Fireside Chat Series

Greg Bourdon, COO and Co-Founder of ElmBlue Equipment Finance, joins Jesse Johnson on this week’s Fireside Chats with Jesse. Greg has spent more than 20 years in equipment finance, beginning his career at Direct Capital before continuing through the company’s transitions to CIT and First Citizens Bank. After years in sales, business development, strategy and leadership, Greg decided to take what he had learned and help build something new. In this episode, Greg and Jesse discuss the launch and rapid growth of ElmBlue Equipment Finance, what changes when you move from a large bank platform back to an independent, and how culture, technology and training are shaping the company they are building. Topics covered in this episode include: Greg’s path from medical device sales into equipment finance More than 20 years at Direct Capital, CIT and First Citizens Why Greg, Jake Broome and Paul Rennie decided to launch ElmBlue Growing ElmBlue from three founders into a rapidly scaling organization Moving from a sales background into the COO role Building the “ElmBlue Way” and creating 360-degree training across sales, credit and operations Why understanding the entire lifecycle of a transaction makes people better at their jobs The differences between banks and independent equipment finance companies The infrastructure and support banks provide versus the speed and flexibility of an independent How technology is making it easier for new small-ticket finance companies to compete and scale Building a vendor-focused business and earning trust one relationship at a time Creating a culture where employees can make decisions, take ownership and learn from mistakes Why Greg believes availability, responsiveness and doing what you say you will do still matter Greg also shares one of the more unique fun facts we have had on the show. He holds a commercial pilot’s license, lives at a small airport and, depending on the weather, occasionally flies himself to work. One theme that comes through throughout the conversation is trust. Greg talks about earning the trust of vendors, customers and employees, being available when people need you and building an organization that can move quickly without sacrificing discipline or doing things the right way. Fireside Chats with Jesse features conversations with leaders throughout the equipment finance industry discussing leadership, sales, technology, operations, entrepreneurship, relationships and the future of equipment finance. Thank you to our Fireside Chat series sponsors: Consult Disrupt, Liventus, Inc. and Equipment Finance Cares. #EquipmentFinance #EquipmentLeasing #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #CommercialFinance #ElmBlue #FiresideChatswithJesseSubscribe to Fireside Chats with Jesse on Soundwise

Brett Davis, CEO of the North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA), returns to Fireside Chats with Jesse for an update after more than a year in the role. When Brett first joined the show, he was only a few weeks into leading NAEDA. Fourteen months later, he has a much different perspective on the association, its members, and the challenges facing equipment dealers across North America. In this episode, Brett and Jesse discuss NAEDA’s growth, including a 12% increase in dealer membership, the association’s expanding relationship with service providers and financing companies, and Brett’s focus on creating measurable value for members. They also take a deeper look at the economics facing equipment dealers today, including compressed margins, higher equipment costs, agricultural headwinds, tariffs, interest rates, workforce challenges, and the need for dealers to find new sources of profitability. Topics covered in this episode include: * What Brett has learned during his first 14 months leading NAEDA * Growing dealer membership and expanding the association’s value proposition * Building stronger connections between equipment dealers and financing partners * The current state of agriculture and equipment sales * Equipment pricing, used equipment values, and changing buying cycles * Tariffs, government affairs, dealer protection laws, and Right to Repair * Why workforce development and technician recruitment remain major challenges * Dealer profitability and why parts, service, F&I, maintenance programs, and other value-added services matter * How technology and automation are changing equipment and dealership operations * Preparing traditional dealer businesses for future disruption * NAEDA’s plans to merge with another equipment dealer association and create a stronger unified voice * And yes, an update on Brett’s hot yoga journey, which has now expanded into Hot Pilates and Hot Pilates Sculpt One of the biggest themes throughout the conversation was adaptation. Brett’s message to dealers is not to panic about change, but to understand what is happening around them, improve efficiency, find new sources of value, and be prepared to evolve. Fireside Chats with Jesse features conversations with leaders throughout the equipment finance industry discussing leadership, technology, operations, sales, innovation and the future of equipment finance. Thank you to our Fireside Chat series sponsors: Consult Disrupt, Liventus, Inc. and Equipment Finance Cares. #EquipmentFinance #EquipmentDealers #Agriculture #EquipmentLeasing #Leadership #Technology #NAEDA #FiresideChatswithJesseSubscribe to Fireside Chats with Jesse on Soundwise

Shannon Smith, CEO of KLC Financial, joins Jesse Johnson on this week’s Fireside Chats with Jesse. Shannon has spent more than 18 years at KLC, joining the company when it had just eight employees and growing alongside the organization as it expanded to more than 60 team members. His career has given him experience across credit, portfolio management, syndications, bank relationships, and leadership before recently stepping into the CEO role. In this episode, Shannon and Jesse discuss his journey through the equipment finance industry, the evolution of KLC Financial, and what it means to lead the organization into its next chapter. Topics covered include: Shannon’s career path and progression at KLC Financial Growing from employee #8 to CEO KLC’s evolution following its acquisition by Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Preserving culture while continuing to grow How Shannon’s credit background influences his leadership approach The importance of people, relationships, and collaboration Balancing disciplined growth with flexibility for customers The role industry relationships and conferences have played throughout his career Leadership succession and building on the foundation created by KLC’s previous leaders Shannon’s life outside of work and his passion for watching his sons compete in baseball One theme that comes through throughout the conversation is culture. Shannon discusses the importance of creating an environment where employees are proud to work, departments collaborate, and that same philosophy extends to customers, funding partners, and vendors. The conversation also gets personal as Shannon and Jesse compare experiences as baseball dads and talk about supporting their kids through both the wins and the learning experiences. Shannon closes the conversation by explaining what differentiates KLC Financial: caring about the people behind the transaction, understanding what an equipment purchase means to their business, and helping customers reach their goals. Fireside Chats with Jesse features conversations with leaders throughout the equipment finance industry about leadership, technology, sales, operations, relationships, innovation, and the future of equipment finance. Thank you to our Fireside Chat series sponsors: Consult Disrupt, Liventus, Inc. and Equipment Finance Cares. #EquipmentFinance #EquipmentLeasing #Leadership #CommercialFinance #KLCFinancial #FiresideChatswithJesseSubscribe to Fireside Chats with Jesse on Soundwise

Eric Bunnell, Sales & Syndication Manager at Falcon Equipment Finance, returns to Fireside Chats with Jesse five years after his first appearance on the show. Eric first joined the program on episode #14. Now, nearly 300 episodes later, he is back with a new role and a new chapter in his equipment finance career. Eric has spent 25 years in banking and the last 15 focused on equipment finance. After 14 years with Arvest Bank, including leading its equipment finance division, Eric recently joined Falcon Equipment Finance, where he is leading sales and syndication across a nationwide platform serving dealers and brokers. In this episode, Eric and Jesse discuss: * Eric’s career in banking and equipment finance * His decision to make a change after 14 years at Arvest * Joining Falcon Equipment Finance and stepping into a new leadership role * Building a nationwide sales and syndication strategy * Working with dealers, brokers, and funding partners * Why strong relationships between sales, credit, and operations are critical to growth * Eric’s priorities during his first 90 days at Falcon * Building on an existing foundation while creating opportunities for future growth * Navigating a major year of professional and personal change * Relocating back to Kansas City after nine years away * The importance of relationships throughout Eric’s career * And an update on his goal of visiting all 50 states One theme that comes through clearly in the conversation is Eric’s belief that growth requires the entire organization to work together. As he begins his new role, one of his early priorities is bringing sales, credit, and operations together so everyone is aligned around the same goals. Eric also gives us an update on his goal of visiting all 50 states. Five years after we first discussed it, he is down to just three: North Dakota, Oregon, and Alaska. Fireside Chats with Jesse features conversations with leaders throughout the equipment finance industry discussing leadership, sales, technology, operations, relationships, innovation, and the future of equipment finance. Thank you to our Fireside Chat series sponsors: Consult Disrupt, Liventus, Inc. and Equipment Finance Cares. #EquipmentFinance #EquipmentLeasing #Leadership #Banking #Sales #Syndication #FalconEquipmentFinance #FiresideChatswithJesseSubscribe to Fireside Chats with Jesse on Soundwise

Marci Slagle, SVP of Originations at First Financial Equipment Finance, joins Jesse Johnson on this week’s Fireside Chats with Jesse. Marci has spent nearly three decades in equipment finance, building her career across independent finance companies, third-party originations, banking, portfolio growth, and now lessor solutions at First Financial Equipment Finance. In this episode, Marci and Jesse talk about her path into the industry, the transition from BankFinancial to First Financial, and why relationships have remained such an important part of her career. Marci also shares how First Financial is building its Lessor Solutions offering to support independent equipment finance companies with warehouse lines, paying agent services, and other financing needs as those businesses grow. Topics covered in this episode include: * Marci’s career path and how she got into equipment finance * Her experience across independent finance companies and banking * The transition from BankFinancial to First Financial Equipment Finance * Building a Lessor Solutions platform focused on independent lessors * Helping finance companies grow from smaller warehouse facilities into larger relationships * How technology has changed equipment finance over the course of Marci’s career * The importance of industry associations, networking, and long-term relationships * Why repeat business matters more than trying to maximize one transaction * Marci’s perspective on the current equipment finance market * Advice for young professionals entering the industry * Why understanding the full lifecycle of a transaction makes you better at sales and origination One theme that came through throughout the conversation was the importance of building relationships the right way. Marci talked about wanting partners to win alongside First Financial and creating relationships that continue transaction after transaction. Fireside Chats with Jesse features conversations with leaders throughout the equipment finance industry discussing leadership, technology, operations, sales, innovation and the future of equipment finance. Thank you to our Fireside Chat series sponsors: **Consult Disrupt, Liventus, Inc. and Equipment Finance Cares.** #EquipmentFinance #EquipmentLeasing #Leadership #CommercialFinance #Banking #Originations #FiresideChatswithJesseSubscribe to Fireside Chats with Jesse on Soundwise