Fireside Chat Series

About Fireside Chat Series

Join me every Wednesday and get to know more about leaders in the equipment finance industry. Listeners will get a better understanding of the organizations that these individuals present, career paths, current state of equipment finance, along with some fun banter with all guests.

Publisher

Consult Disrupt

Category

business · business · business

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

12 Dec 2020

Latest episode

1 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

219 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Oct 2026

   Episode #295 Fireside Chat with Shannon Smith CEO of KLC Financial

   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 #FiresideChatswithJesse Subscribe to Fireside Chats with Jesse (https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1652881651468s) on Soundwise (https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1652881651468s)

2. 

   26 Sept 2026

   Episode #296 Fireside Chat w Eric Bunnell Sales and Syndications Manager at Falcon Equipment Finance

   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 #FiresideChatswithJesse Subscribe to Fireside Chats with Jesse (https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1652881651468s) on Soundwise (https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1652881651468s)

3. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Episode #294 Fireside Chat with Marci Slagle from First Financial Equipment Finance

   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 #FiresideChatswithJesse Subscribe to Fireside Chats with Jesse (https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1652881651468s) on Soundwise (https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1652881651468s)

Who has been a guest on Fireside Chat Series

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Michael Kianmahd
• Robert Cohen
• Aaron Massie
• Ken Walters
• Patrick Rohn

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 26 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

41

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

27