Always a leader, Hollis Bufferd founded Star Hill Financial in 2016 to provide advisory services and equipment financing. Since then, the Fairfield, CT-based business has grown organically from established relationships by focusing on going to market as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) organization. As CEO, her goal is to always meet and exceed clients’ needs and expectations while helping them achieve diversity spend requirements.

In 2020, Bufferd began expanding the company by adding Keith Smith as president, as they both saw an opportunity to enter the franchise finance sector.

“Jumping into the franchise space was a natural avenue to pursue with the addition of Keith Smith. Combined, we have over 40 years of experience and with Keith’s proven past success for managing both equipment and franchise portfolios, we were confident that we could continue to grow and support equipment financing as well as bring in other product lines,” Bufferd says.

Bufferd believes in a hands-on approach to delivering tailored products to assist clients by offering customized solutions through professional relationships based upon uncompromising integrity, trust and personalized service. As the CEO of a WBE, supporting women in the industry comes natural to Bufferd.

“It’s fantastic to be on a team that was ahead of the diversity and inclusion trend,” Zerka Gul, vice president of operations at Star Hill Financial, says. “I took time off during the pandemic and when I was ready to rejoin the workforce, one of the things that most attracted me to Star Hill is their commitment to the WBE community.”

Bufferd stresses the importance of getting involved and being active in the industry, as she is a member of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, serving on the association’s Independent Business Council Steering Committee as the council’s liaison to LeasePac, and recently joined the National Equipment Finance Association.

Prior to founding and leading Star Hill, Hollis served as the chief administrative officer of GSG Financial for 11 years, where she was part of the firm’s leadership team and instrumental in building its culture and processes before it was sold to the OnPoint Group in 2016.

“Hollis is an awesome example of a strong woman and leader in the finance industry as a business owner and friend. Hollis is diligent at communicating expectations, hopes and goals, and she rocks at holding those around her accountable for doing what they say they will do and helps them create the map to achieve their goals,” Jaimie Haver of Happy Manufacturing says. “Hollis finds the best little nuggets in people, and she inspires them to be their best where they are at that moment. If you want to observe an unstoppable woman, get to know Hollis; she makes me want to be better and I am grateful to call her a mentor and friend.”