Sandy Kline has built a remarkable career defined by leadership, mentorship and adaptability. As Senior Vice President of Credit at Verdant Commercial Capital, she combines deep industry expertise with a genuine passion for helping others succeed. Her career, spanning decades in equipment finance, demonstrates how curiosity and collaboration create lasting impact.
Kline began her journey in the consumer loan department at Harris Bank before entering the equipment leasing space with GE Capital. From the start, she approached each role with a learner’s mindset and a willingness to explore new challenges. Whether navigating documentation, credit or program management, she consistently sought out opportunities to expand her understanding of the business. This drive for growth prepared her to take on complex responsibilities across both bank-owned and independent leasing companies.
Her versatility and openness to change have been key to her success. Kline has taken lead roles in portfolio and company acquisitions, often bridging knowledge across departments to ensure seamless transitions. She has built her career on the belief that adaptability is essential for longevity in equipment finance. “The more knowledge you can gain from other departments, markets and products, the more you can easily adapt to changes,” she says. “And there will always be changes.”
At Verdant, Kline supports the Energy, Technology and Industrial verticals. She reviews and underwrites intricate transactions while applying decades of experience to assess risk and structure solutions. Her strategic insight and practical approach have been vital in developing procedures and risk acceptance criteria for new vendor programs. She is known for promoting collaboration, encouraging critical thinking and fostering an environment where curiosity drives innovation.
“Sandy is the kind of leader everyone wants on their team,” says Chris Kelley, Verdant’s Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer. “Her deep knowledge of the business is matched by her generosity in sharing it. She instinctively creates a culture where questions are welcomed and people feel supported.”
Kline’s leadership style is rooted in empathy. She understands the challenges that come with being new to a role or an organization and goes out of her way to offer support and guidance. “It’s not a fun feeling when you’re a newcomer,” she says. “If you can help that person build their knowledge and experience, it helps them, the company and the industry.”
Her influence extends beyond the office. Outside of work, Kline devotes time to training her Karelian Bear Dog, a rare Finnish breed, and is exploring opportunities in service dog therapy. Her natural patience and care mirror the same qualities that define her leadership in the workplace.
For Kline, leadership is not about authority — it’s about sharing knowledge, empowering others and lifting the industry through collaboration and compassion. Her career reflects the belief that the most significant measure of success lies in others’ success.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with incredible mentors throughout my career. As they have supported me, I strive to support people starting out or learning new positions. Knowledge sharing is essential for everyone’s growth, success and longevity. Always pay it forward.”
– Sandy Kline
