Future-proofing Equipment Finance Organizations

Highlights from the Operations and Technology Conference  

EVERYONE SAYS THAT New Orleans is full of ghosts and, while not intentional, there was nothing like kicking off the 2023 ELFA Operations & Technology Conference with a horror story. I am referring to a business scenario where we are all vulnerable and need to proactively mitigate risks: cyber-attacks!

During the pre-conference session, we were privileged to have Howard Shiebler from Crossroads Equipment Lease and Finance give us his firsthand account of a crippling attack on his company and the messy aftermath and necessary cleanup. In the packed room, everyone was mentally making their own checklists for protecting the most important thing in our organizations after our people—our data.  


2023 Operations & Technology Excellence Award winners William Schmidt and Daryn Lecy of Oakmont Capital Services with Ops & Tech Committee Chair Tawnya Stone and Award Subcommittee Chair Candace Reinhart, CLFP. 

And what would the Ops & Tech Conference be without discussing the Top 10 Trends in Equipment Acquisition? ELFA Board Chair Bob Nagle did a fantastic job educating us not only on the trends, but also what they mean to our specific industry.  

One of the highlights for me each year is the conference session led by the winner of the Operations & Technology Excellence Award, and this year was no exception. It was an opportunity for us to hear about a transformational project from Oakmont Capital Services with plenty of time for Q&A from the audience. This session allows attendees to learn from someone who has just completed a major tech initiative—ideally avoiding their own missteps as they evolve their own companies. 


A General Session. 

For two-and-a-half days, more than 150 attendees enjoyed a jam-packed agenda with a variety of sessions spanning topics from new technology offerings, change management, team enablement, regulatory directives and ways to improve the customer experience. 

The Ops & Tech Planning Committee spends significant time preparing an agenda that focuses not just on technology but also the operational aspects and soft skills to futureproof our organizations. Conversations about how to slingshot projects to increase acceleration, proximity bias and new finance models such as “as a service” were just a few of the topics covered. 


A session on state financial disclosure requirements, which have prompted operational changes and tech upgrades. 

And it wouldn’t be a technology conference without discussing AI and how to keep the personal touch while still creating efficiencies though automation and digitization. 

The Equity Forum followed the Ops & Tech Conference, and we were fortunate to have two New Orleanians join our agenda to share best practices from their own organizations and their dedicated efforts to create a more inclusive and diverse environment.  


An interactive breakout session. 

Beyond the educational sessions were the multiple opportunities to network with peers. Even though many of us are competitors, this industry is truly a community comprised of brilliant and innovative minds. Spending time catching up with friends and colleagues to help evolve your business can be just as impactful as the sessions themselves. 

This conference would not be possible without the incredible efforts and execution of the planning committee. This year, almost half of the committee members were new and really took their rookie status to the next level. We hope you join us for next year’s conference in Music City,  a.k.a. Nashville on Sept. 9-11, 2024!