AP Equipment Financing, a provider of specialized equipment financing, announced the expansion of its management teams with the appointment of four highly skilled and accomplished women.

Jenifer Santoro was hired as the Senior Vice President of Business Development & Sales. Santoro brings 25 years of experience in transportation financing and dealership. She was one of the founding members of the Transportation team at Hitachi Capital America Corp, where she played a key role in developing dealer relations for several major brands, including UD Trucks, Mitsubishi Fuso, Isuzu and Hino. During her tenure at Hitachi Capital America and Mitsubishi HC Capital, Santoro held various support and leadership positions in Operations, Dealer Services, Marketing, Inventory Financing, Regional Sales, and OEM Vendor Relations.

“It’s a wonderful privilege to join the AP Equipment Financing team,” Santoro said. “Early on, I witnessed that the AP team leads with an entrepreneurial spirit, partnered with a positive, rewarding company culture. I’m encouraged about the future opportunities that await.”

Rena Waples will lead the Floorplan division at AP as the Floorplan Operations Manager with an emphasis on growth. Waples brings over 25 years of experience in the finance industry, with 10 of those years focused on floorplan. The wholesale flooring finance product was introduced to AP in 2022 and AP looks forward to providing partners with resources to sell more equipment in 2023 and beyond.

"I’m really excited to have the opportunity to join AP Financing in the original growth stages of the Floorplan division because new challenges and opportunities are something I’ve always enjoyed," said Waples. "I’ve always believed that one of the keys to success is remaining optimistic even during challenging times so witnessing that in the employees here is beautiful and extremely appreciated."

Melanie Rudiger, CLFP, was hired as the new Docs and Funding Manager and brings 10 years of experience in Equipment Finance Operations. Her passions lie in documentation, funding, policy/procedure, and sharing her knowledge, all of which her new role allows her to be a part of. She recently achieved her CLFP designation and is looking to give back and support other learners in the industry by volunteering to lead training sessions and help others achieve their goals.

“I’m so thankful to be a part of the AP Team. AP’s stellar reputation and growth mindset have set them up for a very bright future," said Rudiger. "I can’t wait to help the company grow both in size and experience alongside hard working and positive teammates, while gathering more knowledge and really enjoying the work I do.”

Diana Crews was brought onboard as AP's Asset Manager. Crews brings to the table 25 years of experience in the leasing industry across collections, funding and asset management.

"I recently joined AP after having started my career in leasing with Financial Pacific Leasing. I thoroughly enjoyed working there, however wanted the opportunity to continue to grow/learn and advance," said Crews. "I have been in Asset Management for over 20 years and thoroughly enjoy working with customers as well as our outside resources. My goal in Asset Management is to minimize losses and maximize returns."

“The current economic landscape and rising rate environment can be a challenging place for any financial institution. AP is excited to have these talented professionals bring their years of experience to grow the organization regardless of challenging or thriving conditions,” said Chris Lerma, CLFP, President of AP Equipment Financing.