SFNet Awards: SFNet Hall of Fame Inductee Profiles
As published in The Secured Lender, November 2025, Vol. 81, Issue 8
Profile of Jeffrey Goldrich – page 44
How did you get your start in the industry?
I started working in old-line factoring for William Iselin & Co, a subsidiary of CIT. It was there that I learned what an account receivable is and the art of collecting past-due money and what is owed. The only technology was telephones, and all the collection efforts were done by making phone calls and selectively paying in-person visits to companies to collect money. It is far more efficient today, but those lessons and techniques are still highly valuable and very much in use.
What advice would you offer to your “younger” self?
I would tell myself to be more confident and enjoy the challenges. I would also tell myself to listen carefully to the naysayers (they have a lot of good insight and advice), but to not let them discourage moving forward.
What are some of the most memorable moments of your career?
The most memorable moments of my career were starting two different asset-based lending companies and then selling both. The first was more nerve-wracking, just by virtue of the fact that I had never founded a startup prior to that. It was extremely gratifying to sell it 10 years later. The second was more memorable in the best possible way. Working collaboratively with the initial team and then building it up for an eventual sale was difficult, fun, anxiety-filled, gratifying and rewarding all at the same time. Our sale to SLR Investment Corp. was the best outcome for the business and the team and we have continued to grow without compromising on the entrepreneurial approach and attitude.
What professional achievement are you most proud of?
I am most proud of starting two companies and being part of an extraordinary team of people who all contribute extensively and in different ways to the success of the business. The fact that we have continued to add talented team members as we have grown and seeing those people take on active roles in the business is a source of enormous pride. As an aside, I also have to say that I am so proud of my wife, Marie, who has never stopped supporting everything I do, even when I used our hard-earned savings to start the fi rst company. It was, even in hindsight, a risky idea. My other source of pride is my long-term affiliation with my colleagues and personal friends, Dan Tortoriello and Betty Hernandez. They keep me out of trouble…and get me into it.
What role did SFNet, its events, and the connections you have made, play in your career development?
I recall going to Commercial Finance Association events years ago at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City and standing around watching people network. As I attended more of these events, it became easier and very rewarding on many levels. I established relationships and friendships that remain to this day and played a pivotal role in my career, whether it was when I worked for larger companies, banks or in starting our own entrepreneurial finance companies. These relationships have had very tangible results and were of assistance in starting my first business in 1995. Panel discussions both as an attendee and panelist, seminars, conventions, and networking events all played an important role in my career. Spending time on committees, being involved nationally and then working my way up the Management Committee to president was a highly meaningful process. Even though my presidency was during the pandemic with a remote convention and limited ability to travel, I felt privileged to hold that position. SFNet had so many tangible and intangible rewards that I cannot imagine achieving what I have without it.
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