Meet Our Team

Brad Peterson co-founded Channel in 2009 and now serves as a member of the company’s Executive Board, providing strategic guidance and counsel to the leadership team. As Channel’s former Chief Executive Officer, Peterson was instrumental in shaping the company’s vision, culture, and growth strategy – building the organization into a nationally recognized leader in the equipment finance and working capital space. 

Prior to Channel, Peterson founded and served as President of CAN Capital subsidiary, PredictiFund, leveraging CAN’s small business merchant cash advance credit data and modeling expertise. He also held the role of Senior Vice President and General Manager of U.S. Bank Manifest Funding Services, a $1.5 billion asset business unit focused on third party generated small ticket equipment leasing nationwide. Earlier in his career, Peterson spent 15 years with Ralston Purina in various financial and sales management positions.

A respected industry leader, Peterson has been an active member of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA), and American Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (AACFB). He also served on the United Association of Equipment Leasing (UAEL) Board of Directors from 2001–2008, including as President in 2007.

Peterson earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Economics and Finance from Iowa State University.

Adam Peterson co-founded Channel in 2009 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2025. Peterson has played a central role in shaping Channel’s culture, operations, and strategic direction and is known for his visionary leadership and ability to inspire teams. He leads with a focus on innovation, positivity, trust, and partnership – values that have guided Channel’s continued growth since its inception.

He previously served as Managing Director, leading a cross-functional team including operations, credit, and sales, with responsibility for managing equipment finance partnerships from relationship development through originations, efficiencies, and portfolio performance.

Peterson began his finance career with Channel, serving as Senior Vice President of Sales before being named Managing Director. In addition to his leadership at Channel, he has been actively involved in the National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA), serving on its Board of Directors for more than eight years, including as President in 2023.

Peterson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in financial economics from Gustavus Adolphus College.

Rob Ceribelli, President, joined Channel in 2023, adding over 20 years of financial services leadership experience to his role with the company.

Ceribelli assumes pivotal responsibilities for the daily operations, optimizing processes, managing resources, and implementing strategies that enhance overall efficiency and profitability throughout the company. He takes ownership of the control framework, operating rhythm, and profit and loss across business units to ensure the attainment of Channel’s objectives, ultimately ensuring it is well-prepared to support the successful execution of broader plans and strategies.

With a career rooted in finance, sales, marketing, operations, and general management, Ceribelli’s approach as a leader is characterized by energy, results-orientation, and a people-first mindset. Having spent 14 years with GE Capital, followed by 20+ years at De Lage Landen including significant time overseeing business operations across the UK & Ireland. As an active advocate for the Equipment Finance industry, he currently serves as Chair of the ELFA Small Ticket Business Council Steering Committee.

Ceribelli studied finance at Indiana University of PA and later earned his Master of Business Administration from Villanova.

Eli Sethre joined the Channel leadership team in 2016 as Chief Financial Officer, overseeing finance & accounting, risk analytics, portfolio management and servicing and reporting. 

Prior to joining Channel, Sethre was Chief Executive Officer and founder of aFundia, a data analytics and modeling firm he founded in 2014. Prior to aFundia, Sethre held numerous senior roles at CAN Capital Sales and Marketing, Finance and Business Planning, and Risk Analytics where he was responsible for risk management, portfolio performance, scoring model development, annual budget & forecasting, and ensuring financial objectives were met. 

Sethre graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University and was chosen as the 2004 University Scholar in Economics.

Ryan Schlenner joined Channel as Managing Director in 2025, bringing more than 25 years of equipment finance experience from U.S. Bank, most recently serving as Vice President of Capital Markets. Schlenner leads a cross-functional team including operations, credit, and sales, with responsibility for managing equipment finance partnerships from relationship development through originations, efficiencies, and portfolio performance.

Throughout his career, Schlenner has built deep expertise in funding strategy, portfolio performance, and partner development, and he is known for his ethics, collaborative approach, and commitment to meaningful partnerships. He has been actively involved in the National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA) and the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), including service on the ELFA Small Ticket Council.

Kristi Schon joined Channel in 2021 and currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer. In her current role, Schon leads brand innovation and strategic planning, spearheading all communication and creative initiatives to drive partner engagement, loyalty, and achieve sales and profitability objectives.

Schon brings 20+ years of experience from the marketing agency sector to her role. Throughout her career, she has led top-tier marketing account teams for Fortune 500 consumer package goods companies across diverse retail and consumer categories. Her expertise spans traditional print and digital advertising, data-driven communication solutions, performance analytics, public relations, social media marketing, and more. She played a pivotal role in shaping and elevating brands for major retailers and companies, including Walmart, Target, Amazon, Hormel Foods Corporation, Nestle Nutrition, and Campbells Soup Company. At Channel, Schon leverages her extensive marketing experience and forward-thinking approach to drive impactful results and foster meaningful partnerships with valued partners and customers.

Her commitment to the advancement of the equipment finance industry is evident through her active participation in Communications Committees for both ELFA and NEFA, the NEFA Conference Planning Committee, in addition to panel participation in various marketing webinars and education sessions across industry organizations.

Schon earned a Bachelor of Arts from the Journalism School at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Mark Blais joined Channel in 2019, assuming the role of Chief Information Officer and is responsible for ensuring all technologies and resources deliver best-in-class industry solutions.  

Prior to joining Channel, Blais has held senior technology leadership roles within companies including Digi-Key, Target, Veritas/Symantec, Questar, and Lasersonics, several of which operate in technology epicenters like Silicon Valley. His background leading enterprise development teams offers experience in varied industry verticals including 3D MRI, credit, scientific lasers, and multi-channel point of sale. Blais has led teams through the rapidity of change that technology frequently brings in both hardware and software. 

Blais holds a Bachelor of Science degree in IT Management from the University of Phoenix and an Electronic Technology degree from Brown University.

Cindy Fleck returned to Channel in 2019 and currently serves as Chief Revenue Officer, playing a key role in driving the company’s growth and success. With a focus on aligning sales, credit, and operations, Fleck ensures that cross-functional teams work seamlessly to meet Channel’s financial goals. Fleck also oversees equipment finance partnerships, working to maximize opportunities and strengthen Channel’s market position.

Fleck has over 30 years of credit, underwriting, and sales leadership experience, primarily in the third party originated space. In 2009, Fleck was instrumental in the launch of Channel before moving on to spend nine years with GreatAmerica Financial Services in their specialty markets division, with a concentration in the construction industry. Fleck is a steadfast advocate for both her customers and her team and takes a consultative approach to discover customers’ needs and ensure the right solutions are delivered.  

Fleck holds a degree in accounting with a minor in business from Southwest Minnesota State University. She earned her CLFP designation in 2016.

Brian Tri joined Channel in 2019 and currently serves as Executive Vice President of Portfolio Servicing, responsible for portfolio management through ownership of the credit & collection policy, source & program review, and ongoing portfolio monitoring. Tri also oversees select aspects of operational risk management that could adversely impact portfolio performance.

Prior to joining Channel, Tri served 21 years at U.S Bank, most recently as Senior Business Line Risk Manager for the wealth management and institutional investment division of U.S. Bank. He previously held various roles across U.S. Bank Equipment Finance, Global Corporate Trust, and Risk Management & Compliance. He spent four years as Director of Operations and then as Director of Sales for the community bank lease outsourcing program. Tri gained insights into the securitization market and trust administration in Global Structured Finance, with responsibility for the backup servicing product. 

Tri holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and finance from St. Olaf College.

Cory Krogen joined Channel in 2009, and currently serves as Senior Vice President of Sales. In this role, Krogen leads a sales team and holds responsibility for establishing and executing sales strategy, growing partner relationships, and expanding Channel product penetration for both working capital and equipment finance.

Krogen began his sales career at Channel and has served in various account manager roles since the company’s inception. His early years were focused on working capital sales to end users through equipment finance company referrals and operating in a broker capacity. Krogen was named Director of Sales in 2020 and has expanded his experience through Channel’s evolution to become an on-balance sheet lender, launching an equipment finance product offering, and more. 

Krogen holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Hamline University’s School of Business. He achieved his CLFP designation in 2021. 

Alecia Kramer joined Channel in 2022 and currently serves as Senior Vice President of Sales. In this role, Kramer leads a sales team and holds responsibility for establishing and executing sales strategy, growing partner relationships, and expanding Channel product penetration for both equipment finance and working capital.

Prior to her current role, Kramer was Vice President of Business Development for the West region, working to drive business growth and develop new partner relationships across Channel’s product solutions.

Kramer has more than 26 years of industry experience, within a variety of leadership roles at U.S. Bank, GreatAmerica, and Amur. Her experience focused on office equipment partnerships with large manufacturers including Kyocera, Toshiba, Sharp, and others.

Kramer earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Speech Communications and Radio/Television.

Carl Frasse joined Channel in 2021 as the Vice President of Business Development for the East Region. Frasse is based in Florida and holds responsibility for driving business growth and developing new partner relationships for Channel’s product solutions across equipment finance and working capital. 

Prior to joining Channel, with 23 years of equipment finance industry experience, Frasse spent 10 years at GreatAmerica Financial Services as a National Accounts Manager where he worked to develop and manage one of the largest, top-performing accounts for the construction division in addition to a portfolio of other construction and equipment dealer accounts.

Drew Martin joined Channel in 2016 and currently serves as Chief Technology Officer. He manages the technical aspects and resources of the organization to ensure they are aligned with Channel’s growth goals and development. 

Prior to joining Channel, Martin was Head of Technology for Algomi, a bond trading platform. Martin dedicates his career to creating and executing initiatives that have consistently impacted bottom-line performance across the board through finance and technology. He holds 25 years of experience in fintech. 

Adam Ohme joined Channel in 2017, and currently serves as Senior Vice President and Director of Operations. In this role, Ohme provides strategic level support and leadership to the Channel Operations Team. Responsibilities include steering process and policy implementation and team development for equipment finance and working capital products.

Prior to joining Channel, with 20 years of financial service experience, held a leadership role at Wells Fargo, as Lending Manager in the Commercial Vehicle Group where he managed a credit analyst team. In his time at Wells Fargo, he served in various roles where he played a vital part in instituting numerous compliance and regulatory requirements, including BSA due diligence.

Ohme holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from St. John’s University, a Master of Business Administration from St. Mary’s University. He achieved his CLFP designation in 2021.

Troy Kepler joined Channel in 2019 as Corporate Counsel and oversees all legal and regulatory affairs, including corporate governance, company policies, contracts, labor and employment law, litigation, and corporate and regulatory compliance.

Prior to Channel, Kepler spent 14 years as Senior Corporate Counsel with U.S. Bank Equipment Finance where he managed the company’s litigation portfolio and advised on regulatory and compliance issues. 

Kepler graduated cum laude from Hamline University School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from North Dakota State University.

Mike McConnell joined Channel in February 2023 and currently serves as Senior Vice President & Treasurer. In this role, McConnell is responsible for Channel’s treasury function and capital markets efforts by managing warehouse lending facilities, developing relationships with new lenders and leading negotiations for new credit lines. 

Prior to Channel, McConnell worked in the treasury department of First Citizens Bank (formerly CIT Bank) where he was responsible for ABS issuance, unsecured debt issuance, bank note issuance, FHLB borrowing, brokered deposits, bank relations, transfer pricing, and the share repurchase program.  

McConnell received his Master of Business Administration from Rutgers University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Virginia Tech. He is also a CFA charter holder.

Ed Krueger joined Channel in 2018 and currently serves as Senior Vice President of Data & AI Platforms. He specializes in the application of advanced data science techniques to identify actionable insights that support business growth for Channel and its partners.

Prior to Channel, Krueger worked in the subprime consumer credit and health insurance industries where he designed models, developed & measured effectiveness of new strategies throughout the customer lifecycle, and optimized critical business decisions. His experience working in subprime consumer credit includes time with Bluestem Brands and Capital Services.  

Krueger holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Dakota and a Master of Science in Statistics from South Dakota State University.

Jill Fleck co-founded Channel in 2009 and currently serves as Vice President of Administration. Fleck oversees daily operations of the company’s business including Human Resources, Accounts Payable and any other office management and infrastructure needs Channel has.

Prior to Channel, Fleck was Operations Manager at PredictiFund, Inc a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital Access Network, Inc. Her responsibilities included broker relations, contract management, and industry association involvement. She also spent 14 years in the meeting planning industry as an Account Manager and Operations Manager helping to structure and execute performance incentives and national sales meetings for corporate clients.

Fleck is an active member of the Equipment Leasing Finance Association (ELFA), National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA), and American Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (AACFB).