Encina Equipment Finance (EEF) added three new executives to further strengthen its operations and risk functions.

Jaime Soter joined EEF as VP of operations and is primarily focused on operational activities including documentation, booking and servicing. Soter joined EEF from People’s Capital and Leasing, where she spent five years as part of the in-house legal department responsible for managing documentation for the commercial equipment financing arm of People’s United Bank. She has experience with legal documentation, perfection of security interests, operational policies, procedures and processes and corporate governance. Prior to joining People’s Capital, Soter worked for 10 years at Webster Capital Finance in various capacities in contracts administration and operations.

Kate Kallmeyer joined EEF as VP of risk and is primarily focused on underwriting activities with a portion of time going to supporting and managing existing portfolio assets as well. She joined EEF from Nations Equipment Finance (NEF), a non-bank equipment finance company where she worked on both lease and loan transactions ranging from $1 million to $20 million. Kallmeyer joined NEF in 2011 and held various roles of increasingly responsibility in both underwriting and portfolio management.

Matt Shikarides joined EEF as assistant VP of risk and is primarily focused on portfolio management activities, with a portion of time also going to supporting underwriting and related activities. He joined EEF from Global Jet Capital, where, since April 2017, he worked as a portfolio analyst on secured business aircraft transactions ranging from $5 million to $75 million. Prior to Global Jet, Shikarides worked at NEF from June 2013 to March 2017 as a credit risk analyst, supporting both underwriting and portfolio activities.

Soter, Kallmeyer and Shikarides will each be based at EEF’s headquarters in Westport, CT.

“I am delighted to welcome Jaime, Kate and Matt to the EEF team,” Rick Matte, president and CCO of EEF, said. “Each of them has an excellent record of accomplishments and brings relevant expertise that will enhance EEF’s underwriting, operations and portfolio monitoring capabilities as we look to further grow the portfolio.”