New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Sean Garin was hired as SB Account Executive, Salesforce, Irvine, California. He is located in Huntington Beach, California. Previously, he was Senior Account Executive, LEAF Commercial Capital, Inc. (April, 2022 – February, 2026);  Account Executive, Partners Capital Group (July, 2021 – April, 2022).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-garin/

Michael Sica was hired as Partner Success Manager, PEAC Solutions, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. He is located in Glendora, New Jersey. Previously, he was AVO National Vendor Sales Manager,  Taycor Financial (February, 2025 -  February, 2026).  He joined Partner Success Manager, PEAC Solutions (January, 2024 - February, 2025); Vice President of Business Development, NFS Leasing (May, 2023 - January, 2024); Managing Member, Pondhawk Financial LLC (August, 2020 - May, 2023). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-sica-8aaabb4/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-sica-8aaabb4/

Katie Sumner, CLFP, was hird as Senior Vice President of Sales, DLL, Cincnnati Metropolitan Area, where she is also located. Previously, she was Vice President of Business Development, Summit Funding Group, Inc. (June, 2025 - January, 2026). She joined Huntington National Bank March, 2020, as Equipment Sales Associate, promoted Equipment Finance Sales Executive (February, 2023 - June, 2025); PNC, February, 2014, Corporate Sales Development, promoted Associate Relationship Manager (April, 2018 - March, 2020); Executive Secretary to the CEO Vivid Tan, Indepednece, KY (October, 2013 - April, 2014).
Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-sumner-clfp-656b8b99/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-sumner-clfp-656b8b99/

Mike Winstead was hired as Northern Region Sales Manager, Stone Equipment Co., Inc Alabaster, Alabama.  He is located in Greater Birmingham, Alabama Area. He previously was at Battle Horse Financial, starting January, 2022, Senior Vice President of Sales,  promoted Chief Syndications Officer, January, 2023, promoted Chief Operating Officer (September, 2024 - February, 2026).
Key Account Manger, Caseworks of Alabama, Inc. (September, 2018 - January, 2022); Vice President, Sales, GSG Financial  (April, 2017 - September, 2018); Operations Manager, Gray’s Roofing and Tree Service (June, 2016 - April, 2017). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-winstead-15932769/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-winstead-15932769/

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New Story Credit Financing
Leases, Business Loans, SBA, Working Capital

Those listed are responsible for updating; many have not. This is open to funder and non-funders, as well as the footnotes that explain their capabilities The full listing then will be available on the
main site listing and they are published once a month in Leasing News.

In this edition, the link to the listing and full notes follow. Starting in February, the full listing will only be in the site index. The list will be available that goes to the footnote. The new updates will be listed only by the link to the information in the Leasing News Monthly Edition.

To update your listing, address Rick Jones (rick@leasingnews.org.)

Ameris Bank Equipment Finance Bankers Capital Black Rock Capital Investment BSB Leasing, Inc Calfund, LLC

Dakota Financial Financial Pacific Leasing Forum Financial Services, Inc. Gonor Funding Maxim Commercial Capital, LLC

North Mill Equipment Finance P&L Capital Corporation Quality Leasing Co. Inc. SLIM Capital, LLC TEAM Funding Solutions

Full listing: https://leasingnews.org/Story_Credit/Story_Credit.htm

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Help Wanted Ad
    Ameris Bank Equipment Finance

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Your Career Will Always Mirror Your Standards
By Ken Lubin, Managing Director, ZRG Partners

One of the biggest truths in business — and in life — is that your career will always rise or fall to the level of your standards. Not your potential. Not your intentions. Not your résumé.

Your Standards.

Low standards attract low results.
High standards attract high opportunity.

It’s that simple…and that uncomfortable.

Because how you show up every day becomes your brand. People notice your patterns long before they hear your pitch or read your bio. They see how you respond, how you prepare, and how you approach the details. Those micro-moments create trust. Or they destroy it.

Your standards show up in ways most people overlook:

Your responsiveness — Do people know you’re reliable? Or are they waiting and guessing?
Your follow-up — Do you finish conversations and commitments? Or disappear?
Your preparation — Do you walk in ready? Or scramble at the last minute?
Your energy — Do you bring momentum into the room? Or do you drain it?
Your consistency — Are you a professional? Or a sometimes-performer?

You don’t build a successful career through occasional greatness. You build it through relentless consistency — doing the right things, the right way, every single day, even when no one is watching.

When you raise your standards, you raise your career.
When you tighten your habits, you tighten your trajectory.
When you demand more of yourself, the world eventually matches it.
If you’re not where you want to be, don’t ask what’s missing.
Ask where your standards have slipped — and raise them back up.
Your future will follow your standards. It always does.

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

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Top Ten Most Read
February 24 – February 27

(1)  New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2026/02_24.htm#hires

(2) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries Industries
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2026/02_27.htm#hires

(3) 2026 AACFB Annual Conference
Last Chance for Super Save Rates
Save $100, register before March
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2026/02_27.htm#aacfb

(4) Asset Management in Equipment Finance Enters    
a  New Erra of of Data, AI, and Telematics
By Edward Castagna, ASA, CEA
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2026/02_27.htm#asset

(5) New List for Gov't Leasing/Finance
    Companies/Brokers who specialize with government
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2026/02_27.htm#gov 

(6) CapEx Finance Index January 2026:
New Equipment Demand Hit an All-Time High
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2026/02_24.htm#capex

(7) We’re Hiring
  Ameris Bank Equipment Finance
    Remote Positions Available
https://leasingnews.org/#ads_help

(8) Top Originators Keep It Simple
By Scot Wheeler, CLFP
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2026/02_24.htm#origin

(9) Have Some Fun!
By Ken Lubin, Managing Director, ZRG Partners
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2026/02_27.htm#have

(10)  Major Finance/Leasing Conferences
 Updated
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Feb2026/02_24.htm#conf

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Leasing News Covers
Major Finance/Leasing Association Conferences
Register Now for Recommended Hotel

Don Cosenza, CLFP,  Senior Vice President, Maxim  Commercial Capital, will cover the conference for Leasing News readers:
March 30-April 1, NEFA Spring Conference 
Huntington Beach, CA
https://www.nefassociation.org/event/2026-spring-conference/ 

Randy Haug, LTi Technology Solutions, Leasing
Person of Year 2026 will be covering the conference for Leasing News readers  ----
April 14-16, ELFA National Funding Conference
    Chicago, Illinois
https://www.elfaonline.org/events/national-funding-conference

Leasing News coverage by Vicki Shimkus, CLFP, Leasing News Advisory Board, Finance, Brokers Relationship Manager, Ameris Bank Equipment
May 5–May 7
American Association of Commercial  Finance Brokers
Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, Disney Springs, Orlando, Florida

Don Cosenza, CLFP,  Senior Vice President, Maxim  Commercial Capital, will cover the conference for Leasing News readers: DeBanked Broker Fair Returns to NYC June 1, 2026 After 1,100 Turn-Out in Miami - https://brokerfair.org/Florida

Don Cosenza, CLFP,  Senior Vice President, Maxim  Commercial Capital, will cover the conference for Leasing News readers:
September 28-30, NEFA Fall Conference
Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park
https://www.nefassociation.org/event/2026-fall-conference/

Don Cosenza, CLFP,  Senior Vice President, Maxim  Commercial Capital, will cover the conference for Leasing News readers
October 21-23, AACFB Commercial Financing Expo
Hilton Irvine, Irvine, California
https://community.aacfb.org/events/event-description?CalendarEventKey=068b9817-3c58-4aaf-b21d-01999b13a2e4&Home=%2fevents%2fcalendar

Randy Haug, LTi Technology Solutions,  Leasing News Person of the Year 2024, will cover for Leasing News Readers:

         October 25–27, ELFA Annual Conference
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, Palm Desert, CA
Online Scheduling Coming later.

News Briefs

Trump says Iran war could last weeks, US citizens
   in more than a dozen countries urged to leave
https://apnews.com/live/iran-us-israel-hezbollah-strikes-03-02-2026

Trump says Iran operations are likely to last
4 to 5 weeks but could go longer
https://www.stltoday.com/news/nation-world/article_66c2aaf0-e85c-5e59-ab2a-5309f4c37c17.html

Jaime Dimon warns inflation could soar beyond expectations as US,
Israel strikes on Iran spark terror fears
https://nypost.com/2026/03/02/business/jaime-dimon-warns-inflation-could-soar-beyond-expectations-as-us-israeli-strikes-on-iran-spark-terror-fears/

Iran Is Shooting at Some of the
    World’s Busiest Airports
https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-is-shooting-at-some-of-the-worlds-busiest-airports-bb660b8e?st=HKBySM&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Anthropic’s Feud With Pentagon Earns
    It Fans Amid the Blowback
https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/anthropics-feud-with-pentagon-earns-it-fans-amid-the-blowback-f7e2bb83?st=xxhCAF&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

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In California, About the Only Way to Get a House Is to Inherit One
https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/in-california-about-the-only-way-to-get-a-house-is-to-inherit-one-752fa87f?st=izHSkd&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

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Sports Briefs

In the shadow of the Super Bowl,
   Great America slowly dies
https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/super-bowl-great-america-21316236.php

[headlines]
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California News Briefs

Health care unions to end historic strike
   at Kaiser Permanente Health care
https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article/best-resort-us-21924486.ph

‘High avalanche danger’ in backcountry Lake Tahoe area
     as watch goes into effect
https://www.sacbee.com/news/weather/article314807292.html

After delays, Council expected to vote on
   $6.4 million for Old Sacramento boardwalk
https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article314809411.html

Hawaii and California dominate list of best resorts
    in the US
https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article/best-resort-us-21924486.php

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Gimme that Wine

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

US wine exports slashed by a third on back
of Canada trade spat [ Over $428 Million
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2026/02/us-wine-exports-slashed-by-a-third-on-back-of-canada-trade-spat/

How to understand the surge of
California winery closures
https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/winery-layoff-closure-california-21362937.php