The National Equipment Finance Association (NEFA) celebrated a milestone event this week at its Fall Conference in Minneapolis, MN, held October 14–16, 2025. With a record-breaking 451 attendees, this year’s conference reflected NEFA’s continued growth and the industry's increasing demand for meaningful education, leadership, and community.

This year’s conference offered a robust lineup of educational sessions focused on the evolving needs of the equipment finance sector. Topics ranged from regulatory and economic updates to best practices in sales leadership, credit risk, documentation, and technological innovation. Each session was designed to provide attendees with practical tools and fresh insights they could immediately apply to their businesses.

A major highlight of the event was the keynote address from Jim Craig, legendary goaltender of the 1980 U.S. Olympic “Miracle on Ice” hockey team. Craig’s compelling message on resilience, preparation, and leadership resonated deeply with attendees, 
drawing clear parallels between elite athletic performance and excellence in business.

The conference also featured strong participation from industry-leading exhibitors and sponsors, creating meaningful opportunities for networking, discovery, and strategic partnerships throughout the event.

Ahead of the official conference opening, NEFA hosted a special service event, “Paws & Potential: Growing Together,” in partnership with Can-Do Canines and the Chris Walker Education Fund. Attendees came together to pack service kits and support individuals with disabilities, demonstrating NEFA’s ongoing commitment to giving back and strengthening the industry community. Special thanks to the NEFA Foundation charity event sponsors for their continued support that provide resources for the Chris Walker Education Fund and charities the organization supports each year. Thank you to Channel for their event sponsorship and matching donations plus all the other sponsors that made this event successful.

Special thanks to the NEFA Fall Conference Planning Committee for their hard work and dedication to the association. 

• Lovern Gordon, CLFP Boston Financial - Chair
• Brylee Horning, CLFP, Paramount Capital
• Tara Lassin, Northteq
• Mike Mroszak, Dedicated Financial GBC
• Ariel Stich, CLFP, Stearns Bank N.A.
• Scott Woodring, AILCO Equipment Finance Group Inc.