Fireside Chat Series

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🔥 Fireside Chat with Carrie Radloff — CEO of Synergy Financial Resources In this episode, I sit down with Carrie Radloff, a respected leader and long-time industry force whose path from Manifest to founding Synergy Financial Resources is one of grit, heart, and relentless service to customers and vendors alike. Carrie opens up about: How she accidentally found her way into equipment finance Her t...

⚡ How Legal Insight Drives Big Wins in Equipment Finance | Fireside Chat w/ Josh Hasko When deals get complicated, the right legal partner can be the difference between growth and risk. In this episode of Fireside Chats with Jesse, I sit down with Josh Hasko, President at Messerli & Kramer, to unpack how smart legal strategy empowers lenders, brokers, and finance professionals to protect — and sc...

🚀 Growth, Leadership & Lessons From the Finance Front Lines | Fireside Chat w/ Kareem Jernigan From one of the earliest Fireside Chat guests to now leading financial strategy at LAI Fleet, Kareem Jernigan returns to talk about what’s changed — and what’s stayed true — in the world of equipment finance, leadership, and growth. In this episode, Kareem and Jesse unpack the evolution of the industry,...

Title: Fireside Chat with Steve Siler, CTO of North Mill Equipment Finance — Technology, Leadership, and Innovation in Action In this week’s Fireside Chat with Jesse, we sit down with Steve Siler, Chief Technology Officer at North Mill Equipment Finance, to explore how technology is transforming the equipment finance industry. Steve shares his insights on building scalable tech solutions, leading...

After a long week at the ELFA Annual Convention, I sat down with Michelle Julia, founder of Orium, to talk about something we don’t discuss enough — what it really takes to pivot, take risks, and build something new. Michelle’s journey is incredible. She’s a Stanford-trained AI engineer who helped build products millions of people use every day — from AirPods to Find My — and became one of Apple’s...

Fireside Chats with Jesse | Stephanie Taylor – Founder & President, Broadfit Financial In this episode of Fireside Chats with Jesse, I sit down with Stephanie Taylor, Founder and President of Broadfit Financial. With a deep background in equipment finance and a passion for people-first leadership, Stephanie shares her journey to entrepreneurship and how she built a business grounded in authenticit...

In this week’s Fireside Chat with Jesse, I sit down with Jay Lease, Chief Banking Officer at Choice Bank Equipment Finance. With two decades of banking experience and a leadership role in building Choice Bank’s equipment finance business, Jay shares his journey and the lessons he’s learned along the way. We cover: Jay’s career path through commercial banking and into equipment finance How Choice B...

In this week’s Fireside Chat, Jesse Johnson sits down with Dennis Dressler, Partner at Dressler & Peters, to discuss the intersection of law and equipment finance — and how decades of legal experience have shaped his understanding of risk, compliance, and client partnership. Dennis shares stories from his long career in the industry, offering a lawyer’s perspective on what makes successful transac...

In this Fireside Chat, Jesse Johnson sits down with Amanda Zeken, President of TG Titles, to discuss the evolving world of title management in equipment finance and how TG Titles is helping lenders and brokers simplify the process from start to finish. Amanda shares her insights on what makes title operations run smoothly — from reducing processing time and preventing costly errors to providing th...

For our 250th episode of Fireside Chats with Jesse, I’m joined by Cary Jack, entrepreneur, author, and founder of The Happy Hustle. Cary shares his journey from burning out as a tech entrepreneur to creating a life and business built on balance, purpose, and fulfillment. We talk about: Cary’s background in tech and what led to burnout despite external “success” How he discovered the principles beh...

This week on Fireside Chats with Jesse, I sit down with Deepika Shahani, Founder & Chief Sales Officer, and Paul Manley, Chief Technology Officer at DealHub360. Together, they share the story behind launching their platform, the experiences that shaped their careers, and how they are bringing new technology solutions to the equipment finance and payments space. We discuss: Deepika’s career journey...

This week on Fireside Chats with Jesse, I’m joined by Joe Andries, Vice President and General Manager of GreatAmerica Portfolio Services Group. With 37 years in the equipment finance industry, Joe has built an impressive career spanning credit, operations, and third-party servicing. We cover: Joe’s start at Lion Financial Services in 1988 and his progression into leadership roles The transition fr...

In this week’s Fireside Chat with Jesse, I sit down with Moto Tohda, Vice President of Information Systems at Tokyo Century (USA). With over 18 years at the company, Moto has played a key role in shaping technology initiatives that drive business growth and operational efficiency. We talk about: His journey into equipment finance and long tenure at Tokyo Century The evolving role of IT leadership...

Fireside Chat with Allen Snelling | President of Financial Pacific Leasing In this episode of Fireside Chats with Jesse, I’m joined by Allen Snelling, newly appointed President of Financial Pacific Leasing (FinPac). After years of industry experience and leadership within FinPac, Allen steps into this new role with energy, humility, and a clear vision for the future. We discuss: Allen’s path to th...

Fireside Chat with Mike Mroszak | VP of Sales at Dedicated Financial GBC In this episode of Fireside Chats with Jesse, I’m joined by Mike Mroszak, Vice President of Sales at Dedicated Financial GBC. A familiar face in the industry and a true “travel warrior,” Mike brings both energy and insight into the sales side of equipment finance—and the road life that comes with it. We dive into: Mike’s back...

Fireside Chat with Steve Taplin | Chief Product Officer at Lendscape In this episode of Fireside Chats with Jesse, I connect with Steve Taplin, Chief Product Officer at Lendscape, to explore his decades-long career in equipment finance and the evolving role of product strategy in financial technology. Steve shares: His journey in the industry—from his start in 1997 to leading global product at Len...

Fireside Chat with Daryl Muller | COO & Corporate Secretary of ELFA In this episode of Fireside Chats with Jesse, I’m joined by Daryl Muller, Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA). We explore Daryl’s journey into the equipment finance space, his evolving leadership role at ELFA, and the organization’s priorities for the rest of 2025...

In this week’s episode of Fireside Chats with Jesse, I sit down with Brett Davis, CEO of the North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA). Brett brings a wealth of experience, from practicing law to nearly three decades in equipment finance leadership at CNH Industrial. We talk about his global career journey—including time spent in Brazil, Argentina, and Europe—how he transitioned from le...

In this week’s Fireside Chat, Jesse Johnson sits down with Miguel Fernandez, Co-Founder and CEO of Capchase. Miguel shares his journey from management consulting to leading one of the most innovative fintech platforms in the equipment and SaaS financing space. They dive into the founding story of Capchase, its evolution from serving SaaS providers to broader equipment financing, and how they’ve ta...

This week on Fireside Chats with Jesse, I sit down with Michael Kianmahd, CEO of Maxim Commercial Capital. We explore Michael’s unique path from J.P. Morgan to the world of equipment finance, and how joining a family business transformed his career. Michael shares his perspective on supporting non-prime borrowers, building trust-based partnerships, and growing Maxim into a meaningful force in the...

Fireside Chat with Bob Cohen | Partner at Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP In this episode of Fireside Chats with Jesse, I’m joined by Bob Cohen, Partner at Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP, for a conversation that highlights the human side of legal practice in the equipment finance industry—and the value of consistency, credibility, and good humor. Bob shares: His journey from early legal work to becoming a re...

Fireside Chat with Aaron Massie | General Counsel at Beacon Funding In this episode of Fireside Chats with Jesse, I’m joined by Aaron Massie, General Counsel at Beacon Funding, for a conversation that explores the unique legal and operational dynamics of the equipment finance industry from the perspective of in-house counsel. Aaron shares: His journey from government and private legal practice to...

Fireside Chat with Ken Walters | Managing Director at Apple Bank Equipment Finance In this episode of Fireside Chats with Jesse, I’m joined by Ken Walters, Managing Director and Group Head of Apple Bank Equipment Finance, for a conversation that spans four decades of leadership, experience, and transformation in the equipment finance industry. Ken reflects on: His 40-year journey through banking a...

In this episode of Fireside Chats with Jesse, I sit down with Patrick Rohn, Regional Sales Manager for the Healthcare Team at Peak Solutions, to explore his journey in equipment finance, his sales philosophy, and how he's leveraged content creation to build his professional brand. Patrick brings an energetic and candid perspective to the conversation as we cover: His start in the industry through...