Executive Leadership Team
Michael Smith, Executive Vice President, Chief Operations Officer, Member – Board of Managers
Mr. Smith, an attorney, started at Firestone Financial in 2008 and oversees the daily operations of Firestone, including sales and marketing, portfolio and risk management, and credit and loan operations.
Catherine Taskaya, First Vice President, Credit and Administration
Ms. Taskaya joined Firestone Financial in 2013 and oversees the daily operations of the Credit group as well as leading Credit Committee. She has over 25 years of experience in the credit, banking, and finance field and previously held roles in commercial lending at Westpac Banking Corporation in Australia and as Credit Risk Manager at Edison Mission Energy.
Steven Principi, Vice President, Portfolio Management
Mr. Principi joined Firestone Financial in September 2018 and manages the Portfolio Management and Compliance departments of Firestone. He has over 30 years of banking and financial services experience. Prior to joining Firestone, he held senior positions at various banking institutions, including Eastern Bank and Citizens Bank.
Gina Rotenberg, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives
Ms. Rotenberg joined Firestone Financial in 2010. Currently she serves as the VP of Strategic Initiatives and is responsible for leading Firestone's digital transformation and evaluating, designing, and standardizing all business information, systems, and processes in alignment with Firestone’s strategic goals. From 2010 to 2013 she served as the Manager of the Loan Administration group. Previously, she practiced corporate and business law in the New York office of Troutman Sanders, LLP, specializing in asset-based finance, mergers and acquisitions, and securities law.
She holds a Juris Doctorate Degree from Fordham University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dickinson College.
Sales and Marketing
Sal Cifala, Senior Sales Executive - Amusement, Vending, Video Lottery, and Carnival & Parks
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Carol Francis, Senior Sales Executive – Franchises, Location-based Entertainment, and Fitness & Wellness
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Rich Gockelman, Sales Executive – Carnival & Parks
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Leah Siporin, Head of Marketing
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