Paul J. Menzel is a vice chairman of The Alta Group. He has deep knowledge of the independent and bank small-ticket leasing sectors and is a proponent of life-long learning and leadership development. Menzel spent decades managing small-ticket leasing portfolio operations in Santa Barbara, CA, starting his career in 1975 with Puritan Leasing Company. He led this entity through three subsequent acquisitions. Last year, Menzel retired from his position as CEO of Financial Pacific Leasing, an Umpqua Bank company, after successfully implementing a succession plan. He is a past ELFA board member and chaired the association’s code of fair business practices and small-ticket business council committees.