ELFA Mobile

Ian J. Berg

1941 - 2009

Founder of Copelco Financial Services Group and innovator of healthcare, copier and high-tech leasing

Ian Berg: 2015 Inductee

Ian J. Berg, founder of Copelco Financial Services Group, was an equipment leasing industry trailblazer, entrepreneur and community leader.

In the equipment leasing and finance industry, Ian was best known and remembered for his significant and creative influence on the healthcare, copier and high-tech leasing business segment during the 1980s and 1990s. This included the introduction of credit scoring in small-ticket leasing and the concept of cost-per-usage lease products. These ideas had a significant impact on the evolution and growth of business opportunities for lessors following his lead.

Ian is described as being entrepreneurial "to the core," having started Copelco in his basement in 1972 and growing it to a point where in 1999 the company had more than 1,600 employees with offices in the United States, Canada and Europe. The company had become a niche leader in its use of the vendor finance business model. In May 2000, Copelco was sold to Citicorp. Ian then went on to co-found Eastern Technology Venture Funds.

He was highly respected by his employees, who were enabled to grow their own areas of business within the company, whether in vendor leasing, auto leasing, real estate or healthcare receivables leasing. Many remained with the company for decades and joined Ian in community and industry advocacy work.   

Ian was a frequent contributor to industry publications and participated on various association committees during his almost three decades of involvement in the ELFA. He was featured in the 25th anniversary issue of the Monitor magazine when industry legendary pioneers were highlighted.

Less known are his humble beginnings and all that he gave back to his community through non-profits and educational institutions to inspire future entrepreneurs. He was past Chairman of the Philadelphia chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization and Founder of the "I Have a Dream" Foundation of Camden, New Jersey. Ian served on the boards of several nonprofits and served as Treasurer of the Board of the Wistar Institute, a nonprofit biomedical research institute, starting in 1997. He supported Wistar's cancer-cell research and attended Board meetings even while fighting his disease. Ian was also a frequent guest lecturer at the Drexel University Lebow College of Business, where he earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering and a master's degree in business administration and where he met his wife. Before his passing in 2009, he had also been inducted into Philadelphia's Overbrook High School's Hall of Fame.

Ian left a lasting legacy in the leasing industry, as well as through his role of beloved husband, devoted father and grandfather.