At the start of her career, Sondra Rowland made it a priority to build strong, effective relationships, which helped her quickly develop into a leader and an expert in equipment finance. This foundation led to an opportunity to help launch an equipment finance business for a regional New York City-based bank. Prior to that, she worked as a transaction coordinator for CIT Group, where she gained valuable experience in operations and documentation, providing her with a well-rounded understanding of the equipment finance business.

Equipped with this knowledge, Rowland embraced the start-up nature of the new venture, learning all aspects of the business and eventually rising to the role of chief credit officer. Early mentorship played a key role in shaping her work ethic, skills and deep industry knowledge — traits that have been essential in building the business she helps manage today at Apple Bank.

The portfolio and team Rowland helps to manage today started from scratch in 2014 at EverBank. Rowland’s knowledge of all aspects of the equipment finance business was instrumental in helping the business grow to its current portfolio of more than $1 billion.

In her current role, Rowland combines exceptional insight, responsibility and strategic vision. She has proven herself to be a dynamic leader who excels at evaluating complex deals, structuring innovative solutions and maintaining a high standard of credit risk management. One of her greatest strengths as a chief credit officer is her desire to find a way to say “yes” to a transaction and identify creative ways to assist a client while structuring transactions to protect the bank. Rowland is known not only for her expertise and leadership, but for her unwavering commitment to excellence and passion for creating value for her organization and the broader industry.

“One thing that sets Sondra apart is her desire to help our customers,” Ken Walters, managing director and group head at Apple Bank Equipment Finance, says. “We had customers who were significantly impacted by the pandemic. Sondra’s desire to assist them, coupled with her structuring capabilities, allowed us to provide needed financing. Our ability to deliver during this challenging time created lasting loyalty from these customers.”

Rowland is not just a key decision-maker for Apple Bank; she is a mentor, collaborator and forward thinker. She understands that success in the equipment finance industry requires cultivating strong relationships, fostering trust and empowering her team to perform at their best.

While relatively new to Apple Bank, having joined in May 2022, the current team is a family that has worked together for more than 10 years. Together, they have built a reputation for strong ethical values and deep industry knowledge that has allowed them to build a high-performing portfolio with a lean, but highly efficient, team.

Rowland understands that her legacy isn’t just defined by the titles she’s held or the deals she’s closed, but by the way she has inspired others, led by example and fostered meaningful relationships along the way. She is passionate about motivating others to strive for excellence and be their best, all while maintaining strong values throughout the journey. •