Bridge Funding Group, Inc. (BFG), a wholly owned subsidiary of BankUnited, N.A., has hired three new equipment leasing and finance specialists to help grow the company’s presence in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.

With headquarters in the Baltimore area, BFG is a direct lender that specializes in equipment finance and franchise lending, with more than $1.7 billion currently in total assets.

“Our growing equipment leasing and financing team at Bridge Funding Group works closely with BankUnited’s commercial banking teams in each region, serving as a trusted financial resource for new and existing clients, and offering a full suite of products and services designed to meet the growing needs of established businesses nationwide,” said Dan McKew, president, Bridge Funding Group. “We are looking forward to increasing our presence in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions with the growth of our team.”

The three new hires reporting to National Sales Manager Tom Goldsmith are:

• Gary Jones has been named vice president, responsible for originating and structuring leasing and financing opportunities in the Mid-Atlantic region, including Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia and West Virginia. Prior to joining BFG, he served as vice president at FifthThird Equipment Finance, Mid-Atlantic region. He brings 30 years of industry experience to BFG. Jones earned his bachelor’s degree from Towson University in Towson, MD.
• Mike Salatino joins BFG as vice president, Northeast business development officer, having served most recently as vice president and senior account executive at PNC Equipment Finance, Northeast region. He brings more than 30 years industry experience to his new role, where he will be responsible for sourcing and closing equipment leasing and finance business in New York, New Jersey and throughout New England. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
• Jason Sullivan brings more than 15 years of industry experience to his new position as vice president for secured equipment finance, Southeast region. In this role, he will serve the equipment finance needs of businesses operating in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi. Jason has an extensive background in this region, most recently serving with CIT Business Credit and Capital Equipment Finance. He has also served as senior vice president for commercial equipment finance, Carolinas region, at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C.