The 30 Year History of UAEL---Part I

 

    by Kit Menkin

 

History of WAEL

by Art Schwartz, CAE

WAEL Associate Director

June 1985 WAEL Newsline Edition

 

Once upon a time in a land not so far away, there was the beginning of an organization of the people in the equipment leasing business. They had an occasional luncheon meeting in San Francisco and Los Angeles in the early 1970's, but  without strong continuing leadership the group soon began to fade and, finally lay dormant for about two years.

 

In the fall of 1974, luncheon meetings were set up in Los Angeles and San Francisco to see if enough people would come forward to rejuvenate what was called the Western Association of Equipment Lessors. There was some interest generated from among the 45 people who attended those two meetings, but mostly there was a lot of, "Let's wait and see."

 

One of the underlying principles that emerged from those first meetings was the necessity of making the organization truly western, not just focused on Los Angeles and San Francisco. The second determination was to orient the organization from the standpoint of the independent lessors. The third determinant was to hire professional management . These fundamental precepts have guided the growth and vitality of WAEL ever since.

 

Harold McAfee,
Triple C Leasing
San Rafael, CA.
WAEL President
1975-1976

Steve Head,
Interbank Leasing
Corp., N. Hollywood, CA. WAEL President
1977-1978

 

 

In the first part of 1975 dues invoices were sent out, and 15 members paid. A format of two conferences per year was begun. Harold McAfee was the founding President in 1975. The first two meetings at the Palm Springs Riviera and the Santa Barbara Miramar were a far cry from the kind of hotels and conferences we see today. Steve Head was Vice President and Jack Kilbourne and Manufactures Bank was Treasurer.

 

In 1976, regional luncheons were held in February and July in both Northern and Southern California to supplement the semi-annual conferences. 27 people attended these first two regional meetings. Seattle was added to this list of sites in 1977, and Denver in 1979. Last January we had over 400 people attend our Winter Workshops conducted in eight cities. Harold McAfee continued to serve throughout 1976 and was followed in 1977 by Steve Head. The conferences really started to take off in 1977 with people who were willing to share and participate. Hyjacking the bus in San Diego set a standard of performance that was hard to match. Conference attendance in San Diego was 125.

 

Armon Kamesar,
Amstat Capital,
San Diego, CA.
WAEL President
1978-1979
Fred Shieman
California
Group Services
Walnut Creek, CA.
WAEL President
1979-1980

In 1978 Armon Kamesar became President with 58 member firms. Under Armon's enthusiastic style at the podium, conferences took off with a more expansive flair. We started the golf tournament and had a lot of extra trimmings like ice carvings of the organization. The educational side of the conference grew, too.

 

Fred Shieman was President in 1979, membership jumped to 145 firms and we created our first five year plan, "Forward By Plan." Attendance to our Reno Conference was up to 275 people.

 

Bob Putman
Amstat Capital,
San Diego, Ca.
WAEL President
1981-1982
Bob Skinner
Renniks Leasing
Corona Del Mar, CA.
WAEL President
1980-1981

Bob Skinner held the reins in 1980 and brought a sophisticated, mature hand to the helm, having been in leasing over 25 years. We held our first suppliers show about that time. Membership crossed the 200 mark.

 

Bob Putman became President in 1981. During his year we adopted the Standards of Professional Practice which have become a milestone of progress for the leasing industry.

 

In 1982 Craig Knudson became President. During his tenure membership climbed to 250. And who can forget some of the memorable parties we've enjoyed: the rodeo during our first trip to Scottsdale...the attempt to drown the boat in Seattle with wine ... the horror story brunch at our first conference in Hawaii.

 

Ray Corob became President in 1983, and before the gavel was passed to Bob Jacobson in 1984 membership climbed to 300. Twice-a-year regional luncheons were added to the Winter/Summer Workshops, and a month ago over 500 people attended one of these programs in nine cities. Our Fall 1983 Conference was a return to Hawaii, and the Hula will never be the same.

 

In the 1984 under Bob Jacobson's stewardship we produced our Rock and Roll Revival Sock Hop. Membership passed 400 and we adopted a new five year plan, "Strategy for Success," that should insure a continuing bright future for WAEL.

 

Craig Knudson, Heritage Leasing
Corp., San Diego, CA.
WAEL President
1982-1983
Ray Corob, BEHR
Leasing, Los Angeles, CA.
WAEL President
1983-1984

 

 

John Torbenson, of course, is now serving as our President. This year we have seen the start of our long-awaited Certification Program.

 

It has been a vital, growing and productive ten years and as we enter WAEL's Second Decade we know the best is yet to come.

 

Bob Jacobson,
Tri Continental Leasing Corp.,
Mountain View, CA.
WAEL President
1984-1985
John Torbenson
Heritage Leasing Corp., Bellevue, WA.
Current WAEL
President

Companies who were charter members of a rejuvenated WAEL and are still members today:

AMERICAN STATES LEASING, now
AMSTAT CAPITAL, Bob Putnam
CALIFORNIA GROUP SERVICES, Fred Shieman
CB LEASING, Charlie Brust
CROSSPOINT LEASING COMPANY, Jean Hamilton
HAVAS LEASING, now
HLC LEASING CORP., Paul Havas
INTERLINK LEASING CORP., Steve Head
LEE BROTHERS LEASING INC., Richard B. Lee
MANUFACTURERS CAPITAL, Alan Debernochi
M.B. LEASING COMPANY, now
MITSU MANUFACTURERS, Norman Campbell
TRIPLE C LEASING, INC., Harold McAfee
FOOTHILL THRIFT & LOAN, Robert J. Ciborowski
HEMAR & WARSAW, now
HEMAR, GORDON, ROUSSO LAW OFFICES, Richard Hemar

According to the original minutes of the meeting given to Leasing News by Russ Rickard's, now retired from Bank of the West,  Harold McAfee was not the first president.  Also Steve Dunham's and other roles are not included in this story. For the sake of this series, Leasing News will let the WAEL news story stand, and for the record, here is a picture of John Torbenson, still active in the leasing business, who has just moved into larger quarters in Arizona.  He was with Heritage Leasing, then BJ Leasing, and started Odyssey Equipment Financing in 1985 in Seattle. Company sold part of the company in 1997 and moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. Company specializes in medical equipment financing and acts as both a funder and broker.

 

 

This is the best picture we have of John, to the far right seated on the first row of the picture.  It comes from the May, 1993 issue of UAEL Newsline.

 

 

“Golf Champions: Western Association of Equipment Leasing Spring Conference Palm Springs, California First Place Team: Ron Mitchell, account  executive, ITT Capital Finance, Pleasanton, CA(far left) Kelly Hutchison, National account manager, Lease Pro, Marietta GA (front row, left) and Kevin Libert, VP, ITT Capital Finance ( standing with visor;) Second place went to Kelly Long, regional marketing manager, First Concord Acceptance, Corp., Denver, CO ( back row, third from left) and to Kelly's right, Jim Lahti, president, Affiliated Corporate Services, Inc. Dallas, TX., John Torbenson, president BJ Leasing, Inc., Bellevue, WA(bottom, right).

Closest to the hole: Phil Dushey, EVP, Global Leasing Services, New York, New York (standing, far right).

Longest Drive: Doug Hatch, AVP, Bank of the West Walnut Creek, CA. (center, holding plaque).

(and yes, he still likes to play a lot of golf.)

John Torbenson, President

Odyssey Equipment Financing Company

4130 N. Goldwater Blvd. Ste 217

Scottsdale, AZ. 85251

Toll-Free (888)607-6800

480-607-6800 Fax (480) 607-6868

www.oefc.net

 

In later editions of WAEL and UAEL Newsline's Steve Dunham's role

in the formation of the association was recognized, and he was

formally recognized as the organizations first president. Here is

a 1991 picture in UAEL Newsline, along with the identification of

Mr. Dunham:

 

 

Pictured here is some of the Western Association of Equipment Leasing

Past President who were honored during special recognition ceremonies in commemoration of WAEL's Fifteenth Anniversary---the Crystal Celebration.

Conference Chairman Peter Eaton, CLP, First National Leasing Corporation(center) joins Past Presidents (l to r) Jim Possehl, CLP, President Republic Financial Corporation(1989), President Steve Dunham, Leasing Associates (WAEL's first President—1974); Bob Jacobson, III, CLP, Consultant (1984 president); Eaton (1994 president); Ted Parker, CLP, LSA West Capital Corporation (1986 President): and Steve Head, Interbank Leasing Corporation (1977 President).”

 

WAEL moved from the management firm of Art Schwartz to

hiring a full time executive director and opening an office.

 

   Part II  Randy Bauler,CAE,  Jon Bedernick,CAE

 Part I| Part II | Part III |  Part IV


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