Rita E. Garwood,
Editor-in-Chief,
Monitor

Welcome to the May/June Issue of Monitor — our Annual NextGen Edition — where we highlight the rising leaders shaping the future of equipment finance and examine the rapid evolution of vendor finance in 2025.

This year, the call for next-generation leadership is louder than ever. Our cover story, “What the Next Generation Wants,” surfaces candid insights from emerging professionals about the obstacles they face — outdated technology, talent drain and a need for more purpose-driven leadership — and how they’re working to transform the industry from within. These aren’t just ideas; they’re action plans. In our sixth annual NextGen profiles, we learn more about rising professionals 40 and under who are driving measurable change in operations, innovation and culture. They’re not waiting for permission. They’re leading now.

We’re also proud to present our 2025 Vendor Top 40, the annual ranking that tracks the shifting terrain of vendor finance. This year’s list tells a compelling story: Wells Fargo Equipment Finance reclaims the No. 1 position, but the most eye-catching movement comes from the edges. Auxilior Capital and PEAC Solutions posted triple-digit growth, signaling how agility, specialization and smarter digital execution are enabling newer players to disrupt long-standing hierarchies. In an environment where speed, certainty and value-added service are non-negotiable, this list serves as both a benchmark and a barometer of where vendor finance is heading.

In our annual Vendor Finance Roundtable, we spoke to top executives navigating this change in real time. Their message: survival isn’t enough. To thrive, vendor finance organizations must move faster, mitigate risk more creatively and align more deeply with vendor partners’ needs — all while staying responsive to customer behavior that’s increasingly shaped by the pace and transparency of the B2C world.

You’ll also find insight throughout this issue on some of the most critical topics facing our sector. Gary LoMonaco breaks down the new credit risk landscape in an AI-driven world. Robert Preville explains how embedded finance is forcing lenders to compete on new terms. And in the debut of The Collector Chronicles, Ty Schwamberger makes the case for a more strategic, empathetic approach to collections.

Finally, don’t miss By the Numbers, our infographic snapshot of this issue’s key themes and market movements — a quick way to absorb key data points presented in this issue.

Whether you’re building the next phase of your career or guiding others to theirs, this issue is meant to inform, challenge and inspire. The future of equipment finance belongs to those who understand where the market is going — and have the courage to move ahead of it.