More than 330 equipment finance professionals and service providers from across the U.S. and Canada attended the National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA) 2019 Funding Symposium on Oct. 2 through Oct. 4 in Atlanta, GA – setting a record for Funding Symposium attendance.

With over 70 first-time attendees and 49 exhibitors, this year’s Funding Symposium again demonstrated the unparalleled and growing value proposition offered by NEFA to the equipment finance industry.
Attendees of the Funding Symposium enjoyed highly productive networking time, topical and informative educational breakout sessions – many of which were conducted in a new “town hall” format, opportunities to meet with exhibitors and a spirited keynote presentation by motivational speaker Adam James of Sights, Sounds and Success.

This year’s Funding Symposium Co-Chairs, Shari Lipski, CLFP, of ECS Financial Services, Inc. and Dale Kluga of Providence Equipment Finance, assembled a schedule of leading-edge educational sessions attracting the attention of attendees throughout the entire Symposium.
 
“Thank you to Dale, the session presenters, attendees, and NEFA Board for the opportunity to help plan yet another fantastic, epic, record breaking conference. What an honor to be part of it all and especially share it with such a great group of people!” said Lipski.

Kluga added, “The Atlanta conference was terrific from all angles. I was very impressed not only with the talent and professionalism of our education session speakers, but also with the high caliber of our members who contributed valuable insights during the town hall sessions. A wonderfully interactive event that continued outside of the education sessions into advanced networking discussions. That’s exactly what we were looking for!”

NEFA’s Executive Director, Michael Toglia said, “The atmosphere at this year’s Funding Symposium was incredibly upbeat and energetic! The networking opportunities coupled with the strong educational sessions were fantastic. We are very pleased with the record attendance and thank all our sponsors, exhibitors, conference Co-Chairs, educational program presenters, fundraiser volunteers and of course all our attendees for making the 2019 Funding Symposium such a tremendous success.”
 
Officers and Directors Elected
The Funding Symposium also serves as the Annual Business meeting for the National Equipment Finance Association, and Officers and Directors for the next 12 months were elected during the Symposium.

NEFA’s new President & Chairman of the Board is Daryn Lecy, CLFP, of Oakmont Capital Services, LLC. He is joined on the Executive Committee by Laura Carini, CLFP, of Financial Pacific Leasing, Inc. as Vice President; James Jackson, of The Alta Group as Treasurer; and Guy Selinka, CLFP, of Streamline Financial Services as Secretary. Marc Keepman, CLFP, of KLC Financial, Inc. will remain on the Executive Committee as Immediate Past President.

“NEFA is a tremendous organization that I was fortunate enough to be referred to nine years ago,” Lecy said. “At that time, there were just over 100 attendees at the Equipment Finance Summit and during last week’s Funding Symposium in Atlanta, we welcomed over 330 attendees! I am honored and excited to serve as the next NEFA President and Chairman of the Board. We have a robust membership consisting of dynamic leaders who continue to bring new ideas to help all of us improve and expand our businesses. The energy at our Funding Symposium was very strong, and I look forward to working with all of you as we finish 2019 and set the stage for what 2020 will bring!”

Directors of the association were also announced at this year’s Funding Symposium and include Jacklynn Manning, CLFP, of AMUR Equipment Finance;  Adam Peterson, of Channel Partners Capital; Robert Hornby, of Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC; Anne Dalgaard, CLFP, of ECS Financial Services, Inc.; Scott Lipka, of FirstLease, Inc.; Lori Littleford, CLFP, of NFS Leasing, Inc.; Beth McLean, CLFP, of Northland Financial Services, LLC; Scott Wheeler, CLFP, of Wheeler Business Consulting. 

During the business luncheon, outgoing Executive Committee members Mike Coon, CLFP, of Hanmi Bank and Dennis Dressler, of Dressler & Peters, LLC were honored for many years of service to NEFA.
Additionally, Bob Hanna of Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co., L.P.A. was awarded the 2019 Chris Walker Memorial Member of the Year Award.

The CLFP Foundation also presented awards during the Funding Symposium business luncheon.

This year’s Funding Symposium also included a fundraiser held Thursday night with over 150 people in attendance at the Park Bench Piano Bar for a night of music that raised funds for NEFA’s Chris Walker Education Fund.