Equipment Finance News is pleased to announce that Bob Rinaldi, president and founder of Rinaldi Advisory Services, will discuss dealer finance strategies, equipment demand trends and growth opportunities at Equipment Finance Connect 2026 on Monday, May 18, at 2:15 p.m. CT. 

Equipment Finance Connect 2026 takes place May 18-19 at the C. Baldwin Hotel in Houston. It is the only event that brings together dealers, lenders and technology providers to discuss the equipment finance industry. 

View the full event agenda here.  

Rinaldi will join industry experts for the panel discussion “Lot perspectives: current equipment and financing demand, strategies and growth opportunities.” 

Also on the panel will be:  

• Heidi Brooks, U.S. sales manager – commercial finance at DLL; 
• D.J. Jackson, senior director of business development at Oakmont Capital Services; and 
• Skip Owen, director of sales at Hills Machinery. 

Topics will include: 

• How dealers and lenders can maximize real-time lot data; 
• How current credit conditions and economic trends are influencing dealer and lender decisions; and 
• How shifts in inventory levels, average fleet age and OEM production are affecting sales and finance strategies.  

Rinaldi is president and founder of Rinaldi Advisory Services and a leader in equipment finance strategy. A founder of Information Leasing Company, he helped build one of the largest bank-owned leasing companies in the United States. 

Today, Rinaldi advises banks, independent finance companies, OEMs and equipment dealers on growth strategy and execution. He focuses on helping dealer groups and manufacturers develop captive and private-label finance programs that drive equipment sales, increase margins and strengthen customer relationships through effective finance and insurance strategies. 

Rinaldi will also help direct a dealer-lender roundtable discussion during the event. The roundtables are small-group sessions focused on funding speed, digital customer experience and workflow optimization. 

The fourth annual Equipment Finance Connect, a crucial industry event for equipment lenders and dealers, takes place at the C. Baldwin Hotel in Houston May 18-19. Learn more about the event and register here.