New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Zachary Burghardt, CLFP, was hired as Assistant Vice President, Amur Financial,  Grand Island, Nebraska. He is located in the Greater Chicago Area. He joined Amur as Senior Account Manager (September, 2021 - March, 2025). Previously, he was at Beacon Funding, starting March, 2017 as Inside Sales Representative, promoted Senior Inside Sales Representative April, 2018,
reported Outside Sales Consultant (August, 2018 - January, 2010).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachwithamur/

Kelsie Kimbrough was promoted to Accounting Manager, Funding and Accounts Payable, Grand Island, Nebraska. She joined Amur December, 2019, Accountant, promoted Accounting Manager, Funding and Accounts Payable (March, 2023 - March, 2025); Personal Banker, U.S. Bank (May, 2014 - December, 2019).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsie-kimbrough-681881208/

Chris Pinney was promoted to Senior Account Executive, Orion Leasing, Orange County Office, California. He is located in Fullerton, California. He was self-employed at CMNC Pinney Corp. (November, 2020 - Present); Senior Account Executive, Change Wholesale (September, 2024 - March, 2025); Executive Vice President, Brokers First Funding (February, 2023 - February, 2024); SVP Whole Sales, LoanStream Wholesale (August, 2016 - April, 2022).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-pinney-0735396/

Jen Stich, CLFP, was promoted Funding Manager, Horizon Bank, St. Cloud, Minnesota, working promote. Previously, she was at Falcon National Bank, starting May, 2021, Funding and Documentation Manager, promoted Documentation Manager, October, 2022, promoted Operations Manager (December, 2023 - March, 2025). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenstichclfp/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenstichclfp/

Amber Meyer was promoted to Supervisor, Asset Management, Amur Financial, Grand Island,
Nebraska, where she is located. She joined Amur February, 2020, Customer Care Specialist, promoted December, 2020, Senior Customer Care Specialist, promoted Customer Care Supervisor, September, 2021, promoted May, 2023, Assistant Asset Portfolio Specialist,  Asset Portfolio
Special (March, 2024 - March, 2025).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-meyer-39b3661b3

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Recap: NEFA Spring Conference
By Vicki Shimkus, CLFP

The National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA) held their 2025 Spring Conference in Carlsbad, California, March 11th to the 13th. This was your opportunity “Spring into Success!” The venue was the beautiful Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.

For those arriving early or local to the area, there was a charity event Tuesday, March 11th to benefit the Chris Walker Educational Fund and the Tam Ky Project. Due to inclement weather, the “Glow Fore Good” mini golf event was moved indoors but attendees did not let the wet weather dampen their support for these two organizations. This was a first opportunity to network, meet up with colleagues, and enjoy some fun golf while raising funds.

The conference kicked off Wednesday morning with the Women in Leasing luncheon. Prior to the lunch there was a special WIL session led by Hillary Bilbrey where attendees dove into The Authenticity Formula. After the inspiring session, lunch was served where there was much talk about the session and the upcoming conference. Shari Lipski of ECS Financial Services, as always, planned a wonderful event and spoke about how far this once small luncheon has come as it has turned into one of the key do not miss events.

The exhibits began at 1pm with breaks for committee meetings. The hall was packed and those exhibiting said they were very busy all afternoon. A lot of attendees had the opportunity to meet with their current lenders and service providers as well as meet many new prospective partners. The exhibit hall was laid out well with several places to have side meetings as needed.

The plenary session, Master Sales Performance in a Competitive Market, was presented by Robert
Christensen. Mr. Christensen presented targeted methods to increase results. Those in attendance said it was outstanding and they are going to bring his actionable methods to their businesses.

Following the plenary session were the Welcome Reception and Ambassadors Reception. Both well attended with the Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall, providing more opportunity to meet with exhibitors. The evening was open with several companies hosting group dinners/meetups.

Thursday morning started out with a lot of rain in sunny California but that stopped no one. There was a morning breakfast followed again by more chances to meet in the exhibit hall.

The welcome address and keynote speaker started mid-morning. The keynote was presented by Jim McCann, the founder, CEO and Chairman of 1800flowers.com as well as many other well-known brands. Mr. McCann spoke of his journey to becoming a successful businessman and how hard work, creativity and a little luck along the way grew one flower shop to a billion-dollar retailer. His story was inspiring, and he told it with humor and frankness that made it quite enjoyable. The presentation was followed by a Q&A with Mr. McCann led by John Pfister of MAZO Capital Solutions. An individual meet and greet with Mr. McCann was held after the presentation.

The afternoon had additional exhibiting time as well as several educational sessions including Legal Updates, Practical AI, Finding Opportunities and moving from Broker to Discounter. The afternoon plenary session was Past, Present and Future. Equipment Finance leaders reflected on industry challenges, shifts and what may be coming in the future.

The weather had broken during the day and the rain went away in time for the Closing Reception held at the beautiful Flower Fields. The flowers hadn’t quite bloomed yet (must have been all the rain) but the venue was lovely nevertheless. There was music, craft cocktails, tasty tacos and churros provided as well as heat lamps to keep us warm. It was a final chance to speak to new people we met at the conference and to say good bye until the next time. For those of us that braved the evening it was truly a wonderful time.

The NEFA Spring Conference was well done, well attended and full of inspiring moments. There remain concerns over the economy, rapid changes involving AI, data protection concerns and interest rate stability. There will be challenges but also innovation. The uncertainty in the country is causing some overall hesitation but most I spoke with felt things will be good for the industry this year. Everyone seemed primed to address any challenges head on and ready to seek out new opportunities in 2025.

Vicki Shimkus CLFP
Balboa Capital, A Division of Ameris Bank
Broker Relationship Manager

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Uniqueness
By Scott Wheeler, CLFP

What does an originator offer to his vendors and end-users?

The market rewards originators who offer unique value. The market rewards non-commodity offerings. Vendors and end-users want solid advice from originators. They want to know what an originator can provide which is unique, which is exceptional in the market, and which is different from the competition.

• Every originator should have a personal value proposition (PVP). A PVP includes those attributes which an originator offers to clients which are specifically based upon the originator's personality, the originator's experiences, and the originator's personal knowledge. A PVP is in addition to the value offered by an originator's company.

• The strongest PVP's are unique. The PVP must be different from the competition and distinguish the originator within the market. It is good to have a solid PVP. It is impactful to have a strong PVP that is significantly unique.

• Originators must be capable of articulating how their unique value will benefit their vendors and end-users. It is one thing to offer unique value. It is impactful to have a unique value proposition which is highly beneficial to an originator's clients.

The market is demanding more from originators. Both vendors and end-users want to know why an originator is the best financial partner for them to use in 2025. Top originators can explain with confidence why they are the best option in the market; specifically, how they help vendors close more business and specifically, why their end-users benefit from having them as their financial partner. The strongest originators have a strong PVP, and they sell their unique personal value proposition with confidence.

Scott A. Wheeler, CLFP
Wheeler Business Consulting
1314 Marquis Ct.
Fallston, Maryland 21047
Phone: 410 877 0428
Fax: 410 877 8161

Email: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com
Web: www.wheelerbusinessconsulting.com 

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

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Balboa Capital Available Position
Program Manager II- Equipment Broker Sales

Scott Wheeler Full Day Training Class
at AACFB Annual Conference
“Brokering Essentials”

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Trends and Critical Issues for 2025
By Tarry Shebesta, NVLA President

As we progress through 2025, the vehicle leasing landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace. My recent experiences at the American Financial Services Association (AFSA) Vehicle Finance Conference and the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show underscored a critical reality—AI is no longer a concept of the future; it’s driving decisions today.

At AFSA, discussions revolved around consumer credit trends, regulatory challenges, and fraud prevention—all pressing issues for leasing professionals. But what stood out the most was Steve Brown’s presentation on AI. His insights into AI-driven underwriting, fraud detection, and predictive analytics were both exciting and unsettling. The speed at which AI is transforming lending and leasing operations means businesses must adapt now or risk being left behind.

NADA reinforced this urgency with dealers actively seeking ways to optimize leasing, enhance digital retailing, and protect their businesses from fraud. The takeaway? AI, identity verification, and fraud prevention are now central to leasing success.

NVLA 2025: The Event You Can’t Afford to Miss

The impact of AI on leasing will be a major discussion at our NVLA Annual Conference in Clearwater, Florida (April 9-10). I’m excited to share that our very own Master of Ceremonies, Charlie Vogelheim, will expand on this topic, bringing his deep industry expertise and engaging perspective to the conversation.

https://www.nvla.org/page/2025Conference

 

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B of A Says Main Street Use of Credit Cards Decreasing
By Bob Coleman, Coleman Reports

The February 2025 Bank of America Small Business Checkpoint Report says this contrasts with two years ago when small businesses were moving from bank loans to cards, partly reflecting tighter credit requirements from lenders.

“Indeed, according to the NFIB, a net 3% of owners reported in February that their last loan was harder to get than a previous one. Additionally, this percentage was the lowest since June 2022.

What are small businesses spending on? Looking across credit card categories, much like consumers spending on services has outpaced retail.

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The World's Largest Armies
Number of Active Personnel by Country

Full Article
https://www.worldatlas.com/society/the-largest-armies-in-the-world.html

News Briefs

Down to Earth!
   Stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams safely splash down in SpaceX capsule after 9     months on ISS
https://nypost.com/2025/03/18/us-news/stranded-astronauts-butch-wilmore-suni-williams-safely-return-to-earth/

Chief Justice Roberts rebukes Trump’s call
   oust judge who blocked deportations
https://www.courthousenews.com/chief-justice-roberts-rebukes-trum

Trump team shakes up mortgage giants as
    it weighs their futures
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/03/18/fannie-mae-freddie-mac-fhfa-overhaul-mortgage/

Small banks in mostly red districts could lose funding
    under new Trump order
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/03/18/trump-targets-banks-republican-districts-crapo/

Arrival of world’s largest car carrier marks
    Texas port’s gateway strategy
Arrival of world’s largest car carrier marks Texas port’s gateway strategy - FreightWaves

Canadian telecom giant files; HBC to
    liquidate entire business
FTI Consulting - Mitel Networks Corporation

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Top Online Small Business Lenders of 2024
   North Mill Equipment Finance on the List
https://debanked.com/2025/03/top-online-small-business-lenders-of-2024/

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Sports Briefs---

San Francisco Giants Sell Stake to Private Equity
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/business/dealbook/san-francisco-giants-sell-stake-private-equity-sixth-street.html

Is 49ers’ apparent reliance on a good draft a
prudent approach for next season?
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/annkillion/article/49ers-apparent-reliance-draft-prudent-approach-20223336.php

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California News Briefs---

    
Dozens of merchants agree to open at Valley Fair
   in San Jose this year
https://www.siliconvalley.com/2025/03/12/san-jose-economy-store-restaurant-food-movie-valley-fair-jobs-property/

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Gimme that Wine

 

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

1 of California’s top wine competitions is coming
  to Sonoma County. Here’s what you need to know
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/lifestyle/wine/?ref=nav

Hotel San Luis Obispo Hosts 4th Annual Rosé the SLO
Way Wine Festival & Fundraiser
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/299544

Chateau Montelena Acquires New Vineyard to
Elevate Iconic Chardonnay and Legacy
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/299594

Ninth Annual Willamette Valley Wine Auction Fast
Approaching with Theme of Whimsy & Wonder
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/299598