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

Fred Cannon

Board Member
Financial Accounting Standards Board

Frederick L. (Fred) Cannon joined the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) on July 1, 2021. His first term concludes June 30, 2026, and he is eligible to be considered for reappointment to a second term. Mr. Cannon brings to the Board a deep understanding of financial services and a strong user perspective. An accomplished economist and financial analyst, he has almost 40 years of experience in diverse roles with a strong focus on research, equity strategy, investor relations, and corporate communications. Prior to joining the FASB, Mr. Cannon served as director of research and chief equity strategist for Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., a subsidiary of Stifel Financial (NYSE: SF). He joined the firm in 2003 as vice president and was later promoted to senior vice president and managing director before attaining his most recent position. He began his career as an economist with Bank of America Corporation, steadily rising to positions of increased responsibility. In 1998, he joined Golden State Bancorp as executive vice president and director of investor relations and corporate communications. Often quoted in the financial press, Mr. Cannon was also a regular guest on CNBC, Bloomberg Television, as well as other national radio and broadcast television outlets. Additionally, he served as a member of the FASB transition resource group for the current expected credit losses (CECL) standard. Mr. Cannon holds a Master of Science, Agricultural Economics, from Cornell University and is a chartered financial analyst (CFA). Mr. Cannon is currently a member of the CFA Institute.

Eileen Chan

Executive Director
Ernst & Young LLP

Daniel Court

Global Controller
Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation

Dan Court is the global controller for Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation (Cat Financial), with responsibility for global financial accounting and reporting operations. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the finance and accounting industry.

Dan began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he worked in the audit practice.  While there, he was based in both Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Singapore, where he was a senior manager with responsibilities for leading global and regional teams and servicing multiple, Fortune 500 clients.

In 2015, Dan joined Caterpillar Inc. as a technical accounting manager, where he was part of a team that provided guidance and support on complex business transactions, while helping to ensure the correctness of the company’s Securities and  Exchange Commission (SEC) external and internal management, financial reporting. Since then he’s held various roles of increasing responsibilities, including serving in multiple international assignments for the company, most recently as the Cat Financial regional controller for the Asia Pacific region and based in Singapore.

Dan holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He resides in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, and their two young children. 

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.

Yu-Chieh Gola

IBM Financing Technical Accounting Manager
IBM Financing

Yu-Chieh has over two decades of experience at IBM Accounting in both technical and management roles. Currently, in her role as a Senior Financing Technical Manager, she provides in-depth technical guidance on the origination of IBM Financing volumes through consultations with IBM Financing sellers and executives. She plays a critical role in reviewing and supporting new financial offerings, leading a global team of experts in contract review processes.

Previously, Yu-Chieh served as the WW Financing Segment Reporting, Analysis & Disclosure Senior Manager, where she managed the preparation of SEC filings and the implementation of productivity initiatives within Financing. She also led complex software transactional reviews and provided advanced technical accounting guidance on the establishment of standalone selling prices. Earlier in her career, Yu-Chieh was the CHQ Balance Sheet Accounting Senior Manager, where she presented detailed financial results to top executives and prepared comprehensive Board and Audit Committee materials. Her extensive experience also includes managing global statutory filings, leading IFRS adoption projects, and providing expert technical advice across various regions.

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.

Leigh Lytle

President and CEO
Equipment Leasing and Finance Association

Leigh Lytle is the President and CEO of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), the premier trade association representing 575+ member organizations in the $1 trillion equipment finance sector. In her role, Ms. Lytle leads the association in executing its mission and delivering on the value proposition to its members. This includes providing a platform to promote and advocate for the industry, including attracting and developing new and diverse talent; a forum for professional development and training; and a resource that develops information about, and for, the industry. She also serves as the President of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (ELFF), which is dedicated to inspiring thoughtful innovation and contributing to the betterment of the equipment leasing and finance industry.

Before joining ELFA, Ms. Lytle served as the Head of North American Policy at Plaid and led education and engagement efforts with regulators and financial institutions. In this role, she advocated for protecting consumers' rights within the digital financial ecosystem and in Washington, D.C. She also served as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Financial Technology Association (FTA), which represents innovative companies shaping the future of finance. The industry trade group champions the power of technology-centered financial services and advocates for the modernization of financial regulation to support inclusion and responsible innovation. Before joining Plaid, Ms. Lytle spent over 15 years in the Federal Reserve Bank system in various executive roles ranging from engagements in monetary and regulatory policy to operations and data analytics oversight.

Zack Marsh CLFP

SVP – Accounting & Analysis
AP Equipment Financing

Mr. Marsh has spent over twenty-four years in the small business lending space. A graduate of Washington State University, Zack began working for a small ticket equipment lessor where he helped design and build analytical tools for the portfolio management team. Soon after that he joined a startup portfolio servicing company where he then spent the next twenty years building and managing the accounting, finance, and analytics functions (as well as many other areas) of that organization. Then in 2023, Mr. Marsh began a new chapter of his career when he joined AP Equipment Financing. His current role provides AP with a strategic leader focusing on the finance and analytics functions of the company.

Zack is active within the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association and he currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (ELFF). Mr. Marsh has also served as Vice Chair & Treasurer/Secretary of the ELFF, Chair of the Academic Outreach Committee, Chair of the Emerging Talent Advisory Council and as a member of the Small Ticket Business Council Steering Committee. He obtained his Certified Leasing & Finance Professional (CLFP) credentials in 2004. Zack lives with his wife and three kids in Sumner, WA where they take time away to enjoy skiing, golf, and camping.

Michael Nesta

Partner, Accounting Advisory Services
KPMG LLP

Michael has over 20 years of experience providing assurance services, technical accounting advice, and transaction accounting support under US GAAP and IFRS to audit and non-audit clients. Michael began his career at the Financial Accounting Standards Board as a postgraduate technical assistant and provided assurance services prior to joining KPMG’s Accounting Advisory Services group. Michael is a national instructor for KPMG in the areas of Leasing, Revenue Recognition, Business Combinations and Share-Based Payments and participates in topic team meetings in those areas with KPMG’s national office. Michael also is the national leader for KPMG’s Complex Accounting Group within Accounting Advisory.

Kelli Nienaber

Executive Director
Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation

Kelli Nienaber is the Executive Director of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation in Washington, DC. Having been in this role since 2011, she is the primary conduit to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and volunteer governance committees. She oversees the business and staff of the Foundation, which propels the $1 trillion equipment finance sector—and its people—forward with its industry-specific knowledge, intelligence, and programs. Through free studies, internships, and Guest Lecture opportunities, the Foundation helps industry professionals navigate the changes coming up and make better business and personal career decisions.

Prior to the Foundation, Kelli’s career was focused in the government relations/political arena. She has successfully managed political involvement and grassroots campaigns, as well as developed and executed federal and state legislative strategy in corporate and trade association organizations. She began her professional career in the public sector working for former U.S. Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) both in his Washington, DC office and in her home state of Missouri.

Kelli holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is an active volunteer serving on non-profit Boards in her community. Kelli and her husband Brian reside in Alexandria, VA with their four children.

Candace Reinhart CLFP

COO/CXO
CoreTech Leasing, Inc.

With over two decades of experience as a Certified Lease and Finance Professional (CLFP), Candace has consistently harnessed her expertise to drive operational efficiencies and establish scalable solutions in the realm of equipment leasing. Her extensive tenure in the industry has molded her into an equipment generalist and fervent enthusiast for the nuances of equipment lease dynamics.

At the heart of her journey lies CoreTech Leasing, where Candace has assumed the pivotal roles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Experience Officer. Guiding Operations and Syndications, she orchestrates strategic initiatives that amplify client value on a grand scale, solidifying CoreTech's standing as an industry frontrunner.

Candace's CLFP accreditation underscores her unwavering commitment to continuous learning and mastery of industry intricacies. This qualification empowers her to navigate intricate financial landscapes with finesse, shaping informed decisions that resonate across CoreTech's operational landscape.

Through adept leadership, she not only sustains CoreTech's competitive edge but propels it to unprecedented altitudes, infusing innovation into every operational facet. Her all-encompassing experience provides her with a holistic perspective on operational workflows, enabling her to forge seamless synergies between departments and foster collaborative excellence.

Candace's dedication to refining operational nuances, coupled with her strategic acumen, has earned her a reputation as a dynamic leader who transforms concepts into reality. By steering Operations and Syndications, she engineers fluid client experiences that resonate profoundly, solidifying CoreTech's position as an industry vanguard synonymous with excellence.

In essence, Candace's professional voyage is marked by an unrelenting pursuit of operational mastery, a fervent zeal for equipment leasing, and an unwavering dedication to propelling CoreTech Leasing towards an innovative and prosperous future.

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.

Amie Sweeney

Vice President
CBRE

Shelly Tauer CLFP

SVP, EF Systems Product Group Manager
U.S. Bank

Shelly has been with U.S. Bank for 30 years.  She began her career as an underwriter in 1994 with Lyon Financial, a small ticket leasing company that was later acquired by U.S. Bank in September 2000.  She has held a variety of positions all within U.S. Bank Equipment Finance including Special Projects, Collections Management, Sales, Operations Manager, Customer Integration and Support Manager, Project Manager, Security Manager and System Technology Manager.  She continues to oversee the Security and System Technology teams with added responsibilities as of 2022 to include Project Management, Professional Development and Training, Modeling and Analytics and EF Applications teams. She is currently a member of the ELFA's (Equipment Leasing Finance Association) Research Committee and the Operations and Technology Planning Committee and earned her CLFP (Certified Leasing Finance Professional) Certification in 2018.

Shelly and her husband, Bill, have 3 grown children Abby (husband Josh), Lexi and Jake along with 2 grandchildren, Grayson (3) and Saelah (1).  They are avid local and MN sports fans and cherish time with their grandchildren as well as family and friends enjoying water sports, pontoon rides and campfires at their lake home on Lake Shetek.

Rick Thompson

Director, Structuring & Transaction Management
Bank of America Global Leasing

Rick is a Director of Structuring & Transaction Management at Bank of America Global Leasing with over 20 years of experience structuring and executing bespoke, solutions-oriented leases and loans of strategically important capital expenditure projects and portfolio and company acquisitions.

Previously, Rick was the CFO of Beacon Rail Leasing, an independent global leasing company, responsible for all financial operations of the company including capital raising (debt and equity), investment underwriting, treasury, financial reporting and audit, governance and compliance. Rick was an integral part of the management team that grew Beacon Rail Leasing from start-up to an industry leader.

Brian White

Manager, Financial Reporting & Consolidations
John Deere Financial

Brian is the Manager, Financial Reporting & Consolidations at John Deere Financial (JDF), which is the financial services segment of Deere & Company. In this role, Brian leads the consolidation of worldwide financial results, SEC and regulatory reporting, and treasury accounting for JDF units. In addition, Brian has responsibility for technical accounting research and accounting policy at JDF.

Prior to joining JDF, Brian was an auditor with Ernst & Young in Des Moines, IA, primarily focusing on clients in the insurance industry. Brian is a licensed CPA in the state of Iowa and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and a Master of Accounting degree.

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.

 

Edmund Wong

Senior Director of Sales
Ivory Consulting Corporation