Dale Kluga is a commercial banking and leasing executive with more than 40 years of consistent advancement in business development, credit, collections and operations. His demonstrated accomplishments include: founding and managing the commercial leasing business for LaSalle National Bank of Chicago nka Bank of America; founding partner of Great American Leasing Company, a small ticket leasing operation; founding partner of Cobra Capital (nka Providence Equipment Finance) a SME funding, portfolio servicing and bank leasing back office company; management of a portfolio servicing business for LINC Scientific Leasing; and co-founding a suburban banking facility at the age of 29 for LaSalle National Bank-Vernon Hills nka Bank of America. Recognized as a visionary and persuasive negotiator in successfully conceiving strategic direction and implementation of operations that have contributed substantially to corporate financial growth.

Dillon A. Redding is Of Counsel at Womble Bond Dickinson’s capital markets practice group. Redding also represents lenders and lessors in equipment finance transactions with an emphasis on transportation assets, such as aircraft, rail equipment, vessels and other assets.

Jena Morgan, CLFP has been in the equipment finance industry for more than 10 years and is currently the chief operating officer at 360 Equipment Finance. She strives to remove roadblocks from the sales cycle, enhance productivity from people and deliver a superb customer experience. Morgan’s vision for ongoing improvement, drive for execution on the deliverables and deep love for helping people get where they want to go makes her a unique leader. Morgan is a technology visionary who has been able to see the impact technology and data can have on both the customer experience and operational excellence. She is passionate about taking visions from great ideas to people and profit powerhouses. She believes the equipment finance industry can be the leader in technology deployment rather than the follower. Morgan was honored to be on the 2024 ELFA Independent Business Council Steering Committee and the 2024 ELFA Funding Conference Independent Roundtable Subcommittee. She is an avid advocate of industry organizations and continuing their strong partnerships. She is excited to volunteer in these capacities. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and their three children — two human and one animal.

Joshua Wabnik is an associate in the Womble Bond Dickinson’s Capital Markets group. His practice focuses on commercial finance transactions including equipment finance transactions.

These articles have been collaborated on by multiple members of the Monitor staff.

Rita E. Garwood is editor in chief of Monitor.

Scott Nelson is the president and chief digital officer of Tamarack Technology. He is an expert in technology strategy and development including AI and automation as well as an industry expert in equipment finance. Nelson leads the company’s efforts to expand its impact on the industry through innovation using new technologies and digital transformation strategies. In his dual role at Tamarack, Nelson is responsible for the company’s vision and strategic planning as well as business operations across professional services and Tamarack’s suite of AI products. He has more than 30 years of strategic technology development, deployment and design thinking experience working with both entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies.

Shari B. Domow Bacsardi is a partner in Womble Bond Dickinson’s capital markets practice group. Domow Bacsardi represents lenders and lessors in all aspects of equipment finance transactions with an emphasis on transportation assets, including aircraft (corporate and commercial), rail equipment, locomotives and railcars, vessels (barges and tankers) and specialty assets.