The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation has long been engaged in developing resources for the future of the equipment finance industry. The opportunity to collaborate and invest financially in a new course at the G. Brint Ryan College of Business at the University of North Texas (UNT) presented the perfect fit with the Foundation’s Campus to Career program, which attracts students to the $1.3 trillion industry and raises awareness for career pathways.

The Survey of Commercial Equipment Leasing & Finance Course is a collaboration with UNT, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation, the Certified Lease & Finance Professional (CLFP) Foundation, and local corporate supporters who are also equipment finance employers. This one-semester program, developed by industry veteran and UNT faculty member Michael Gallo, B.Fin., M.Fin., J.D., and Of Counsel with Padfield & Stout, engages volunteers to help teach students about the equipment finance industry, including sales, marketing, financial analysis, and structuring of leases. Students who complete the course also earn the newly-created CLFP Student Certificate. Launched in spring 2025, the course is already a success—with both students and equipment finance industry employers alike. We asked some of them to share their experiences with EL&F Magazine.

For Patrick Hoiby, CEO, Equify, LLC, the course is a subject that is very important to him. He says that typically, Equify has two to three interns on their payroll at any one time. They have come from various universities with little or no knowledge of what the company actually does. He explains that independent finance companies are a legacy of businesses where knowledge has been passed down over the years. As a result, most independents now suffer from not being able to attract younger people into the business.

“When Michael Gallo first approached me about him teaching this class at UNT, I was astounded to learn it may be the only class of its type in the country,” Hoiby says. “He presented a very visionary approach that provides companies like Equify a pipeline of new candidates for the industry. When I went to speak with potential students for the UNT class, I could tell Gallo had created a curiosity about the industry and where it could lead students in a career.”

John Perry, Assistant Vice President - Risk and Compliance Officer at Wintrust Asset Finance, was also similarly intrigued when Gallo shared that he was in the discovery stages of creating a university course on equipment leasing and finance in collaboration with ELFA and the CLFP Foundation while they were at an ELFA Legal Forum. “As a UNT  M.B.A. alumnus, I was tremendously excited about and supportive of the new course,” he says. He presents university classes on equipment finance using real-world examples such as Amazon deliveries and cell phone manufacturing to demonstrate the ubiquitous role of equipment finance. “When the students see how integrated equipment finance is in all of our lives they get pretty motivated to find out more and perhaps become a part of the industry.”

Long-term Potential

Hoiby also believes the benefit of having a pipeline like this has long-term potential. “Being able to go and speak with a class about our business and expectations is a recruiting advantage,” he says. “The possibility of teaching some parts of the class and showing them exactly what we do is also intriguing.”

Perry says that Wintrust has already benefited from the UNT course by hiring summer interns, and looks forward to seeking future potential talent from the course. Of the ongoing partnership between Wintrust and UNT, he says, “I have worked in banking and finance for over two decades, and I have never seen the camaraderie and mutual support that I see between ELFA member organizations. Instilling this sense of industry passion and connection in recent college graduates sets a firm foundation for the future of the equipment finance industry, and I am so very proud and humbled to have been such a small part of this.”

Student Perspective

Jackson Anderson, an intern at Equify, LLC in Fort Worth, shares his thoughts about his UNT course experience: “The course was designed to cater to many different kinds of students, so I would say that the opportunity to learn all about the different sections of the industry was what drew me in!” He notes that earning a CLFP Student Certificate upon completing the course made him a more attractive candidate for the internship.

Macy Starnes, Intern/Credit Management & Reporting at Wintrust Commercial Finance, was drawn to the UNT commercial equipment finance course after taking Gallo’s business law class a previous semester.

She says, “At the time, I was a finance major still uncertain about which path I wanted to pursue after graduation, so the chance to explore a field I had never even heard of before was both intriguing and exciting.”

Starnes says that obtaining the CLFP Student Certificate has been a pivotal step in both her professional development and personal growth. “Beyond strengthening my resume, it opened the door to an incredible network of industry professionals and played a significant role in helping me secure my current internship with Wintrust,” she states. “The credential made my application stand out among hundreds of others and gave me a strong foundation in equipment finance.”

She believes that entering the workforce with prior knowledge of the industry has set her up for success and continues to drive her growth every day. Her future plans include continuing to grow in the industry and take the CLFP certification test soon. She adds, “This course was truly life changing for my career, and I appreciate everything UNT and its partners have done to make it possible!”

[Editor’s note: Post-interview Starnes was hired as a full-time Credit Analyst at Wintrust Commercial Finance.]

Next Steps

Continuing the UNT program and expanding it to other universities will take more than just interest. Perry says, “It requires sustained support from the industry. That support can come in many forms: people volunteering their time to mentor students, share expertise, or guest lecture, as well as financial contributions that make it possible to develop new courses and bring them to campuses. The reality is that launching and maintaining these kinds of academic offerings takes resources, and the more the industry leans in, the faster we can grow and make a real impact for students and the profession.”

University partnerships like the program at UNT raise the bar to create opportunities for internships and future employment for students who are taking the initiative to learn about equipment finance before college graduation. ELFA members are encouraged to share their internship recruiting opportunities with students through the Foundation’s Campus to Career webpage—both students and employers benefit.

DISCLAIMER:
Wintrust Asset Finance is a subsidiary of Beverly Bank & Trust Company, N.A. Wintrust Commercial Finance is a division of Wintrust Asset Finance Inc. Banking products provided by Wintrust Financial Corp. banks.