ELFA - Equipment Leasing and Finance Association - Equipping Business for Success

ELFA 62nd Annual Convention

October 22 - October 24, 2023
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort, Phoenix, AZ

ELFA 62nd Annual Convention

October 22 - October 24, 2023
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort, Phoenix, AZ

ELFA 62nd Annual Convention

October 22 - October 24, 2023

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort, Phoenix, AZ



Registration Opens  June 4th 
 

Call for Presentations Now Open!

The ELFA Annual Convention is the largest and most important annual gathering of leaders in the nearly $1 trillion equipment finance industry.

Submit a proposal to lead a discussion at the 63rd  ELFA Annual Convention, October 27-29, 2024 at the JW Marriott Downtown Austin in Austin,TX.

More Information on  Details, Deadlines, Submission Form & More coming soon

Registration Fees

Price Description Amount
- Spouse/Companion Mon & Tues (DAY) Events Only $700.00
1st Person Attending from a Member Company $2085.00
Additional Attendee - Member Company $1815.00
Additional Exhibitor $1815.00
Attendee - From Non Member Company $4175.00
First Time Attendee - Members Only $1315.00
Spouse -Tuesday Closing Party $150.00
Spouse Monday Event ONLY(Grapes & Gravel - ATVing) $275.00
Spouse Tues Event ONLY (Musical Instrument Museum) $275.00
Spouse/Companion (Pkg 1) - Entire Convention $850.00
Spouse/Companion(Pkg 2) - Opening & Closing Recep $350.00

View cancellation and other policies

Available Functions

12:00 am - 10:00 pm
  Dietary Requests
Sunday - October 22
8:30 am - 12:00 am
  Charity Bike Ride
$175.00
  Community Garden Cleanup at Urban Farming Education
9:00 am - 11:00 am
  Pickle Ball
$100.00
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
  New Members and Leadership Reception
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
  Women’s Council Reception
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
  Sunday Opening Reception
Monday - October 23
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  Equity and ETAC Reception
Tuesday - October 24
12:15 pm - 2:00 pm
  Outdoor Community Luncheon for all Attendees
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
  Closing Party

Speakers

David Adams

Head of Product Marketing, Commercial
Equifax



Megan Arey

Learning & Development Leader
GreatAmerica Financial Services



Jeffrey Bilbrey

CEO
Leasepath


Introducing Jeffrey Bilbrey, a distinguished professional with a remarkable trajectory in spearheading and advancing enterprise technology products and associated services since the early 1990s. Presently, he assumes the prestigious role of CEO within Leasepath's global business landscape, where he undertakes the pivotal responsibility of ensuring utmost customer satisfaction while propelling the flagship cloud-based finance origination platform to the zenith of the market. Leasepath's exceptional growth journey is underpinned by the augmentation of its product portfolio, heightened market visibility, and the delivery of pioneering market-leading functionalities through an agile cloud infrastructure.

Jeffrey Bilbrey's career narrative has been closely intertwined with the realm of Information Technology and consultancy. His affinity for software products transcends mere technicality, driven by a profound appreciation for how technology and automation can adeptly resolve tangible business challenges. His professional odyssey commenced post-university, embarking on a five-year stint as a consultant within the telecom sector across Europe (AMS - American Management Systems). Subsequently, Bilbrey embraced a pivotal role within a Boulder-based startup, contributing to pioneering efforts in online banking and bill-pay technologies (Avolent). His journey encompassed several transformative years within the Property & Casualty Insurance technology arena as a global product manager and delivery lead (Sentry Insurance, Majesco). Carving his path through diverse domains, Bilbrey emerged as a prominent figure in Healthcare IT (Cancer Treatment Centers of America) before assuming a leadership role as a board member and president within a publicly traded multinational engaged in commercial finance software.

Residing in Thousand Oaks, CA, Jeffrey Bilbrey shares his life with his wife and three children. Beyond his professional endeavors, he is an avid outdoors enthusiast, deeply passionate about pursuits such as hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, cycling, running, and triathlons. His exploration of the natural world allows him to relish the serenity and marvels it offers.


Andrew Blacklock

Senior Director, Strategy and Business Operations
Cisco Systems Capital Corporation


Andrew Blacklock is Director of Strategy & Business Operations of Cisco Systems Capital Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco Systems, Inc., where he is Chief of Staff to the President of Cisco Capital responsible for strategy, program management and business operations.  Cisco Capital is focused on delivering premier solutions in Technology Financing, Channel Financing, and Cisco Certified Pre-Owned Equipment. Cisco Capital has over $9 Billion in assets and provides technology financing in over 100 countries and channel financing in over 150 countries.
 
Prior to his current position, Andrew has held leadership roles within Structured Finance, Pricing, Portfolio Management, Credit Operations and most recently was responsible for financial product development.  In this role, Andrew was responsible developing financial products designed to support the acquisition of Cisco Solutions.
 
Andrew joined Cisco Capital from Lucent Technologies, Inc. in 1999. As Director, Customer Financing, he was responsible for structuring and negotiating financing structures for emerging wireline and wireless customers in the United States and Canada.  Before his role as Director, Customer Financing, Andrew held various roles within the treasury organization at Lucent Technologies and AT&T Network Systems finance organization.
 
Andrew holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Michigan State University and a Master of International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona.

Mark Blais

Chief Information Officer
Channel


Mark joined Channel Partners in July of 2019 as their Chief Information Officer.  Mark is responsible for all the technologies and resources that deliver best in class industry solutions. 

Mark has enjoyed a diverse career in senior technology leadership roles within companies such as Digi-Key, Target, Veritas/Symantec, Questar, and Lasersonics in technology epicenters like Silicon Valley.  His background leading enterprise development teams has allowed him to experience delivery in areas including 3D MRI, credit, scientific lasers, and multi-channel point of sale.  He has experienced and led teams that have encompassed the driving force and rapidity of change that technology brings in both hardware and software.  Mark holds a B.S. in IT Management from UOP and an Electronic Technology degree from Brown.
 

Gary Brackenridge

EVP, Business Development
Linedata Lending and Leasing



Andrew Cotter

EVP, Chief Information Officer
Somerset Capital Group, Ltd.


Andrew Cotter serves as Chief Information Officer for Somerset Capital Group, Ltd. and has been with the organization since 2002. Mr. Cotter is an experienced business leader and technology strategist providing vision and transformational leadership for more than 20 years. Mr. Cotter uses his extensive experience in people leadership, business operations, and technology innovation to partner with the organization. Through this partnership he develops effective plans and strategies to achieve meaningful results as well as enables continuous innovation needed to improve the customer experience required to succeed in the digital age.

Mr. Cotter serves on the board of Fairfield/Westchester Society for Information Management, is active on the ELFA Technology Innovation Working Group, and is the Immediate Past Chair of the ELFA Operations and Technology Committee.


Jon Davies

Vice President of Sustainable Development - Commercial Finance
Mitsubishi HC Capital America, Inc.



Kristian Dolan CLFP

CEO
Northteq


Kristian has been a technologist in the equipment finance space for almost two decades. Kristian started his career in equipment finance as a software engineer for CapitalStream (System1) out of Seattle, Washington. He started a consulting company E2E Systems in 2005 focusing on building straight through loan origination solutions for the commercial lending industry. They also built loan origination solutions for the mortgage industry. Subsequently, E2E Systems merged with Tamarack Consulting in 2013. Kristian continued to lead the loan origination practice as co-owner at Tamarack until 2020 when Northteq was spun off into a separate entity 100% focused on loan origination technologies and integrating with Fintechs.

Kristian has been actively involved in board, committee, and speaking engagements with the ELFA, NEFA, and the CLFP. Kristian’s passion is identifying 3rd party services FinTech services and enabling them for the equipment finance industry. Kristian has written articles for the industry including “There’s an API for that” (available per request) which has some overlap to this research. As well, Deborah Reuben and Kristian Dolan co-authored the Equipment Finance Software Guide (available per request).

Kristian is the lead researcher in the ELFF study being conducted.

Kristian graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle with degrees in Management Information Systems and Japanese. He lives with his wife and 3 children in Minneapolis, MN.


Michael Dow

Partner
Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP



Jeffry Elliott CLFP

President
Huntington Equipment Finance


Mr. Elliott is President of Huntington Equipment Finance (“HEF”) a division of The Huntington National Bank. Mr. Elliott is responsible for the Business Equipment Solutions Team (“BEST”), which focuses on equipment financing for Huntington’s Regional Banking clients, Huntington Public Capital®, which focuses on lending to the municipal, university, school & hospital (“MUSH”) entities and more recently launched the Renewable Energy Finance group that focuses on solar, wind, battery and other renewable energy generation projects. Additionally, Mr. Elliott is leading the Clean Energy Banking strategic initiative focusing on helping Huntington clients with the energy transition.

Mr. Elliott began his banking career with Security Pacific a Subsidiary of Bank of America in 1993 in the consumer finance division. Prior to Huntington, Mr. Elliott was Vice President with U.S. Bank as Manager of the Indirect Funding Group; he joined Huntington in 2001 as part of the newly established Huntington Equipment Finance Division.

Mr. Elliott specializes in analyzing equipment finance related financial contracts as it relates to wholesale lending activities or merger & acquisition transactions. He is an active participant in the syndication markets, both on the buy and sell side of equipment leasing and loan transactions. Project Finance is another area of focus, primarily in the renewable energy markets working on back leverage term loans, solar sale-leaseback, and tax equity transactions.

Mr. Elliott holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from the Richard T. Farmer School of Business at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and a Master of Business Administration from the Williams College of Business at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Mr. Elliott is a Certified Lease Finance Professional (“CLFP”) and was formerly an active member of the CLFP Board of Directors. Mr. Elliott was formerly involved with the Mid America Association of Equipment Lessors (“MAEL”), where he served as Vice Chairman/Board of Director. Currently he is Treasurer and a board member of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Association. Mr. Elliott is a former Chairman of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation and former Chairman of the Research Committee and a member of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Elliott is a current board member of the Association for Governmental Leasing and Finance (“AGLF”). Mr. Elliott is also a retired member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association as a High School Basketball & Football Official.

Mr. Elliott enjoys the pursuit of the culinary arts, wine appreciation and collecting and golf, where he is a member of Avon Oaks Country Club. He resides in Bay Village, Ohio with his wife and two children.

Andy Fishburn CLFP

VP, Federal Government Relations
Equipment Leasing and Finance Association


Andy Fishburn is the Vice President of Federal Government Relations for the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), the premier trade association representing 575+ member organizations in the $1 trillion equipment finance sector.

Mr. Fishburn joined ELFA in September 2012. He directs and operates all aspects of the association’s federal relations strategy and the engagement of members in political programs.

Fishburn has focused on legislative, financial and tax policy matters throughout his distinguished career within the Department of Treasury and the U.S. Congress. He served in legislative affairs positions and as senior advisor to four Secretaries of the Treasury, including as a Deputy Assistant Secretary under Secretaries John Snow and Henry Paulson. During 2010 and 2011, he served on the staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance and worked for Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on tax policies such as bank taxation, tax administration, oversight of the IRS, tax extenders and small business tax issues. Most recently, he was the Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Mint, acting as the Bureau’s lead legislative strategist and congressional liaison.

He has a B.S. in environmental studies from the University of Michigan and a Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University.

Kelly Furia

Head of Global Marketing & Experience (CMO)
DLL



Roman Gajda

Director of Financial Technology Solutions
Mitsubishi HC Capital America, Inc.


Roman Gajda is the Director of Financial Technology Solutions for ENGS Commercial Finance Co. (“ENGS”), an industry-leading finance company that has provided specialized lease/loan financing solutions to the equipment industry since 1952.  He is responsible for managing the digital brands and leading the fintech strategy to both new and existing business relationships.  Roman has over 25 years of experience in the equipment finance industry and has held various leadership roles developing organizations, handling all aspects of transactions and national programs, from origination through funding.  Previously, he held various leadership positions at Forsythe Technology, Relational Funding, and Comdisco, always with a focus on people, process and profitability.

Nathan Gibbons CLFP

Chief Experience Officer
QuickFi


Nate began his career in equipment leasing with First American Equipment Finance in 2006. As an early career professional, he attended the ELFA's Future Leasing Leaders Institute, which helped solidify his desire to become an effective and influential leader. In 2013 he was the recipient of the "Chairman's Award" (First American's highest honor) for excellence in character and leadership. In the same year he was also promoted to Vice President and helped develop and manage the company’s learning and professional development strategy.

Nate currently works for Innovation Finance where he is responsible for overseeing the operational strategy of the company. With an emphasis on emerging technologies and automation, his energy is focused on operational design that results in dramatic improvements to the customer experience.

Following his passion to help people reach their potential, he has served as Chair of the ELFA's Emerging Talent Advisory Council, and also serves on the Board of Directors for the Certified Lease & Finance Professional Foundation.

Nate resides in Webster, New York with his wife Keila and their two sons Noah and Micah.


Barbara Goodstein

Partner
Mayer Brown LLP


Barbara M. Goodstein is a partner in the Banking & Finance practice of the New York office of Mayer Brown LLP. Barbara's experience consists of commercial and structured financing as well as restructuring of transactions for a wide range of asset types including auto, trade, health care, timeshare and lease receivables, sports franchises, intellectual property, transportation equipment (including aircraft, aircraft engines, railcars and vessels), technology equipment, medical equipment, communications and office equipment, construction equipment, and marine and inter-modal containers. She also has extensive debt workout and restructuring experience primarily representing senior creditors and syndicate groups, bondholders, and secured creditors both in and out of bankruptcy; foreclosures, DIP and exit financing; contested and consensual bankruptcy matters; and other financial and legal restructurings.

Barbara is a featured columnist for The New York Law Journal's Secured Transactions section and a former Regent, and current Fellow of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers. She previously served as a member of the Board of Editors of Equipment Leasing Newsletter and the Uniform Commercial Code Law Journal. She also previously served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the ELFA, and is currently a member of the Legal Committee Subcommittee on Air, Rail and Marine.

Barbara has been recognized as an outstanding lawyer by ELFA, having received ELFA's Legal Committee Edward A. Groobert Excellence in Leasing Award in 2015. She is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and recently chaired a Task Force for the ABA Committee on Structured Finance and Securitization. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Port Chester-Rye Brook Public Library.


Edward Gross

Shareholder
Vedder Price P.C.


Edward K. Gross is a Shareholder at Vedder Price and a member of the Global Transportation Finance team.

He established the firm’s Washington, DC office and has over 30 years of experience representing bank-affiliated and large, independent equipment financing companies in all aspects of equipment finance transactions, including documenting, structuring, negotiating, syndicating and enforcing these transactions. Mr. Gross handles all types of equipment finance matters and structures, including single-investor, leveraged financings, true/ tax motivated leases, synthetic leases, TRAC leases, “bundled” and other vendor-originated financings, and domestic and cross-border financings, primarily for transportation equipment, but also for other types of equipment, including: manufacturing and assembly line, construction and drilling, energy-related and other facilities, medical and health-related facilities, high-tech equipment (including “bundled” financings), trucks and trailers, modular units and vessel repair equipment.

Mr. Gross is considered an industry leader in business aircraft and helicopter finance. These transactions vary in structure and include tax and non-tax lease, operating lease and secured loan financing of managed and/or chartered aircraft, fleet aircraft and helicopters operated in various service capacities (e.g., air ambulances, oil and gas service, flight schools, etc.) and engine pools, aircraft operated under fractional and “pay card” arrangements and progress payment, completion and other multi-funding structures. Clients include market-leading aircraft and helicopter financing providers, investors or operating lessors, as well as large publicly or privately held businesses, governmental entities or high-net-worth individual users. Many of these transactions involve foreign registered aircraft.

Many clients rely on Mr. Gross in syndication transactions, including large portfolio purchases, “one-off” sales and assignments, discounting, back-leveraging and participation transactions. He has worked with Vedder Price’s Capital Markets team on securitizations of diverse asset classes. Mr. Gross has prepared lease, loan and syndication forms for many of the most active financing providers in the industry. Working with Vedder Price’s well-regarded bankruptcy and creditors’ rights practice, Mr. Gross has assisted financing providers, including various creditor groups, with workout, restructuring, bankruptcy and enforcement matters.

Mr. Gross has been selected for inclusion in numerous editions of Who's Who Legal’s The International Who's Who of Aviation Lawyers, including the 2014 edition in which Mr. Gross participated in a roundtable discussion. In the 2013 edition of that publication, Mr. Gross is named one of the top 500 aviation lawyers in the world, and is cited as “a go-to lawyer for finance, insolvency and restructuring…well-respected by commercial clients.” In 2016 through 2020, Mr. Gross was ranked Band 1 in Private Aircraft (Global-wide) in Chambers High Net Worth, which recognizes the world’s leading high net worth advisers. In addition, in 2013 Mr. Gross was ranked in Chambers USA in the Nationwide Banking & Finance: Equipment Finance & Leasing category. He was selected by his peers for inclusion in Washington DC Super Lawyers (2007–2020) and The Best Lawyers in America (2007–2021) in the field of Equipment Finance Law. Mr. Gross was elected as Fellow to the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers in 2011, and elected as Regent to the College in 2012. He has been recognized by the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), receiving the Distinguished Service Award in 2008 and ELFA’s Legal Committee Edward A. Groobert Excellence in Leasing Award in 2011.

A client respondent in Airfinance Journal’s 2011 Guide to Aviation Lawyers mentions, “Vedder Price can turn a deal in a day or two if necessary. Ed Gross is our go to person for time-sensitive matters.” He also recognized among the world’s leading aviation attorneys by in Euromoney’s Expert Guides “Aviation Guide” from 2013 to 2020.

Mr. Gross obtained his B.A. from the University of Maryland and his J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.


Stephanie Hall CLFP

Vice President of Sales
Quality Equipment Finance


Stephanie Hall, CLFP is Vice President of Sales at Quality Equipment Finance and has extensive experience in small-ticket equipment finance, having made her home in the space for more than 17 years. She was previously with a publicly traded bank in the Chicagoland area, where she was Executive Vice President of the Small Ticket segment, having built the segment for the bank. She also served as Executive Vice President of an Austin-based independent finance company where she was responsible for syndication, portfolio sale, oversight of credit and funding, compliance and documentation and prior to that was Vice President of Third-Party Originations for a bank-owned equipment finance company for more than 10 years. Ms. Hall earned her CLFP designation in 2014 and is actively involved in industry associations. She spent several years on the board of directors for the National Equipment Finance Association, culminating with her service as President/Chairman of the Board in 2016-2017. She is currently serving on the Advisory Council for Equipment Finance Cares, the Membership Committee for the ELFA and on the Women in Leasing Committee and Standards and Ethics Committee for the National Equipment Finance Association.


Rajnish Harjika

VP Technology, Cloud Services
NETSOL Technologies Inc.



Mitch Helman

Sales Manager
Sandhills Global



Christopher Kelley

Executive Vice President & CCO
Verdant Commercial Capital LLC



Martin Klotzman CLFP

Director of Marketing and Operations
Ivory Consulting Corporation


Martin is Senior Manager Marketing and Product Management at Ivory Consulting Corporation. His focus includes creating and leading all organizational marketing efforts, and developing strategies to maximize Ivory’s internal operational fluidity by leveraging Salesforce's platform. He is Chair of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association's "Emerging Talent Advisory Council," where his focus is on educating and attracting new talent to the industry.

Prior to joining Ivory, he co-founded the San Francisco based concert production company, Our House Records, where he served as CFO. Martin received an MBA with an emphasis in Sustainable Business from San Francisco State University and B.S. in Finance from San Francisco State University. He also graduated from Bloc's full-stack web development bootcamp.

Joe Leonard CLFP

CEO
Oakmont Capital Services



Dominic Liberatore

Deputy General Counsel
DLL


Dominic A. Liberatore is the Deputy General Counsel for DLL, a global provider of leasing and business finance solutions, including vendor finance.

Mr. Liberatore has been practicing law for 35 years focusing on leasing and asset based lending, and has served in a variety of senior in-house legal positions with DLL, IOS Capital, Inc. (the captive finance subsidiary of IKON Office Solutions, Inc.), Copelco Financial Services Group, Inc. and the FDIC. Prior to going in-house, Mr. Liberatore was an associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City and Wolf Block in Philadelphia. Mr. Liberatore is a past chairman of the ELFA Legal Committee, current ELFA Subcommittee Coordinator and a past chairman of the Subcommittee on Leasing of the Uniform Commercial Code Committee of the ABA Business Law Section. Mr. Liberatore is also a member of the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Equipment Lease Financing.

Mr. Liberatore holds a J.D. from Vanderbilt University and a B.A. from the University of Buffalo.


Kyle Mallinger




Jennifer Martin CLFP

Chief Product Officer
LTi Technology Solutions


Jennifer Martin is part of the Key Equipment Finance senior leadership team and is responsible for the success of internal and enterprise-wide initiatives as well as enabling KEF’s success through sales enablement activities, data driven strategic modeling, problem solving, helping market KEF’s capabilities, and delighting clients through effective execution.

Jen has been in the industry and Key for 25 years and has held many roles including Operations Manager for various support/client service teams, Project Manager, Technology product owner, Quality assurance manager and vendor program development leader.

Jen Martin is also heavily involved in the equipment finance industry- a former member of the ELFA Women’s council, a member and former Chair for the ELFA Operations and Technology Committee and a member of the Monitor’s Editorial board.


Louis Maslowe

Chief Risk Officer, Commercial Domain
DLL


Lou Maslowe, Chief Risk Officer – Commercial at DLL, is a results-oriented leader with more than 30 years of experience in the equipment finance and asset-based lending industries. Maslowe first joined DLL in 2005, where he held multiple senior risk management roles, with the last four years as Chief Risk Officer – Americas. In early 2017, Maslowe moved into the role of Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer at Marlin Capital Solutions, a publicly traded specialty finance company. After five years with Marlin, Maslowe returned to DLL in the role he holds today. Prior to joining DLL, Maslowe held various senior risk and commercial roles with HP Financial Services, HSBC Business Loans,, ORIX Financial Services, and Westinghouse Credit Corporation.

Maslowe is an active ELFA member, currently serving as a committee member for the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation and the Climate Financing Working Group. From 2018-2022, Maslowe served as the Chair for the ELFA Credit & Collections Conference Planning Committee.

Maslowe earned his undergraduate degree in Finance from Bloomsburg University and went on to earn an MBA from Drexel University.

Jena Morgan CLFP

COO
360 Equipment Finance, LLC


Jena Morgan, CLFP leads the operations team of KLC Financial, Inc. since 2014. She strives to remove roadblocks from the sales cycle, enhance productivity from its people and to deliver a suburb customer experience. Jena’s vision for ongoing improvement, drive for execution on the deliverables and deep love for helping people get where they want to go, makes her a unique leader.

Jena is a technology visionary who has been able to see the impact technology and data can have on both the customer experience and operational excellence. She is passionate about taking visions from great ideas to people and profit powerhouses. She believes the equipment finance industry can be the leader in technology deployment rather than the follower.

Jena is honored to be on the 2022 CLFP Board of Directors as the NEFA liaison and a member on the planning committee for ELFA Technology and Operations conference. She is an avid advocate of industry organizations and continuing their strong partnership. She is excited to volunteer in these capacities.


Robert Neagle

President and CEO
Finova Capital, LLC


Bob Neagle is currently President and CEO of Finova Capital, LLC and Chair of the ELFA. Prior to this current role, Bob was President and General Manager of the Merchant Finance Division of Ascentium Capital LLC. In this role, he was responsible for Ascentium Capital’s entry into the payments industry, and the general direction of the business and its P&L.

Over the past thirty years, he has held senior management roles with leading companies in the equipment leasing and financing industry. He began his career with TriContinental Leasing, later Bell Atlantic Capital, where he was SVP and COO of the commercial equipment finance group. He later joined AT&T Capital where he was SVP of Marketing for the Business Finance unit which provided SBA loans, conventional loans and small ticket leasing. While at AT&T Capital, he started the Franchise Finance Division which provided equipment and real estate financing to select National franchisors. After some time at CIT leading its Franchise Finance group, he joined First Data Corporation in 2004 where he led the rapid and profitable growth of First Data Global Leasing both in the United States and Europe, and served on the board of the company’s largest International joint venture.

He previously served 2 terms as a Trustee of the Equipment Leasing and Financing Foundation. Over the years, he has published articles in the JELF and for 30 years has served as a member of the Editorial Review board of the Journal of Equipment Leasing and Finance.


He is a Ph.D. graduate of Loyola University Chicago.


Steve Oliver

National Director of Sales
Taylor & Martin Auctioneers and Appraisals


Steve Oliver
Vice President of Business Development – Taylor and Martin Auctioneers
Steve Oliver has been the National Director of Sales for Taylor and Martin Auctioneers since 2017 and was recently named the Vice President for Business Development. Steve heads a sales team that generates over $500 million in transportation truck and trailer sales, at over 50 live consignment and dispersal auctions annually. Prior to working for Taylor and Martin, Steve spent the bulk of his career in the auto dealership space, most recently as a General Manager for a large dealer group in Omaha.
Taylor and Martin is an employee owned auction, remarketing, appraisal, and consulting company based in Fremont, Nebraska. Taylor and Martin counts some of the country’s largest fleets, dealer groups, and transportation lenders as customers in both the auction and appraisal sides of the business. In business since 1935, Taylor and Martin is dedicated exclusively to the transportation equipment business.

Harmony Oswald

Founder & CEO
lucy technologies, inc.


Harmony Oswald, Esq. is a U.S. Army First Infantry Division Veteran, and the founder & CEO of lucy technologies, inc, a fintech startup empowering small to mid-size businesses to earn, protect, and attract more money into their companies via (1) de-risking technologies, (2) industry specific news, and (3) funding events. She’s also the managing attorney at Oswald Law Firm, focused on results driven CA commercial finance litigation & enforcement. In 2016, Harmony earned a Juris Doctor degree and High-Tech Law Certificate with Honors from Santa Clara Law. In 2021, she was featured on the cover and in the Finance/Banking Section of the Silicon Valley Business Journal Book of Lists. Fun fact: Harmony was formerly a contestant on NBC's Fear Factor. To learn more about Harmony, visit harmonyoswald.com


Patricio Pazmino

Head of Analytics
Kin Analytics



Kayla Perlinger CLFP

Vice President, Syndications
Oakmont Capital Services



Candace Reinhart CLFP

COO/CXO
CoreTech Leasing, Inc.


With over two decades of experience as a Certified Lease and Finance Professional (CLFP), Candace has consistently harnessed her expertise to drive operational efficiencies and establish scalable solutions in the realm of equipment leasing. Her extensive tenure in the industry has molded her into an equipment generalist and fervent enthusiast for the nuances of equipment lease dynamics.

At the heart of her journey lies CoreTech Leasing, where Candace has assumed the pivotal roles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Experience Officer. Guiding Operations and Syndications, she orchestrates strategic initiatives that amplify client value on a grand scale, solidifying CoreTech's standing as an industry frontrunner.

Candace's CLFP accreditation underscores her unwavering commitment to continuous learning and mastery of industry intricacies. This qualification empowers her to navigate intricate financial landscapes with finesse, shaping informed decisions that resonate across CoreTech's operational landscape.

Through adept leadership, she not only sustains CoreTech's competitive edge but propels it to unprecedented altitudes, infusing innovation into every operational facet. Her all-encompassing experience provides her with a holistic perspective on operational workflows, enabling her to forge seamless synergies between departments and foster collaborative excellence.

Candace's dedication to refining operational nuances, coupled with her strategic acumen, has earned her a reputation as a dynamic leader who transforms concepts into reality. By steering Operations and Syndications, she engineers fluid client experiences that resonate profoundly, solidifying CoreTech's position as an industry vanguard synonymous with excellence.

In essence, Candace's professional voyage is marked by an unrelenting pursuit of operational mastery, a fervent zeal for equipment leasing, and an unwavering dedication to propelling CoreTech Leasing towards an innovative and prosperous future.


Deborah Reuben CLFP, DES

CEO & Founder
TomorrowZone


Deborah "Deb" Reuben, CLFP, DES, is CEO and Founder of TomorrowZone, a technology strategy consultancy inspiring fresh ideas and collaborations to shape the future of business. She encourages new thinking to explore the art of the possible through her extensive technical knowledge, equipment finance experience, and passion for challenging the status quo. Her expertise will enhance and broaden your company's products and services and create efficiencies that will produce a competitive advantage for your company.

Her view on digital transformation and future-readiness is radically different with over two decades of innovating, speaking, and most importantly, real-life, in-the-trenches innovation experience in finance and software industries. Deborah appreciates and shares with clients and audiences that digital transformation is less about the digital and more about the people. When it comes to thinking about technology, innovation, and the future, you can choose to act today to shape your future. The best investment you can make is investing in what's between your ears by taking ownership of your personal growth. Everyone, regardless of role, must stay on top of technology and trends to stay ahead of tomorrow.

What surprises most clients is her ability to combine big company thinking and entrepreneurial ideas to create marketplace success. Deb's clients and audiences include companies like PNC, Wells Fargo, DLL Group, Huntington (TCF Bank), Dell, Mitsubishi UFG, Caterpillar, Key Equipment Finance.

She currently serves on the CLFP Foundation Board of Directors and authored The Certified Lease and Finance Professionals' Handbook, 6th – 9th editions. She served on ELFA's Board of Directors and is the founder and chair of the ELFA Innovation Advisory Council. In partnership with ELFA, she and her team moderate quarterly industry innovation roundtables for the ELFA to bring forward-thinking insights and fresh ideas to ELFA Members.

Reuben also served on the Monitor Editorial Advisory Board and co-founded the Disrupted+ innovation conference series with Monitor. She is the recipient of both the CLFP Foundation Cindy Spurdle Award of Excellence and the ELFA Michael J. Fleming Distinguished Service Award. Monitor Magazine honored her as one of the 50 Most Powerful Women Leaders in Equipment Finance, named TomorrowZone one of the most innovative companies in the equipment finance ecosystem and honored her as an Industry Disruptor Icon. Learn more at tomorrowzone.io.


Bob Rinaldi CLFP

President
Rinaldi Advisory Services


Bob Rinaldi is a lifelong entrepreneur with a sizable history of success in banking and commercial equipment finance.

President of Bob Rinaldi Advisory Services, Bob provides advisory services to independent lessors, banks, industry service providers, manufacturers and international firms entering the US equipment finance marketplace.

Managing Director of Amembal & Associates

Advisory Board Member of Orion First

Advisory Board Member of Mintaka Financial

Past Board Member of FintruX Pte. LTD

Past-Chairman and Director of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA)

Past CEO of Commercial Industrial Finance (“CI Finance”)

Past SVP and Board Director of CBank, (acquirer of CI Finance)

Past SVP of CSI Leasing, responsible for its organic and inorganic growth strategies.

Past EVP of National City Commercial Capital Company, acquirer of Provident Bank (NC4), now PNC Equipment Finance

Past President of NC4 Canada

Past SVP of Provident Bank, acquirer of Information Leasing Corp. (ILC)

Past EVP, Principal and a founding partner of ILC

Barry Ripes

SVP, Financial Services Leader
Equifax


Barry Ripes is Senior Vice President, Financial Services Leader at PayNet / Equifax Commercial. Barry leads the Financial Institutions, Commercial Finance, Capital Markets, and Fin Tec & Payments businesses.

Jim Ryan

Equipment Lease & Finance Manager
Sandhills Global



Jennifer Sablowski



Jennifer Sablowski is the SVP, Truck and Equipment Leasing at Wheels(formerly LeasePlan USA) and manages the commercial team consisting of direct originations, syndications, and client services. She has 22 years of equipment leasing experience at LeasePlan with various prior roles including Accounting Director, Corporate Controller, Pricing Director, and VP Remarketing & Portfolio Administration. She holds a BS Finance from University of Florida, a MS Finance from Georgia State University, and most recently a MS Accounting from University of North Carolina. Jennifer enjoys mentoring and actively volunteers at her daughter’s school.

Darpan Saini

Co-Founder & CEO
App0 Inc



Bradley Salyer

Associate General Counsel
U.S. Bank



William Schmidt

Director of IT
Oakmont Capital Services



Kristi Schon

Chief Marketing Officer
Channel



Moorari Shah

Partner
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLC


Moorari K. Shah is Partner in the Orange County and San Francisco offices of Sheppard Mullin. He represents banks, equipment finance companies, fintechs, mortgage companies, auto lenders, and other non-bank financial institutions in transactional, licensing, regulatory compliance, and government enforcement matters covering mergers and acquisitions, consumer and commercial lending and leasing, and supervisory examinations and enforcement actions involving state and federal agencies.

Mr. Shah received his J.D. from Boston University School of Law (cum laude) and his B.A. from Duke University. He is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) and a certified Six Sigma Black Belt.


Benjamin Speed

Vice President - Global Structured Finance & Private Credit
Johnson Controls Capital


Ben is the global leader of JC Capital, the captive finance and private credit lender of Johnson Controls International.

JC Capital secures infrastructure and real estate projects for Johnson Controls by offering creative financing solutions for companies and governments around the world. As a direct lender, JC Capital’s senior, subordinate, and mezzanine loans offer construction and long-term financing.

Ben joined Johnson Controls in 2010. Under his leadership of JC Capital, the company launched innovative financing programs, opened operations in 12 countries, and funded over $5 billion of infrastructure projects. Ben’s global team manages all aspects of the lending business, including originations, portfolio management, operations, and financial reporting.

Ben has over 24 years of experience in project finance, asset-based lending, investment banking, and infrastructure development. Prior to joining Johnson Controls, he held several positions in banking, project finance, and project development.

Ben graduated from George Washington University with an MBA degree and from Emory University with a BA degree.

He and his wife, Amanda, live in Milwaukee and have three children.

DelRoy Stauffer CLFP

VP, Sales
Odessa



Tawnya Stone CLFP

Vice President, Strategic Technology
GreatAmerica Financial Services


Tawnya Stone, Vice President, Strategic Technology, is responsible for the overall strategic direction, oversight and implementation of customer-facing tools and products across various GreatAmerica business units. She works in close collaboration with business unit and functional leadership and external technology partners. Tawnya joined GreatAmerica in 2011 as an IT Project Manager and eventually evolved into subsequent roles that blended technology and customer facing activities. Prior to joining GreatAmerica she worked for Philips Electronics and Verizon Communications in the Washington DC metro area.

Tawnya was the previous President of the Managed Print Services Association (MPSA) and Executive Council member of CompTIA’s Technology Lifecycle Services (TLS) Community and past Chair of CompTIA’s Managed Print Services (MPS) Community. She was recognized by ENX as Difference Maker in 2016 and 2018. Tawnya also is a member the Technology Innovation working group and Chair of the Operations and Technology committee within the ELFA.


Denis Stypulkoski

Founder and Principal
Reimagine Advisors


Denis Stypulkoski is a seasoned business executive with a successful track record of launching and building a private equity startup into a major industry competitor. Denis is known as a senior executive who bridges the business and technology landscape. He has envisioned, developed, delivered and managed business startups and technology platforms in leading-edge technology environments, with a focus on revenue creation, digitalization, and customer experience.

Denis's leadership experience spans from startups to global companies within the technology, finance and banking industries and includes executive positions with TIAA Bank, EverBank, Tygris Commercial Finance Group, US Express Leasing, CIT Group, Newcourt Credit Group, and AT&T Capital Corporation.

Denis most recently launched Reimagine Advisors, a business transformation consultancy helping organizations reimagine their business to compete in the digital economy. He also serves as an independent director and chair of the technology committee on the boards of both GreatAmerica Financial Services and IFG Companies.

Justin Tabone

SVP Originations, Vendor Equipment Finance
EverBank


Justin Tabone leads originations for TIAA Bank's vendor equipment financing team, which specializes in financing solutions for U.S. businesses originated through a select network of manufacturers, dealers, resellers and distributors, and is supported by private label and co-branded programs. 
Tabone began his career in retail banking, but turned his focus to the equipment leasing business while working for a specialty equipment lessor in the healthcare industry.
Prior to his role as SVP Originations, Tabone managed the growth of the bank's healthcare equipment finance platform where he originated and managed vendor programs with leading equipment manufacturers across major healthcare sectors. He has maintained various leadership roles in the company for more than 15 years and through multiple acquisitions including Tygris Commercial Finance Group, Inc.'s acquisition of MarCap LLC in 2008 and TIAA's acquisition of EverBank in 2017. 
As an established thought leader with more than two decades in the industry, Tabone has contributed numerous articles to well-known publications on topics ranging from developments in the healthcare sector to the industry's digital transformation. He is a long-standing member of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association and a member of the ELFA Captive & Vendor Business Council Steering Committee and Monitor Roundtable organizations.
Tabone holds a BA from Boston University and lives in Cincinnati with his wife of 14 years and their two children. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and spending time with family.

Scott Thacker CPA, CLFP

Chief Executive Officer
Ivory Consulting Corporation


Mr. Thacker is the Chief Executive Officer of Ivory Consulting Corporation, the software and consulting company that has helped define the modern equipment finance industry with the proven software solutions for modeling, analyzing, and pricing equipment leases and loans, managing equipment, and optimizing portfolios.

Scott is the immediate past chair of the Board of Trustees of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation, where he is founding chair of The 1989 Society, the legacy giving initiative. He is also the founding chair of ELFA Equity, the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative.

His previous volunteer roles with the ELFA include being a member of the Board of Directors, a member of the Finance Accounting Committee, chair of the Operations and Technology Committee, and co-director of the Foundation’s Research Committee.

Thacker is a member and DEI lead (leave of absence 2023) of Sand Hill Angels, one of the largest angel investment groups based in Silicon Valley. Previously, he served on the Board of Advisors of StartOut for over ten years and was a judge for the business plan competition for the Wharton Executive MBA program and the Visa Everywhere Initiative. He is a second-generation board member of The Ridgewood School.

Prior to joining Ivory Consulting, he was a partner at Accenture and earlier, a Senior Director at Oracle. Thacker began his career at Arthur Andersen & Co.

Thacker holds an M.B.A. in Finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Accounting from Wake Forest University. He holds the C.P.A. (active) and C.L.F.P. certificates.

Kaitlin Thompson

New Product Development & Sales Enablement Specialist
Siemens Financial Services, Inc.



Motofumi Tohda CLFP

Vice President / Information Systems
Tokyo Century (USA) Inc.



Jason Turner

Chief Investment Strategist
Great Lakes Advisors, a Wintrust Wealth Management Company


Jason Turner is the Chief Investment Strategist of Great Lakes Advisors. He is a member of the firm’s investment committee, authors market and economic commentary, regularly presents in the media and to professional conferences, and works with client portfolio managers to support institutional and private clients. As the Head of Multi-Asset Strategy, he is responsible for portfolio strategy, asset allocation, and for overseeing the firm’s manager due diligence and selection efforts. He is also a member of the firm’s Operating Committee and Management Committee.

Prior to joining Great Lakes in 2009, Jason served in various roles for Skyline Asset Management and Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting.

Education and Professional Credentials

  • Industry Start: 2001
  • North Central College, BA
  • Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, MBA
  • Yale School of Management- EDHEC Risk Institute, Certificate in Risk and Investment Management
  • FINRA Series 7 and 63 registrations

Patricia Voorhees

Director
The Alta Group LLC


Patricia M. Voorhees, a director at The Alta Group, has over 25 years of experience in commercial finance. Her expertise focuses on forming captive financing companies, establishing vendor finance programs, and facilitating mergers and acquisitions within the commercial finance industry. After launching her career at IBM, Voorhees was an executive at GE Capital from 1996 to 2011, where she served in several key roles.
 
In her initial position as vice president for business development, Patricia was responsible for establishing more than a dozen new vendor and captive finance programs. She then became managing director of business development for M&As, managing more than 14 acquisition originations. Later she was the company’s general manager of Office Imaging Finance, leading a small-ticket leasing business with $5.5 billion in assets and 450 employees. She also was GE Capital’s strategic pricing leader during the U.S. financial crisis.
 
Patricia holds a bachelor of arts degree in economics from Western Connecticut State University, and two masters of arts degrees from Fordham University, in education for peace and social justice, and ethics and society. Patricia currently serves as Director of Fordham University Business School’s Consortium for Trustworthy Organizations.

Thomas Ware

President
Tom Ware Advisory Services, LLC


Now an independent analytics, risk, and credit scoring consultant, Tom Ware was for 18 years Senior Vice President of Analytics & Product Development at PayNet, which was acquired by Equifax in 2019. In that role he was responsible for the development of PayNet’s MasterScore and probability of default models, which have been used by hundreds of lenders to help decision millions of commercial loan and lease applications worth over $300 billion. He was also responsible for creating loss forecasting models, peer lender performance benchmarking and Strategic Business Reviews, and for developing a wide variety of research about commercial lending that appeared regularly at ELFA conferences as well as in the Wall Street Journal, American Banker, RMA Journal, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Forbes, Crain’s, Bloomberg, Reuters, AP, CNBC, ABC News, Congressional Testimony, and the published papers of two Federal Reserve Governors.

Prior to PayNet, Tom had 17 years’ experience as a lender with banks and finance companies, including as General Manager of a billion-dollar division of J.I. Case/CNH Capital, and as Chief Credit Officer & Senior Vice President, Operations of Rockford Industries, a NASDAQ-traded finance company that was acquired by American Express. Tom began working with commercial credit scoring in the mid-1990s, when he was responsible for bring scoring to a mid-sized bank, and within a few years developed scores that were auto-decisioning 40% of applications under $100,000. Previously he founded Sequa Credit Corporation, later acquired by Hypercom. Tom began his career with a Boston management consulting firm that became the New England office of Oliver Wyman.

Tom is Chairman of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation’s Research Committee, and is a member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and its Executive Committee. He is a long-time member of the ELFA’s Credit & Collection’s Committee, and previously served on ELFA’s Small Ticket Business Council, and on the Board of Governors of RMA’s Washington D.C. & Maryland chapter. He is a frequent contributor to Equipment Leasing Today and the Monitor, where he published, as a three-part series of articles, “The 12 Secrets of Commercial Credit Scoring.” The ELFA selected him as the 2021 recipient of the Michael J. Fleming Distinguished Service Award, for contributions to the Association and the industry. Tom graduated with Distinction in Mathematical Economics from Dartmouth College, and has an MBA from Harvard Business School.


Sponsors

HOTEL

ELFA does not arrange for hotel accommodations, but provides reservation information for registrants. Please register as an attendee to the convention before making your hotel reservations. Anyone making a hotel reservation at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, who does not register for the ELFA Annual Convention will be excluded from the ELFA block. Those reservations will be based solely on availability and will be at the regular guest room rate.

A block of rooms is being held for attendees of the 2023 ELFA Annual Convention at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, 5350 East Marriott Drive, Phoenix, Arizona 85054 USA. Please make your hotel reservations before Friday, September 29, 2023 in order to obtain accommodations at the special ELFA Annual Convention rate of $349 for a standard room. This includes resort fee which includes complimentary access to the driving range, tennis courts, and local & long-distance phone calls. Accommodation requests received after the cutoff date are subject to availability and may be at a higher rate.

Those planning to arrive early to participate in the ELFA sports tournaments or community service projects on Sunday, October 22nd are urged to make hotel reservations early.

ONLINE RESERVATIONS:
Passkey Link:

Once the reservation is complete, you will receive a confirmation number via e-mail (as long as your e-mail address has been entered).

Reminder, cut-off Date to Book in Group Block: Friday, September 29, 2023.

SUITE RESERVATIONS:
A number of suites have been reserved for private entertaining. Companies wishing to hold private parties should plan to schedule these on Monday, October 23rd any time after 5:00 pm. Please contact Lisa Ramirez, VP Business and Professional Development at lramirez@elfaonline.org or 202-238-3414 to reserve a suite.

Please specify the type of function, timing and number of people expected.

PHONE-IN RESERVATIONS:

You may also call the reservations Center at (800) 898-4527 to make your reservations. Let the reservations clerk know you will be attending the ELFA Annual Convention in order to get the special convention rates.

GETTING THERE:

The JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa is located in Phoenix, AZ. The resort's location allows guests to explore nearby Phoenix attractions like TPC Scottsdale, Pinnacle Peak, Cave Creek and Desert Ridge Marketplace.

The Resort is accessible from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), from Deer Valley Road and from 51 North. The resort is 22 miles from Sky Harbor and an approximate $60-dollar cab ride.

For directions, please visit their website.

WHAT TO PACK:
Business casual dress for education sessions is encouraged. The temperature range in Phoenix during October is a high of 86° (daytime) to a low of 62° (nighttime). Suggested dress for social events is as follows:

  • Sunday Evening Welcome Reception: Business Casual.
  • Monday/Tuesday Optional Spouse Programs casual attire, comfortable shoes.
  • Tuesday Night Party: casual attire.

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort
5350 E Marriott Dr
Phoenix, AZ 85054

Get directions