Equipment Leasing and Finance Association - Equipping Business for Success

Michael Baez CLFP

VP, Professional Services and Customer Strategy
Leasepath

Michael Baez, CLFP is the Vice President of Customer Strategy and Professional Services with Leasepath, driving delivery and innovation for the industry-leading technology solutions provider. Michael is a subject matter specialist in equipment finance. For almost 40 years, he has worked extensively in the financial services industry with global experience in equipment finance, credit risk, corporate treasury, cash and wealth management, process and risk management, operations, and technology.

Chelsey Barron

Vice President of Sales
LEAF Commercial Capital Inc.

Chelsey Barron serves as VP, Sales Operations for LEAF Commercial Capital. As a legacy VAR Technology Finance employee, she has served on several internal committees on the merger transition with LEAF Commercial Capital. Chelsey currently oversees and manages account management and sales support teams. Her role is focused on implementing better efficiencies from beginning of the sales cycle throughout the life of the lease while also creating unique finance solutions. Chelsey currently serves on the ELFA’s Operations and Technology committee.

Jeffrey Bilbrey

CEO
Leasepath

Introducing Jeffrey Bilbrey, a distinguished professional with a remarkable trajectory in spearheading and advancing enterprise technology products and associated services since the early 1990s. Presently, he assumes the prestigious role of CEO within Leasepath's global business landscape, where he undertakes the pivotal responsibility of ensuring utmost customer satisfaction while propelling the flagship cloud-based finance origination platform to the zenith of the market. Leasepath's exceptional growth journey is underpinned by the augmentation of its product portfolio, heightened market visibility, and the delivery of pioneering market-leading functionalities through an agile cloud infrastructure.

Jeffrey Bilbrey's career narrative has been closely intertwined with the realm of Information Technology and consultancy. His affinity for software products transcends mere technicality, driven by a profound appreciation for how technology and automation can adeptly resolve tangible business challenges. His professional odyssey commenced post-university, embarking on a five-year stint as a consultant within the telecom sector across Europe (AMS - American Management Systems). Subsequently, Bilbrey embraced a pivotal role within a Boulder-based startup, contributing to pioneering efforts in online banking and bill-pay technologies (Avolent). His journey encompassed several transformative years within the Property & Casualty Insurance technology arena as a global product manager and delivery lead (Sentry Insurance, Majesco). Carving his path through diverse domains, Bilbrey emerged as a prominent figure in Healthcare IT (Cancer Treatment Centers of America) before assuming a leadership role as a board member and president within a publicly traded multinational engaged in commercial finance software.

Residing in Thousand Oaks, CA, Jeffrey Bilbrey shares his life with his wife and three children. Beyond his professional endeavors, he is an avid outdoors enthusiast, deeply passionate about pursuits such as hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, cycling, running, and triathlons. His exploration of the natural world allows him to relish the serenity and marvels it offers.

Richard Bishop

Director, Financial Services
Precisely Software Inc

Richard Bishop joined CEDAR CX in 2005 as Client Service Delivery Director, overseeing all aspects of ongoing service delivery and partner management with FIS, one of the world’s largest financial services providers.

In 2012, Richard left CEDAR CX to join FIS as a Managing Director, guiding relationships with large financial institutions such as TIAA-CREF, Barclays, Sallie Mae, BB&T, Nationwide, and Ameriprise. In 2015, Richard returned to CEDAR CX to manage the FIS-CEDAR CX partnership and to lead the organization’s sales and business development team within financial services and mortgage. Richard has now joined the Precisely team in the same capacity as his role within CEDAR CX.

Before his first stint at CEDAR CX, Richard worked as a Business Analyst at Hewitt Associates (now Aon) in their Benefits Outsourcing practice. During his tenure at Hewitt, Richard held various roles from quality assurance, configuration and development, and large-scale implementation management for clients such as First Data, Sears-Kmart, UPS, and GlaxoSmithKline.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in music with honors from Louisiana State University.

Jeff Boots

Director Solutions Engineering
FIS

Jeff has over 20 years of experience in the Equipment Finance industry, with a diverse background in solution delivery and business development across Europe and North America. He has held senior roles with a leading equipment lessor as well as software providers and consulting firms over his career. He is based outside of Jacksonville, FL and currently leads the North American sales engineering team within the FIS Equipment and Auto Finance suite of products.

Andrew Cotter

EVP, Chief Information Officer
Somerset Capital Group, Ltd.

Andrew Cotter serves as Chief Information Officer for Somerset Capital Group, Ltd. and has been with the organization since 2002. Mr. Cotter is an experienced business leader and technology strategist providing vision and transformational leadership for more than 20 years. Mr. Cotter uses his extensive experience in people leadership, business operations, and technology innovation to partner with the organization. Through this partnership he develops effective plans and strategies to achieve meaningful results as well as enables continuous innovation needed to improve the customer experience required to succeed in the digital age.

Mr. Cotter serves on the board of Fairfield/Westchester Society for Information Management, is active on the ELFA Technology Innovation Working Group, and is the Immediate Past Chair of the ELFA Operations and Technology Committee.

Michael Donnary

Senior Director - Banking, Leasing and Lending
Capgemini America, Inc.

Michael Donnary is a business and technology consultant with management and hands-on experience in optimizing asset finance IT organizations.  He has demonstrated a proven ability to leverage the benefits of IT to solve business issues while managing cost and mitigating risk. Michael has spearheaded the selection and implementation of package solutions as well as development and deployment of and custom applications, driving business efficiency resulting in significant cost savings.

Client engagement work includes project management, system selection and implementation, custom software development, global IT strategy, enterprise architecture and organizational change management. Michael started his career in banking technology at Metropolitan Bank Group, and worked as Director of Information Technology at Prime Capital Corporation before becoming a consultant to the Asset Finance industry. Michael is Committee Chair of the ELFA Operations and Technology Committee, co-author of the Business Technology Performance Index, a regular industry author and speaker, and has led asset finance training programs in India, France and North America.

Christine Evershed

Project Manager, Global Capabilities
John Deere Financial

Christine Evershed is a Project Manager for John Deere Financial with more than 26 years of experience in the equipment lending and lease industry. Christine has worked in and led various aspects of John Deere Financial’s business from accounting, operations, business analyst, collections, repossession, litigation, end of lease, and marketing within Canada and United States. Christine is a Women’s Unlimited Alumni and is currently part of the EFLA’s Operations and Technology committee. Throughout her career, Christine has had a passion for process improvement and promoted the use of technology to gain efficiencies, drive business results, and improve employee engagement.

Daniel Gonzalez

Sales Executive Senior – Capital Markets
FIS

Joe Graham

Managing Director
FIS

Peter Haug

Product Manager
LTi Technology Solutions

Current Member of the ELFA Operations and Technology Committee, Peter Haug is Product Manager at LTi Technology Solutions – the market-leading platform provider to the equipment finance industry. Since joining LTi in 2009, Peter has enjoyed collaborating with thought-leaders in the industry to understand and solve the critical challenges the industry is facing.

Recently, Peter has presented on technology topics covering innovation and the customer experience.

In his free time, Peter enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, watching soccer, and learning languages.

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.

Daryn Lecy CLFP

Chief Operating Officer
Oakmont Capital Services

Daryn Lecy, CLFP, MBA, is the Chief Operating Officer & SVP at Oakmont Capital Services. Daryn has over 20 years of experience in the equipment finance industry, serving as VP of Operations at Stearns Bank EFD prior to joining Oakmont in 2018. Daryn is passionate about fostering a positive team approach with employees, innovation with technology, and creating efficiencies that support a High-Tech and High-Touch process for customers. Daryn has been active with ELFA, currently serving on the Industry Future Council for the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation. Daryn has also been active with NEFA for many years, serving on the Board of Directors for six years, including as President in 2020. Daryn has authored several industry articles and has presented as a conference speaker several times. Daryn and his wife, Jen, and their three kids live in Minnesota and enjoy traveling, fishing, and many other lake activities.

Jennifer Martin CLFP

Chief Product Officer
LTi Technology Solutions

Jen Martin is the Chief Product Officer at LTi Technology Solutions. In her role as CPO Jen leads the Product and Client Success teams. Jen is responsible for managing LTi's investment in new product and technologies, providing value added solutions to critical customer and market problems.

Jen Martin has been in the equipment finance industry and was at Key Equipment Finance (KEF) for 28 years. She has held many roles over that time including Operations Manager for various support/client service areas and Originations teams, Technology Project Manager, Technology product owner and Quality assurance manager. In 2019, she led the team that implemented ASPIRE and was a lead on the team that upgraded KEF’s end to end technology stack. Most recently, Jen Martin was part of the Key Equipment Finance senior leadership team, responsible for the successful execution of KEF’s technology roadmap, aligning technology tools with the needs of Key Equipment Finance’s clients and employees. Additionally, Jen led a sales enablement team that enables KEF’s growth success through data driven strategic modeling, problem solving, helping market Key’s capabilities and exceeding client expectations through the implementation of innovative technology tools.

Jen Martin is also a founding member of the ELFA Women’s council, immediate past chair for the ELFA Operations and Technology Committee/Conference, a member of the Monitor’s Editorial Board and is part of the ELFA’s Innovation Advisory council.

Ron Meyer

Sr. Business Advisor
Linedata Lending and Leasing

Jena Morgan CLFP

COO
360 Equipment Finance, LLC

Jena Morgan, CLFP leads the operations team of KLC Financial, Inc. since 2014. She strives to remove roadblocks from the sales cycle, enhance productivity from its people and to deliver a suburb customer experience. Jena’s vision for ongoing improvement, drive for execution on the deliverables and deep love for helping people get where they want to go, makes her a unique leader.

Jena is a technology visionary who has been able to see the impact technology and data can have on both the customer experience and operational excellence. She is passionate about taking visions from great ideas to people and profit powerhouses. She believes the equipment finance industry can be the leader in technology deployment rather than the follower.

Jena is honored to be on the 2022 CLFP Board of Directors as the NEFA liaison and a member on the planning committee for ELFA Technology and Operations conference. She is an avid advocate of industry organizations and continuing their strong partnership. She is excited to volunteer in these capacities.

Robert Neagle

President and CEO
Finova Capital, LLC

Bob Neagle is currently President and CEO of Finova Capital, LLC and Chair of the ELFA. Prior to this current role, Bob was President and General Manager of the Merchant Finance Division of Ascentium Capital LLC. In this role, he was responsible for Ascentium Capital’s entry into the payments industry, and the general direction of the business and its P&L.

Over the past thirty years, he has held senior management roles with leading companies in the equipment leasing and financing industry. He began his career with TriContinental Leasing, later Bell Atlantic Capital, where he was SVP and COO of the commercial equipment finance group. He later joined AT&T Capital where he was SVP of Marketing for the Business Finance unit which provided SBA loans, conventional loans and small ticket leasing. While at AT&T Capital, he started the Franchise Finance Division which provided equipment and real estate financing to select National franchisors. After some time at CIT leading its Franchise Finance group, he joined First Data Corporation in 2004 where he led the rapid and profitable growth of First Data Global Leasing both in the United States and Europe, and served on the board of the company’s largest International joint venture.

He previously served 2 terms as a Trustee of the Equipment Leasing and Financing Foundation. Over the years, he has published articles in the JELF and for 30 years has served as a member of the Editorial Review board of the Journal of Equipment Leasing and Finance.


He is a Ph.D. graduate of Loyola University Chicago.

Steven Nelson

SVP, Director of Operations
TD Equipment Finance, Inc.

Scott Nelson

President & Chief Digital Officer, Board Member
Tamarack Technology, Inc.

A well-recognized expert in technology strategy and development including Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, Scott Nelson leads the company’s efforts to expand its impact on the industry through innovation with new products, system level thinking, and the application of new technologies with a design thinking methodology.

In his dual role at Tamarack, Nelson is responsible for the company’s vision and strategic planning as well as business operations. Since joining Tamarack in 2020, Nelson has led efforts to refocus the business strategy around investment in digital technologies in order to provide greater value across the equipment finance industry.

Nelson joined Tamarack with more than 30 years of experience leading product development, product management, and entrepreneurial business growth as a technology and business leader. After beginning his career at Honeywell in the Corporate R&D center, Nelson spent the next 15 years at Logic PD as CTO and EVP. More recently, Nelson served as the Chief Product Officer and Vice President of Product at Digi International, a leading global provider of business and mission-critical IoT products and services and the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at SkyWater Technology Foundry, where he led strategy, growth, and new-offering development.

Bryan Parfitt

Senior Solution Architect
Northteq

Bryan Parfitt, a Senior Solution Architect at Northteq, is a current Member of the ELFA Operations and Technology Committee. Bryan has worked in the equipment finance industry for over eighteen years and authored reports for equipment finance industry associations in the past.

At Capgemini he worked directly with equipment finance lessors providing them innovative and contemporary solutions to differentiate themselves by increasing organizational efficiency. Bryan has experience in both originations and servicing platforms. He has led projects focused on system implementation, system selection, and process redesign among other subjects.

Since 2021 Bryan has worked for Northteq focusing on system implementation and development on their lease/loan origination platform, Aurora. Bryan has brought multiple clients live as well as assisted in the build out of Northteq’s latest product offerings.

Bryan’s project focus is always to bring meaningful change to a client, allowing them to expand their business and do so with increased effectiveness though their use of technology. Bryan graduated from the University of Florida with degrees in Business Administration and Political Science. He lives with his wife and two children in Ponte Vedra, FL.

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.

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.

Kristi Richard

Attorney
McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC

Jourdan Saegusa

Independent Consultant
Suru Consulting

Jourdan Saegusa is an industry veteran with a proven background developing and executing successful business strategies, leading cross-functional teams to maximize efficiency and exceed financial objectives. During his 20+ years in the equipment finance industry, Jourdan has held leadership roles in sales, capital markets, and was the founding member and Chief Operating Officer of two Monitor Bank 50 companies. In his current role as an independent consultant, Jourdan helps equipment finance companies improve operating environments, enhance the customer experience and drive innovation throughout the lending lifecycle.

Shari Schmidt

Vice President, Commercial Segment Risk Manager
Huntington Equipment Finance

Shari Schmidt is VP in Commercial Segment Risk Management at Huntington National Bank. She has 20 years of banking experience with 17 years in Equipment Finance. While in HEF Operations Shari spent 7 years in Documentation and 10 years in Operations managing colleagues who support client services, closing, financial reporting, and money movement. She currently works in Commercial Risk aligned with the Huntington Asset Finance group.

She currently serves on the ELFA’s Operations and Technology planning committee and previously served on the ELFA’s Emerging Talent Advisory Council.

Shari lives in Cincinnati with her husband and 2 children - Calvin (9) and Eleanor (5). In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis and attempting to learn French.

William Schmidt

Director of IT
Oakmont Capital Services

Howard Shiebler

President
Crossroads Equipment Lease & Finance LLC

Tawnya Stone CLFP

Vice President, Strategic Technology
GreatAmerica Financial Services

Tawnya Stone, Vice President, Strategic Technology, is responsible for the overall strategic direction, oversight and implementation of customer-facing tools and products across various GreatAmerica business units. She works in close collaboration with business unit and functional leadership and external technology partners. Tawnya joined GreatAmerica in 2011 as an IT Project Manager and eventually evolved into subsequent roles that blended technology and customer facing activities. Prior to joining GreatAmerica she worked for Philips Electronics and Verizon Communications in the Washington DC metro area.

Tawnya was the previous President of the Managed Print Services Association (MPSA) and Executive Council member of CompTIA’s Technology Lifecycle Services (TLS) Community and past Chair of CompTIA’s Managed Print Services (MPS) Community. She was recognized by ENX as Difference Maker in 2016 and 2018. Tawnya also is a member the Technology Innovation working group and Chair of the Operations and Technology committee within the ELFA.

Denis Stypulkoski

Founder and Principal
Reimagine Advisors

Denis Stypulkoski is a seasoned business executive with a successful track record of launching and building a private equity startup into a major industry competitor. Denis is known as a senior executive who bridges the business and technology landscape. He has envisioned, developed, delivered and managed business startups and technology platforms in leading-edge technology environments, with a focus on revenue creation, digitalization, and customer experience.

Denis's leadership experience spans from startups to global companies within the technology, finance and banking industries and includes executive positions with TIAA Bank, EverBank, Tygris Commercial Finance Group, US Express Leasing, CIT Group, Newcourt Credit Group, and AT&T Capital Corporation.

Denis most recently launched Reimagine Advisors, a business transformation consultancy helping organizations reimagine their business to compete in the digital economy. He also serves as an independent director and chair of the technology committee on the boards of both GreatAmerica Financial Services and IFG Companies.

Darren Tauer

Senior Consultant

Darren Tauer has been in the Equipment Finance industry for nearly 35 years. During this time he has been a software developer, project manager, technology manager and is currently a Senior Consultant with Tamarack Technology.

His career focuses on meshing business needs with technology and the utilization of software and processes to accomplish this.

Past experience is with Solifi, CoBank, and Huntington (TCF) Bank.

Sarah Tezuka

Product Manager
Solifi

With over 25 years of experience in equipment finance and secured lending, Sarah Tezuka is currently a Product Manager at Solifi; a leading global organization that's dedicated to delivering a solid financial technology foundation for equipment, working capital, wholesale, and automotive finance firms. She excels at creating client-centric solutions, managing product lifecycles, and delivering product vision and strategy. She also leads Solifi's Equipment Finance User group and serves on the ELFA Ops & Tech Committee.

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.