TSL Feature Articles

  • David Wisen Headshot Wingspire Capital Continues to Soar After Five Years With Diversified Solutions and a Long-Term View
    Feb 3, 2025
    The Secured Lender’s editor-in-chief sat down with David Wisen, founder & CEO of Wingspire Capital, to discuss Wingspire’s evolution and keys to success as well as his outlook for the future.
  • Celebrating the Achievements of SFNet Chapters
    Dec 17, 2024
    The Secured Finance Network’s 20 Chapters are comprised of professionals with great insight and experience. From golf outings to educational events, several Chapters shared their highlights from the past year. 
  • David Morse photo Part 2 -Taking Security in Cross-Border Lending: (How Do You Know) the Steps to Take or Whose Law Is It Anyway?
    Dec 2, 2024
    David Morse of Otterbourg P.C. explores the key relevant rights of the Secured Lender and “Third-Party Effectiveness”, what happens if the obligor on the receivable is located outside
    of the United States?, Rome I Regulation and more. Part 1 of this article appeared in the September/October issue of The Secured Lender.
  • Appraisers See a Mixed Picture for Valuations
    Nov 18, 2024
    Secured lenders increasingly rely on appraisers for swift and accurate valuations amid rising complexities in asset-based lending. With business bankruptcies up 40% and ongoing supply chain challenges, appraisers must adapt quickly to maintain their vital role in the underwriting process, ensuring lenders receive the critical insights needed to navigate this evolving landscape.
  • Walter Schuppe Faces of Freedom
    Nov 11, 2024
    Walter Schuppe, formerly of Pacific Western Bank, started Faces of Freedom in 2019 to
    express gratitude to and honor the sacrifices and service of U.S. Military veterans and their families. The project uses black and white portraits and oral histories, as told by each veteran, to help connect a face with a personal story.
  • TSL1124_RobertMeyers_InterviewPhoto_150 Eyes on the Future: SFNet Welcomes its Youngest President in 80 Years
    Nov 4, 2024

    Robert Meyers, managing member and president of Republic Business Credit, discusses his over 10 years of SFNet involvement to where he is today, as well as his goals as SFNet’s incoming president, which include creating a larger and more inclusive community to benefit its members and accelerate access to those in need of capital.

  • Navigating Cybersecurity Challenges in the Lending Industry
    Oct 14, 2024
    Attorneys from Mandelbaum Barrett PC explore how the rising cyber threats and stringent regulations facing lenders and the essential strategies for developing robust cybersecurity programs, safeguarding data, and maintaining regulatory compliance in a rapidly changing landscape.
  • TSL1123_BarryBobrow SFNet 2024 President Barry Bobrow Reflects on a Successful Year
    Oct 2, 2024
    Bobrow discusses the highlights of his tenure as president of SFNet, challenges and opportunities faced, and advice for incoming SFNet President, Rob Meyers.
  • morse, david Taking Security in Cross-Border Lending: (How Do You Know) the Steps to Take or Whose Law Is It Anyway?
    Sep 26, 2024
    Navigating cross-border secured financing presents a complex challenge, where choice of law and conflict of law rules create an intricate maze. Unlike straightforward domestic transactions under the Uniform Commercial Code, international financing demands careful scrutiny of diverse jurisdictions’ laws. David Morse of Otterbourg P.C. explores the practical steps lenders must take to secure rights over assets like inventory and receivables across multiple countries to ensure the lender has the benefit of such security. Part 2 of this article will appear in the November/December issue.
  • The Evolution and Impact of Factoring Services Amidst Global Supply Chain Disruptions
    Sep 23, 2024
    In recent years, global supply chains have faced unprecedented challenges, from pandemic-induced disruptions to geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties. As businesses grapple with these issues, factoring has emerged as a critical solution for managing cash flow and mitigating risks. SFNet members provide insight into how factoring has evolved, its impact on the supply chain, and real-world examples of its effectiveness.
  • An Interview with SFNet’s Co-General Counsels: Bobbi Acord Noland and Jonathan Helfat
    Sep 17, 2024
    In the ever-evolving landscape of secured finance, few roles are as pivotal as that of general counsel for a major industry trade association. For Bobbi Acord Noland and Jon Helfat, this role at the Secured Finance Network (SFNet) has been a journey of leadership, challenge, and growth.
  • Michele Ocejo Unlock the Future of Supply Chain Finance: Join SFNet’s December Conference for Key Insights and Networking
    Nov 20, 2024
    On December 3, SFNet will host its first Supply Chain Finance Conference, at Greenberg Traurig in New York City. Industry leaders and experts will converge to explore the latest trends and insights in supply chain finance. This full-day event will provide invaluable knowledge and networking opportunities, featuring a diverse range of sessions designed to deepen your understanding of the supply chain finance ecosystem.
  • LauraJ_GoldbergKohn Public Data in Cross-Border Lending
    Sep 2, 2024
    Data and precedent play a key role in your ability to structure, negotiate and document lending transactions. In cross-border deals, access to this data is especially essential and can be more challenging to locate. Laura Jakubowski of Goldberg Kohn provides the information you need to arm yourself with vital information. 
  • CharliePerer_2023 headshot_150 Succession: ABL Industry Needs a Plan
    The ABL industry is struggling with succession challenges. Founders are synonymous with their firms, yet many lack succession plans despite good health and changing industry dynamics. The generational shift demands innovation and client-centric approaches. Planning and communication are crucial. Unlike TV drama, ABL leaders must ensure smooth transitions to secure their legacies and firms’ futures amidst industry upheaval.
  • Factoring Industry Remains Resilient Amid Economic Shifts
    Aug 12, 2024
    The U.S. economy wrapped up 2023 on a robust note, buoyed by resilient consumer spending and a solid labor market. 
  • The State of Asset-Based Lending in Q1 2024: A Comprehensive Analysis
    Aug 6, 2024
    The first quarter of 2024 presented a complex landscape for asset-based lending (ABL) and the broader economic context. According to the SFNet Q1 2024 Asset-Based Lending and Confidence Index surveys, the ABL industry exhibited both stability and cautious optimism despite the economic headwinds.
  • Navigating Economic Uncertainty: Key Insights from the SFNet Market Pulse Report
    Aug 1, 2024
    As we delve into the second quarter of 2024, the financial landscape is marked by both challenges and opportunities. The latest SFNet Market Pulse Report provides a comprehensive analysis of various economic indicators, trends, and projections that are crucial for stakeholders in the secured finance (notably asset-based lending and factoring) industries. This article synthesizes the key findings and insights from the report, offering a detailed overview of the current economic outlook, credit markets, consumer finances, sector activity, and global economic trends.
  • Understanding the Complexities of Recruiting and Retaining Talent
    Jul 1, 2024
    The secured finance industry is feeling the strain as the industry ages and its most experienced executives retire. Here, SFNet members offer their points of view on the challenge.
  • Where Are They Now? Catching up with Previous SFNet 40 Under 40 Award Winners
    Jun 17, 2024
    Past SFNet 40 Under 40 Award recipients discuss how the Award affected their careers and offer advice to the next generation.
  • Interview with Jeff Dunlop and Maria McGuire of Goldberg Kohn, SFNet Past 40 Under 40 Award Recipients
    Jun 5, 2024
    Earlier this year, Jeffrey B. Dunlop and Maria T. McGuire were named co-chairs of Goldberg Kohn’s Commercial Finance Practice Group. They succeed Michael Hainen, who completed his highly successful nine-year term as the practice group leader at the end of 2023.

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. 

See Profiles


Previous TSL Articles

  • Niamh Kristufek - First Business Bank Leading with Agility: Niamh Kristufek on Her Role at First Business Bank
    Jun 11, 2025
    Niamh Kristufek discusses her role as President - Specialty Finance of First Business Bank as well as challenges the industry is facing, including tariff, economic uncertainty and building client relationships at a specialized bank.
  • Steve Taplin - Lendscape - Headshot AI in Secured Finance: From Hype to Hard Results
    Jun 5, 2025
    Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere in today’s conversations about secured finance - and for good reason. But talk is one thing. The real question is: how do we move beyond the hype and into something that actually works?
  • Bryan Ballowe Inside Trade Finance: A Deep Dive with TradeCap’s Bryan Ballowe
    Jun 2, 2025

    In this installment of our series of executive interviews, Charlie Perer sits with Bryan Ballowe, Managing Partner of TradeCap Partners, to hear insights about today’s trade finance/in-transit inventory market and his views on the tariffs, among other things.

  • Private Credit’s Ascent: How Nonbank Lenders Are Redefining Secured Finance
    Jun 2, 2025

    (Editor’s Note: This article was created with assistance from ChatGPT)

    In the evolving world of corporate finance, private credit has emerged as a formidable force, challenging traditional banking paradigms. Once a niche segment, it has burgeoned into a $1.5 trillion market as of early 2024, with projections estimating growth to $2.6 trillion by 2029. This surge is not merely a quantitative shift, but signifies a qualitative transformation in how businesses access capital.

  • Boudewijn Smit SFNet ILC Conference Highlights Restructuring Corner: What Happens When Trouble Hits?
    May 29, 2025

    The following is an overview of the Restructuring Corner: What Happens When Trouble Hits? Panel held May 13 during SFNet’s International Lending Conference in London.

  • David Morse photo SFNet ILC Conference Highlight: Lending on Inventory to a Cross-Border Business
    May 20, 2025

    The following is an overview of the Lending on Inventory to Cross-Border Business, held May 13 during SFNet’s International Lending Conference in London.  David Morse, partner, Otterbourg P.C. moderated. Panelists included: John Boxall, Managing Director, Hilco Valuation Services Europe; Christopher M. Chubb, Partner, Mayer Brown International LLP; Elena Egorova, Head of Operations, DRUM Advisory; and Frank Husken, Managing Director, Finterface.

  • Suzy Welch SFNet WISF Conference Speaker, Suzy Welch, on Authentic Leadership, Career Clarity, and the Power of Values
    May 7, 2025
    Suzy Welch will be a featured speaker at SFNet’s Women in Secured Finance Conference, held June 11-12  in New York City. She is an award-winning NYU Stern School of Business professor, acclaimed management researcher, and New York Times best-selling author, most recently with “Becoming You: A Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic Life and Career,” which is also a #1 bestseller on Amazon.
  • Middle Market Lending in 2025: Adjustment Amid Uncertainty
    May 6, 2025
    According to LSEG LPC’s Middle Market Syndicated Stats, 2024 closed strong:

    - Total syndicated middle market loan volume reached $159.6 billion, a 32% YoY increase.
    - New money issuance totaled $78.8 billion, with refinancings at $80.8 billion.
    - Institutional middle market volume hit $24 billion, more than doubling YoY.
    - Covenant-lite issuance rose by 117%, reaching $3.5 billion.
  • bazaz, alister Navigating Change: A Preview of SFNet’s 2025 International Lending Conference with Alister Bazaz
    Apr 29, 2025
    SFNet's International Lending Conference, held in London on May 12-13, 2025, is attended by a dynamic community of global lenders, innovators, and dealmakers in the heart of London. We sat down with the chair of the International Lending Conference Planning Committee, Alister Bazaz, head of International Asset Based Lending & Asset Based Digital Innovation at Bank of America, to discuss the planning process and the event.
  • Austin Financial Services and Stearns Bank Enter New Strategic Joint Venture
    Apr 22, 2025
    Austin Financial Services, Inc. (AFS), a leading nationwide provider of asset-based lending (ABL) solutions, announced it has entered into a new strategic joint venture with Stearns Bank, a well-capitalized, employee-owned financial services institution committed to helping small businesses, entrepreneurs and communities reach their full economic potential.

The Secured Lender

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SFNet's The Year Ahead Issue