Brianna Wilson,
Managing Editor,
Monitor

As I write this letter, the Monitor team is just a few weeks away from seeing many of you in Austin and Indianapolis — let’s hope the weather treats us well.

The focus of this Fall Conference issue is Monitor’s annual Icon awards. We’re celebrating the best of the best, from those who paved the way to where the industry stands today, to those who are actively building the industry’s future, as well as the leaders who meet at the intersection of yesterday and tomorrow. We doubled the number of Icons this year, celebrating two leaders in each of the five categories: Veteran, Pioneer, Current Leader, Innovator and NextGen.

We also honor Monitor’s first-ever Veteran Icon, Richard J. Doherty, whose untimely passing in August this year sent a shockwave through the industry. Those who knew Doherty describe him as one of the kindest, hard-working people equipment finance has ever seen; his dedication to being a fantastic mentor and infectious passion for golf will be missed by all who were privileged to know him.

New this year, Monitor is introducing another annual ranking: volume by equipment type leaders in our top five asset classes: trucks and trailers, construction, IT and related technology services,
industrial and manufacturing, and agriculture. The rankings include the top 25 companies by asset class-related volume in 2023. We also provide a brief market update for each equipment type with
leaders’ insights on trends and future outlooks.

Two articles in this issue contribute to industry-wide conversations about technology: Patricio Pazmiño discusses how effective use of AI and data can redefine credit underwriting, and Matthew Hinkley explores how three technologies can — and likely will — drive a new wave of innovation in equipment finance.

Taking a quick tour to Australia, Keith Rodwell shares how the country has a few lessons to teach the U.S. about the growing opportunities and risks of climate-related financing.

This year, Solifi is celebrating 50 years, and Monitor sat down with Katie Emmel to discuss the company’s growth with the industry and major shifts in technology over the years.

In Tipping the Scales, Ken Weinberg outlines the highlights, impact and nuances of the 2022 Amendments to Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

In Capital Markets Corner, Scott Kiley explains why the likelihood of success in sales is directly related to possession and use of strong credit skills.

In The Tomorrow Zone, Deborah Reuben, with insights from Jen Croneberger, discusses how leading with emotional intelligence combats fear when understanding and implementing AI tools.

The Monitor team is hard at work on our year-end issue, in which we will celebrate two annual 50s rankings — the top women and top banks in equipment finance. In the interim, on behalf of the Monitor team, we hope you enjoy the conference season and look forward to seeing you in Austin, Indianapolis and elsewhere!