New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Todd Freitag was hired as Vice President, Asset Manager, Verdant Commercial Capital, He is located in Long Valley, New Jersey, working remotely. Previously, he was Vice President, Asset Management, TIAA Bank (January, 2006 - March, 2026); Asset Manager, EverBank (2006 – March, 2026); Residual Analyst, CIT Group (2000 - 2006); AT&T
Credit Corp. (1994 - 2000).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-freitag-52293b4/?skipRedirect=true

Brylee Horning, CLFP, was hired as Vice President, Syndications, Priority Capital Partners, Inc., Scottsdale, Arizona.  She is located in the Greater Phoenix Area. Previously, she was Chief Risk Officer & SVP, Credit, Paramount Financial (September, 2025 - March, 2026); AVP Credit, Priority Capital Partners, Inc., promoted from VP, Credit (August, 2022 - September, 2025); VP, Compliance & HR, Orion First (September, 2020- August, 2022); VP, Credit & Syndication, Summit Commercial Finance Company (January, 2004 - September, 2020).
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brylee-horning-clfp-b2900b1a2/

Cameron Krueger joined the Alta Group as Directgor, He is located in Henderson, Nevada, where he will work remotely.  He was previously self-employed as Chief Executive Officer, Krueger & Krueger. Previously, he was Managing Director, Accenture (November, 2017 - March, 2025); Managing Director, Deloitte (October, 2011 - November, 2017); Trustee,  Village of Wilmette,  Wilmette, Illinois (April, 2009 - April, 201&)/ Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-w-krueger/

Todd Leavey was hired as Senior Vice President Capital Markets, NFS Capital, Beverley, Massachusetts; Vice President, Wingspire Equipment Finance, LLC (Janary,l 2022 - April, 2026); Vice President, OnPoint Capital (2018 - January, 2022); SVP, Credit & Lease Admistration, Sertant Capital, LLC (March, 2017 - December, 2017). He joined First Financial Corporate Services, Vice President, Credit & Syndications, 2007,  promoted VIce President, Finance, 2012, Senior Vice President Finance (2014 - February, 2017).

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Funders Taking "New" Broker Business List
Five Do Not Require that Brokers Be Licensed

BSB Leasing
Bankers Capital
Forum Financial Services
Leasing Solutions
Maxim Commercial Capital
Stellify Capital, LLC
TimePayment

The following “funders” have informed Leasing News they will consider business from “new” third party originators.  Many companies require a certain length of time in business and other requirements, such as a specific volume of business.  These “funders” will consider submissions from those new in the leasing and finance business:

All Leasing News Lists

• Funder List "A"
  
  
• Funders Looking for Broker Business     
  
  
• Funders Taking New Broker Business List
  
  
• No Longer taking Broker/Discounting Business plus Leasing Companies Out of Business 
  
  
• Story Credit Financing Business Loans, SBA Loans, Working Capital

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Ken Lubin, ZRG Director, ZEF Partners
The Ultimate Hire

 “For the past 25 years I’ve had a front-row seat to the leadership decisions that determine whether lending platforms grow — or stall.

Executive Advisor to CEOs-Lending | Leadership Strategy | Executive Search | Market Intelligence Managing Director | ZRG Partners,  located in Greater Boston.

Ken Lubin
Managing Director
ZRG Partners, LLC
Americas I EMEA I Asia Pacific
C: 508-733-4789
klubin@zrgpartners.com

 
Previous Ken Lubin Leasing News Columns
THE Ultimate Hire
https://leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/ultimate.html

Help Wanted Ad
    Ameris Bank Equipment Finance

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Mapped: Median Annual Property Taxes by State

Key Takeaways

• Property tax bills vary by more than 10x across U.S. states.
• New Jersey has the highest median bill at $9,358, while West Virginia ($881) and Alabama ($890) are the lowest
• The Northeast dominates the high end, with 7 of the 10 most expensive states.
  

Property taxes are one of the biggest ongoing costs of owning a home, and in some states they can add thousands of dollars a year to the price of staying put.

The U.S. national median annual property tax bill sits at $2,937, and the gap between the highest- and lowest-bill states stretches into the thousands of dollars.

This map shows the median annual property tax bill for owner-occupied homes by state using data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 1-Year Estimates, the latest available data as of March 2026.

Northeast States Have America’s Highest Property Tax Bills

New Jersey ranks first by a wide margin, with a median annual property tax bill of $9,358. It is followed by New Hampshire at $6,707, Connecticut at $6,573, New York at $6,542, and Massachusetts at $6,080.

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Update on Major Finance/Leasing
Associations Conferences

April 14—16, ELFA National Funding Conference
Chicago, Illinois
https://www.elfaonline.org/events/national-funding-conference

Randy Haug, LTi Technology Solutions, Leasing Person of Year 2024 will be covering the conference for Leasing News readers

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May 5—May 7
American Association of Commercial Finance Brokers
Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, Disney Springs, Orlando, Florida

Whether you’re coming for the education, networking, or to strengthen existing relationships, staying at the conference hotel enhances the full AACFB experience.

Plus - the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista is just steps away from the Disney Springs entertainment district and offers free shuttles to all four Disney Theme Parks! 
Room Rate: $219 per night plus a $25 resort fee 
Cut-off Date: April 20, 2026 
Resort Fee Includes:

• Guestroom high speed wireless internet access
• Shuttle transportation to/from Disney World Theme Parks
• DVDNow movie rentals
• Two (2) bottled waters daily
• $5.00 discount on one attraction ticket from concierge desk
• 50% off golf rentals at Disney Golf Courses

 Reserve your room today and check one more thing off your conference to-do list. 

Leasing News coverage by Vicki Shimkus, CLFP, Leasing News Advisory Board, Finance, Brokers Relationship Manager, Ameris Bank Equipment

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June 1
DeBanked Broker Fair
Returns to NYC June 1, 2026, after 1,100 Turn-Out in Miami
https://debanked.com/2026/03/broker-fair-returns-to-new-york-city-june-1-2026/

Don Cosenza, CLFP,  Senior Vice President, Maxim  Commercial Capital, will cover the conference for Leasing News readers

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September 15th - 16th
Brokers Expo, New York City
https://thefundersforumbrokerexpo.com/ny/

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September 28—30, NEFA Fall Conference
Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park
https://www.nefassociation.org/event/2026-fall-conference/

Don Cosenza, CLFP, Senior Vice President, Maxim Commercial Capital, will cover the conference for Leasing News readers

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October 21-23, AACFB Commercial Financing Expo
Hilton Irvine, Irvine, California
https://community.aacfb.org/events/event-description?CalendarEventKey=068b9817-3c58-4aaf-b21d-01999b13a2e4&Home=%2fevents%2fcalendar

Don Cosenza, CLFP, Senior Vice President, Maxim Commercial Capital, will cover the conference for Leasing News readers

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October 25—27, ELFA Annual Conference
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, Palm Desert, CA
Online Scheduling Coming

Randy Haug, LTi Technology Solutions, Leasing News Person of the Year 2024, will cover for Leasing News Readers

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West Monroe Equipment Leases Launches Updated
 Private Equity Equipment Financing Resource

Keith Campbell, Global M&A/PWE , reports, "Over the past year, West Monroe has worked alongside more than 100 financial sponsors and over 200 portfolio companies, giving us a clear view into how they’re approaching AI today and where they need to be tomorrow. We’ve seen firsthand that the firms pulling ahead are those embedding AI into every layer of their business.

“In 2026, the opportunity isn't just to implement AI. It's to reshape how private equity firms create value—faster, smarter, and with proof that scales. Let's get there together."

Private equity is being rewired by a new capital ecosystem

Sovereign wealth funds and AI-driven investment models are reshaping competition, making operational excellence the cost of entry rather than a differentiator.

AI Moves from Experimentation to Value Creation Mandate in the Portfolio

Buyers now expect portfolio-wide AI execution, pushing companies to move beyond pilots and deliver real impact within typical PE hold periods.

More Information:
https://www.westmonroe.com/insights/private-equity-outlook

News Briefs

Paul McCartney rocks Apple HQ with lengthy
    set of classic tunes
https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/04/01/paul-mccartney-apple-anniversary-concert-setlist/

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Tariff refund portal will initially be unable
   to process a third of requests
https://nypost.com/2026/04/02/business/tariff-refund-portal-will-initially-be-unable-to-process-a-third-of-requests/

U.S. bombs Iran's civilian infrastructure
   for first time after "Stone Ages" threat
https://www.axios.com/2026/04/02/trump-iran-bridge-stone-age

Trump slaps 100% tariff on some pharmaceutical
    drugs via executive order
https://abcnews.com/Business/trump-slaps-100-tariff-pharmaceutical-drugs-executive-order/story?id=131656192

Judge says Border Patrol defied orders
when arresting day laborers without proper warrants
https://www.courthousenews.com/judge-says-border-patrol-defied-orders-when-arresting-day-laborers-without-proper-warrants/

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Sports Briefs

This high school player may be the most lauded recruit
    to ever come out of Bay Area basketball
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/annkillion/article/mckenna-woliczko-ready-hit-mitty-22081406.php

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California News Briefs

Meta to eliminate nearly 200 Bay Area jobs
https://www.mercurynews.com/business/

The San Francisco Bay Area’s population changed drastically
 this decade. Charts show exactly where people migrated
https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2026/irs-migration/

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Gimme that Wine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJnQoi8DSE8

Wine column: Discovering two more winery gems
https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/wine-column-discovering-two-more-winery-gems/219299/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wine-column-discovering-two-more-winery-gems