Bruce Kropschot, President, founded Kropschot Financial Services in 1986 and was instrumental in developing the firm to its position as the leading provider of merger and acquisition advisory services for equipment leasing and specialty finance companies with over 150 acquisitions arranged.

Mr. Kropschot has over 30 years of experience in financial management, equipment leasing and mergers and acquisitions. In November 1997, he became Vice Chairman – Mergers and Acquisitions of UniCapital Corporation, which he helped acquire 17 equipment leasing businesses and go public in the largest roll-up initial public offering ever. He was also President of UniCapital Business Credit Group prior to rejoining Kropschot Financial Services in March 2000.

Before founding Kropschot Financial Services, he was co-owner and President of Master Lease Corporation, a leading equipment lessor that is now De Lage Landen Financial Services. His previous positions include Executive Vice President of HBE Leasing Corporation and Vice President – Finance of its parent company, Controller of The Magnavox Co. and Audit Manager with Price Waterhouse.

Mr. Kropschot is a CPA and graduated with BBA and MBA degrees (with honors) in Accounting and Finance from the University of Michigan. He is an active member of ELA, EAEL and UAEL, having served on the Board of Directors of each of these leasing associations, and he also is a member of NAELB. Mr. Kropschot also served as a director of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation and is a founding member of International Association of Merger & Acquisition Professionals, an organization of leading M&A intermediaries located throughout North America and Europe.

Currently he is on the Advisory Board for Excellence in Accounting Education of the University of Michigan Business School. Mr. Kropschot and his wife Barbara Kropschot, who is the firm’s Administrative Manager, are based at the company’s headquarters in Vero Beach, Florida and can be reached at (352) 750-3588.

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

James R. Billings, Executive Vice President, joined Kropschot Financial Services in 1987 and previously served as Managing Director. He has been responsible for the sale of many equipment and vehicle leasing businesses and consumer and commercial finance companies.

Mr. Billings served in a similar role as Vice President of Hovde Financial from March 1999 until rejoining Kropschot Financial Services in March 2000.

Prior to joining Kropschot Financial Services, Mr. Billings was Director of Corporate Development and Strategic Planning for Commercial Credit Co. where he was a key participant in many acquisitions and divestitures.

Previously he served as Director of Plans and Budgets for Control Data Corp.Mr. Billings has BS and MS degrees in Chemistry and Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. He is an active member of ELA, EAEL and UAEL.

Mr. Billings can be reached in his Millersville, MD office at (410) 729-1800.

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Hugh Swandel became affiliated with Kropschot Financial Services in 2007 as Vice President with responsibility for developing the firm’s merger and acquisition advisory business in Canada. He remains President of his own firm, Swandel and Associates, a leading consulting firm for equipment and vehicle leasing and financing businesses throughout Canada. Swandel and Associates has represented many Canadian leasing companies in securing financing facilities, and it also provides leasing industry expertise in strategic planning, training and technology solutions.

Prior to founding Swandel and Associates, Mr. Swandel served as President of Electronic Financial Group, which built and launched a web based credit system for equipment leasing. He also held a variety of senior positions during his 10 years with National Leasing Group, a leading Canadian small ticket equipment lessor.

Mr. Swandel was awarded the Canadian leasing industry’s highest honor in 2006, being named Member of the Year by the Canadian Finance & Leasing Association (CFLA). In addition to his membership in the CFLA, Mr. Swandel is an active member of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association and the United Association of Equipment Leasing in the U.S.

Mr. Swandel can be reached in his Winnipeg, Manitoba office at (204) 477-0703.

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it