National Fleet Leasing and Equipment Leasing Company

While achieving significant success working for a large lease company, the increasing demands of a large organization coupled with a rigid customer service policy prompted John Miota to notice a niche for an independent, client-focused fleet vehicle leasing company.  John Miota presented his idea to the two owners of Southgate Ford, John Amato Sr. and Frank DeFranco.  The three men founded Southgate Leasing in 1973 in a small corner office next to Southgate Ford’s showroom floor.

While John Amato Sr. and Frank DeFranco of Southgate Ford were happy with Southgate Leasing’s success, they grew concerned about the large volume of GM vehicles Southgate Leasing was delivering out of the Ford dealership.  Southgate Leasing blossomed by leasing Oldsmobiles, the hottest selling nameplate in the mid-1970s Milwaukee market.  As John Amato Sr. purchased an Oldsmobile franchise, Southgate Leasing expanded into the complex where we currently reside.  John Miota became the sole owner of Southgate Leasing after purchasing the interests of both John Amato Sr. and Frank DeFranco.  Kevin Miota joined Southgate Leasing in 1988 primarily handling clerical duties, fleet vehicle deliveries and familiarizing himself with the fleet leasing operation.  Kevin Miota’s duties expanded in the next couple of years to include client relations, customer account reviews and eventually moving into outside sales.  Today, Kevin Miota is Southgate Leasing’s President and Chief Operating Officer.

A 20 year fleet leasing veteran named Pete Peckarsky approached Kevin and John with a unique opportunity in 2002.  A policy and business model change in Peckarsky’s former company prompted a meeting with Kevin and John, ultimately leading to the founding of Southgate Capital LLC.  Complementing Southgate Leasing’s fleet vehicle leasing, Southgate Capital’s focus is equipment leasing and heavy truck leasing.  Any item a business may need to lease, from computers to forklifts to heavy trucks to light duty vehicles, can be handled by one of the two companies.

Southgate Leasing has recently expanded by hiring a talented and experienced salesperson who has added solid corporate clients to our portfolio.  We have expanded our fleet management services to include more direct fleet vehicle vendors and Southgate Leasing branded materials, providing better company recognition, enhanced control, and greater client satisfaction.  Today Southgate Leasing generates significant goodwill in the fleet vehicle leasing and equipment leasing industry amount vendors, clients, and even competitors.  Kevin Miota attributes the success to Southgate Leasing’s business ethics, employee dedication and can-do attitude.  Southgate Leasing occasionally receives referrals from our fleet leasing competitors, a real rarity in the fleet vehicle leasing industry.

Southgate Leasing regards fleet leasing and equipment leasing as a unique and mature industry.  While recognizing the importance of fleet management technology, we understand our clients value speaking with real people who know them and care about them.  Since the average retention cycle of our current customer base is routinely 10+ years, clients valuing real relationships choose Southgate Leasing as their fleet leasing and equipment leasing partner.  Southgate Leasing foresees a good opportunity for continued success given the relatively tight credit environment and positioning of our company.  Southgate Leasing anticipates the challenge of reaching out to potential clients in the fleet vehicle leasing and equipment leasing markets.

Trust the Milwaukee fleet leasing and equipment leasing who’ve provided quality, cost-effective service to the Milwaukee area since 1973.  Call Southgate Leasing at 414.529.2992 for additional information about the Milwaukee equipment lease or fleet lease best for your business.