Equipment Finance Cares will host a regional event in Minnesota on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Channel headquarters office in Minnetonka, MN.
“Equipment Finance Cares is built around honest conversations about the people and decisions behind our industry,” Jesse Johnson, founder of Equipment Finance Cares, said. “This group brings different backgrounds, real perspectives and no canned answers. Pairing the panel with Deborah Reuben’s perspective on leading change will give attendees practical ideas to take back to their organizations.”
The event will feature “The Human Side of Equipment Finance” panel, moderated by Cory Krogen, CLFP, head of sales for Channel. Panelists include Allyson Gale, vice president of federal affairs at the Equipment Leasing & Finance Association (ELFA); Sean Svoboda of CoBank’s Farm Credit Leasing; Shannon Smith, CEO of KLC Financial; and Mikki Henkelman, CLFP, senior vice president of credit and risk at Oakmont Capital Services. The conversation will cover leadership succession, balancing growth with sound credit judgment, federal policy, talent development and what it means to hold onto culture and human decision-making as technology continues to reshape the industry.
Featured speaker Deborah Reuben, CLFP, founder and CEO of TomorrowZone, will draw from her new book, Enter the TomorrowZone: How to Inspire Breakthrough Innovation and Shape Your Future. Reuben will share a practical framework for building clarity and alignment ahead of major technology or transformation decisions, and for being intentional about what an organization becomes on the other side of them.
“At Channel, giving back is not separate from how we do business, it’s part of it,” Ryan Schlenner, managing director at Channel, said. “Events like EF Cares give us the chance to bring our industry together around something that matters beyond the day to day, and that is something we are proud to support.”
Kristi Schon, chief marketing officer at Channel, added, “Being part of the EF Cares advisory board has shown me firsthand what happens when this industry comes together for something beyond the deal. It realizes the feeling that this is a true community and shifts how you see the people you work alongside every day.”
The event will close with open networking time for attendees to carry the day’s conversations forward, connect with peers and share insights that continue building relationships across the equipment finance community.
