Equipment Leasing and Finance Association - Equipping Business for Success

Therese Babiash

Director of Accounting Policy
GATX Corporation

Therese Babiash is the Director of Accounting Policy at GATX Corporation. Therese leads the technical accounting research efforts for GATX’s significant accounting transactions, the development and maintenance of company accounting policies, and the assessment and implementation of accounting pronouncements. In addition, Therese leads the corporate accounting and financial reporting for GATX’s spare engine aircraft leasing operations. Prior to joining GATX, Therese was the head of the Global Accounting Policy group at LKQ Corporation where she led LKQ’s implementation of ASC 606 and ASC 842. Therese began her career at KPMG Chicago in the audit practice serving primarily consumer markets and manufacturing clients. She graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia with a Masters in Accounting and is a member of the AICPA.

John Bober

Managing Member
IXL Lease Advisory Services, LLC

Zaeena Collins

Accenture

I have been a part of Accenture’s Specialty Finance practice for over 2 yrs, focusing on sharing industry expertise and collaborating with our automotive and equipment financing clients on their business strategies and initiatives. Prior to Accenture, I spent a decade working for Mercedes-Benz Financial Services LLC, USA, where I gained hands-on experiences across the automotive and equipment finance value chain. I often collaborated with the OEM and automotive dealerships alike, and acquired deep understanding of emerging trends in the markets.

Matthew Derba

Partner - National Assurance
CohnReznick LLP

Matt Esposito

Partner
Grant Thornton LLP

Matt is a Partner in the Accounting Advisory Services practice of Grant Thornton LLP and is located in New York City.

Matt has over 20 years of experience advising on technical accounting issues under U.S. GAAP and IFRS. He has focused on technical accounting related to revenue recognition, leasing, debt and equity classification, consolidation, derivatives and hedging, credit losses, and financial asset transfers.

Prior to joining Grant Thornton, Matt was a Managing Director and Global Head of Accounting Policy for Citigroup’s Institutional Client Group. During this time, he also chaired the North America Accounting Committee for ISDA. Prior to his role at Citigroup, Matt was an Assistant Director of Technical Activities at the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) where he was the lead staff member on final standards related to financial instruments, credit losses (CECL), hedging activities, leasing, and consolidation.

Matt began his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in New York where he became a Director in the Financial Instruments and Credit Group and an alum of their National Professional Services Group.

Joseph Guage

Chief Financial Officer
First American Equipment Finance, an RBC / City National Company

Jeff Jensen

Partner
Keybridge Research, LLC

Jeff Jensen is a Vice President at Keybridge, where he serves as an economic and policy advisor for small businesses, industry associations, and government agencies. Jeff has 15 years of experience applying economics, data analytics, and program evaluation techniques to a wide range of public policy issues, including macroeconomic policy, federal regulatory policy, environmental policy, immigration, flood insurance and hazard mitigation, equipment finance, and credit and debit card markets.

Before joining Keybridge, Jeff spent 4 years at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, where he specialized in transportation security and related homeland security issues.

Jeff holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Carleton College and Master’s degrees in Public Policy and Environmental Management from Duke University.

Marc Jerusalem

Managing Director, Accounting & Consulting Services
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Marc Jerusalem

Director, Accounting Services Group, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Marc is a director in PwC’s National Accounting Services Group. In this role, Marc consults with colleagues and clients on how to account for a broad range of complex transactions. Many of the issues he deals with are about leasing transactions, which are surprisingly multi-faceted. As a global specialist on this topic, Marc liaises with accounting experts throughout the profession, and helps PwC develop its thought leadership on leasing transactions.

Marc is a frequent presenter on a variety of accounting topics and serves on the Financial Accounting Committee of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, an equipment lessor trade association.

Prior to serving in PwC’s national office, Marc was an auditor in the firm’s Assurance practice in Detroit. Marc's clients ranged from pre-revenue start-ups to multi-national public companies, principally in high technology, manufacturing, and automotive industries. Marc graduated Wayne State University in Detroit, is a Chartered Global Management Accountant, and a CPA licensed in Michigan and New Jersey.

Tim Kolber

Managing Director | Accounting Advisory & Transformation Services
Deloitte

Tim is a Managing Director in Deloitte’s Accounting Advisory & Transformation Services practice where he leads the Accounting Standard Implementation service offering and the Lease Accounting Standard sub-offering on a National level. In this role, Tim leads or serves as a technical resource on various accounting standard implementation projects where he assists clients with the application of complex accounting guidance and the implementation of new accounting standards. Recent experiences include assisting various entities with the implementation of the FASB’s and IASB’s new lease accounting standards.

Tim has close to 20 years of experience in the accounting profession (more than 14 of those years at Deloitte) and is one of the firm’s leading lease accounting experts from both the US GAAP (ASC 842/ASC 840) and IFRS (IFRS 16/IAS 17) perspectives. In this role, he engages in discussions with professionals at the other Large Firms on interpreting the new guidance and interacts with various industry groups and Fortune 100 companies on how to apply the guidance. Tim is also one of the primary authors of Deloitte’s Leases Roadmap.

Jeffrey Lezinski

SVP Solution Architecture
Odessa

Jeff is Odessa’s SVP, Solution Architecture, instrumental in architecting Odessa’s functional solutions since he joined the company in 2004. Jeff currently serves on the ELFA Accounting Committee and participates as a liaison to various industry and regulatory bodies. Prior to Odessa, Jeff worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP where he participated in and managed various engagements from a consulting and an audit perspective for a variety of industries, including financial services, pharmaceutical, and telecommunications. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Haverford College.

Stephen McKinney

Director, National Office
Deloitte

Christopher Morris

U.S. Treasurer
DLL

Scott Muir

Partner - Department of Professional Practice
KPMG LLP

A partner in KPMG’s Department of Professional Practice (DPP), Scott spent two and a half years at the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) as a practice fellow where he led the development and drafting of the new leases standard, as well as a leading member of the project teams for the FASB/IASB Joint Transition Resource Group for Revenue Recognition and the associated amendments to the new revenue recognition standard on (a) identifying performance obligations and licensing; (b) gross versus net revenue reporting; and (c) clarifying the guidance on collectibility.

Scott is the co-leader of KPMG’s leasing and digital assets topic teams, as well as a leading member of the DPP topic teams for revenue recognition and long-lived assets. Scott is a frequent presenter at conferences, client events, and internally for KPMG on various accounting topics, in particular Topics 842 and 606, and a principal author of KPMG’s handbooks and other external guidance on ASC 842 lease accounting, ASC 606 revenue recognition, and software/website cost accounting.

Prior to joining KPMG's national office in 2012, Scott led the technical accounting and SEC reporting functions at a large public software company and worked within KPMG’s Technical Accounting Advisory Services and Audit groups.

Brennan Palladino

Manager, Technical Accounting
DLL

Lauren Pesa

Partner, Audit & Assurance
Deloitte

Lauren is a partner in Deloitte's Accounting & Reporting Advisory practice. She is the US Sustainability, Climate & Equity Leader for Real Estate, mobilizing responses to the complex needs of owners and occupiers across a spectrum of issues impacting strategy, reporting, and tax. She is also the Accounting & Reporting Advisory ESG Leader, helping organizations think about ESG in the context of reporting and an evolving regulatory environment. In these roles, she has a passion for helping clients and teams solve challenges related to ESG reporting and strategy, bringing a multi-functional perspective considering data, process, internal controls, and technology enablement.

Lauren spent two years in Deloitte's National Office Accounting Services group focused on leases, business combinations, and consolidation, and is a current member of Deloitte's National On-Call Accounting Advisory group. She also has significant experience with registration statements and complex transactions with a real estate focus.

Steven Pinamonti

Senior Technical Accounting Manager
IBM Financing

Steven Pinamonti is a Senior Technical Accounting Manager supporting IBM’s Financing segment. Steven’s responsibilities include the oversight of IBM’s accounting policy as it relates to its captive financing segment, monitoring proposed and final technical accounting pronouncements for their impacts to IBM’s Financing business and providing accounting consultation to IBM’s business leaders supporting the Financing segment. In addition, Steven’s team technically and operationally supports the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) standard which was adopted by IBM at Jan 1, 2020. Steven is a Certified Public Accountant and received his bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Business Administration from the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh.

Deborah Reuben CLFP, DES

CEO & Founder
TomorrowZone

Deborah "Deb" Reuben, CLFP, DES, is CEO and Founder of TomorrowZone, a technology strategy consultancy inspiring fresh ideas and collaborations to shape the future of business. She encourages new thinking to explore the art of the possible through her extensive technical knowledge, equipment finance experience, and passion for challenging the status quo. Her expertise will enhance and broaden your company's products and services and create efficiencies that will produce a competitive advantage for your company.

Her view on digital transformation and future-readiness is radically different with over two decades of innovating, speaking, and most importantly, real-life, in-the-trenches innovation experience in finance and software industries. Deborah appreciates and shares with clients and audiences that digital transformation is less about the digital and more about the people. When it comes to thinking about technology, innovation, and the future, you can choose to act today to shape your future. The best investment you can make is investing in what's between your ears by taking ownership of your personal growth. Everyone, regardless of role, must stay on top of technology and trends to stay ahead of tomorrow.

What surprises most clients is her ability to combine big company thinking and entrepreneurial ideas to create marketplace success. Deb's clients and audiences include companies like PNC, Wells Fargo, DLL Group, Huntington (TCF Bank), Dell, Mitsubishi UFG, Caterpillar, Key Equipment Finance.

She currently serves on the CLFP Foundation Board of Directors and authored The Certified Lease and Finance Professionals' Handbook, 6^th – 9^th editions. She served on ELFA's Board of Directors and is the founder and chair of the ELFA Innovation Advisory Council. In partnership with ELFA, she and her team moderate quarterly industry innovation roundtables for the ELFA to bring forward-thinking insights and fresh ideas to ELFA Members.

Reuben also served on the Monitor Editorial Advisory Board and co-founded the Disrupted+ innovation conference series with Monitor. She is the recipient of both the CLFP Foundation Cindy Spurdle Award of Excellence and the ELFA Michael J. Fleming Distinguished Service Award. Monitor Magazine honored her as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women Leaders in Equipment Finance, named TomorrowZone one of the most innovative companies in the equipment finance ecosystem and honored her as an Industry Disruptor Icon. Learn more at tomorrowzone.io.

Joseph Sebik

Director of Tax
Siemens Financial Services, Inc.

Joe Sebik is a Director of Tax Reporting in Siemens Corporation, covering Siemens Financial Services, Siemens’ US captive financing subsidiary. Joe supports the tax aspects of Siemens Financial Services’ leasing and structured financing transactions, including alternative energy financings.

Joe has over 30-years of experience in the leasing industry including experience in accounting, financial reporting, transaction structuring and taxation. He has been a member of the ELFA’s Accounting Committee for over 20-years where he has actively assisted the Accounting Committee in many ways, including regularly presenting at the ELFA Accounting Conferences and writing numerous articles for the Equipment Leasing Today magazine. Joe is also the Chairman of the Federal Tax Committee of the ELFA and has introduced two recurring tax-oriented training sessions into the Accounting Conference.

Joe has written six reference portfolios on lease accounting and lessor economics for Bloomberg/BNA, as well as co-authoring 2 portfolios on accounting for Variable Interest Entities and assisting on other accounting-related portfolios. Joe has regularly written about the leasing industry and has previously provided comment letters to the FASB on lease-related topics.

Prior to joining Siemens Corporation, Joe worked for Citicorp Global Equipment Finance, JPMorgan’s Tax Oriented Investments group, Chase Equipment Leasing, IBM Credit Corporation and Price Waterhouse.

Joe holds a Bachelors degree in Accounting from Queens College of the City University of NY and is also a Certified Public Accountant licensed in New York State.

Charlie Shannon

Partner
Moss Adams LLP

Mamta Shori

CFO
Wells Fargo Equipment Finance

Finance executive with extensive financial services experience with the ability to inspire necessary cultural change to deliver finance process improvement, simplification, and cost saving strategies.

Proven track record in delivering high value analysis, reporting and forecasts by establishing highly effective commercial and operational partnerships.

Significant experience in shaping organizations to transform back-office functions using lean principles, innovative problem solving, improving control structure and supporting strategic business initiatives.

Jeremy Simons

Partner
Ernst & Young LLP

Jeremy is a Partner in the Ernst & Young LLP National Professional Practice Group in New York, where he specializes in the accounting for income taxes, leases, and long-lived assets. In this role, Jeremy is responsible for consulting with global engagement teams and clients, monitoring standard-setting activities, and developing EY’s interpretive guidance.

Previously, Jeremy spent two years as a Professional Accounting Fellow in the SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant. In this role, Jeremy consulted with current and prospective SEC registrants and divisions within the Commission on accounting issues with a particular focus on the topics of consolidations, business combinations, long-lived assets, and debt and equity.

Prior to the SEC fellowship, Jeremy spent time in Ernst & Young LLP’s National Professional Practice Group and audited public and private companies in the manufacturing and retail and distribution industries.

Jeremy earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from Indiana University and majored in Accounting and Finance. Jeremy is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is a Certified Public Accountant in New York and Indiana.

Donald Sivick

Managing Director, Head US Auto and Equipment ABS
RBC Capital Markets

Don Sivick is Managing Director and Head of US Term Auto and Equipment ABS at RBC Capital Markets (“RBCCM”). He oversees a team that specializes in analysis, structuring, legal review, and distribution of asset backed securities in to the U.S. securitization market.

Mr. Sivick joined RBC in 2012 as the firm built out its capabilities in US Term ABS, and has been part of the team that has grown in to a consistent top-5 underwriter of US ABS. He has led the auto and equipment sectors since 2018.

Don previously worked at Barclays Capital where he served as a research analyst covering specialty finance, and started his career in securitization at Deutsche Bank. Outside of his work responsibilities, he is active as a board member for Bigs and Littles NYC, a nonprofit organization focused on mentoring youth in New York City.

Don has a Bachelors Degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ryan Steel

Assistant Controller
DLL

Amie Sweeney

Vice President
CBRE

Scott Thacker CPA, CLFP

Chief Executive Officer
Ivory Consulting Corporation

Mr. Thacker is the Chief Executive Officer of Ivory Consulting Corporation, the software and consulting company that has helped define the modern equipment finance industry with the proven software solutions for modeling, analyzing, and pricing equipment leases and loans, managing equipment, and optimizing portfolios.

Scott is the immediate past chair of the Board of Trustees of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation, where he is founding chair of The 1989 Society, the legacy giving initiative. He is also the founding chair of ELFA Equity, the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative.

His previous volunteer roles with the ELFA include being a member of the Board of Directors, a member of the Finance Accounting Committee, chair of the Operations and Technology Committee, and co-director of the Foundation’s Research Committee.

Thacker is a member and DEI lead (leave of absence 2023) of Sand Hill Angels, one of the largest angel investment groups based in Silicon Valley. Previously, he served on the Board of Advisors of StartOut for over ten years and was a judge for the business plan competition for the Wharton Executive MBA program and the Visa Everywhere Initiative. He is a second-generation board member of The Ridgewood School.

Prior to joining Ivory Consulting, he was a partner at Accenture and earlier, a Senior Director at Oracle. Thacker began his career at Arthur Andersen & Co.

Thacker holds an M.B.A. in Finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Accounting from Wake Forest University. He holds the C.P.A. (active) and C.L.F.P. certificates.

Ashley Tisckos

Project Manager
Financial Accounting Standards Board

Robert Uhl

Partner
Deloitte

Jay Wilensky

Senior Vice President, Accounting & Finance
Sasser Family Companies

Jay Wilensky is Senior Vice President of Accounting & Finance for Chicago Freight Car Leasing Co, a subsidiary of Sasser Family Holdings.  He is his second year as chairman of the financial accounting committee of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, an advocacy organization for the $1 trillion leasing industry. 

He is also the founder of the Railcar Leasing Coalition, a consortium of companies in the railcar leasing industry he led to collaborate with the accounting firms and the FASB and IASB Boards on interpretation and development of best practices on leasing related accounting standards. Additionally, he has been chairman of the tax committee of the Railway Supply Institute for two separate terms. Accordingly, he has presented at many different industry conferences. He currently serves on the Transportation Executive Board and the Accounting Advisory Board of the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University. 

He began his career in public accounting with KPMG, where he was a senior supervisor on audit engagements in a wide variety of industries. He is in his 38th year with the Sasser Companies and Chicago Freight Car Leasing Co, taking on increasing roles and responsibilities during his tenure leading up to his current position. He is a CPA, CGMA, and has been active in many professional organizations including the Illinois CPA Society, AICPA, and Institute of Managerial Accountants.  He graduated from Indiana University - Bloomington, the Kelley School of Business earning a BS with a concentration in accounting.