At ELFA, we are proud to serve the diverse and vibrant equipment finance industry. Our aspiration as an association is that the people powering this great sector—from our members to the customers we serve—will represent a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.
Last year we announced the formation of the ELFA Women’s Council, and over the past year this group has been working overtime to increase the engagement and leadership of women in our association and our industry. I am pleased to report that this important initiative to achieve gender balance is paying off. We have been making gains across our volunteer bodies to ensure that more women are included and participate in our work.
The Women’s Council held a popular networking reception and breakout session at the Annual Convention last month and is planning its 2019 agenda, including the 2019 Women’s Leadership Forum, which will be held April 1-2 in Washington, D.C. We hope your organization will be represented at this important event.
We know there is a strong desire among members to engage the next generation of industry leaders, especially as many of you are involved in recruiting, hiring and retaining talent. (Speaking of the next-gen workforce, don’t miss the Executive Perspective column by Amy Gross on p. 48.) Our Emerging Talent Advisory Council (ETAC), a group of up-and-coming employees from member companies, is working to encourage industry professionals to get involved in the association early in their careers and attract the best and brightest to the industry.
This year ETAC hosted three successful networking events around the country, as well as Emergence2018, a terrific leadership development conference for early- and mid-career professionals. The positive energy, enthusiasm and intelligence of the young professionals who participated in the event leave no doubt that this industry and association are in good hands in the years ahead. Check out our event calendar for upcoming activities, including Emergence2019, July 17-18 in D.C. I hope you will identify up-and-comers in your organizations to get involved.
Both of these initiatives—the Women’s Council and Emerging Talent Advisory Council—demonstrate the association’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in all that we do. In fact, earlier this year the Board of Directors established a Diversity Work Group and at its meeting last month took the momentous step of inserting into the association’s Mission Statement and Strategic Objectives language that explicitly embraces diversity and inclusion.
Our Mission Statement now reads, in part (new language in bold): ELFA exists to provide member companies a platform to promote and advocate for the industry, including attracting and developing new and diverse talent; a forum for professional development and training; and a resource that develops information about, and for, the industry. Read the full Statement and 2019-2021 Strategic Plan at www.elfaonline.org/strategicplan.
ELFA believes that by focusing on diversity and inclusion, we’re empowering not only our members and the markets you serve—but also our entire industry. We believe these efforts will not only result in better decision-making, but also are the right thing to do.
As 2018 draws to a close, I would like to thank our hardworking professional staff, outgoing Chairman Dave Schaefer, the Board of Directors and all of our member volunteers for a successful year. The ELFA team and I look forward to working with 2019 Chairman Jud Snyder and all of you in the year ahead.
Last year we announced the formation of the ELFA Women’s Council, and over the past year this group has been working overtime to increase the engagement and leadership of women in our association and our industry. I am pleased to report that this important initiative to achieve gender balance is paying off. We have been making gains across our volunteer bodies to ensure that more women are included and participate in our work.
The Women’s Council held a popular networking reception and breakout session at the Annual Convention last month and is planning its 2019 agenda, including the 2019 Women’s Leadership Forum, which will be held April 1-2 in Washington, D.C. We hope your organization will be represented at this important event.
We know there is a strong desire among members to engage the next generation of industry leaders, especially as many of you are involved in recruiting, hiring and retaining talent. (Speaking of the next-gen workforce, don’t miss the Executive Perspective column by Amy Gross on p. 48.) Our Emerging Talent Advisory Council (ETAC), a group of up-and-coming employees from member companies, is working to encourage industry professionals to get involved in the association early in their careers and attract the best and brightest to the industry.
This year ETAC hosted three successful networking events around the country, as well as Emergence2018, a terrific leadership development conference for early- and mid-career professionals. The positive energy, enthusiasm and intelligence of the young professionals who participated in the event leave no doubt that this industry and association are in good hands in the years ahead. Check out our event calendar for upcoming activities, including Emergence2019, July 17-18 in D.C. I hope you will identify up-and-comers in your organizations to get involved.
Both of these initiatives—the Women’s Council and Emerging Talent Advisory Council—demonstrate the association’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in all that we do. In fact, earlier this year the Board of Directors established a Diversity Work Group and at its meeting last month took the momentous step of inserting into the association’s Mission Statement and Strategic Objectives language that explicitly embraces diversity and inclusion.
Our Mission Statement now reads, in part (new language in bold): ELFA exists to provide member companies a platform to promote and advocate for the industry, including attracting and developing new and diverse talent; a forum for professional development and training; and a resource that develops information about, and for, the industry. Read the full Statement and 2019-2021 Strategic Plan at www.elfaonline.org/strategicplan.
ELFA believes that by focusing on diversity and inclusion, we’re empowering not only our members and the markets you serve—but also our entire industry. We believe these efforts will not only result in better decision-making, but also are the right thing to do.
As 2018 draws to a close, I would like to thank our hardworking professional staff, outgoing Chairman Dave Schaefer, the Board of Directors and all of our member volunteers for a successful year. The ELFA team and I look forward to working with 2019 Chairman Jud Snyder and all of you in the year ahead.
Watch for our Q4 Member Video on People Power, Diversity and Inclusion, coming soon!
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EL&F magazine article
HUMAN CAPITAL
From the President & CEO
Column
2018