Equipment Leasing and Finance Association - Equipping Business for Success

Kelly Accetta

Consultant
Truth-Coach

Deborah Baker

VP, Global Payment Solutions
HP Inc.

As Head of Worldwide Leasing and Financing, Deborah Baker is responsible for driving contractual business growth through an optimized, profitable multi-vendor leasing and financing Go to Market (GTM) solution.

Deborah is a finance veteran with almost 30 years’ experience supporting captive and vendor financing. She joined HP from Cisco Systems Capital Corporation where she served as Senior Director, Global Portfolio Services, supporting a $12B Global Portfolio of ~5000 lease and loan customers in over 100 countries, maximizing sales enablement and ensuring fiduciary responsibility.

Prior to joining Cisco Capital in 2011, Deborah spent 10 years with Hewlett-Packard Financial Services at their headquarters in New Jersey supporting end user financing products in the US, Canada and US Public Sector as well as internal (embedded lease) financing products. Prior to Hewlett-Packard Financial Services, she held a variety of roles with CIT (formerly AT&T Capital), including roles in Business Development, Sales and Operations. As a Six Sigma Champion and Talent Ambassador, Deborah is passionate about Process Improvements, Learning and Development and Talent Management.

Deborah is a member of the Board of Directors for the Equipment Leasing and Financing Association (ELFA), the Chair of the ELFA Women’s Council, and a member of ELFA Equality. In addition, Deborah is a member of the Editorial Board of The Monitor publication, The Independent Voice of Equipment Finance. In 2019, she was named one of the Top Women in Equipment Finance by The Monitor.

Deborah holds a BS in Business Administration and an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, NJ. She currently resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with her husband Chris. Their son Griffin is studying Cybersecurity at the Southern New Hampshire University. Outside of work, Deb enjoys hiking, bicycling and cooking.

Shannon Cassidy

Keynote Speaker
Bridge Between, inc.

Shannon Cassidy is a certified Executive Corporate Coach and an authority on behavioral modification and communication. The small incremental changes she teaches are efficient, executable and effective.

She is the founder, president and driving force behind bridge between inc., a specialized coaching firm committed to understanding, influencing and maximizing the human potential. Since founding her company in 2000, Shannon has coached hundreds of leading executives and their teams.

Shannon’s mission is to help clients manifest their potential, individually and collectively, by crossing the bridge between where they are now and their future state. She has been helping audiences of all sizes, from boardrooms to convention halls, encouraging a growth mindset to breakthroughs, progress and goal achievement. As entertaining and engaging as they are informative, her presentations reveal her expertise, sense of humor and empathy while communicating the tips and insights needed for peak performance.

She is a National Speakers Association Member with a degree in Business and Professional Communication from the University of Rhode Island and certification as an Executive Corporate Coach from the International Coach Federation.

Shannon has authored several books. Her two most popular are V.I.B.E., an in-depth self-discovery journey to authentic leadership, and The 5 Degree Principle, a leadership fable revealing a familiar journey of career challenges politics and empowerment.

Jennifer Fanz

Vice President of Sales, US Healthcare
PEAC Solutions

Jennifer Fanz, equipment leasing and finance industry veteran, is a results-focused Senior Commercial Leader with 20+ years of sales experience, effective relationship management and demonstrated success in the financial services industry. She is well versed in sales, strategic planning, business development, team leadership and leadership development. She has effectively leveraged people, processes, relationships and culture to build high-performing teams, exceed targets and encourage individual and team growth through diversity of thought to drive bottom-line results.

Jennifer has also devoted time as a certified facilitator focused on sales effectiveness and leadership development. She is passionate about her role as an equipment leasing industry mentor and coach. She has held roles focused on organizational health and employee development, and she is both an advocate and ally for diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.

Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Science degree with a focus in Management from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-Camden. She is an active member of ELFA, with prior service on the ELFA Emerging Talent Advisory Council. She currently serves as Past Chair of the ELFA Women?s Council and has previously served as sub-committee Chair for the ELFA Women?s Leadership Forum from 2019 through 2022. Jennifer has also helped launch various corporate ERGs supporting both female and ethnically diverse employee groups.

At home, she spends time as a wife, mom, dog-mom, sister, daughter, somewhat decent cook and lover of plants and her garden. She sometimes appreciates her Peloton, but also has a fondness for bread and wine. She continues to strive for work-life integration, although she is admittedly a work in progress.

Michelle Fuchs

Vice President, Business Development Manager
Stearns Bank N.A.

Michelle Fuchs brings years of experience to Stearns Bank’s Equipment Finance Division. She joined the company in 1995 to assist in the initial development of the client relations team, helping current clients with their financing needs. As she continued her career at Stearns Bank, she developed a passion for pursuing new equipment financing opportunities. Her areas of industry expertise include medical, manufacturing and construction equipment financing.

As Business Development Manager, Michelle’s primary focus is pursuing new business for Stearns Bank by developing relationships with distributors and manufacturers within new industry areas of interest. She enjoys the pursuit of new opportunities and exploring situations where she can offer creative solutions to meet the demands of her customers.

Michelle has a degree in marketing from St. Cloud State University.

Christine Gagnon

CFO
AAFC (African Asset Finance Company Inc)

Christine D. Gagnon is a corporate strategist, senior finance executive and certified accountant (CPA). She has a proven track record of success in strategy formulation and execution, as well as in-depth experience with complex accounting, finance, regulatory and operational matters.

Ms. Gagnon graduated magna cum laude with Distinction from the University of Connecticut, earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Business Administration. Most recently, Ms. Gagnon studied corporate and client service strategy at Harvard Business School and design thinking and innovation at Stanford University’s School of Engineering.

Ms. Gagnon is an accomplished public speaker serving as a guest lecturer, panelist, moderator, and keynote speaker on various strategic topics and was a professional speaker coach for TEDx Manhattan Beach and TEDx London Business School. She is an adjunct professor in the Department of Accounting at California State University, Fullerton and formerly served as an adjunct professor at University of California, Irvine, teaching undergraduate and graduate-level courses.

Ms. Gagnon is currently Chief Financial Officer of African Asset Finance Company (AAFC) where she oversees all finance, treasury, accounting, credit, and risk functions; she also serves on subsidiary boards.

Previously, she was a Director at Ernst & Young LLP (EY), holding various leadership positions including EMEIA CFO/COO & Global Go-to-Market Lead for the Financial Crime business and COO of Africa Financial Services. Prior to joining EY, Ms. Gagnon held the positions of First Vice President at OneWest Bank N.A. and Senior Manager at at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

Kara Miyasato CLFP

Marketing Director

Kara Miyasato is the Director of Marketing for Stryker’s financial services business, Flex Financial. In this role, she leads a team responsible for product development, marketing communications, sales training, process improvement, and business analytics for North America and Europe. She sits on the Flex Financial leadership team.

In 2007, Kara began her career at Stryker at Stryker Endoscopy in San Jose, California. She relocated to Kalamazoo in 2008 and has held various individual contributor and management roles within Flex Financial in both operations and marketing. Her focus throughout her Stryker career has been around customer engagement, continual process improvement, and employee development.

Kara currently chairs the Emerging Talent Advisory Council (ETAC) for ELFA and sits on ELFA Equality. She was previously the ETAC liaison to the Captive & Vendor BCSC and was identified as Monitor’s inaugural Next Generation Leader for their Industry Icon Awards.

Kara holds degrees in philosophy and economics from Santa Clara University, attained her Master’s degree in Finance from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) as well as a Certified Lease & Finance Professional (CLFP). She sits on the board of directors for the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestras and resides in Kalamazoo, Michigan with her husband, Cullen Stevenson, and their son, Kai.

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.

Nancy Robles

President
Eastern Funding LLC

Nancy Robles is Chief Operating Officer of Eastern Funding LLC where she is responsible for all of the company’s day-to-day operational and administrative functions.

Nancy joined Eastern Funding in 2005 from Fleet Healthcare Capital Leasing/Bank of America. During her tenure at Eastern Funding, she has managed the company’s operations functions including credit, compliance, documentation, funding, loan servicing, legal and work-out, and human resources.

Outside of Eastern Funding, she serves on the board of the Berkeley College Scholarship Foundation, The Coin Laundry Association Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the Berkeley College MBA and Legal Studies Committees.

Nancy has been recognized by Monitor Magazine as a Top Woman in Equipment Finance for 2020. She has also been featured in Hispanic Executive Magazine.

Kevin Sensenbrenner ASA

Senior Managing Director, Head of Asset Management
Eldridge Capital Management

Kevin Sensenbrenner is SVP and Senior Managing Director of Asset Management, with direct management responsibility for all asset valuation, lease portfolio management, and remarketing activities.

Kevin began his career in 1998 as a commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (M&E) and real estate appraiser with AccuVal Associates. He was responsible for Co-Managing AccuVal's M&E appraisal practice. At AccuVal, Kevin gained extensive experience appraising domestic and international large industrial/manufacturing facilities, such as: steel and paper mills, metal fabrication and automotive assembly plants, chemical/petroleum processing plants, carpet manufacturers, food processing facilities, printing operations, and energy related assets.

Sensenbrenner began his Asset Management career at AIG Commercial Equipment Finance (AIG CAF) in 2006 as Vice President and Senior Asset Manager. His responsibilities increased successively and ultimately included all asset management functions for AIG Investments and AIG CAF portfolios. At AIG, Kevin valued and managed a diverse portfolio, with assets in manufacturing, transportation, oil and gas, mining, construction, marine, rail, and technology industries, as well as real estate assets.

Prior to joining SCF in 2015, Mr. Sensenbrenner led an equipment management valuation team overseeing Wells Fargo Equipment Finances $29.5 billion portfolio, with responsibility for commercial bank, corporate bank, capital markets, marine, energy, and rail business verticals.

Kevin is a Senior ASA appraiser and has served as an ELFA Equipment Management Committee member since 2007.

Kris Snow

Kristine (Kris) A. Snow has more than two decades of commercial leasing and finance experience. In 2009, she joined Cisco Systems Capital Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc. As President, she leads the company's global captive finance and certified remanufactured equipment businesses. Kris previously served as President of Global Vendor Finance at CIT Group.

Kris is currently serving as the Chairman of the Board at ELFA. During her tenure, Kris has been an active participant serving on the Board of Directors from 2008-2011 and returned to the Board in 2017. In addition to her current position on the Board, she is a member of ELFA's Executive, Nominating and Personnel Committees. Previously, she served as Chair of the Captive and Vendor Finance Business Council Steering Committee. She has also served as a participant in the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation's Industry Future Council and a contributor to previous “State of the Equipment Finance Industry” reports.

Outside of ELFA, Kris has been involved in numerous civic and community organizations. She serves on the Gonzaga University Board of Trustees and is Board Member Emeritus for St. Mary's College School of Economics and Business Administration. She was honored by the Computer Reseller News 2019 Women of the Channel list, received the Silicon Valley Business Journal's Women of Influence award, and the YWCA Tribute to Women Award for the Silicon Valley.

Kris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Gonzaga University and a Master of Business Administration from St. Mary's College of California.

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.