Episode #284 Fireside Chat with Mitch Rice, CEO of Commercial Capital

Mitch Rice, CEO of Commercial Capital, joins Jesse Johnson on this week’s Fireside Chats with Jesse. In this episode, Mitch shares the story of Commercial Capital, a second-generation, family-owned equipment finance company based in Lenexa, Kansas. Mitch talks about growing up around the business, joining the company after college, learning the industry from the ground up, and helping lead Commercial Capital through growth, change, and economic uncertainty. Mitch and Jesse also discuss what it means to build a relationship-driven equipment finance company, why doing the right thing still matters, how Commercial Capital grew from 19 people to 65, and the leadership lessons that come with scaling a business while protecting culture. Topics covered in this episode include: The history of Commercial Capital and its family-owned roots How Mitch entered the equipment finance industry Lessons learned from selling equipment and financing early in his career Navigating the 2008 and 2009 downturn Why doing the right thing matters in equipment finance Commercial Capital’s focus on construction and material handling Growing from 19 employees to 65 Hiring the right people and protecting company culture The pressure and responsibility of leadership Why peer relationships through ELFA, NEFA, and industry events matter Advice for younger professionals entering equipment finance Why relationships remain the most valuable asset in the business If you work in equipment finance, commercial finance, small-ticket lending, construction finance, material handling, vendor finance, or relationship-driven sales, this conversation offers a practical look at leadership, growth, and long-term trust in the industry. Subscribe for more conversations with leaders across the equipment finance industry. Thank you to our Fireside Chat sponsors: Consult Disrupt, Liventus, Inc. and Equipment Finance Cares. #equipmentfinance #commercialfinance #smallticketfinance #vendorfinance #leadership #entrepreneurship #familybusiness #FiresideChatsWithJesse #ConsultDisrupt #Liventus #EquipmentFinanceCares