Our Team

What We Do

Summers Engineered Capital specializes in equipment financing, providing the capital necessary for commercial equipment acquisitions through loans, leases, and rentals. We offer tailored programs for manufacturers and equipment sellers, including special purpose entities (SPE), captives, and private label solutions. Our services support a diverse range of clients, including borrowers, investors, banks, manufacturers, and distributors.

We connect capital to opportunity. [{Get more insight on who we serve.}]

Our Origin Story

Paula Summers and Bill Summers are the brother-sister duo behind Summers Engineered Capital. They developed their expertise while working at Vision Financial Group, Inc. (VFG)—an equipment leasing and finance company founded in 1991 in Pittsburgh, PA by their father, Fred Summers. VFG remained privately held until October 2, 2022, when it was sold to Civista Bank (NASDAQ: CIVB) and became Civista Leasing & Finance (CLF).

During her time at VFG, Paula consistently ranked among the top producers, building impressive results with both new and repeat customers. She distinguished herself by connecting with clients, understanding their operations and needs, and structuring financing solutions that made sound business sense for everyone.

Meanwhile, Bill served as CEO of VFG and led its successful sale to Civista Bank, later heading CLF after the acquisition. He retired from Civista on July 12, 2024.

In the summer of 2024, Paula recognized a significant gap in the market. “I was seeing lenders grow increasingly conservative—pulling back on deals for customers I knew were deserving of funding,” she explains. “I realized that if I formed SEC, we could help a wider range of clients and build a company that truly brings value to the market. I love to help people win—and SEC enables me to do that!”

Determined to capitalize on this opportunity, Paula laid the foundation for Summers Engineered Capital (SEC). In January 2025, she persuaded Bill to end his short-lived retirement and join her. “She convinced me to come back to the industry I’ve known since 1990,” Bill says. “Her enthusiasm is infectious, and she’s given me a ‘new lease on the industry’ (pun absolutely intended)! We work hard, have fun, and take great satisfaction in helping our clients achieve their business goals.”

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