Equipment Leasing and Finance Association - Equipping Business for Success

Randa Barsoum

Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

David Blum

Deputy Chair, Tax Practice Group
Akerman LLP

Robyn Bowen

Principal
Ryan, LLC

Eric Fader

Special Counsel
Duane Morris LLP

Eric Fader practices in the area of taxation, with experience in state and local tax issues as well as sales and property taxes.

Mr. Fader is a 1998 graduate of DePaul University College of Law, where he was executive editor of the DePaul Business Law Journal, and a graduate of Bradley University.

Michael Finnegan

Principal
Ryan, LLC

Stefi George

Akerman LLP

Robert Kruger

SVP Tax Director, Asset Finance
Huntington Equipment Finance

David Machemer

Managing Director | National Tax/Indirect Tax – State & Local Tax
Ernst & Young LLP

John Marshall CPA

Principal
JRM Business Advisory & Consulting Services, LLC

JRM Business Advisory & Consulting Services, LLC 2019 – 2020
Marshall, Minnesota
Principal

Independent CPA serving the equipment finance and specialty finance industries. Providing business, finance, accounting, treasury, risk management and strategic planning services, including:
• Evaluation of business opportunities.
• Assessment of business processes.
• Optimization of financial and operational processes and internal controls.
• Strategic planning.
• Financial modeling.
• Financial forecasting and budgeting.
• On-going oversight of processes.
• Other business advisory and consulting services.


U.S. Bank Equipment Finance 2009 – 2019
Marshall, Minnesota
Senior Vice President and Director of Tax
Senior Vice President of Tax and Operational Accounting
Vice President and Director of Tax

Managed the tax, general ledger accounting, disbursements control, cash applications, payment adjustments and functions for U.S. Bank’s nationwide equipment finance business. Drove significant improvements in processes, internal controls, IT systems and management reporting in all areas of responsibility.

• Managed compliance programs resulting in over $150 million in annual indirect tax remittances.
• Directed audit support activities with up to 150 active state and local tax audits in process.
• Directed a disbursements function generating over $6 billion in annual payments, including over $4 billion in wire transfers.
• Oversaw cash applications functions for ACH, lockbox, wire transfer and check payments totaling over $6 billion annually.
• Managed general ledger accounting controls, reconciliations and regulations, to ensure compliance with GAAP, SOX and internal policies.
• Directed tax, cash control and GL accounting activities for a lease portfolio servicing business serving 35 outside clients.
• Identified and implemented process and IT system improvements in the areas of sales/use tax, personal property tax, federal excise tax and Section 1031 income tax deferrals.
• Benchmarked best practices for compliance and process efficiency with peer companies across the country.
• Regularly presented at industry tax and accounting conferences.
• Directed a team of up to 104 direct and indirect professional and technical employees.


Lyon Financial Services, Inc. 1999 – 2001
Marshall, Minnesota
Senior Vice-President and CFO (US Bancorp Ownership)
Chief Financial Officer (Schwan Food Company Ownership)

Directed all finance, accounting, treasury, cash management, tax, internal audit, equipment remarketing and I/S functions for this large “small-ticket” equipment leasing company. Served on and provided strategic financial leadership to the company’s executive management team. Participated in the growth of the business from $750 million to $1.3 billion in total assets over a two-plus year time period.
• Guided the company’s growth at very attractive margins, while maintaining conservative credit parameters.
• Actively guided finance, accounting and IT involvement in a multi-million dollar ERP conversion.
• Led financial and operational analysis of merger and acquisition opportunities.
• Directly managed two debt refinancing transactions totaling $250 million.
• Negotiated conventional and securitized financing lines totaling $750 million (pending at time of sale)
• Developed salary and bonus programs for senior management and key sales/operational personnel.
• Led finance and accounting prep work related to the sale of the company from Schwan’s to US Bancorp.
• Participated extensively in initial negotiations, due diligence and final closing of the sale transaction.
• Supervised a team of approximately 35 professional and clerical employees.

Wayne Ownby

Director - Tax Accounting
Pathward Commercial Finance

Kelley Winslow

SVP, Indirect Tax
Key Equipment Finance