Ronald and Connie Romain jointly have pledged their personal financial commitment in hopes of stimulating additional donations from other individuals. Because of the Romains’ support, the University has announced the naming of the College of Business in the family name.

“Connie and I remain devoted to the importance of higher education. Both of us benefited from our experiences in the public school system, especially at USI. I know our college education would likely not have been possible were it not for USI in our community. What so many individuals sacrificed for us now require our family to give back and create educational opportunities for others.”

Winners were selected from four categories: small companies of between 15 and 74 U.S. employees; medium companies of between 75 and 249 U.S. employees; large companies of between 250 and 999 U.S. employees; and major companies with 1,000 or more U.S. employees. Out-of-state parent companies were eligible to participate if at least 15 full-time employees are in Indiana.

Read more about this at 14WFIE news or at the Best Places to Work website.

In making this announcement, Martha Ahlers, ULI Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, stated that “Jim’s extensive presence in the financing industry will have an immediate and positive impact on the growth of our organization. He will be a tremendous asset.”

As head of Business Development, Mr. Reid will be responsible for the achievement of all sales, marketing and business development objectives for United Leasing. Working with the ULI’s sales team, Mr. Reid will develop and execute strategies designed to grow ULI’s client portfolio.

“I am excited and privileged to be joining the United Leasing team and look forward to helping the company achieve even greater success in the future,” stated Mr. Reid.

Founded in 1964, United Companies is a private owned corporation headquartered in Evansville, Indiana. It is comprised of United Leasing, Inc., Professional Transportation, Inc., and the Romain Automotive Group. United Companies has evolved into a multifaceted financial and transportation services organization with more than 3,000 corporate accounts. With over 6,100 associates, United Companies has direct operations in 40 states and the District of Columbia, and manages assets in all 50 states, Canada and Mexico. The collective organization is a uniquely different enterprise by its customer focus, innovative financing structures, and superior service, all supported by the reputation and integrity of our people.

Ahlers stated, “Continuing to improve our ranking year over year on the national stage is a satisfying achievement and a testimony to the hard work and dedication of our employees. The continued success of United Leasing is an indication of the common vision and commitment we share with our customers and their successes.”

The Monitor 100 special addition is published annually in July with an exclusive 30 page report analyzing various aspects including “…rankings by portfolio size, market share, segment leaders, new business originations, buy/sell-side activity, foreign assets as well as commentary on mergers and acquisitions, portfolio quality trends, retrospectives and forecasts for the coming year. The report also includes a comprehensive alpha-index of all Monitor 100 participants.”

ULI is proud of its customer-focus leasing processes, innovative financing structures, and superior customer service, all supported by the skill and integrity of its employees. ULI is part of an organization known as United Companies (UC), has been recognized in past years in Indiana Business Magazine as one of Indiana’s Top 50 Largest Private Companies. UC has evolved into a multi-faceted financial and transportation services organization and along with ULI includes Professional Transportation, Inc. and the Romain Automotive Group. Headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, UC is a unique enterprise that conducts business operations in 24 states and the District of Columbia; manages assets in all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico; services more than 3,000 corporate accounts; and has more than 4,000 employees.

The United Leasing Championship at Victoria National GC will feature a field of 156 golfers competing over 72 holes of stroke play for a purse of $550,000. Victoria National GC is a 7,239-yard par-72 layout designed by renowned architect Tom Fazio, which opened in 1998. A Pro-Am will be played at Victoria National on Wednesday, June 27.

All four rounds of the United Leasing Championship at Victoria National GC will air on Golf Channel in the U.S. The tournament will be distributed in 176 countries and territories, including Japan, Korea and parts of Latin America and Europe.

”The PGA TOUR is thrilled to be in Evansville today to make this new tournament announcement in conjunction with United Leasing, Victoria National Golf Club and the Evansville Sports Corporation,” said Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee. “We look forward to engaging the business community and the golf fans of the greater Evansville area in growing the Championship into one of the best tournaments on the Nationwide Tour. We appreciate the commitment of United Leasing in launching and supporting the event and the leadership of their CEO Ron Romain. The Tour players are going to love Victoria National and become big fans of Evansville at the same time.”

“Bringing a Nationwide Tour event to Victoria National is good for Evansville, the broader region and the business community,” said Ron Romain, chief executive officer of United Leasing, Inc. “I truly believe this tournament will help showcase the region, and we are very pleased to play a small part in making it happen, especially with the added bonus that the tournament will benefit many local charities, including Youth First.”

“Victoria National Golf Club is very pleased to host the Nationwide Tour’s United Leasing Championship in Evansville,” said Mike McCann, president of Victoria Partners. “The talents of the up and coming professional golfers of the world will certainly be tested by Tom Fazio’s dramatic design and Victoria National’s pristine conditioning. Since opening in 1998 Victoria National has been rated in the top-35 courses in the United States.

“The entire Victoria National staff and ownership is excited to bring TOUR-quality golf competition to Newburgh/Evansville area fans,” McCann said. “Our members in this area and our National Members, as well, are making plans for this to be the premier venue on the Nationwide Tour.”

“Our owner group at Suddath and Landology is being tremendously supportive of this event as a way to showcase Victoria National to the world, while also supporting the great community leadership we have found here,” added Suddath CEO Barry Vaughn.

“This type of event is exactly why we created the Evansville Sports Corporation,” said Bob Jones, CEO of Old National Bank Corporation and Chairman of the ESC. “Southwestern Indiana has tremendous sports facilities and a community of volunteers and hospitality that will ensure the success of events like this while also raising the community brand and quality of life for our entire region. The Sports Corporation looks forward to attracting additional sports opportunities for our community in the near future. The Evansville Sports Corporation is pleased to host this event linking outstanding golf with giving back to local youth organizations and charities. We will partner with other community leaders and volunteers to make sure this is a family-oriented event that makes our community proud.”

“This is great news that the Nationwide Tour is coming to my hometown, with Evansville-based United Leasing being the title sponsor,” said PGA TOUR member and Nationwide Tour alumnus Jeff Overton, who attended today’s press conference. “I am a huge fan of Victoria National Golf Club. I think it will be one of the best golf courses Nationwide Tour players see all year, if not the best.

“The Nationwide Tour is a fantastic tour that features some of the most talented players in the world. A majority of the leading players came to the PGA TOUR by way of the Nationwide Tour. Their impact on the PGA TOUR seems to grow every year. Just look at Keegan Bradley, Gary Woodland and Tommy Gainey, to name a few. All three were on the Nationwide Tour last year. Evansville and southern Indiana golf fans are in for a great week next year when the Nationwide Tour comes to town.”

Overton is a five-year veteran of the PGA TOUR who has four runner-up finishes and earnings of almost $8.3 million. The 2005 Indiana University graduate was born in Evansville and resides in Bloomington where he went to college. While at IU, Overton won eight individual collegiate titles and earned second-team All-American honors in 2004-2005. In September 2005, he secured the winning point in singles to recapture the Walker Cup for the United States. Overton was also a member of the 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup team in Wales.

Youth First will be one of the primary beneficiaries of the tournament proceeds. An Evansville organization, its mission is to strengthen youth and families through evidenced-based programs that prevent substance abuse, promote healthy behaviors, and maximize student success.

The United Leasing Championship at Victoria National Golf Club will also feature the “TICKETS Fore CHARITY™ program that has had much success in various Nationwide Tour markets. Area charities will have the opportunity to sell and receive 100% of all tournament ticket sales. Details will be announced in the future.

The number one goal of every player on the Nationwide Tour is to finish the season as one of “The 25” leading money winners, which secures a PGA TOUR card for the following year. In 2011, six players who competed on the Nationwide Tour last year have won a total of sevenPGA TOUR titles – Jhonattan Vegas, Gary Woodland, Brendan Steele, Keegan Bradley (two wins), Chris Kirk and Scott Stallings.

The United Leasing Championship at Victoria National GC will be organized and managed by the Evansville Sports Corporation.

ABOUT UNITED LEASING

Since 1964, United Leasing, Inc. (ULI) has been committed to providing comprehensive asset leasing and financing services to a growing customer base throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. We attribute our success to delivering superior services while maintaining our customer focus, all supported by the reputation and integrity of our employees.

United Leasing, Inc., along with Professional Transportation, Inc. and the Romain Automotive Group, are operating units of United Companies, headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, and named in past years by Indiana Business Magazine as one of Indiana’s Top 50 Largest Private Companies. For additional information about our companies visit our website a www.unitedcompanies.com

ABOUT VICTORIA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB

Created and maintained for the golf purist, this Tom Fazio-designed golf course is one of the nation’s top-ranked courses, currently #35 in “America’s Greatest 100 Golf Courses” in 2010 by Golf Digest. It was best described by one finalist in the USGA Senior-Am Championship, “It’s the toughest, most fair course I have ever played.” Set among 418 acres of striking terrain, native vegetation and deep, spring-fed lakes of Southern Indiana, hidden cart paths and trails wind through this unique setting for secluded play of 18 challenging holes. The course is free from encroachment of homes or development. Along with its adjacent 550 acres of untouched land, Victoria National is a Certified Audubon Sanctuary. For more information, please visit www.nationwide.com.

ABOUT ALLIED INSURANCE

Allied Insurance, based in Des Moines, Iowa, is a member of the Nationwide family of companies. At some Nationwide Tour events you will see Allied Insurance-branded tournament signage reflecting a strong local presence of Allied Insurance Operations. Nationwide, Allied Insurance, the Nationwide Framemark and On Your Side are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

2012 NATIONWIDE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

View the Nationwide Tournament Schedule

In her announcement Ahlers stated she was very pleased that United Leasing moved up three positions since last year’s rankings. “This recognition validates that even is a very challenging credit and funding market United Leasing turned 2009 and 2010 into some of our most-successful years since the company started operations in 1964. I credit this on-going success to the diligent efforts of our staff, our corporate focus on process improvement, and the clear understanding that our business is to provide business solutions to our customers.”

ULI is an operating unit of United Companies (UC), named in past years by Indiana Business Magazine as one of Indiana’s Top 50 Largest Private Companies, and also includes Professional Transportation, Inc. and the Romain Automotive Group as operating units. Headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, the companies conduct business operations in 25 states and the District of Columbia; manage assets in all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico; service more than 3,000 corporate accounts; and employs a growing workforce of over 3,300. UC is proud of its customer focus, innovative financing structures, and superior service, all supported by the reputation and integrity of its employees.

“The team at United Leasing is pleased that longtime business partner Dyno Nobel, a world-wide leader in the commercial explosives industry, selected ULI to handle this asset sale, lease-back transaction. Today’s transaction is the largest to date with Dyno Nobel and only strengthens what is already a solid business relationship. I also recognize and appreciate the hard work and professionalism exhibited by ULI’s staff and management in all phases of this transaction process.” stated Mr. Romain.

Dyno Nobel, the explosives manufacturing unit of Incitec Pivot Limited, is a global leader in the commercial explosives industry. The company provides blasting solutions and quality explosives products throughout North America and Australia, as well as to selected customers in other countries. For additional company information please visit www.dynonobel.com.

United Leasing, Inc. & ULI Canada Inc. are part of the collective organization known as United Companies, named in 2008 by Indiana Business Magazine as one of Indiana’s Top 50 Largest Private Companies.

Headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, United Companies (UC) is a multi-faceted financial and transportation services organization that consists of United Leasing, Inc., Professional Transportation, Inc., and the Romain Automotive Group. UC businesses conduct operations in 24 states & the District of Columbia; manage assets in all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico; service more than 3,000 corporate accounts; and employee a staff of 3,000. United Companies takes great pride in its ability to provide business solutions and superior customer service, all supported by the reputation and integrity of its employees.

Ahlers stated that ULI was “very pleased to be included in this elite group of 25 firms.” She also commented that the article acknowledged that of any private independent leasing company to make their ranking, ULI “. . . holds the distinction of having been in business for the longest period of time, turning 45 in 2009.”

ULI is part of an organization known as United Companies (UC), which was named in 2008 by Indiana Business Magazine as one of Indiana’s Top 50 Largest Private Companies.  United Companies has evolved into a multifaceted financial and transportation services organization and along with ULI includes Professional Transportation, Inc. and the Romain Automotive Group.  Headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, UC is a unique enterprise that conducts business operations in 24 states and the District of Columbia; manages assets in all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico; services more than 3,000 corporate accounts; and has 3,000 employees. UC is proud of its customer focus, innovative financing structures, and superior service, all supported by the reputation and integrity of its employees.

Contact:
Martha Ahlers
Vice President/C.O.O.
Phone: (812) 485-3576
Fax: (812) 485-3687
E-mail: mahlers@unitedevv.com