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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

Justin Alexander was hired as Director of Business Development, Gordon Brothers, Boston, Massachusets. He is located in New York, New York. Previously, he was Vice President, Underwriting & Account Executive, SLR Business Credit (April, 2025 - June, 2025). He joined White Oak Commercial Finance, as Analyst, June, 2021, promoted August, 2022, Account Executive &Underwriter, promoted Vice President (October - April, 2025); Financial professional, First Financial Group (August, 2020 - December, 2020). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-alexander-15873b35/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-alexander-15873b35/

Kathleen (Kathy) Berryman was hired as Managing Director, Sponsor Coverage, Ansley Park Capital, White Plains, New York. She is working remotely from Franklin, Michigan. Previously, she was Executive Director, Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Technology Finance, formerly GE Capital Equipment Finance (March, 2004 - June, 2025); VP Sales Bay4 Capital (February, 2003 -2004); Sales, Heller Financial (1996 - 2002); Inside Sales Representative, Dana Commercial Credit (1996 - 2001).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-b-9362611/

Rick Rockhold was hired as Chief Executive Officer, Empire Asset Finance, LLC, New York, New York, where he is also located. Previously, he was Senior Vice President of Capital Markets, Wngspire Equipme3nt Finance LLC (Formerly Liberty Commercial Finance (August, 2018 - June, 2025); Principal, Voltaic Capital Markets, LLC (June, 2013 - August, 2018); Partner and Co-Head of Leasing Acquisitions and Portfolio Management, Cypress Financial Corporation (February, 2002 - August, 2012): Municipal, Momentum Leasing Advisors, LLC. (September, 1996 - January, 2002). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-rockhold-7064672/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-rockhold-7064672/

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Concord Acquires Orion First: Expanding
into the Commercial Financing Markets

Transaction creates comprehensive GTCR-backed platform spanning consumer and commercial markets with over $35 billion in managed assets

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., -- Concord Servicing ("Concord"), a leading provider of credit administration software and services, announced the strategic acquisition of Orion First ("Orion"), the leader in third-party portfolio management and analytics for the equipment finance industry.

David T. Schaefer, CLFP, Chairman and Founder in the Small Business Financing Industry, said in LinkedIn posting, “I am very pleased with the combination of these companies. I’m very appreciative of the relationships we have built with clients, staff and our partners. Truly looking forward to cheering on the team. We believe the world is a better place when small businesses succeed. I like to think we have helped support this belief, and I’m proud that Orion is a good example.”

The transaction positions Concord as a leading technology-enabled provider of credit administration solutions across the consumer finance, commercial lending, and asset-backed finance markets. Orion First is the first acquisition for Concord since GTCR, a leading private equity firm, invested in the company in December 2024.

Strategic Market Expansion

The acquisition represents a major expansion into commercial finance, leveraging Orion First's market-leading position in equipment lease servicing.

Dhruv Vakharia, CEO of Concord, said, "This expansion allows us to meet the growing needs of our originator, lender, and capital provider clients by delivering end-to-end credit administration and servicing solutions across both consumer and commercial end markets.

. "By combining Concord's deep consumer sector expertise with Orion's commercial finance capabilities, we've built an unmatched platform that delivers best execution across multiple markets and products, addressing a clear gap in the industry. We're excited to welcome the Orion First team to the Concord family as we continue to scale in support of our clients."

Complementary Strengths Drive Value Creation
The combination of Concord and Orion First will create a market-leading player with substantial scale and capabilities:

Combined Scale: Over 5 million accounts and $35 billion in managed assets.
End-to-End Offering: Market-leading consumer & commercial portfolio management, backup servicing,
business intelligence reporting, and delinquency services.
Technology Driven: Proprietary, enterprise-grade platforms optimized for both consumer and commercial servicing markets.
Geographic Reach: Combined operations spanning key markets with enhanced service delivery throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada

Leadership Continuity Ensures Seamless Transition
The Orion executive team will remain with the company, including current Orion CEO Mark Johnson, who will join Concord as a member of its senior leadership team. Dave Schaefer, Orion's Chairman, will transition to an advisory role with Concord, providing strategic guidance on further commercial market expansion.

Mark Johnson, CEO of Orion First, commented. "Joining Concord accelerates our growth trajectory while preserving the client-first culture that made us market leaders,"

"Dave and I are excited about this partnership, which expands our capabilities and resources dramatically, enabling us to deliver even more innovative solutions while maintaining the personalized service our clients expect."

About the Companies

Concord Servicing brings over three decades of award-winning financial technology and loan servicing excellence to markets across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ, Concord is a leading provider of credit administration software and services for originators, lenders, and investors who manage billions of dollars in consumer credit assets. Concord streamlines a complex range of information exchange, payment, and processing needs across a diverse array of end-market participants in the specialized loan and lease market ecosystem. For more information, visit:
https://concordservicing.com/

Orion First has served as the premier commercial loan and lease servicer in the equipment finance industry since 2001. Based in Gig Harbor, WA, the company provides comprehensive portfolio management solutions including commercial loan servicing, collections, backup servicing, business analytics, and client portal technology. Orion's deep industry expertise and data-driven approach have made it the trusted partner for lenders and investors seeking to optimize their commercial portfolios. For more information, visit: https://orionfirst.com/

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Is There Really a Truck Driver Shortage? Or Are
We Just Driving Them Away?
TruckTractorTrailer.com

For years, the trucking industry has been haunted by a familiar headline: “Truck Driver Shortage Threatens Supply Chains.” It’s the story we’ve all been told—again and again. There just aren’t enough drivers. The problem, they say, is simple: more trucks, fewer people to drive them.

But what if that’s not the whole story? What if we’ve been looking at the symptom and ignoring the disease? Because here’s the truth that doesn’t make the headlines: there’s no shortage of people willing to drive trucks. There’s a shortage of good jobs that drivers want to stay in.

The Real Issue: A Revolving Door Industry
Many large carriers face driver turnover rates that exceed 90% annually. This isn’t a small crack in the system—it’s a revolving door that’s been spinning for decades. New drivers enter, only to be pushed out by an industry that often treats them as expendable.

Why are drivers leaving?

Low pay: After expenses, many drivers barely scrape by, despite working brutal hours.
Unpaid detention time: Drivers are regularly forced to wait at docks without compensation.
Lack of parking: Long-haul truckers often have nowhere safe to stop, adding stress to already demanding routes.
Isolation and poor treatment: Many drivers report feeling like they’re at the bottom of the supply chain, despite being the ones who keep it moving.

These aren’t fringe complaints. They’re systemic issues baked into the way the industry operates.

The Dangerous Narrative
Blaming a "driver shortage" without digging deeper allows the system to stay broken. It’s a convenient excuse for policymakers, brokers, and large carriers to sidestep hard questions about working conditions and pay structures. The problem isn’t that people don’t want to drive—it’s that too many are getting driven out.

And this revolving door isn’t just bad for drivers—it’s destabilizing supply chains, pushing costs higher, and threatening the long-term health of the entire industry.

What Needs to Change?
The solution isn’t another hiring blitz or signing bonus. It’s about rethinking the job itself.

How do we create sustainable, respectful careers for the people who literally keep the country moving? How do we build an industry where drivers are partners, not just a cost to minimize?

Until we answer these questions, we aren’t solving the problem—we’re just patching a sinking ship.

Want to Hear it Straight from the Source?
Lewie Pugh, Executive Vice President of OOIDA and lifelong advocate for truckers, is sounding the alarm on this issue. On the latest episode of STTTREAM, he pulls no punches on why drivers are leaving, who’s responsible, and what must change if the industry wants to survive.

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Amembal's Eighth “Winning with True Leasing!” Seminar
Attracts 52 Industry Professionals

Sudhir Amembal, CLFP, CEO of Amembal & Halladay, an associate of Rinaldi Advisory Services conducted his eighth “Winning with Leasing!” one-day virtual seminar on June 16.

It was attended by 52 equipment finance professionals. Over the past 13 months, 750 industry professionals have attended this frequently offered open and in-company seminar. Those attending have been equally divided between the front and the back office. The seminar is an extract from his live flagship seminar attended by over 35,000 equipment leasing professionals worldwide.

The material focused on the 36+ benefits provided by leasing. Attendees were provided with the knowledge and tools on how best to understand varied customer motivations and arrive at deal-clinching responses to commonly encountered objections. It concluded with a host of approaches on how to add value, outsmart competition, and comprehend why only a few outperform.

Amembal states: "I am more than delighted that “Winning with Leasing!” has established itself as the most well-attended seminar in our industry. The FMV lease with its themes and variations, which I focus on, continues to offer a practical, flexible, and financially advantageous option for companies navigating rising equipment costs. Multiple surveys have evidenced an increased demand for this product; yet, lessors are not fully aware of the extraordinary benefits it offers”.

For further information regarding our seminars, please contact Sudhir Amembal at sudhir@amembalandhalladay.com or Kelly Farnham at kelly@amembalandhalladay.com.

Amembal, who created the first-ever leasing seminar in the U.S., has been honored by our industry in a multiplicity of ways for having led his firm in training over 80,000 equipment finance professionals worldwide, publishing 18 industry books, and providing consultancy services to a host of equipment finance companies. He is an inductee in ELFA's Hall of Fame, Monitor Converge 2023 and 2024 Nominee for MVP Behind the Scene and The Legend, Monitor 2024 Industry Pioneer Icon, and the first- ever honorary CLFP.

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