Funding Conference Sees Huge Turnout

ELFA’s 30th Annual National Funding Conference attracted a strong turnout of approximately 680 industry executives to Chicago April 10-12. This unique event allows ELFA members seeking funding to meet with lending sources looking for investment opportunities. In recognition of the robust state of the industry, turnout was up by about 100 attendees over 2017, marking the largest attendance in memory. A total of 70 funding sources exhibited, up from 58 last year. The mood was upbeat, with members expressing optimism about the health of the economy and the potential for tax reform to have a positive impact on capital expenditures.Plan ahead for next year: The 31st Annual National Funding Conference is scheduled for April 9-11, 2019, at the Swissôtel in Chicago.

Event Draws Emerging Talent

The Emerging Talent Regional Networking Event in Chicago in April drew more than 50 attendees from more than 20 member companies. The event was sponsored by LeaseTeam and the Emerging Talent Advisory Council, whose mission is to encourage industry employees to get involved in ELFA earlier in their careers and to attract the best and brightest to the industry. Two more networking events will be held on July 18 at ELFA in Washington, D.C., and on September 17 at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel in Philadelphia. For more information and to register, visit the Events section of www.elfaonline.org.

Roundtables Tackle Pressing Issues

ELFA Chairman Dave Schaefer kicked off the joint luncheon with a discussion of the state of the industry.

At the Bank Roundtable, attendees discussed federal public policy and industry updates, the implications of tax reform on go-to-market strategies and best practices when working with commercial bankers.

leaders from ELFA member companies gathered in Chicago on April 10 to discuss hot topics and share best practices at a series of roundtables held immediately preceding the National Funding Conference. The members-only events brought together executives from bank, captive and vendor finance and independent companies to discuss the issues they are facing and how each is addressing those issues.


Independent Roundtable participants discussed an upcoming Foundation study on “Banking on the Non-Banks” and the impact of tax reform on the independent sector.


Millennials and managed solutions were the hot topics of discussion at the Captive and Vendor Finance Roundtable.

First-Ever Women’s Leadership Forum a Success

The ELFA Women’s Leadership Forum was held April 23-24 at DLL headquarters in Wayne, Pennsylvania. This inaugural event, presented by the ELFA Women’s Council, focused on leadership development for women at all stages of an equipment finance career. The forum, which was organized around the theme “Be a Force for the Future,” featured dynamic speakers with plenty of time for attendee interaction and networking with other industry leaders. Attendance was limited to 80 attendees for this pilot event, but based on the popularity of this year’s Forum, ELFA hopes to expand the event in 2019. We thank DLL for hosting the Forum, as well as all the attendees, sponsors, speakers and organizers who contributed to the success of the event.