spanish-us-anthem-sf-giants-20378533.php

[headlines]
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California News Briefs---

A Las Vegas Sphere-style entertainment complex
    is coming to San Francisco
https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/san-francisco-burning-man-dome-park-20374351.php

World's largest almond company to close historic
     53-acre Northern Calif. plant
https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/world-largest-almond-company-closing-norcal-plant-20372911.php

A major wine company is exiting California.
    Here’s what it means
https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/republic-national-distributing-california-20370277.php

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Gimme that Wine

 

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

Local winemaker John Buechsenstein to receive
    Rhone Rangers 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/lifestyle/rhone-rangers-2025-award/

Ridge Opens New Tasting Room in Paso Robles
https://www.ridgewine.com/about/news/ridge-opens-new-tasting-room-in-paso-robles/

UC Davis students can sell their own wines
made to support scholarships
https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/video/uc-davis-students-can-sell-their-own-wines-made-to-support-scholarships/

South Bay Wine Group Reintroduces Dressage Wines 2024 
  Monterey County Pinot Noir with Elegant New Label
by South Bay Wine Group
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/304189