Our story

Michael Hong was raised in Texas and started his career in Georgia. Prior to joining Taycor Financial, Mr. Hong started his career in equipment leasing and financing in 2001 in the proverbial mailroom as an intern for an east coast company. He transitioned and gained experience through multiple roles at the company finally serving as the VP of Business Development before moving to California.

Mr. Hong joined the Taycor Team in 2011 as the Director of Business Development. He was responsible for the company’s development of several key technologies and process efficiencies that were pivotal to the last several years of growth and evolution. In 2015, Mr. Hong was promoted to President where he leads the overall growth and operational strategy for the company. Mr. Hong is married to Mimi, and they have 2 daughters, Evelyn and Gracie. He enjoys Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and staying active.

Jill Winbauer was born and raised in Southern California. Ms. Winbauer studied Psychology at Loyola Marymount University while playing Division 1 soccer for the Lions women’s team. After graduation she joined DiTech.com, and worked in the fast-paced mortgage industry.

In 2004, Ms. Winbauer made a move to the equipment finance and leasing industry and joined Taycor. She started out as the Director of HR and Recruiting, and later moved to the credit and operations department. In 2012, Ms. Winbauer was promoted to Vice President of Operations, where she maintains relationships with Taycor’s primary bank sources, and overseas the credit and operations staff.

Ms. Winbauer is married to Kyle, and they have 2 young boys, Gavin and Cruz. In her free time, Ms. Winbauer enjoys spending time outdoors, at the beach, local parks, and playing sports with her boys.

Drew Olynick was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Mr. Olynick’s path to California began in New York where he played hockey at Union College and studied Economics. After college, he began his career with Mellon Bank and later Morgan Stanley Chase Bank before moving west.

In 2003, Mr. Olynick joined Taycor as an Account Executive. During his tenure, he served in a number of capacities including Sales Manager and VP of Sales. In 2007, Mr. Olynick became a partner in Taycor’s Boston office and oversaw its opening and growth. In 2010, he returned to California to continue as VP of Sales and grow originations. Today as Partner, he continues to oversee a team of originators along with handling Taycor’s syndication. Mr. Olynick earned his Certified Leasing and Finance Professional (“CLFP”) designation in 2016 and became a member of NEFA. He continues to be passionate about building relationships and providing financing solutions.

Mr. Olynick is married with 2 children. In his free time he helps coach his son’s club hockey team as well as play on a team of his own. He enjoys snowboarding, the beach, and spending time with his family.

Vu Nguyen was born in Vietnam and moved to California in 1995. After graduating high school Mr. Nguyen joined the US Marine Corp. in 2000. After serving his country, Mr. Nguyen attended Loma Linda University in 2010 and entered the wonderful world of commercial finance.

In 2018, Mr. Nguyen joined Taycor after holding several senior-level sales roles at Strada, Currency and BofA. Mr. Nguyen has been in the equipment finance space for over a decade and leverages his intimate knowledge of the finance process to position Taycor Financial as an ideal partner. Mr. Nguyen also built and runs Taycor’s Irvine office.

Mr. Nguyen is happily married and a father of 4 beautiful children. He enjoys time with the family and considers himself a foodie, enjoying trying new cuisines from around the world.

Angela Buckendorf was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. While pursuing her degree in Business and Marketing, Ms. Buckendorf gained valuable professional experience working at eBay, laying the foundation for her career in innovative and results-driven marketing.

In 2017, Ms. Buckendorf joined Aztec Financial as the Head of Marketing, where her dedication to fostering positive customer experiences and building brand loyalty drove significant revenue growth. In 2021, she joined Taycor Financial, where her passion for marketing continues to shape meaningful client relationships and fuel the company’s success.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Ms. Buckendorf enjoys spending quality time with her husband and son running a local board game convention. She is also an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys camping and hiking, finding inspiration and balance in Utah’s natural beauty.