As the large-ticket credit manager at Oakmont Capital Services, Clay Fischer oversees ground level operations and manages larger-ticket, storied and structured transactions.
Fischer strives to be a “lead-by-example” manager, a methodology he has seen translate into success for both his company and his team. He believes in a powerful yet positive approach to leadership, holding himself to a high standard and setting aspirational goals. Fischer also understands that recognizing and addressing his own shortcomings is critical for continuous improvement. By modeling this behavior, he encourages his team to reach for, meet and exceed their potential.
Fischer is inspired by the veteran leaders at Oakmont who have been in the industry for decades. He acknowledges that the company’s success lies with these individuals. “If I were ‘drafting’ an equipment finance team, I’d pick every single person who works at Oakmont,” Fischer says.
One reason Fischer loves the equipment finance industry is its willingness to invest in efficiencies, processes and tools that deliver the best loan products at the best cost to customers. He sees great opportunities across all lending areas due to technology, which aids in data analysis, risk mitigation and enhancing the customer experience from application to loan closure.
Fischer identifies recent economic turbulence as a short-term challenge for the industry, while long term concerns focus on legislation impacting the business. He believes legislators need to understand the industry before making changes and views organizations like the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, the National Equipment Finance Association and the Certified Lease & Finance Professional Foundation as crucial in bridging this gap.
If Fischer could change one thing about the industry, it would be the stigma surrounding equipment finance. Often, he says, the industry receives a bad reputation based on structures, rates or approval standards. From Fischer’s perspective, the industry provides the lifeblood that stimulates the economy.
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