2015 Forum
Keynote

The 2015 Small Business Lending Forum is thrilled to welcome multiple Emmy Award-winning TV producer, writer, performer, author, and business humorist, Bill Stainton as its keynote speaker.

Bill Stainton is a multiple Emmy Award-winning TV producer, writer, and performer, an author, a business humorist and an internationally-recognized Beatles expert. He blends the business smarts he learned from twenty years in corporate management with the showbiz sparks he gleaned from working with celebrities like Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, and Jay Leno to create entertaining and enlightening presentations enjoyed by audiences around the world!

As the executive producer of Seattle’s legendary comedy TV show, Almost Live!, Bill led a talented and highly creative team to unparalleled success with a #1 rating for ten straight years, and over 100 Emmy Awards (29 of which went to Bill). At the same time, he also owned his own corporate training company, authoring nine training programs in subjects ranging from Office Politics to Customer Service to Team Motivation.

Schedule of Events

Monday, August 10

Small Business Lending Forum

1:00pm at the Foss Waterway Seaport


Boat Cruise and Cocktail Reception

5:00pm cast off from the Foss Waterway Seaport Dock
Cruise the South Sound aboard the Emerald Star for cocktails and conversation.

Tuesday, August 11

Annual Golf Tournament

7:30am at the Trophy Lake Golf and Casting Club


Forum Agenda

1:00pm - 1:15pm

Opening Remarks

Dave Schaefer, CEO, Orion First
Dave is the founder and CEO of Orion First Financial, which provides contract servicing and collection services to alternative lenders, banks, and independent financial institutions. Dave is also the founder and CEO of Mintaka Financial, a commercial finance company specializing in serving the needs of small businesses across the United States through an exclusive network of originators that share ownership in Mintaka.

Dave is active with the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) currently serving as Vice Chairman of the ELFA Board of Directors and past Chairman of LeasePAC (the industry’s federal political action committee).


1:15pm - 1:30pm

Congressional Update

Congressman Derek Kilmer (WA-06)
Kilmer serves as the United States Representative of Washington’s 6th Congressional District and is a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Prior to his service in Congress, he worked for global consulting firm McKinsey & Company and then for the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County, working to grow jobs in our region.

Congressman Kilmer has focused on getting our economy and our Congress back to work. Understanding that Washington is the most trade dependent state in our nation, Derek’s focus has been to empower our workers, their businesses and the laws governing them. He is pushing to ensure that small businesses have access to the types of capital which supports their growth and creates jobs.


1:30pm - 1:45pm

View from the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association

Ralph Petta, CEO, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association
Petta serves as Chief Operating Officer for the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), the premier trade association representing 550+ member organizations in the $903 billion equipment finance sector. As Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Petta is responsible for providing coordination, direction and oversight of ELFA programs and services designed to add value to the association’s member organizations.

Mr. Petta, an authority in the business of equipment finance, has been with the association since 1987.

1:45pm - 2:45pm

But Why Can't Things Just Stay the Same?

Keynote presented by Bill Stainton, Executive Producer

3:00pm - 4:00pm

The Future of Small Business Lending

Moderator
Bob Rinaldi

Panel
Brij Patel, President, Alliance Funding Group
Robert Peterson, SVP, Route 66 Ventures, LLC
Tabitha Creighton, Co-Founder and CEO, InvestNextDoor


4:00pm - 4:15pm

Closing Remarks

Dave Schaefer, CEO, Orion First

2023 Sponsors