Foundation Announces 2020 Board of Trustees

The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation Board of Trustees met in December in Dallas, Texas, to elect 2020 officers, approve the 2020 budget and set programming plans for the upcoming year. Guided by strong leadership and invaluable expertise for over 30 years, the Foundation continues to be Your Eye on the Future. We are pleased to announce the 2020 Officers and Trustees:

Chair: Scott Thacker, Ivory Consulting Corporation
Immediate Past Chair: Jeffry Elliott, Huntington Equipment Finance
Vice Chair: Bonnie Michael, Volvo Financial Services
Secretary/Treasurer: Nancy Pistorio, Madison Capital LLC
President: Ralph Petta, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association
Jeff Berg
Katie Emmel
Chris Enbom
Valerie Gerard
Miles Herman*
James Johnson, Ph.D.
Donald Link
Brian Madison*
Zack Marsh
Thomas Petersen
Michael Romanowski
Thomas Ware
Donna Yanuzzi*
*New Trustees

Get to Know Scott Thacker, Foundation Chair

This new year brings new leadership for the Foundation, and at the helm of the Board of Trustees is Chair Scott Thacker, Chief Executive Officer, Ivory Consulting Corporation. The following is an interview delving into Thacker’s history with the Foundation and what we can look forward to over the next two years.

Why did you initially become involved with the Foundation, and how has your engagement evolved?

Twenty years ago, as a new ELFA member, I began reading the Foundation’s publications. As a life-long learner with a healthy curiosity, I was intrigued by the Foundation’s focus on research, and in 2010, I asked to become a member of the Research Committee. My active involvement in coordinating research studies led me to become Co-Chair of the Research Committee, along with Jeffry Elliott. We are a strong complement to each other, so when Jeff became Chairman of the Board of Trustees, it was a natural fit that I become Vice Chair. I am looking forward to the next two years as Chair.

What impact on the industry does the Foundation Research Committee have?

The impact is significant and, in some ways, game-changing. Professionals throughout the equipment finance world rely on our economic data and unique research studies as primary inputs to their strategic positioning decisions. The Research Committee oversees all of this work—it’s the largest of our committees.

My favorite publication is the Applied Economics Handbook—a valuable resource that instructs people making strategic decisions on how to synthesize all the economic data we publish. We don’t just produce data; we also provide people with meaningful ways to use it!

Which 2020 (and beyond) goals are you most looking forward to working toward?

I am most passionate about securing the future of our scholarship program. I find nothing more important than supporting students interested in entering our industry. We want to encourage bright, driven young people to choose equipment finance as a way of making sure that our industry continues to be innovative. During my tenure, I’d like us to create a compelling scholarship program that not only attracts the best and the brightest, but also is supported by a financially sustainable foundation. To that end, I’ve established a personal legacy gift to the Foundation.

What value does the Foundation provide that keeps generous corporate and individual donors pledging year after year?

I think what makes the Foundation unique is that people find professional value as well as personal growth from reading our publications and participating in our programs. That makes it easy for them to donate year after year.

The Foundation shines in two areas: research and academic outreach. Whether it’s the Journal of Equipment Finance, a topical study or an economic report, our research offers deep insights and cutting-edge analysis that people can actually use. Many people have told me they find teaching the Guest Lecture Program a very rewarding experience. If you haven’t been a donor to the Foundation, please give us a hand!