Carol Schafer joined Wintrust Specialty Finance, a division of Beverly Bank & Trust Company, a Wintrust Community Bank, as vice president of business development – technology. Schafer will be located in the Cincinnati area and will be focused on expanding Wintrust Specialty Finance’s overall technology vendor lending business across the U.S. She is joining a sales team led by Doug Nielsen, chief sales officer of Wintrust Specialty Finance.

“I am thrilled and honored to be joining the growing WSF team,” Schafer said. “I am looking forward to contributing my skills, experience and relationship breadth to the best-in-class vendor technology solutions offered by WSF. WFS’s client-centric approach to adding value to their existing and new vendor and financial services clients is a business platform that I am proud to bring into my business development efforts.”

“I am so excited to have Carol join the dynamic WSF team,” Nielsen said. “Carol spent the past 18 years with Key Equipment Finance and brings a wealth of knowledge, skill and a consultative approach that aligns well with our philosophy of providing custom funding solutions uniquely designed for our partners. Carol will work with OEMs, vendor captives and select nationwide wholesalers to assist them in selling more through financing.”

Schafer has more than 34 years of experience. Before joining Wintrust Specialty Finance, Schafer held equipment lending roles at Key Equipment Finance, Key Government Finance, Siemens Financial Services, JPMorgan Chase and Dresdner Kleinwort Benson.