Scott Weissmann, head of equipment finance sales at M&T Bank, will deliver the keynote address at STRIPES Leadership Program’s graduation on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Philadelphia. The event will celebrate the accomplishments of 20 equipment finance leaders.
Weissmann has served in the industry for 25 years, starting his career in agricultural equipment finance with Telmark Leasing. He joined M&T Bank in 2007 and has held positions in sales, sales management and relationship lending, most recently serving for three years as line of business manager for M&T Commercial Equipment Finance. In his current role as head of equipment finance sales, Weissmann represents 150 salespeople and a $7.5 billion portfolio spanning small-, mid- and large-ticket direct financing, vendor programs and capital markets.
“Scott brings a wealth of industry experience and a valuable perspective on what it takes to lead people and drive meaningful growth,” Lisa Rafter, CEO and founder of STRIPES, said. “Throughout STRIPES, we challenge participants to recognize their blind spots, expand what they believe is possible and take bold action as leaders. We’re excited to welcome Scott as our keynote speaker as we celebrate this cohort’s growth and look ahead to the impact they will make within their organizations and across the industry.”
Weissmann joins a distinguished group of industry leaders who have delivered keynotes at STRIPES Certification Ceremonies, including Dominic Janney, president of Canon Financial Services; Nancy Robles, president and CEO of Eastern Funding; Gina Rigsby, head of commercial operations at DLL; René Paradis, president and COO of Auxilior Capital Partners; Bill Stephenson, global CEO of PEAC Solutions; Steve Grosso, CEO and vice chairman of Auxilior Capital Partners; Miles Herman, president and chief operating officer of LEAF Commercial Capital; and Marc Paulhus, former president of Citizens Asset Finance and Citizens Bank Rhode Island.
The graduation will bring together graduates, their managers and key stakeholders, alongside Rafter, STRIPES’ leadership team and business workshop leaders Denis Stypulkoski and Ellen Comeaux. Following the keynote, each graduate will be recognized for fulfilling the program’s requirements and formally certified as a STRIPES leader.
