We recently sat down with Trevor Essaunce, new Senior Account Manager here at Stride Capital, to discuss his new role and what led him to it. Trevor will be serving our valued clients in BC and shared with us his previous work experience and how it led him to his position at Stride, as well as a snapshot of his life outside of work. Keep reading to get to know Trevor!
Tell us about your previous work experience and education and how it led you to Stride Capital.
I hold a Bachelor of Business degree and have 10+ years of experience in the equipment finance industry. I grew up in a logging family where I developed a passion for equipment at a young age. This natural interest in equipment coupled with my interest in finance led me to become an equipment finance professional.
Right out of university, I worked with the top equipment finance company in Canada. This was during the oil boom in Northern Alberta, and I had the opportunity to work with customers across all industry sectors including transportation, construction, and forestry.
Through my time working at private lenders and a top 5 Canadian bank, I have gained valuable experience working with customers across all industry sectors and at each stage of their businesses – from start-ups to well established corporations. My expertise is in the construction, forestry, and transportation spaces and I specialize in creating tailor-made solutions to help customers acquire the equipment they need, when they need it.
What are you looking forward to about your new role as Senior Account Manager for Stride?
I’m looking forward to re-connecting, growing, and creating new relationships with my vendor network and direct customers. This role is all about people and relationships. My goal is to help each and every customer to secure the equipment they need that will contribute to the success of their business – and that’s a rewarding feeling. The enjoyment of learning about their business and unique equipment applications keeps the role fun and exciting. I truly do my best to make my customers successful.
What opportunities do you see as part of Stride and within this new role?
Now that Stride is part of Servus Credit Union, we have access to more capital and a lower cost of funds. This will allow me to work with a wider range of credit profiles. I see us as an A lender who can also get B+ & C type deals done with the same product, speed, and service. I believe we are the only lender in the market today that can find solutions for everyone from start-up customers all the way to well-established large corporations while providing the same high-level of customer service with very competitive rates and terms.
What sectors do you specialize in and what opportunities do you see on the horizon?
I specialize in the forestry, construction, and transportation sectors. I like to take a consultative approach when working directly with customers and aim to offer honest, tailored financial solutions. I like to consider all aspects of the customer’s business and look beyond the immediate transaction to offer value-added options that will contribute to their long-term success. This includes helping start-ups during the early stage to acquire their first piece of equipment and helping well-established companies plan their annual capex, manage cash flow, and strengthen their balance sheet.
There are many private and public lenders that are pulling back in the equipment finance space, and now that we are past peak interest rates, I believe there will be debt refinancing opportunities as businesses look to take advantage of falling rates and manage cash flows while their traditional lenders pull back.
What is your life like outside of work?
I live an active lifestyle and try to spend as much time as I can outdoors. I enjoy playing hockey, hiking, and travelling throughout all regions of BC. In the summer months I am a road warrior and make every effort I can to meet my customers in-person.
10 months ago
