In this episode of Portfolio Perspective, Andrew Pace welcomes Jim Ryan, Sales Manager at Sandhills Global, to unpack the current realities of equipment valuation, auction trends, and retail-first remarketing strategies. With oversight of all auction products and financial customer relationships at Sandhills, Jim brings an unmatched view into market cycles, recovery tactics, and the role of AI and data in driving smarter decisions.
Key Topics Discussed:
Notable Takeaways:
“If you have 10 assets and you retail 5 before auction, it boosts your bottom line. Why wouldn’t you?”
“We’re seeing a sweet spot—about 15–20% over auction value—for fast retail transactions right now.”
“Print is not dead for us. The more we print, the more web activity we get. It's our digital search engine.”
Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more industry insights and field-tested strategies.
For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions.
John Gougeon didn’t just step into leadership at Unifi—he opened the gates for a high-performance team to run. In this episode, John joins Andrew Pace for a candid conversation about leading through transition, building a growth engine without sacrificing credit quality, and navigating today’s market with clarity, caution, and consistency.
From transitioning away from tranche business to tightening portfolio performance, John shares how Unifi has scaled volume, maintained top-tier credit metrics, and invested in service and culture—all while keeping one eye on macro indicators and market pressure.
Key Topics Discussed:
Notable Takeaways:
“I told the team, my goal is to break the machine—and see how fast we can run without losing control.”
“Credit quality comes first. Volume never trumps portfolio strength.”
“We haven’t thrown bodies at growth. We’ve just executed against the plan.”
“Service is more than fast funding. It’s being accessible, accountable, and easy to work with.”
Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more industry insights and field-tested strategies.
For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions.
In this episode of Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity, Andrew welcomes Justin Pavek, Chief Credit Officer at Wallwork Financial. From his time in the Army to leading credit strategy at a fourth-generation finance company, Justin shares how long-term thinking, technology integration, and relationship-driven lending are helping Wallwork thrive—even in one of the most volatile transportation markets in recent years..
Key Topics Discussed:
Notable Takeaways:
“We're in it for the long haul—through the good times and the bad.”
“If a customer misses their grace period, they're getting a phone call. We don’t wait until 30 days past due.”
“There’s value in being an advisor, not just a lender. We help our customers think beyond the deal.”
“With Power BI and Salesforce, we’re looking to make smarter credit decisions based on real data, not guesswork.”
Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more industry insights and field-tested strategies.
For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions.
In this episode of Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity, host Andrew Pace welcomes Donna Yanuzzi, Executive Vice President at 1st Equipment Finance and recipient of the ELFA’s 2024 Michael J. Fleming Distinguished Service Award. With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Donna unpacks the leadership principles, market foresight, and people-first mindset that have shaped her legacy—and continue to fuel her passion for mentoring the next generation of equipment finance professionals.
Key Topics Discussed:
Notable Takeaways:
“Culture is everything. You have to build a place where younger people feel ownership and impact—like they’re running their own business.”
“We don’t wait for a 30-day delinquency to act. We start outreach at day five. It’s about relationships, early insight, and helping the customer avoid escalation.”
“Vocational vehicles and used equipment with wheels are outperforming. That mobility gives us flexibility—and better risk management.”
“AI isn’t about replacing people. It’s about scaling smarter so our people can do more meaningful, high-impact work.”
“I came out of retirement because I wasn’t done helping others grow. If I can make a difference in someone’s life or career, that’s the success of my career.”
Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more industry insights and field-tested strategies.
For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions.
In this episode of Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity, host Andrew Pace sits down with Nick Coscia, ASA Equipment Manager at DLL, to explore how the role of asset managers is expanding amid evolving economic, technological, and sustainability trends. From using AI to streamline operations to navigating volatility in the secondary market, Nick offers practical insights and a global perspective on the tools, strategies, and partnerships that shape success in today’s equipment finance environment.
Key Topics Discussed:
Notable Takeaways:
“AI is like a superpower for pulling together and analyzing data faster and smarter than ever, which is enormous for delivering real value to our customers.”
“The transportation market has definitely softened over the past 6, 12, even 18 months. That’s put a lot of pressure on portfolios.”
“At DLL, our sustainability strategy is fully integrated into our business model — we’re committed to being the transition partner for our customers and vendors.”
“Third-party vendors like ACS bring us a ton of value. They free us up to focus on higher-impact work while helping us execute with speed and scale.”
Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more industry insights and field-tested strategies.
For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions.
In this episode of Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity, host Andrew Pace welcomes Kit West, a Wyoming-based business development leader with a deep entrepreneurial background and a national view of broker success. Together they explore how CH Brown grew originations during industry slowdowns, why relationships trump rates, and how proactive support can drive loyalty—even in a transactional world.
Key Topics Discussed:
Notable Takeaways:
“When everyone else is running away from the fire, you lean into it—that’s how we’ve always operated.”
“Client service isn’t just answering the phone. It’s calling the borrower the day after a missed payment and asking how they’re doing.”
“Our brokers know they can text me directly. We’re not just another funding source—we’re a partner who shows up.”
“You don’t need a degree to do this. You need to listen, sell, and solve problems. That’s the opportunity.”
Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more industry insights and field-tested strategies.
For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions.
In this episode of Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity, host Andrew Pace sits down with RJ Grimshaw, CEO of The AI CEO and former CEO of Unifi Equipment Finance. RJ shares his unique journey from leading high-growth finance teams to helping businesses embrace AI with a human-first approach. From demystifying AI adoption to empowering teams through intrapreneurship, RJ offers actionable strategies for leaders looking to innovate while staying rooted in relationship-driven business.
Key Topics Discussed:
Notable Takeaways:
“AI won’t fix a poor team, but it can make your best people exceptional by freeing them to focus on what truly matters.”
“Precision prompting is the skill that separates top performers—it’s about asking smarter questions, not just more questions.”
“Automation should start internally before extending it to clients; AI is a teammate, not a replacement for human connection.”
Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more industry insights and field-tested strategies.
For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions.
In this episode of Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity, Andrew Pace sits down with Mike Peplinski, Vice President at Harding Brooks Insurance Agency, to unpack key legal and insurance challenges in today’s asset recovery space. As litigation pressure continues to rise, Mike provides actionable guidance for lenders, agents, and service providers on how to manage risk, protect themselves, and operate compliantly — even as legal, regulatory, and contract pressures evolve.
Key Topics Discussed:
Notable Takeaways:
“You know, five years ago, you’d get one or two claims here and there. Now you get multiple claims every single month on invalid assignments.”
“Probably 40% of the claims that we have going on today are invalid assignment issues, and most of them are no fault of the recovery agent.”
“When you don’t have any type of audio or video, you are basically negotiating with your checkbook because you have nothing to defend yourself with.”
“If you're subcontracting out a lot of your work, you better know who you're working with, because if you're going to indemnify a client, and you're having a subcontractor do the work, you are taking all the responsibility if something goes wrong.”
Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more industry insights and field-tested strategies.
For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions.
In this episode of Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity, Andrew Pace sits down with Dominick Cevet, CLFP, Assistant Vice President of Portfolio Management at Auxilior Capital Partners. Dominick shares how Auxilior has scaled from startup to over $2 billion in assets in just four years — leveraging deep vendor partnerships, independent decision-making, portfolio diversification, and a service-first approach that keeps both vendors and borrowers engaged.
Key Topics Discussed:
Notable Takeaways:
“We’re managing over $2 billion in assets. It’s pretty exciting.”
“When you don’t have enough clarity, you have to make decisions to protect the portfolio. Sometimes it’s not about getting out of a sector — it’s about waiting until you have enough information.”
“We can implement something in weeks that might take others months. That nimbleness is a huge competitive advantage.”
“Our independence allows us to pivot quickly, respond to vendor needs, and make decisions without layers of bureaucracy.”
“We invest in young talent through our intern program — it’s become a huge pipeline for long-term success.”
Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more industry insights and field-tested strategies.
For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions.
ACS CFO and CIO Greg Meyer joins host Andrew Pace for a deep dive into the operational backbone of modern recovery and collections. With nearly two decades of leadership at ACS, Greg discusses the growing overlap between finance, IT, and compliance—and what it means for lenders today. From securing sensitive data to building scalable frameworks for regulatory risk, this episode covers how smart technology and proactive controls create a competitive advantage in asset-based lending.
Key Topics Discussed:
Notable Takeaways:
“No data, no clue. If your data isn’t clean, your insights are suspect—and your risk goes up.”
“Technology isn’t a cost center. It’s an edge—when it’s used to increase security, reduce friction, and scale compliance.”
“SOC2 has made us better. It’s more than a certification—it’s a way to meet client expectations and stay ahead of evolving threats.”
Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more industry insights and field-tested strategies.
For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions.
In this episode, Andrew Pace welcomes Chris Norman, ACS’s Client Support Manager, for an in-depth conversation on the human side of collections, strategic lender support, and navigating complex borrower situations with empathy and professionalism. With more than 30 years in the recovery space and a reputation for transforming distressed accounts into proactive recoveries, Chris shares firsthand stories and strategies that combine operational insight with a deep respect for the borrower experience.
Key Topics Discussed:
Notable Takeaways:
"Every client doesn’t define success the same way. Relationship management means understanding what matters most to each one—and delivering on that."
"Being kind doesn’t cost you anything. In collections, it often gets you further than pressure ever could."
"Proactively identifying accounts at risk before they become problems is the future of portfolio protection."
Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more industry insights and field-tested strategies.
For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions.
In this inaugural episode of Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity, host Andrew Pace sits down with Brian Noble—CEO, co-founder, and industry trailblazer behind Asset Compliant Solutions. With over 25 years of experience, Brian shares his unique perspective on how the asset recovery and collections space has evolved from transactional services to strategic partnerships rooted in compliance, innovation, and brand protection.
Key Topics Discussed:
Executive Takeaways:
"Today’s market conditions require a more sophisticated approach to managing at-risk assets. The traditional recovery model focuses too late in the cycle."
"Your recovery partner’s actions directly impact your brand reputation in an era of instant feedback."
"SOC2 compliance isn’t optional—it’s protection against regulatory and reputational risk."
"Time-to-resolution is the KPI that most directly impacts your portfolio’s NPV."
Subscribe to Portfolio Perspective: Managing Risk & Seizing Opportunity for more conversations with leaders across lending, recovery, and compliance.
For more information, visit Asset Compliant Solutions.