The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) has named Tony Golobic and Bruce Kropschot to the 2024 Class of the Equipment Finance Hall of Fame. ELFA Board Chair Rob Boyer made the announcement at the general session of the 63rd ELFA Annual Convention in Austin, Texas. The official induction ceremony took place on Oct. 26 at the chair dinner preceding the ELFA Annual Convention.
Tony Golobic, executive chairman of GreatAmerica Financial Services, epitomizes the equipment finance industry’s entrepreneurial spirit. Over the past 32 years, Golobic built GreatAmerica, an independent, family-owned national commercial equipment finance company, from a team of two to over 780 employees, with annual volume exceeding $1.5 billion and a strong balance sheet with assets of over $3.25 billion. Notably, he achieved the company’s growth almost exclusively through organic expansion rather than acquisitions. Golobic’s leadership is exemplified by a phrase he trademarked, “Customers for Life,” which underscores GreatAmerica’s dedication to customer loyalty, a principle he deeply believes in and practices.
With over 50 years of experience in equipment financing, Golobic has held key leadership positions, including GM of GE Capital Office Technology Financial Services, president and CEO of LeaseAmerica and senior vice president of Mellon Financial Services. Golobic has been an active member of ELFA, serving on its board of directors and committees. He served on the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation board of trustees and contributed to its Industry Future Council. Over time, he has earned numerous awards and participated on many boards.
Golobic earned a BSBA in Accounting from Roosevelt University followed by an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He also earned a Certified Public Accountant certification. Golobic advocates for philanthropy and has been generous with both time and money. GreatAmerica, over its history, has contributed over $9 million to support area non-profits. Golobic is a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam.
Bruce Kropschot, senior managing director of The Alta Group, has been a pivotal figure in the equipment finance industry for over 50 years. As the industry’s leading merger and acquisition advisor, he has facilitated approximately 200 transactions. In addition to orchestrating the sale of many equipment financing companies, he has arranged debt and equity capital placements and performed business valuations for over 100 equipment financing businesses. In 1986, he founded Kropschot Financial Services to provide M&A advisory services to equipment finance companies. The firm became part of The Alta Group in 2008.
Kropschot’s previous experience includes serving as corporate controller of The Magnavox Company and audit manager for Price Waterhouse. Early in his career, Kropschot was instrumental in the growth of Master Lease, which later evolved into Tokai Financial Services and eventually DLL. An active contributor to ELFA, Kropschot has served on the association’s Board of Directors and several committees, delivered numerous presentations to guide members through the complexities of the M&A process and authored industry articles and studies. In addition, he has served on the board of trustees for the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation.
He holds a bachelor of business administration and a master of business administration with honors from the University of Michigan. He has long been involved with committees of the University’s Ross School of Business Administration. He is a Certified Public Accountant (license inactive).
