TSL Feature Articles

Click on the link below to meet some of the “difference makers” in the secured finance community. This issue of The Secured Lender celebrates those who are having a profound impact on both their communities and their organizations. 

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Previous TSL Articles

  • Diversity in Secured Finance: Interview with Anthony C. Hood, PhD, First Horizon National Corp.

    Nneoma Maduike, member of SFNet’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusiveness Committee interviews Anthony C. Hood, PhD, executive vice president and chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer of First Horizon National Corp. Dr. Hood is responsible for cultivating and expanding First Horizon’s strategic leadership in developing and implementing programs and initiatives that advance the Company’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts.

  • Huntington Business Credit Provides Credit Facility for Bayloff Stamped Products Detroit, Inc.
    Huntington Business Credit announced it closed a new $15,000,000 credit facility with Bayloff Stamped Products Detroit, Inc. on August 12, 2021.  Proceeds of the facility were used to refinance existing indebtedness and to provide ongoing working capital growth financing.              
  • Charles Johnson Foundation’s 2021 Individual Campaign Concludes Successfully / Corporate Drive Gains Momentum
  • Mark Hafner, Celtic Capital You Can Bend Credit Criteria Only So Far Before Something Breaks

    The recession of 2008-2009 brought many lessons to the lending community; and the small independent finance companies were no exception. When looking back at that period, many of the lessons that we should all remember occurred in 2005-2007, during the lead up to the recession.

    If you’ll recall, the economy was strong and business was booming. For small independent finance companies (that typically run counter-cyclical), new business was harder to come by and highly competitive. As is often the case, this led to aggressive structures and lower pricing, a bad combination.

  • BrianResutek_Headshot_150x150 AI In Secured Finance
    Aug 19, 2021

    While lenders and financial institutions are not looking to discover the next vaccine or medical breakthrough, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have been reshaping traditional business processes at a rapid speed. Many decision makers in the C-Suites, while still responsible for ensuring everyday “blocking and tackling” is done, are dealing with how best to integrate AI/ML into their companies, and at what cost. This article takes a deeper dive into how AI and ML are being utilized in the industry along with the factors leaders must consider with AI/ML integration.

  • Eileen Wubbe 150x150 SFNet to Host Independent Finance Roundtable August 17-19 in Chicago, IL
    Aug 9, 2021

    SFNet will be hosting part two of its Independent Finance Roundtable 2021 August 17 - 19, 2021 in-person at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel in Chicago, IL. For 2021, we created a unique, invitation-only experience for senior executives from SFNet member entrepreneurial finance and factoring companies. IFR 2021 is a two-part event. The first part on April 27 was a free, live online roundtable discussion and an overview of our August in-person agenda. Panelists and attendees will come together next week to discuss the state of M&A, legal issues impacting our industry, and other timely topics that may affect your business.

    In addition to the roundtable meetings and discussions, IFR will offer optional activities to take full advantage of your time in Chicago.

  • Eileen Wubbe 150x150 SFNet to Host YoPro Leadership Summit In Person and Live Online August 3-4
    Jul 26, 2021

    SFNet’s 2021 4th annual YoPro Leadership Summit will be held in-person in Chicago and live online August 3-4. Young professionals of the secured finance industry will join together for opportunities to hear from industry leaders, connect with peers, and discover together how to find success in our changing industry environment.

    After a more than a year of countless Zooms and Teams meetings, this year’s event will offer attendees opportunities to socialize in unique ways.  On August 3, there will be an opportunity to attend an optional golf outing at Medinah Country Club, followed by a kick-off party in the evening. 

    Afterwards, attendees can stick around for a kick-off party from 7:00-10:00 p.m. CDT at Flight Club, offering drinks and friendly darts competition. A full day of live online content will take place on August 4.

    "The YoPro Leadership Summit is a wonderful event that brings together the best and brightest of the YoPro community throughout the country," said William Bence, managing director, Wingspire Capital. "It's a great opportunity to network among the future and emerging leaders in the industry."

  • DavidWisen_WingspireCapital_Headshot Get to Know David Wisen, CEO and co-founder of Wingspire Capital
    Jul 26, 2021
    David Wisen is the CEO and co-founder of Wingspire Capital, a diversified senior secured finance company focused on originating asset-based and specialty finance loans to middle market businesses in the U.S. Transaction sizes range from $20 million to $200 million, and proceeds are used to finance growth, M&A, dividend recapitalizations, restructurings, and turnarounds. Wingspire is a portfolio company of Owl Rock Capital Corporation (NYSE: ORCC). Here, Wisen discusses Wingspire’s first two years, leading through COVID, new talent coming on board, its relationship with Blue Owl Capital and plans for the next several years.
  • Juanita Schwartzkopf - Headshot150x150 How do you effectively analyze Q1 and Q2 2021 financial performance?
    Analyzing Q1 and Q2 financial performance is challenging.  2020 was impacted by Covid-19 both positively, through the stimulus programs, and negatively, as a result of shut downs and stay at home orders along with their trickle down impacts.  2021 financial performance analysis is further complicated by the emerging trends of labor related issues, inflation impacts, commodity prices changes, and supply chain concerns. 
  • Trends in E-commerce During and Post-Pandemic

    The COVID-19 pandemic caused ecommerce to transition from “convenient” to “essential,” but what does the post-pandemic world hold for this sector?