Management Team
Dean Cash
President & CEO - ATEL Capital Group
Dean L. Cash joined ATEL as Director of Marketing in 1981 and also served as a Vice President. Mr. Cash served as an Executive Vice President beginning in 1983, a Director beginning in 1984, and in 2001became President and Chief Executive Officer. He has been a Director of the Dealer Manager since its organization and its President since 1986. Prior to joining ATEL, Mr. Cash was a senior marketing representative for Martin Marietta Corporation in the data systems division from 1979 to 1980. From 1977 to 1979, he was employed by General Electric Corporation, where he was an applications specialist in the medical systems division and a marketing representative in the information services division. Mr. Cash was a systems engineer with Electronic Data Systems from 1975 to 1977, and was involved in maintaining and developing software for commercial applications. Mr. Cash received a B.S. degree in psychology and mathematics in 1972 and an M.B.A. degree with a concentration in finance in 1975, both from Florida State University. Mr. Cash is an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association and is qualified as a registered principal with the NASD.
Paritosh K. Choksi
Executive Vice President, COO & CFO - ATEL Capital Group
Paritosh K. Choksi joined ATEL as a Director, Senior Vice President and its Chief Financial Officer in 1999. In 2001, Mr. Choksi became Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining ATEL, Mr. Choksi was Chief Financial Officer at Wink Communications Inc. from 1997 to 1999. From 1977 to 1997, Mr. Choksi was with Phoenix American Incorporated, a financial services and management company, where he held various positions during his tenure, and was Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director when he left the company. Mr. Choksi was involved in all corporate matters at Phoenix and was responsible for Phoenix's capital market needs. He also served on the credit committee overseeing all corporate investments, including its venture lease portfolio. Mr. Choksi was part of the executive management team which was responsible for Phoenix's portfolio growth from $50 million in assets to over $2 billion. Mr. Choksi received a Bachelor of Technology degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and an M.B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Vasco Morais
Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary - ATEL Capital Group
Vasco H. Morais serves as ATEL's Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary. In the capacity of General Counsel, Mr. Morais oversees all aspects of ATEL's legal environment and management of ATEL’s Legal Department, providing legal and contractual support in the negotiating, drafting, documenting, reviewing and funding of financing and asset acquisition and management transactions. In addition, Mr. Morais advises on general corporate law matters and assists on securities law issues. From 1986 to 1989, Mr. Morais was employed by the BankAmeriLease Companies, Bank of America's equipment leasing and capital markets subsidiaries, providing in-house legal support on the documentation of tax-oriented and non-tax oriented direct and leveraged lease transactions, vendor leasing programs, project management, and general corporate matters. Prior to the BankAmeriLease Companies, Mr. Morais was with the Consolidated Capital Companies in the Corporate and Securities Legal Department, where he was involved in drafting and reviewing contracts and assisting on corporate law matters and securities law issues. Mr. Morais received a B.A. degree in 1982 from the University of California, Berkeley; a J.D. degree in 1986 from Golden Gate University Law School; and an M.B.A. degree in Finance from Golden Gate University in 1997. Mr. Morais has been an active member of the State Bar of California since 1986. Mr. Morais has served as past Co-Chair and is a current member of the California State Bar Association, Business Law Section, UCC Committee. He has authored various publications and presented at speaking engagements on the both the UCC and equipment finance.
Ken Fosina
Executive Vice President - ATEL Leasing Corp.
Ken Fosina joined ATEL in 2012 and serves as Executive Vice President of ATEL Leasing Corp. Mr. Fosina is a commercial finance veteran of 25 years and spent the past nine years as principal at FFC Consulting, a firm that manages captive finance operations, raises debt and equity for venture stage companies and provides executive financial management to middle market companies. In 1999 Mr. Fosina founded San Francisco based LENDX, a software company that developed the industry's first online equipment finance marketplace, as well as contract management applications. Mr. Fosina raised $50 million in venture capital and debt, served as VP Marketing & Sales and on its Board of Directors. The company changed its name to Determine Software before its sale to Selectica in 2005. From 1991 to 1999, Mr. Fosina was a top sales producer for Mellon US Leasing winning National and Regional MVP awards. From 1986 to 1991, Mr. Fosina worked in New York City arranging equipment financing for Fortune 1000 companies. Mr. Fosina received a B. A. degree in English from University of Richmond.
Steven Rea
Executive Vice President - ATEL Ventures, Inc.
Steven R. Rea serves as Executive Vice President of ATEL Ventures, Inc. Prior to joining ATEL, Mr. Rea was employed at Imperial Bank (now Comerica) from 1999 to 2000, where he managed the venture leasing department for the emerging growth division. From 1997 to 1999, Mr. Rea was employed at LINC Capital, Inc., a specialty finance and venture leasing company, where he was responsible for originating, structuring and negotiating equipment leasing and other asset-backed financing for emerging growth companies. From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Rea was an Account Executive and later Vice President of Business Development at Interlease Group Ltd., a diversified financial services company, specializing in financings for venture backed companies. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Rea was with Automatic Data Processing as a senior district sales manager. Mr. Rea received a B. S. degree in finance from San Diego State University in 1991.
Russ Wilder
Executive Vice President, Chief Credit Officer - ATEL Capital Group
Russell H. Wilder joined ATEL as Chief Credit Officer in 1992, Vice President of ATEL Business Credit, Inc., and in 1995 became its Senior Vice President of Operations. Prior to joining ATEL, Mr. Wilder was a personal property broker specializing in equipment leasing and financing and an outside contractor in the areas of credit and collections from 1990 to 1992. Prior to 1990, Mr. Wilder had numerous assignments in the credit and operations departments for small, mid-size and big ticket lease transactions with Westinghouse Credit, Wells Fargo Leasing and Fireside Thrift Co., a Teledyne subsidiary. Mr. Wilder holds a B.S. with Honors in Agricultural Economics and Business Management from the University of California, Davis. He has been awarded the Certified Lease Professional designation by the United Association of Equipment Lessors.
Thomas Monroe
Senior Vice President - ATEL Equipment Corporation
Thomas P. Monroe, Jr. joined ATEL as a portfolio manager in the asset management department. In February 2004, Mr. Monroe was named Senior Vice President of ATEL Equipment Corporation. In this function, Mr. Monroe manages ATEL's asset management department, which is responsible for residual valuation, due diligence, equipment inspections, negotiating renewal and purchase options and remarketing off-lease equipment. Prior to joining ATEL, Mr. Monroe was employed by GE Capital for 6 years as a portfolio manager in the computer leasing division. Mr. Monroe received a B.A. degree in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley in 1987, and an M.B.A. degree with a concentration in International Marketing from the University of Notre Dame in 1990. Mr. Monroe is a candidate member of the American Society of Appraisers, and has successfully completed four course levels required for the Machinery and Equipment Valuation specialty.
Bill Bullock
Senior Vice President, Leasing
Bill Bullock enters his 25th year in the equipment leasing industry serving as ATEL's Senior Vice President responsible for the Direct and Indirect origination platforms. Bill has a well-rounded career in the equipment finance industry beginning with an Asset Management role at Equitable Life Leasing Corp. (ELLCO) followed by a similar position with Boeing Capital. Bill was ATEL's first full-time Asset Manager and was critical in growing the portfolio dramatically during his tenure from 1991 - 1999. Bill transitioned to a very successful sales career at Mellon US Leasing where he was recognized as the Rookie of the Year and National Most Valuable Player. Some highlights included $72MM of volume funded in 2000 and a $5mm lease to a fledgling company called google. After US Leasing was sold to GE Capital, Bill started Wells Fargo Equipment Finance's initial Business Banking Group leasing program with 80 of Wells Fargo's Commercial Loan Officers in California to educate them and coordinate equipment financing business. After successfully establishing the program and earning various awards including President's Club and the 2003 Stagecoach Award for cross-selling within WFEFI, Bill joined Key Equipment Finance, the nation's 3rd largest bank-owned equipment leasing company. Bill rejoined ATEL in February 2006 as the manager in charge of the Direct and Institutional sales teams. During his tenure, he has successfully closed transactions with Fortune 100 companies including Wal-Mart Stores, IBM Corporation, Cargill, Cummins and several others. Mr. Bullock received a B.S. degree in Finance from San Diego State University in 1987. He is currently the Chairman of the ELFA's Independent Middle Market Business Council, was a board member of the ELFA's Equipment Management Team from 1995 to 1999 and has authored several articles for publication.
Samuel Schussler
Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer- ATEL Capital Group
Samuel Schussler joined ATEL as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer in 2006. Prior to joining ATEL, Mr. Schussler served as Senior Vice President of finance for Velocity Express Corporation, Westport, Connecticut, from 2004 through March of 2006, and was employed as an independent financial consultant from March 2006 through August 2006. From 2001 through 2003, he served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of New Century Packaging LLC in Scottsdale, Arizona. From 1999 through 2001, Mr. Schussler served as Vice President of finance and Chief Financial Officer of Biogenex Laboratories, Inc. in San Ramon, California. Mr. Schussler received his B.B.A. in Accounting Practice from Pace University, New York in 1974, and his M.B.A. in Finance from the New York University Graduate School of Business Administration in 1977. He was granted licensure as a C.P.A. in New York and in Arizona.
James E. Ryan, CPA
Executive Vice President ATEL Securities Corporation
James Ryan joined ATEL in 2007 as Vice President of ATEL Capital Group responsible for strategic initiatives. Mr. Ryan has worked with ATEL since 1990 and is familiar with ATEL's investment strategy and decision making process. Prior to joining ATEL, Mr. Ryan was a partner with Ernst &Young LLP from 1982 to 2003, serving as the coordinating partner on ATEL Capital Group for E&Y from 1996 to 2002. In addition to ATEL, Mr. Ryan's clients included GATX Capital, Grubb & Ellis, Legacy Partners, Marcus & Millichap, Sutro & Company, 3 Com, Vantage Point Venture Partners and Weiss, Peck & Greer. From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Ryan participated in a number of business ventures including being an authorized dealer for the Harley-Davidson Motor Company in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Ryan is the past President of the Board of Regents at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco. He received his B.S. degree from Santa Clara University, and an M.B.A. from Golden Gate University. Mr. Ryan was an adjunct professor teaching federal corporate taxation for Golden Gate University's Masters in Tax program from 1990 to 2000.
John Hart, JD, CIMC, AIF, CIS
Executive Vice President, National Sales Manager
John Hart joined ATEL as Executive Vice President in 2008. Mr. Hart has over 25 years of experience in the securities industry as a sales leader and manager with a successful track record wholesaling SMAs, mutual funds, variable annuities and alternative investments. Prior to joining ATEL, Mr. Hart spent thirteen years at Berkeley Capital Management in San Francisco where he began as a wholesaler and grew the western region from $0 to $300 million of sales in 2 years. He was promoted to National Sales Manager and President, where he drove growth through the formation of new business relationships, marketing strategies and by developing an extensive network of relationships with Broker Dealers, due diligence officers and platform gatekeepers. Mr. Hart has been a frequent keynote speaker at national wire house and regional broker-dealer training functions. Mr. Hart graduated from University of Oregon with a B.S. degree in Political Science, and a J.D. degree from California Western School of Law. He is a Certified Investment Consultant, Certified Investment Specialist and Accredited Investment Fiduciary.
Mari Lynch, SPHR
Vice President, Human Resources - ATEL Financial Services
Mari Lynch joined ATEL as an HR Generalist in 2000 and was promoted to HR Director in 2003. In this function Ms. Lynch is in charge of recruiting and staffing, benefits administration, facility management, employee relations, develops and implements company policy and procedures, handles salary and payroll, facilitates employment law, and oversees organizational development. Prior to joining ATEL, Ms. Lynch held various HR positions in the retail industry in the capacity of regional recruiter and in corporate training and development. Mari received her B.A. in Business Administration from Chapman University with a minor in Marketing and currently holds a Senior Professional Human Resources certification.