Mr. Schaefer is the founder and chief executive officer of Orion First, which has become an industry leader since its formation in 2001. His focus is on growing Orion into the leading loan and lease servicing company in the United States. He is a strong advocate for capital formation focused on the small and medium business market.

With a career spanning 45 years in the commercial finance industry, Dave’s leadership experience has been influenced by a broad range of roles including business development, treasury, operations, technology, accounting and portfolio management. He has been involved in both prime and sub-prime markets. Prior to establishing Orion, he was president, and a member of the Board of Directors of Financial Pacific Leasing Company Dave also founded Checkmate Certified Collections in 1975, a consumer and commercial collection agency.

Dave’s passion for the value small and medium businesses bring to their communities is a driving force behind his volunteerism. Dave joined the Small Business Council of the US Chamber of Commerce in 2021. Dave served on the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) board of directors from 2009 through 2019. He served as the chairman of LeasePAC, a federal political action committee advocating for the industry. He served as chairman of the board in 2018. He formerly served on the board of directors of the United Association of Equipment Lessors (now the National Equipment Finance Association). He obtained his Certified Leasing and Finance Professional certification in 1996, making him one of the industry’s earliest CLFPs.