array(1) { [0]=> array(4) { ["photo"]=> int(78455) ["name"]=> string(12) "Eric Freeman" ["title"]=> string(38) "President and Chief Investment Officer" ["company"]=> string(26) "Liberty Commercial Finance" } } article

Eric Freeman launched Liberty Commercial Finance in April 2017, and in less than three years the independent finance company was on the receiving end of a minority investment from Copley Equity Partners. Charting the No. 1 new business volume of the 101+ group in 2019, Liberty has established a solid trajectory for growth in the years to come. ... read more

Sept/Oct 2020

array(1) { [0]=> array(4) { ["photo"]=> int(78407) ["name"]=> string(13) "Joel Mikolich" ["title"]=> string(9) "President" ["company"]=> string(14) "Falcon Leasing" } } article

Falcon Leasing’s rewarding company culture and employee satisfaction have nurtured tremendous growth through its responsive, personalized customer service, teamwork and a multichannel origination strategy.... read more

Sept/Oct 2020

array(1) { [0]=> array(4) { ["photo"]=> int(78343) ["name"]=> string(13) "G. Paul Fogle" ["title"]=> string(17) "Managing Director" ["company"]=> string(15) "Quality Leasing" } } article

Paul Fogle utilized his background in commercial lending to bring Quality Leasing into the national marketplace and increase the company portfolio from $20 million to $160 million in eight years. ... read more

Sept/Oct 2020

array(1) { [0]=> array(4) { ["photo"]=> int(78275) ["name"]=> string(12) "David C. Lee" ["title"]=> string(14) "Chairman & CEO" ["company"]=> string(28) "North Mill Equipment Finance" } } article

Since assuming the role of CEO in 2018, David Lee and his management team have drastically shifted the originations at North Mill Equipment Finance (NMEF) from $2 million to $3 million per month to $15 million per month in funded volume. ... read more

Sept/Oct 2020

array(1) { [0]=> array(4) { ["photo"]=> int(78161) ["name"]=> string(13) "Scott McClain" ["title"]=> string(23) "EVP & Managing Director" ["company"]=> string(30) "IBERIA Corporate Asset Finance" } } article

After a fortuitous stumble into equipment finance, Scott McClain built a rewarding career through industry exploration and relationship development. McClain’s passion for smart growth has earned IBERIA a spot on the Monitor 100 and a recently closed merger with First Horizon Bank.... read more

Monitor 100 2020

array(1) { [0]=> array(4) { ["photo"]=> int(78063) ["name"]=> string(18) "Robert R. Cobleigh" ["title"]=> string(9) "President" ["company"]=> string(15) "Peapack Capital" } } article

Robert Cobleigh leads Peapack Capital with a focus on coaching people to bring out their best. His passion for playing to individual strengths is a driving force behind the company’s growth and placement in the Monitor 100. ... read more

Monitor 100 2020

array(1) { [0]=> array(4) { ["photo"]=> int(77949) ["name"]=> string(11) "Mary Smith " ["title"]=> string(13) "President/CEO" ["company"]=> string(16) "Highland Capital" } } article

For 18 years, Mary Smith has challenged the Highland Capital team to reach new heights. Her passion to mentor, educate and innovate has yielded significant company growth and a spot in the Monitor 100.... read more

Monitor 100 2020

array(1) { [0]=> array(4) { ["photo"]=> int(77779) ["name"]=> string(22) "Kenneth L. Walters, Jr" ["title"]=> string(12) "Group Leader" ["company"]=> string(32) "Investors Bank Equipment Finance" } } article

Ken Walters put a five-year plan together when Investors Bank acquired his team and its portfolio from EverBank in 2018. In two years, his team has exceeded those initial goals and earned a spot in the Monitor 100. ... read more

Monitor 100 2020

array(1) { [0]=> array(4) { ["photo"]=> int(77729) ["name"]=> string(19) "Samuel H. Smith III" ["title"]=> string(9) "President" ["company"]=> string(28) "Customers Commercial Finance" } } article

With over three decades of industry experience and a life-long appreciation for equipment, Sam Smith and the Customers Commercial Finance team have combined true relationship lending with vertical industry expertise to increase growth and rank in the Monitor 100.... read more

Monitor 100 2020

array(1) { [0]=> array(4) { ["photo"]=> int(77726) ["name"]=> string(14) "Marcio Pedroso" ["title"]=> string(9) "President" ["company"]=> string(24) "Volvo Financial Services" } } article

Shortly after taking the helm of the Volvo Group’s global captive finance company, Marcio Pedroso faced the onset of a global pandemic, with markets and society in lockdown, and finance volumes coming to a halt. His plans for the future would need an edit. ... read more

Monitor 100 2020

array(1) { [0]=> array(4) { ["photo"]=> int(72983) ["name"]=> string(10) "Dale Kluga" ["title"]=> string(9) "President" ["company"]=> string(28) "Providence Equipment FInance" } } article

There has been a flurry of M&A activity recently as large banks and captives have snapped up successful independents. Dale Kluga, President, Providence Equipment Finance, (formerly of Cobra Capital) looks at his own journey from independent to bank-owned and asks other executives from independents and former independents about their own evolutionary experience.... read more

October 2019

string(1) "1" article

As part of the expanded Monitor 100 this year, Monitor profiled five executives representing a vast range of companies on the list, each offering their own unique perspective on the industry and the growth of the business.... read more

June 2019

array(1) { [0]=> array(4) { ["photo"]=> int(72606) ["name"]=> string(13) "Nadine Bonner" ["title"]=> string(13) "Senior Editor" ["company"]=> string(7) "Monitor" } } article

As part of the expanded Monitor 100 this year, Monitor profiled five executives representing a vast range of companies on the list, each offering their own unique perspective on the industry and the growth of the business.... read more

June 2019

string(1) "1" article

Whether it’s a car, a bike or a binge-worthy series, consumers have moved more and more toward pay-per-use items in their everyday lives, and businesses have subsequently followed their lead. With more clients than ever looking for usage-based financing, DLL has decided to launch a division dedicated solely to producing usage-based financing products with Steve Riggs at its helm.... read more

May 2019

string(1) "5" article

Many of our Top Independents this year are returning champions in the business, but that doesn’t mean any of them plan on resting on their laurels any time soon. New technology, new industry startups and the possibility of slowing growth mean all five of our best performing independents have had a busy 2018, along with plenty of plans for 2019 and beyond.... read more

March/April 2019