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Top Stories of 2002---- Sean Wheeler From the
1Lease “franchise” to working out of his father’s office in Fresno ( both deny it, but applicants, brokers, and ex-employees
say otherwise—and he often uses another name, they also report).
If PinnFund/ PinnLeasing is a movie, then so is the story of Sean Wheeler---played
by Jim Carrey ...maybe Adam Sandler. Leasing News received
word from a bank owned leasing company in California that Sean Wheeler
had applied for a “corporate only” lease. They requested an up-date
from Dun & Bradstreet. On July 8, 2002,
Sean Wheeler, who gave a Title of Owner, reported that Deep Blue Sea
Marine operates as A Sole Proprietorship under his name that started
in 1998. Operations were reported
as wholesaling Marine Pet Supplies with 34 employees. A current business address of 2037 W. Bullard #514, Fresno, CA was
provided where the company reported that it leases 9,200 sq. feet
of space. A business phone
listing of (559) 259-8068 was reported.
No Branch locations were reported.
A financial statement dated Dec. 31, 2001 was submitted showing
equity of a low six figures and sales of a low seven figures.
An investigation
with outside sources on July 8, 2002 revealed that the captioned address
is a mail drop facility utilized for mailing purposes only. A current physical address, if any, for the
company is undetermined. A
check of records as of July 8, 2002 with directory assistance found
no record of a business phone listing for the company in the area. It is noted that the phone number provided by the company is a cellular
listing. A check on July
8, 2002 with the California State Board of Equalization found no record of a State Tax Permit issued to the
company under Sean Wheeler as the owner.
Record of an Active Permit under the name Deep Blue Sea Marine
was found in Fresno, CA; however,
the permit was indicated to be under a different principal’s name. Further details could not be obtained concerning the permit. Also on July 8, 2002, a check with the Fresno,
CA Business Licensing Dept. found no record of a required license
on file under the name of the company or principal at the captioned
address. The original
Business Report for the Company was created by D & B on Nov. 7,
2001 at the request of the Company.
It is noted that since it’s inception there has been approximately
16 inquiries on the Company’s file.
This advises D & B that the report is receiving a high
end amount of customer activity. Due to the above discrepancies, a reference
start date of 2001 will be utilized and credit and financial details
withheld. For additional details,
see “History”. “My father (Ken Wheeler, reportedly still active in the leasing
industry, kennethwheeler@msn.com) faxed this e-mail to me. I have no idea in what way what I am doing
now has to do with the leasing business. “ I already received the lease funds from the lender several
weeks ago.(application was dated May 31.editor) You were not a reference I don’t even know
you. I was on the news a month
ago due to losing a large amount of livestock and several organizations
were concerned (SPCA, Fish and Wildlife
Service) “As for Commercial Equipment Lease, I have received nothing
to date. “We, like other companies were very slow over the past year
and fell behind on lease payments.
I also had a falling out with a former partner. But I am not in the leasing business this is
the main reason why. If you look at what
is going on in today’s society children are being taken out of there
homes in the middle of the
knight, we are at war, Tyco CEO I see him on CNN all of the time. These are real issues I am just working hard in Fresno and would
like to be left alone. I am
sure there are more newsworthy stories than me life after leasing----why
not stick to them? “The headline ‘Will
the real Sean Wheeler please stand up?’ is really sad and just shows
that you and several others learned nothing from 9-11-01. “I am not hiding
from anyone. I have always responded to your questions and concerns. “Thank you.” Sean Wheeler 559-259-8068 : Swheeler00@aol.com (There also is a
controversy whether Sean Wheeler ever took or passed the Certified Leasing Professional program. According to CLP executive director Cindy Spurdle, the records previous to the formation
of the foundation were lost at the UAEL office. The person who conducted the test, says he may still have the records of who took
the test and passed it in his Portland, Oregon garage...and as soon as
he gets back from Saudi Arabia, where he is working now, he will
look to see if he can confirm or deny----a charge by an ex-employee who said that Wheeler used to joke that he never passed the test....and in recent correspondence, he has stopped using
it. ) --- Will the Real Sean Wheeler Please Stand Up? June 17, 2002 In the year 2000, Sean Wheeler and 1Lease were making the
rounds of Leasing Association Conferences, promoting this "franchise."
Wheeler actually became a "Certified Leasing Professional." To say the least, he was quite controversial. Since Leasing News has added over 1,500 readers since then,
perhaps many have not heard of him nor understand the significance
of his applying for an "application only lease" to what
we are assuming is another lease broker His father Ken Wheeler is
in the leasing business in Fresno, California June 12,2001 he left it.
He evidently has been in the marine animal business before
he went into leasing, as he stated
in a leasing application Leasing News was asked
as a "reference." Leasing News has also received a report that Mr. Wheeler
was on the Fresno TV News about this equipment, which we are investigating.
Leasing News is also following up a report
concerning legal action taken by Commercial Equipment Lease
in Eugene, Oregon. To bring all readers up to date on this "Whatever Happened
to" story, here are three re-prints from last June's Leasing
News in chronological order.: Sean Wheeler says,
" Bye-Bye, Baby" to Equipment Leasing Sean Wheeler
Leaves the Leasing Business for "Wet Pets" Dear Kit: Steve Ballard who came to us in February of this year has
taken over control of One Lease, and the Franchise Group. Steve spent his last
6 years in the Operations / Finance department with Michael's Floral the
fastest growing retail store chain in the West. We feel he brings a solid
financial background to the company which One Lease is in need of at
this time. As One Lease has
grown several issues have needed special attention that one leasing
professional could not handle. Sean Wheeler felt it was time to turn
the company over to a highly qualified individual that truly could
propel One Lease to the next level and beyond. Steve will
take a much more active approach to the company staring with a booth
and the UAEL annual conference in October. Steve officially takes over July 1st. Sean Wheeler and his
wife will be moving to the East coast in the next few months to expand
there 3 store chain of Marine Pet Stores called "Wet Pets." We wish him all the luck in the future! Marilyn Delerio One Lease Corporation One Lease Franchise Corporation 800-996-7440 800-977-4666-fax www.1lease.net www.1leasefranchise.com Dear Kit, Yes, it is true I am leaving the leasing industry. Steve Ballard has taken over as CEO of One Lease Corp. This
will go into effect on July 1st. I really think Steve will bring a strong
Customer Service platform back to One Lease. I think if One Lease
has a knock it's that we can be slow at times. All issues aside we
have always taken care of our approved brokers. And we have always
been broker driven from the very beginning. many felt we were a super
broker of some kind. That is an incorrect statement we are a funder
with our own money. We are a funding
source member of the UAEL(United Association of Equipment Leasing),
& EAEL (Eastern Association of Equipment Leasing )and will have
a booth at the Annual UAEL conference
in Texas this year. I really think that Steve and his new team with
propel One Lease into the future as a major source in the industry.
With funding sources closing at a record pace One Lease has
been a consistence source for the industry. Thank you Sean Wheeler, CLP 1 Lease ( It is my impression
One Lease Consultants sets up individuals in the leasing business,
a franchise type operation, with procedures, manuals, and support,
and treats the leasing business as a "retail" business or
franchise with backing from the franchiser. Their website is "under
development" .We hope to get more information about this fascinating
approach to leasing. editor ) http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/June01/6-12-01.htm 1Lease ---"Not a Joke," says Sean Wheeler ( and
more ) Kit Give me a break! I saw the posting by Izzy Finster and he
should leave the house more often. Michael's Floral is a $5 Billion
dollar a year company. And Steve Ballards title is one that Mr. Finster
I'm sure could not even apply for. Steve has 15 years of corporate
finance experience. Joke / not a Joke who cares the reality is that
One Lease does have over 240 satisfied brokers if you don't like us
go somewhere else. We don't need anyone's business that bad. One Lease
increased sales in 2000 by over 136% from 1999. Anyone that would
like to compare financial statements for year end 2000 please feel
free to call and then we will see who the joker really is. Our statements
are audited by the firm of Arthur Anderson. Sean Wheeler, CLP 1 Lease Corp. 800-996-7440 800-977-4666-fax www.1lease.net ( The e-mail said, "Steve spent his last 6 years in
the Operations / Finance department with Michael's Floral the fastest
growing retail store chain in the West." The 15 years was not
mentioned. I guess you are saying that 240 brokers cannot be wrong.
That is quite a following, indeed. I will ask Mr. Finster to respond,
and also to let us know what "faygeleh" business means.
editor ) http://www.leasingnews.org/archives/June01/6-14-01.htm Sean Wheeler/1lease National Association of Equipment Leasing
Brokers In reading your recent newsletter with the comments from
Sean Wheeler About the NAELB, I felt that I must of course set the
record straight. By no means do I wish to open up the entire issue,
it is an issue that is done. I just want to respond to the comments
made by Mr. Wheeler about the process. As to Mr. Wheeler's comments
point by point: 1. "One Lease has never been a member of the NAELB."
That is correct. 2. "Directional Funding was also never a member."
That is incorrect. Directional Funding was a member, submitted under
the name of Marilyn Delerio. However, once the EFG issue surfaced,
a review of the membership application showed that Directional's membership
was paid for with Sean Wheeler's American Express card. That was one
of the factors that showed The relationship between EFG and Directional
Funding. 3. [The sharing of office space] "is the entire reason
for the NAELB thinking there was a connection between the two companies."
There were many factors that were brought to my attention that showed
similarities and connections between the two companies, not just one.
One connection would not raise a suspicion, many connections would. 4. "We had separate phone and fax numbers from EFG throughout
this time." This is incorrect, letterhead shows the same phone,
fax and address. At One point in time, they may have changed but they
were not different "throughout this time." From the perspective of the NAELB, please be aware that one
isolated similarity would not rise to the level warranting action
by the NAELB. And in complete hindsight, if there had never been a
problem with EFG, then there never would have been any issues with
Directional Funding, Direct Funding.Net or One Lease. Also, any action
taken is only taken by the full board of directors, not just me. I am not revisiting this issue, just responding to the points
Mr. Wheeler made as it pertains to One Lease. Joe Bonanno NAELB Legal Counsel attyjgb@aol.com (781) 391-7800 www.leasingissues.com http://two.leasingnews.org/archives/June01/6-19-01.htm After Leasing News ran the story that you were no longer
in the equipment leaisng business, contrary to rumors, a California
leasing company on Thursday, June 13 told me you had applied to them
for a lease and asked me for a reference about you, as you were once
a public figure and well-known in the leasing industry; what kind
of character reference and what else did I know. I asked them to fax
me a signed copy of the application, which they did. Leasing News has had many stories about Sean Wheeler and
1lease. I think once you are
a public figure, even when you retire, you remain so.
We have features, such as “Whatever Happened to...”, plus alerts
and bulletin board complaints. John Nice, Commercial Equipment Lease in Eugene, Oregon,
Credit & Special Assets Mgr, (800) 234-1884.has a representative
who has been trying to locate you.
He is available, if you would like to reach him. He would also
like those in the leasing industry, if you have any questions or information,
to call him directly. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenneth Wheeler Takes On NAELB Legal Counsel Joe Bonanno Fair unbiased news about the leasing industry does not seem
to me to include the fish industry and then to bring up the history of someone who is not in the industry any longer
makes your news letter like the
National Inquirer. You ask me a question
and I gave you a straight answer... then you print this trashy
story not based on an interview or a request for info but some third
person's information that is not correct. I know where you got the
info and you can believe that source is not reliable and is the biggest
gossip in this town. Over half the companies in this industry have financial problems so stick with them or become
the Tropical Fish Newsletter.
I have always thought you were fair and unbiased until today and I
am saddened that you wrote that article about
Sean. If he is having financial problems that has nothing to do
with your newsletter or your need to report it and I honestly do not
know if he is since we do not talk about such things. Please Kit in the
future call me if you have any questions and I will try to get
honest answers for you if it pertains to the leasing industry. --- to further reply to your story was the quote from Joseph
Bonanno who is a documented liar and cannot be trusted to ever tell
the truth and if you want the documentation I will send it to you.
He is the typical attorney that all the jokes are made about.
I sent the documentation to all members of the NAELB (National Association
of Equipment Leasing) when he slandered my company. I had one employee spend two weeks faxing the info. Bonanno
represents everything wrong with this business and hides behind a
non profit organization so he can operate without liability and you
can print this because I have the documentation in writing and he
cannot deny it. KENNETH WHEELER <kennethwheeler@msn.com> ----- (Leasing News confirmed with Mr. Wheeler that his e-mail
was for publication. Ironically the new Sean Wheeler story started
from a NAELB Listserve by Joseph Bonanno about rumors that Sean Wheeler
was back in the equipment leasing business.
Bonanno was doing his job for the association. It was not sent
to Leasing News as “gossip.” (Here is the reference Ken Wheeler is referring to, and only
brought up to clarify today’s news story: editor) Sean Wheeler/1lease National Association of Equipment Leasing
Brokers In reading your recent newsletter with the comments from
Sean Wheeler About the NAELB, I felt that I must of course set the record straight.
By no means do I wish to open up the entire issue, it is an issue that
is done. I just want to respond to the comments made by Mr. Wheeler about
the process. As to Mr. Wheeler's comments point by point: 1. "One Lease has never been a member of the NAELB."
That is correct. 2. "Directional Funding was also never a member."
That is incorrect. Directional Funding was a member, submitted under the name
of Marilyn Delerio. However, once the EFG issue surfaced, a review of
the membership application showed that Directional's membership was paid
for with Sean Wheeler's American Express card. That was one of the factors
that showed The relationship between EFG and Directional Funding. 3. [The sharing of office space] "is the entire reason
for the NAELB thinking there was a connection between the two companies."
There were many factors that were brought to my attention that showed similarities
and connections between the two companies, not just one. One
connection would not raise a suspicion, many connections would. 4. "We had separate phone and fax numbers from EFG throughout
this time." This is incorrect, letterhead shows the same phone, fax and
address. At One point in time, they may have changed but they were not different
"throughout this time." >From the perspective of the NAELB, please be aware that
one isolated similarity would not rise to the level warranting action
by the NAELB. And in complete hindsight, if there had never been a problem
with EFG, then there never would have been any issues with Directional Funding,
Direct Funding.Net or One Lease. Also, any action taken is only
taken by the full board of directors, not just me. I am not revisiting this issue, just responding to the points
Mr. Wheeler made as it pertains to One Lease. Joe Bonanno NAELB Legal Counsel attyjgb@aol.com (781) 391-7800 www.leasingissues.com |
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