More than 300 association members came together to explore AI, emerging technologies, and financial standards at ELFA’s Innovation Lab Conference & Exhibition, Lease & Finance Accountants Conference, and Tax Best Practices Roundtable. The co-located events were held September 8-11 in Denver.
Innovation in Action
The inaugural ELFA Innovation Lab Conference & Exhibition, which replaced the previous Operations & Technology Conference, was a resounding success. From hands-on industry workshops to forward-looking sessions, attendees jumped into real-time collaboration, future-focused thinking, and invaluable networking.
Leigh Lytle, CEO & President of ELFA, and Ritchie Cotton, CTO of Valiant, kicked off the conference with a dynamic conversation about innovating in times of rapid change. They explored key takeaways from this year’s Innovation Experience – AI Webinar Series and discussed how AI is reshaping credit bureaus, risk management, and other critical areas across the equipment leasing and finance industry.
Innovation Lab Presenters
Safi Bahcall, author of the bestseller Loonshots, shared his powerful framework for driving innovation through uncertainty and change, explaining that the most successful companies focus on structure, not just culture. They build a system to run experiments at scale, which is key to thriving amid change.
Charles Clark, three-time best-selling author and former world-class athlete shared his incredible journey from the brink of athletic greatness to a career-ending injury. His message, based on his book, “Guide to Thrive,” reminded us that no matter what challenges we face—personally or professionally—we are always just one choice away from thriving.
A conversation with emerging tech leaders Beckham T. of Trnsact, John Mizzi of Vero Technologies, Rohan Marfatia of DataCRaiM, Inc., and John Fohr of TrustLayer. shed light on how startups are rethinking risk, streamlining processes, and unlocking data-driven insights to deliver bold new solutions in financial services.
Excellence in Innovation Award
The inaugural Excellence in Innovation Award took a truly innovative turn as finalists Cisco Systems Capital Corporation and Fleet Advantage delivered their live pitches in the Innovation Lab. Each finalist delivered a fast-paced, dynamic pitch showcasing how their groundbreaking projects are transforming the equipment finance industry. From cutting-edge tech to bold new strategies, innovation was on full display.
Fleet Advantage was voted the winner for their new system, OffLease Reimagined, which revolutionizes end-of-lease process for heavy-duty trucks. This innovation reduces the average lease surrender time from over 90 days to just 30 days, saving clients millions on unnecessary lease extensions and cutting clerical errors by over 45%.Lease & Finance Accountants Convene
Lease & Finance Accountants Convene
The Lease & Finance Accountants Conference is the largest annual gathering of lease accounting professionals and financial reporting experts in the industry. From foundational sessions for new accountants to deep dives into complex and emerging issues, this year’s agenda delivered timely insights and meaningful dialogue on the evolving regulatory landscape.
Tax Roundtable
The Tax Best Practices Roundtable provided attendees with a day full of insightful conversations, practical strategies, and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing. From federal compliance to state planning and beyond, this forum brought real value to our tax practitioners.
Time Out
Members laced up and hit the streets of Denver for a Fun Run to jumpstart Day Two events and the energy was unbeatable!
A huge thank you to everyone who made these events possible—our sponsors, speakers, and exhibitors for their invaluable support and insights, and to all of our members for the incredible energy and buzz they generated.