Associated Bank Expands Equipment Finance Team in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota

Associated Bank announced in October 2021, the hire of Scott Dienes as senior vice president & head of equipment finance and leasing, to build a new business vertical for the bank. Dienes is responsible for driving strategy, and along with this team, collaborate with internal and external partners to align with the bank’s growth goals by originating and structuring equipment loans and leases that provide significant value to existing and new clients.

Associated Bank Equipment Finance offers a full-service financing platform to assist commercial customers with financing of capital expenditures across numerous industries including, but not limited to, transportation, construction, manufacturing, and technology. Solutions include 100% financing of tenors and amortization to meet useful collateral life and flexile payment schedules. Financing services include customized loans, finance leases, TRACs, and tax leases.

With over 100 years of industry experience, Associated Bank welcomes the addition of Michael Gaona, Rich Pondel, Alex Steinhaus, Jennifer VanHulle, Alex Williams, and Thomas Wolf to the equipment finance team.

WISCONSIN

Michael Gaona has joined Associated Bank, Milwaukee as vice president & portfolio manager – corporate banking. He is responsible for credit underwriting and financial analysis of prospective and existing customers while supporting growth and development of the equipment finance & leasing portfolio.

Gaona brings nearly 10 years of equipment financing experience to Associated Bank. Previously, he was with CNH Industrial Capital where he held the position of senior credit analyst responsible for credit underwriting of strategic accounts. Prior to that, he held similar analyst roles with U.S. Bank and GE Capital Healthcare Finance.

Gaona holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from UW-Whitewater. In the community, he volunteers with the Kiwanis and the community recreation soccer league.

Rich Pondel has joined Associated Bank, Lake Geneva as senior vice president & portfolio manager – corporate banking. He is responsible for credit underwriting and financial analysis of prospective and existing customers while supporting growth and development of the equipment finance & leasing portfolio.

Pondel brings nearly 40 years of equipment financing experience to Associated Bank. Previously, he was with Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Citizens Bank where he held the positions of senior credit underwriter and credit manager and was responsible for credit underwriting and portfolio management of strategic equipment finance accounts.

Pondel holds a master’s degree from DePaul University and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Northern Illinois University. In the community, he previously volunteered with the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Rebuild Foundation – DuPage County, Ill.

Jennifer VanHulle was promoted to senior sales and support specialist – corporate banking in Oconto. She is responsible for supporting the equipment finance division with loans and leases.

VanHulle has more than 16 years of banking experience. Most recently at Associated Bank, she held the role of senior operations technician in commercial loan services where she handled the servicing of participations, and prior supported back-office operations for the legacy leasing division.

 

 

ILLINOIS

Alex Williams has joined Associated Bank, Chicago as senior vice president & director of equipment finance syndications – corporate banking. He is responsible for all equipment finance related capital markets initiatives nationwide and assisting the team in achieving its growth trajectory goals.

Williams brings nearly 20 years of banking experience to Associated Bank. Previously, he held the role of executive director leasing syndication manager with JP Morgan’s equipment finance business. Prior to that, he was with BB&T’s equipment finance group in their buy-side capital markets group. He also worked with GE Capital in various lending/leasing and third-party origination roles.

Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Michigan State University.

Thomas Wolf has joined Associated Bank, Chicago as senior vice president & equipment finance and leasing relationship manager. He is responsible for business development and bank partnership coverage for Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio.

Wolf brings more than 20 years of banking experience to Associated Bank. Previously he was with Wells Fargo Equipment Finance supporting their middle market for the states of Illinois and Wisconsin. Prior, he was a business banker with Wells Fargo in Minneapolis.

Wolf holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing from the University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Business. In the community, he serves as the treasurer for the Deerfield High School hockey club.

MINNESOTA

Alex Steinhaus has joined Associated Bank, Minneapolis as senior vice president & equipment finance and leasing relationship manager – corporate banking. He is responsible for business development and bank partnership coverage for Minnesota, in addition to parts of Michigan, Missouri, and Iowa.

Steinhaus brings more than 10 years of banking experience to Associated Bank. Previously, he was with Amur Financial. Prior to that, he was with Commercial Vehicle Group at Wells Fargo Equipment Finance.

Steinhaus holds a bachelor’s degree in science in multi/interdisciplinary studies from Texas Tech University. In the community, he is an active member of the Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri Trucking Associations and volunteers at local food banks and animal shelters in the Twin Cities.