Episode #275 Fireside Chat with John Gougeon, President of Unifi Equipment Finance

In this episode of Fireside Chats with Jesse, Jesse Johnson sits down with John Gougeon, President of UniFi Equipment Finance, for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, growth, culture, and the long-term strength of the equipment finance industry. John shares his career journey across Lease First, Heller Financial, GE Capital, U.S. Express Leasing, Bank of America, SLR Equipment Finance, and now UniFi Equipment Finance. He also talks about what has helped UniFi grow, why culture matters so much inside an organization, and why equipment finance continues to be such a strong career path for people who value relationships, stability, and helping small businesses succeed. If you work in equipment finance, commercial finance, vendor finance, bank leasing, small ticket, middle market lending, specialty finance, or broker finance, this episode is packed with practical insight and perspective from a respected industry leader. In this conversation, we cover: John Gougeon’s career path through equipment finance The launch and rapid growth of U.S. Express Leasing The evolution and growth of UniFi Equipment Finance Leadership lessons around trust, empowerment, and team expertise Why company culture matters in building a successful organization The challenge of attracting young talent into equipment finance How the industry supports small businesses and helps them grow Market uncertainty in 2026, including rates, tariffs, fuel costs, and broader economic pressures The value of ELFA and NEFA throughout an equipment finance career A personal story from John about family, fatherhood, and life outside of work John also shares how UniFi Equipment Finance has grown its portfolio, increased average deal size, and continued building around core markets like construction, vocational trucks, towing, woodworking, and CNC machine tools. This is a great episode for anyone interested in: equipment finance leadership, UniFi Equipment Finance, commercial lending, vendor finance, broker relationships, small business lending, equipment leasing careers, and equipment finance industry trends. Thank you for watching Fireside Chats with Jesse. Please like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with leaders across the equipment finance industry. #FiresideChatsWithJesse #JohnGougeon #UniFiEquipmentFinance #EquipmentFinance #EquipmentLeasing #CommercialFinance #VendorFinance #SmallBusinessLending #ELFA #NEFA #Leadership #BrokerFinanceSubscribe to Fireside Chats with Jesse on Soundwise