Utica Equipment Finance has hired Ben Carapezzi and Todd Witmer as Managing Directors of Sales, growing its origination team at a time when the company is working through one of the busiest pipelines in its history.

The two hires give Utica added reach as demand keeps building for its equipment loan and lease products, which range from $2 million to $50 million and serve middle-market companies across North America.

“Deal flow has been strong all year, and we needed more firepower on the origination side,” said Ed Stolarski, President of Utica Equipment Finance. “Ben and Todd both know how to find and structure the kind of complex transactions we do best. They will hit the ground running.”

Carapezzi has spent his career originating, structuring and placing debt for privately owned middle-market companies across a wide range of industries. His focus is highly structured debt and equipment finance transactions, including senior loans, capital leases, true leases, TRAC leases and sale-leasebacks, and he has built a reputation for shaping capital solutions around each client’s operations, asset base and growth plans.

Carapezzi also brings something few originators can match: a track record as one of the top B2B digital marketing strategists in the financial services sector. He uses modern digital platforms and data-driven outreach to source opportunities, build relationships and keep deals flowing in a crowded market, pairing old-school capital markets know-how with a modern approach to winning clients.

Witmer brings more than 35 years of experience in asset-based and commercial lending, capital markets and business development across the United States, Canada and Europe. He has originated and structured complex transactions, grown revenue, managed high-performing teams and built lasting relationships with private equity firms, turnaround specialists and other key referral sources. His background covers middle-market and large corporate financing, syndications and hybrid cash-flow solutions.

Witmer will lead Utica’s business development across the Midwest and Central United States, originating and managing client relationships with a focus on private equity-backed, owner-operated, high-growth, turnaround and other complex equipment refinancing situations.