New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries

Kirsten Babb has been promoted to Senior Manager of Asset Performance and Procurement at Fleet Advantage,  Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-babb-ctp-6b5256169/

Elizabeth Gomez has been named director of Marketing and Community Outreach at Fleet Advantage,  Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-gomez-18883b52/

Katelyn DeStefano has been promoted to senior operations administrator at Fleet Advantage,  Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelyn-destefano-a92969143/

Jackie Dusseau, CLFP, was promoted to Vice President of Data Analytics and Corporate Development, Fleet Advantage,  Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is located in Miami, Florida.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-dusseau-clfp-88667059/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-dusseau-clfp-88667059/

Denise Garcia was hired as Technology Equipment Finance FVP, Verdant Commercial Capital, Cincinnati, Ohio. She is located in San Francisco, California. Previously, she was at BMO Commercial Bank, staring January, 2019, Senior Manager Inside Sales, Vice President, promoted Head of Technology Healthcare & Specialized Finance, Managing Director (September, 2020 - Novemtner, 2025); Customer Finance Consultant, Technology Finance Partners (December, 2014 - December, 2018). Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deniseagarcia/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deniseagarcia

Mikki Henkelman, CLFP, was promoted to Smear Vice President Credit and Risk, Oakmont Capital Services. She is located in Greater Minneapolis=St/  Paul Area/ She joined Oakmont June,  2018 as Credit Manager, Remote Vice President, Credit & Risk (May, 2022 – March 2016). Previously 10 years, 11 months Stearns Bank, starting July, 3007 as Senior Credit Analyst Syndiation Special,2015, Credit Supervisor February, 2018, promoted Credit Supervisor (February 9 May, 2018).18)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikki-henkelman-clfp-a33b49163/

Jesse Jaskolka, CLFP, was hired as Collection Manger, 360 Equipment Finance, Austin, Texas.
He is located in Milaca, Minnesota. He previously was Manager, Litigation and Asset Management (May, 2025 - December. 2025).. Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-jaskolka-clfp-369554144/

Kristina Matkowsky, North Mill Equipment Finance, NMEF, Norwalk, Connecticut, was appointed as Senior Vice President of Customer Operations. With nearly two decades of experience in equipment finance servicing and operations leadership, Matkowsky will oversee NMEF’s customer servicing strategy and operational performance.

“Kristina’s appointment reflects our continued focus on delivering exceptional service while scaling our operational platform,” said Tom Lyle, Chief Operating Officer of NMEF. “Her deep expertise in servicing operations, regulatory compliance, and process optimization makes her uniquely positioned to strengthen our customer experience and support the company’s growth.”

Matkowsky is a seasoned equipment finance operations leader known for driving operational excellence across large, complex portfolios. She brings extensive experience leading end-to-end servicing operations for multi-billion-dollar portfolios, where she has guided cross-functional teams and implemented strategic initiatives to improve efficiency, automation, and servicing performance.

“I’m excited to join the NMEF team at such an exciting time for the company,” said Matkowsky. “They’ve built a strong, high-performing organization, and I’m looking forward to putting my operational experience to work and helping the team continue to grow while delivering a great experience for our customers and partners.”

At NMEF, Matkowsky will focus on advancing the company’s servicing infrastructure, optimizing operational processes, and enhancing the overall customer lifecycle experience.

Kevin Smith was hired as Chief Legal Officer, Solifi, Raleigh-Durham, Chapel Hill Area, to work remote from Durham, North Carolina. Previously, he was General Counsel, JAGGAER (October, 2020 - February 2026); Senior Director, Corporate Legal,  Red Hat (December, 2018). H He joined the firm as Senior Corporate Counsel January, 2020 - November, 2015); Counsel, Willmer Hall (October, 2001 - January, 2011).  Full Bio:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinsmith15/details/experience/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinsmith15

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Ameris Bank Named to Forbes List of
America’s Best Banks 2026

Ameris Bank has been named to Forbes’ prestigious list of America’s Best Banks for 2026. This year, Ameris ranks #15, up from #26 in 2025, and is the largest bank, by assets, ranked in the list’s top 15.

Palmer Proctor, Ameris Bank ,CEO, said, “We are honored to be named a top bank, and this recognition reflects our team’s commitment to providing high quality financial services while delivering an exceptional customer experience,

“Our size and scale give us the range to care for individuals and families opening their first accounts to complex corporations with multiple financial needs – all with expertise and personal attention.”

Forbes’ 17th annual list evaluates the top 200 publicly traded banks in the U.S., ranking the top 100 based on 11 growth, credit quality and profitability metrics and stock performance over the past year. Ameris Bank stands out for its remarkable performance across these metrics.

The full awards list can be found on Forbes.com.

About Ameris Bank
Ameris Bank, a subsidiary of Ameris Bancorp (NYSE: ABCB), is a state-chartered bank headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Ameris operates financial centers in five southeastern states and serves consumer and business customers nationwide through select lending channels. Ameris manages $27.5 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, 2025, and provides a full range of traditional banking and lending products, treasury and cash management, insurance premium financing, and mortgage and refinancing services. Learn more about Ameris at https://www.amerisbank.com

 

Help Wanted Ad
    Ameris Bank Equipment Finance

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Preparing for Effective Prospecting
By Scott Wheeler, CLFP

In the commercial equipment finance and leasing industry, top originators share one defining trait: they are relentless prospectors. They carve out time, consistently and intentionally, to establish new vendor and end-user relationships. They understand that new relationships are not a luxury; they are the engine of long-term, sustainable success.

When coaching originators, I often begin with three simple questions that reveal far more than most expect:
1. How many new relationships have you established in the past ninety days?
2. How do you prepare for your prospecting activities?
3. How much time each week is dedicated to new business development?

These questions expose patterns. High performers can answer them with clarity and confidence. Underperformers often cannot.

The Prospecting Gap
Despite the importance of prospecting, many originators approach it with minimal preparation. They call down a generic list of companies, hoping to uncover a single transaction. Their lists are scattered, misaligned with their capabilities, and disconnected from their goals. This haphazard approach leads to inconsistent results and shallow relationships.

What Top Originators Do Differently
Top originators build intentional prospecting lists. Their lists are not random. They are strategic. They focus on:
• Similarity to their best clients
• Industries and vendors they can genuinely serve well
• Relationships they believe they can win and grow
• Long-term alignment with their personal production goals

Their prospecting efforts begin long before the first call. They invest time in research, qualification, and thoughtful selection. They understand that the right list dramatically increases the odds of converting a prospect into a meaningful, profitable relationship. For high-performing originators, prospecting is rewarding because their lists are filled with meaningful, well-researched companies—organizations that genuinely align with their capabilities, credit appetite, and long-term goals. Every name on the list represents a potential new client, a future advocate, and a contributor to their overall success. This intentionality fuels their confidence, sharpens their conversations, and accelerates their momentum.

The Power of Preparation
Preparation is the multiplier. When originators take the time to understand a prospect's business model, equipment needs, competitive pressures, and buying patterns, they show up differently. They ask better questions. They build trust faster. They position themselves as partners - not peddlers.

Top originators don't chase transactions. They pursue relationships they can nurture, expand, and retain. Their discipline in building the right prospecting lists is what separates consistent producers from true industry leaders.

A Challenge for the Next Ninety Days
If you want to elevate your production, start by elevating your preparation. Build a prospecting list that reflects your strengths, your goals, and your market knowledge. Then commit to consistent outreach. The next ninety days will tell you everything you need to know about your trajectory.

Wheeler Business Consulting
1314 Marquis Ct.
Fallston, Maryland 21047
Phone: 410-877-0428
Fax: 410-877-8161
Email: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com
Web: www.wheelerbusinessconsulting.com

Wheeler Business Consulting is working with individual originators and sales teams throughout the industry to ensure that they are well positioned in the market, capturing their fair share of business, and outperforming the competition. To schedule a one-on-one meeting, contact Scott Wheeler at: scott@wheelerbusinessconsulting.com

 

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Top Ten Most Read
March 10 - March 13

(1) 2025 Leasing News Person of the Year
    David Lee
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2026/03_10.htm#poy

(2) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
       and Related Industries
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2026/03_10.htm#hires

(3  New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
        and Related Industries  
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2026/03_13.htm#hires

(4)  Funders Forum & Revenue-Based Finance   
   Conference Draws 1,000 Industry Leaders to South Florida
         by Bob Rodi
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2026/03_13.htm#ff

(5) Brean Capital Closes $440 Million
    For North Mill  Equipment Finance
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2026/03_13.htm#brean

(6) The Leadership Divide AI, Geopolitics
        and New Competitive Order in Commercial         
           Lending by Ken Lubin 
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2026/03_10.htm#ai

(7)  Sloan Schickler Receives
    2026 Samuel J. Lee Memorial Award
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2026/03_13.htm#sloan

(8) Touches
    By Scott Wheeler, CLFP
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2026/03_13.htm#touches

(9) Leasing News Person of the Year
    Previous Winners
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2026/03_13.htm#poy

(10) The Best Places to Work in America
    According to Employees
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Mar2026/03_13.htm#best

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Major Finance/Leasing Association Conferences
Updated with Leasing News coverage

March 30—April 1, NEFA Spring Conference 
Huntington Beach, CA
https://www.nefassociation.org/event/2026-spring-conference/

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

---

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

---

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

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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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The States where Americans Pay the Most
— and Least — for Electricity

Where Americans live can make a striking difference in what they pay to keep the lights on, with typical monthly electric bills in some states more than triple those in others.

The latest figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration put the national average residential electricity price at 17.24 cents per kilowatt-hour, up 6% from a year earlier, based on average residential prices and an assumed monthly household use of 900 kilowatt-hours, a common benchmark for a typical home.

North Dakota has the lowest average residential rate in the country at 11.02 cents per kilowatt-hour, while Hawaii has the highest at 41.62 cents per kWh. 

But Hawaii’s island geography makes it something of an outlier, leaving California, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York among the clearest mainland examples of high electricity costs. Nebraska, Idaho, Oklahoma and Arkansas also rank among the cheapest states.

Those differences are not spread evenly across the country. Many of the lower-cost states are clustered in the Plains and parts of the South, while some of the highest prices are concentrated in the Northeast and on the West Coast.

Full Information:
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/states-where-americans-pay-most-least-electricity

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SLIM Capital Celebrates a Decade of Growth and Innovation
While Positioning for Strategic Expansion in 2026

Beverly Hills, CA - SLIM Capital, LLC, a boutique equipment fintech firm, today announced strong results from 2025 and outlined its strategic vision for continued growth in 2026 as the company celebrates its 10th anniversary in business.

Over the past decade, SLIM Capital has built a reputation for delivering fast, flexible equipment financing solutions powered by technology, strong capital partnerships, and a relationship-driven approach with brokers, vendors, and business owners.

The company closed 2025 with significant operational, financial, and technological advancements, reinforcing its position as an innovative leader in the equipment finance space.

A Year of Momentum: 2025 Highlights

SLIM Capital achieved major milestones across its business in 2025, including operational upgrades, strategic partnerships, and technology innovation designed to increase speed, efficiency, and scalability.

Key achievements included:
Strong Financial Performance
Revenue increased 68.7% year-over-year
Net income exceeded budget by 23.6%
Continued growth in funded deal volume with average ticket sizes around $115,000

Strategic Acquisition
Acquisition of Capital Finance Solutions (CFS) in November 2025, expanding SLIM's reach into specialized vendor markets including rapidly growing industries.

Technology & Process Innovation
Migration to an in-house/customized accounting platform, enabling faster closings
Development of AI-driven underwriting support tools
Automated document classification, vendor payment workflows, and enhanced digital signature systems
Integration efforts to connect OpenAI capabilities directly into Salesforce

Expanded Capital & Funding Infrastructure
Addition of new bank facilities
Launch of a $500,000 app-only financing product
Together, these advancements significantly improved the company's ability to process deals faster while maintaining disciplined underwriting and operational control.

Building the Next Phase of SLIM Capital

Looking ahead to 2026, SLIM Capital is focused on scaling intelligently while preserving its boutique, high-touch client experience while growing our team with purpose.

Key priorities for the coming year include:
Strategic Acquisitions
Following the successful CFS acquisition, SLIM plans to pursue additional strategic partnerships and roll-up opportunities with brokers and niche industry specialists.

Vendor Program Expansion
The company will continue building vertical-specific vendor programs designed to support equipment manufacturers and dealers seeking faster financing solutions.

AI & Technology Development
SLIM will expand its AI-powered decisioning tools, workflow automation, and CRM integrations to support higher deal volume while maintaining operational efficiency.

Market Expansion
The firm is identifying targeted industries where it can become a specialized financing partner through focused marketing and vendor relationships.

Leadership Perspective

"2025 was a transformational year for SLIM Capital," said Shervin Rashti, CEO of SLIM Capital.
"Reaching our 10-year milestone is a reflection of the trust our brokers, vendors, and capital partners have placed in us. We've spent the last decade building the infrastructure, technology, and team needed to scale responsibly in the equipment finance market. With our recent acquisition, expanded bank facilities, and continued investment in AI-driven underwriting and automation, we believe SLIM Capital is positioned for an exciting next chapter of growth."

About SLIM Capital

Founded in 2016, SLIM Capital is a nationwide direct finance company specializing in equipment financing and leasing solutions for businesses across a broad range of industries. Known for its innovative technology, customized structures, and relationship-first approach, SLIM Capital helps companies secure the capital they need to grow with confidence.

News Briefs

In Iran, The Only Bad News Fit to Print?
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/on-iran-is-only-bad-news-fit-to-print- ac66649?mod=business_trendingnow_opn_pos3

FedEx Overtakes UPS as the New King of Delivery
https://www.wsj.com/business/logistics/fedex-overtakes-ups-as-the-new-king-of-delivery-7b9712eb?mod=business_feat10_logistics_pos1

Thousands of meatpacking workers walk off job
    in first strike in 40 years
https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/16/business/jbs-meatpacking-strike-beef

Cuba’s power grid collapses
  after weeks of US oil blockade
https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/16/americas/cuba-power-grid-collapse-intl-latam

Iran still exporting millions of barrels of oil through
    Strait of Hormuz even as other traffic paralyzed
https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/16/business/iranian-oil-exports-hormuz-strait-intl-cmd

Trump’s handpicked Kennedy Center board
    approves two-year closure
https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/16/politics/kennedy-center-board-vote-closure

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Trump Administration Set to Receive $10 Billion Fee for Brokering TikTok Deal
https://www.wsj.com/tech/tiktok-deal-fee-trump-administration-5aa31c9f?mod=business_feat1_deals_pos5

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Sports Briefs

Kansas City Chiefs sign Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker moments after Travis Kelce news
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/kansas-city-chiefs-make-massive-statement-by-signing-super-bowl-mvp-moments-after-travis-kelce-news/ar-AA1XQwH7

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California News Briefs

California, other states file suit over changes
    to federal housing funding
https://www.courthousenews.com/california-other-states-file-suit-over-changes-to-federal-housing-funding/

They said it: What is happening with that Google project
     in San Jose anyway?
https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/03/15/they-said-it-what-is-happening-with-that-google-project-in-san-jose-anyway/

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Gimme that Wine

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

North Coast wine grape crop value slips
   to $1.33 billion in 2025
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/03/16/sonoma-napa-mendocino-lake-wine-grape-crush-report/

‘It changed everything’: North Coast Wine Challenge
      winners reflect on past recognition
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/2026/03/16/it-changed-everything-north-coast-wine-challenge-winners-reflect-on-past-recognition/

Mercer Wine Estates To Acquire Four Leading Washington Wine Brands, Expanding Estate Portfolio and Winemaking Capabilities
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/315096

California Grape Crush Hits 30-Year Low
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2026/03/california-grape-crush-hits-30-year-low

With Subtle Changes, Best in American Wine Yet to Come
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/315136