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New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Retires
Don Blody retires the end of May from Madison Capital, Owings Capital, serving first as Collections Manager and then also Credit Manager. Previously, he was with Butler Capital. He helped Leasing News on several stories with advice on getting tax returns and other technical assistance.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-blody-073428a5/

Pat Kistler was promoted to Vice President, Vendor Team Lead at Ascentium Capital, a division of Regions Bank. He joined Ascentium Capital as Vice President, Sales, January, 2013. Previously, he was President, Universal Finance Leasing, consultants for Amerisource Funding, Inc. (2005 - December, 2012); President, Leasing Division, Amerisource Funding (2004 - 2011); Vice President Marketing, First Sierra Financial (1997 - 2004).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-kistler-clfp-2b210511/

Derej Nigh was hired as Senior Account Executive, Crossroads Equipment Lease and Finance, Rancho Cucamonga, California. Previously, he was Senior Account Executive, DLL (November, 2021 - March, 2024); Senior District Sales Manager, Paccar Financial Co. (January, 2015 - November, 2021). Full Bio;
https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-nigh-dll/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-nigh-dll/

Michele Petrie was hired as Executive Vice President Market Head, Wintrust Financial Corporation, Rosemont, Illinois. Previously, she was President, BB&T and Wintrust Rockford (January, 2017 - May, 2024); Senior Vice President, BMO Harris Bank (December, 2008 - January, 2017). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-petrie-4486752/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-petrie-4486752/

Catherine (Van Dyke) Serewicz, was promoted to Partner Development Manager, Apex Capital Corporation, Fort Worth, Texas. She is located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. She joined Apex Capital January, 2024, Sales Relationship Consultant Previously, she was Business Development Manager, RTS Financial (January, 2020 - January, 2022).Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinevandyke/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinevandyke/

John Shanahan was hired as Managing Director, Tiger Finance, working out of their Boston Office. Previously, he was Senior Vice President, Citizens Bank. Prior, 19 years at Wells Fargo Capital.
https://www.abfjournal.com/dailynews/industry-veteran-shanahan-joins-tiger-finance-as-managing-director/

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This Year’s ELFA Legal Forum Was a Total Success
By Marshall Goldberg, Leasing News Legal Editor

I was once again privileged to attend the annual ELFA Legal Forum on May 5-7, 2024, at the Scottsdale Resort & Spa, in Scottsdale Arizona. It was a picture-perfect event, presented under the direction of Legal Committee Chair Molly Simon, Senior Legal Counsel at DLL, the Legal Committee and the ELFA Staff. It commenced on Sunday with a Golf Tournament and Yoga event for those who arrived early.

The Legal Forum is the one event each year where the best and brightest legal practitioners in the area of lease and finance laws, both in-house and outside counsel, come together to learn from each other and collaborate. This year was no different. Approximately 175 lawyers from around the county gathered together to participate and learn in well prepared and informative sessions.

These sessions included updates on fraud, motor vehicle, air, rail and marine law, syndications, Canadian cross-border issues, artificial intelligence and its application to the legal and leasing industry, developments in Dodd Frank 1071, recent legislation and case law in California, the relationships between in-house and outside counsel, captive vendor issues, developments in DEI, mindfulness and legal ethics.

The forum was officially opened with comments by Leigh Lytle, the President and CEO of ELFA, on the state of industry. As always, the highlight of the forum was the legal update and it is a tough challenge for the presenters, who prepare throughout the year. We were not disappointed. Addressed this year were topics including recent case law, statutory developments, bankruptcy, creditor litigation the Corporate Transparency Act, the Uniform Commercial Code, municipal client issues and the Uniform Special Deposits Act.

The successful efforts of Scott Riehl, the ELFA Vice President of State Government Relations, along with his subcommittee of member lawyers, who are advocating for the equipment leasing and finance industry regarding the financial disclosure laws spreading across the nation, were on full display as Scott provided the attendees with an update. There are now a total of 16 states that have either passed legislation or have legislation in progress and thanks to the ELFA, many of those states have exempted true leases and purchase money security instruments.

On Monday morning, Paul Bent, the Senior Managing Director at The Alta Group, was named the 2024 Recipient of ELFA’s Edward A. Groobert Award for Legal Excellence. Each year, the recipient is chosen from a panel of past award recipients recognizing a lawyer’s significant contributions to the association and the equipment finance industry. Congratulations to Paul. He is so well deserving.

On the lighter side, when it was time to relax, there was a fun legal trivia game led by Brian Kestenbaum, Senior Vice President and General Counsel,LEAF Commercial Capital, which included drinks and just a lot of levity after a full day of sessions.

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

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Leasing and Finance Industry Help Wanted

Micro Goals
By Ken Lubin, ZRG Partners, Managing Director

We are all on an extremely unique journey right now.

A journey that has no map, compass or end. A journey that is giving us unforeseen obstacles, fears, and unease, one that is unforgiving.

For many of us, it is costing us our physical and mental health, our income, and our purpose. It is a journey on which many of us are lost.

The human body has an internal compass that, when lost, will spin you around in a circle unless you get some sort of bearing. I think that the only bearing many have is hope. The hope of when will this be over, when and if things will come back to normal, and what will things be like after this global pandemic.

What I have learned along this journey in business and life these last few weeks is the importance of micro goals. Micro goals get you through the hour, the day or the week. You need to celebrate these micro goals when you achieve them; they keep you going. The big picture is a bit blurry but the next marker is just ahead. Find the next marker and it will lead you down the right path.

Keep your head up, stay strong and keep moving forward

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

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Why I Became a CLFP

by Bree Johnson, CLFP
VP/EFD Operations Manager at First Foundation Inc.

I decided to become a CLFP after working in the industry over many years and feeling that I had finally found my career path. Before getting introduced to the Equipment Lease & Finance industry ,my experience was with Administrative Assistant positions. I had no formal college degree or experience in the industry. After being given the opportunity to work with Westover Financial in 2006, learning under the one and only Jaimie Haver, I came to LOVE Equipment Leasing & Financing and the rest is history.

My years with Westover allowed me to build valuable relationships in the industry, thus leading me to the Banking world. Joining the team at Commerce National Bank in 2009 and helping to grow the Equipment Leasing division, the CLP’s in our department strongly encouraged me to take the exam. I didn’t take them very seriously as I felt the exam was out of my ‘league’. If it wasn’t for the persistent pressure from Bob Robichaud, I probably would never have pursued becoming a CLFP.

Bob became a mentor to me, guiding and teaching me Leasing in depth. After weeks of training , I heard of the Institute for Leasing Professionals (ILP), which prepared individuals for taking the CLFP exam. Being a working mom, I needed all the training I could get. I read almost all through the CLFP Handbook prior to the CLP, which was helpful, but I was still lacking details in many areas. The ILP provided valuable information that opened up my mind to all areas of the industry.

The CLFP exam was intense, but over 2 days of training , I was well prepared and there was no turning back. With the support of many, especially from my Lovely Ladies of Leasing, passing the CLFP exam made me feel accomplished and knowledgeable in the industry.

This is my ‘college degree’ and I earned it. Since becoming a CLFP I have experienced a lot of growth and opportunity; starting as a Documentation & Funding Processor, then becoming the Operations Supervisor for Fin Pac Commercial and now an Operations Manager with First Foundation Bank, I’d say my CLFP title has helped me achieve my career goals (for now) and has given me the confidence to become more involved in the industry. At almost a decade in the Equipment Lease & Finance Industry I plan to focus more on the credit underwriting process; this way I can be fully faceted in the industry and one day mentor those interested in becoming a CLFP.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my story. I hope to encourage others who think the CLFP is out of their ‘league’. Becoming a CLFP is NOT out of your league – new or seasoned in the industry, take the exam. It will change your perspective and will bring much opportunity.

Bee Johnson, CLFP
Phone: (949) 732-6340
bjohnson@ff-inc.com

(To learn more about the CLFP Handbook)
http://www.clpfoundation.org/toolbox/clfp_handbook.php

About the CLFP Foundation and Academy for Lease &
Finance Professionals--plus their Mentor Program:
https://clfpfoundation.org/

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Top Ten Leasing News Read by Readers
May 6 - May 10

(1) Pigs Get Fat, Hogs Get Slaughtered:
The Unfortunate Tale of Kris Roglieri
By Ken Greene, Leasing News Emeritus
https://leasingnews.org/archives/May2024/05_10.htm#pigs

(2) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries
https://leasingnews.org/archives/May2024/05_06.htm#hires

(3) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries
https://leasingnews.org/archives/May2024/05_08.htm#hires

(4) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries
https://leasingnews.org/archives/May2024/05_10.htm#hires

(5) Funders Looking
for Broker Business
https://leasingnews.org/archives/May2024/05_06.htm#looking

(6) Funders Taking "New" Broker Business List
Four Do Not Require that Brokers Be Licensed https://leasingnews.org/archives/May2024/05_10.htm#taking

(7) Scott Wheeler, CLFP, Recognizes Transitional Period
Wheeler Business Consulting
https://leasingnews.org/archives/May2024/05_06.htm#perid

(8) Navigating the Shift: How Banks and Funders
Can Capitalize on Fintech’s Funding Crunch
By Financial Technology Expert Alex Vasilakos
https://leasingnews.org/archives/May2024/05_08.htm#nav

(9) Broker Fair 2024 to be Kosher Catered
The Metropolitan Pavilion, New York city, May 20th
https://leasingnews.org/archives/May2024/05_08.htm#bf

(10) Six Types of Bankruptcy
By Ken Greene, Esq., Legal Emeritus
https://leasingnews.org/archives/May2024/05_10.htm#six

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U.S. Immigrants by Region
as of 2022 – Percentage and Actual Number

From this graphic, we can see that Asia and Latin America emerge as the primary sources of immigration, collectively accounting for 81% of America’s 46.2 million immigrants.

Latin America alone contributes half of the immigrant population. Mexico stands out as the largest contributor to U.S. immigration, with 10.7 million immigrants, attributable to its geographical proximity and historical ties.

Economic factors, including wage disparity and employment opportunities, drive many Mexicans to seek better prospects north of the border.

From Asia, the two largest country sources are China (2.2 million) and India (2.8 million).

Source: Visualcapitalist

News Briefs

Amtrak Summer Travel Flash Sale Offers
Big Savings Across the Country
https://media.amtrak.com/2024/05/amtrak-summer-travel-flash-sale-offers-big-savings-across-the-country/

America's love affair with the SUV
is killing the trusty sedan
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/americas-love-affair-with-the-suv-is-killing-the-trusty-sedan-150138154.html

Man who received pig kidney transplant dies weeks
after milestone surgery
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/man-who-received-pig-kidney-transplant-dies-weeks-19453981.php

Red, yellow, green ... and white? Smarter vehicles
could mean big changes for the traffic light
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/11/nation/red-yellow-green-white-smarter-vehicles-could-mean-big-changes-traffic-light/

Apple workers in Maryland vote to
authorize work stoppage
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/05/12/apple-workers-strike-union-maryland/

Ordered back to the office, top tech talent left
instead, study finds
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/05/12/rto-microsoft-apple-spacex/

Elon Musk’s Diplomacy: Woo Right-Wing
World Leaders. Then Benefit
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/12/technology/elon-musk-world-leaders.html

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Why a prefab backyard home? Enough custom
design elements to make them your own
https://get.abodu.com/quiz/606

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Sports Briefs---

Big Ten women's basketball schedule brings
USC, UCLA to conference's easternmost
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/sports/?ref=menut schools

It sounds like the 49ers never seriously
entertained an Aiyuk or Samuel trade
https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/brandon-aiyuk-deebo-samuel-no-draft-day-trade-19433597.php

Kansas City Chiefs’ Rashee Rice suspected
downtown Dallas assault, police say
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2024/05/07/kansas-city-chiefs-rashee-rice-is-suspected-in-downtown-dallas-assault-police-say/

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California News Briefs---

Oakland's airport officially changes name to
San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport
https://thepointsguy.com/news/oakland-airport-new-name-san-francisco-oak/

‘It’s too devastating’: Double burglary pushes
Oakland restaurant to brink of closure
https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/alamar-burglary-oakland-19451082.php

Lake Tahoe expected to be full for first time since 2019,
thanks to winter storms
https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article288463049.html

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Gimme that Wine

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

Star Studded Historic Vines Tasting Showcase
California's Treasures
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/2871\

Washington Wine Allocates Over $1 Million
for Wine Research
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/287165

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