In 2025, the Canadian Finance & Leasing Association (CFLA), in collaboration with the CLFP Foundation in the United States, brought the CLFP course, exam and designation to Canada. The Canadian Certified Lease & Finance Professional (CCLFP) designation identifies an individual as a knowledgeable professional to employers, clients, customers, and peers in the commercial equipment finance industry in Canada. As such, the Certified Lease & Finance Professional (CLFP) Foundation is pleased to recognize the first recipients of the certification. These professionals have demonstrated mastery of the equipment finance body of knowledge by passing the rigorous CCLFP Exam while demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing their knowledge and leadership within Canada’s equipment finance industry. Representing diverse companies and roles across the industry, these individuals have joined an elite community united by a commitment to professional excellence and ethical practice. They are:

1. Stacie Celinscak, CCLFP – RBC Equipment Finance Group

2. Julien Bigras, CCLFP – Execucor Financial Limited

3. Michelle Caruso, CCLFP – Questor Financial Corp

4. Debra Silas, CCLFP – Questor Financial Corp

5. Mary Ciufo, CCLFP – Questor Financial Corp

6. Cynthia Castillo, CCLFP – Questor Financial Corp

7. Don Kemp, CLFP, CCLFP – De Lage Landen Financial Services Canada Inc.

Michael Rothe, President & CEO of the CFLA shares, “The CCLFP marks an important milestone. Building on the highly regarded CLFP designation, our team spent three years carefully tailoring the program to reflect Canada’s unique tax, accounting, and regulatory landscape. We want to express our sincere gratitude to the CLFP Foundation and its CEO, Reid Raykovich, for their partnership, leadership and unwavering support in establishing the CCLFP in Canada.”

“Being a part of the inaugural cohort strongly motivated me to pursue the CCLFP designation,” states Castillo. “I’ve always been a seeker of knowledge, and the program aligned with my goals. One of the most valuable takeaways was gaining a clearer understanding of the bigger picture and how the many pieces of our industry work together.”

Kemp says, “Earning the CCLFP designation has been a truly rewarding milestone in my professional career. It reflects my enduring commitment to an industry I’ve been a part of for over two decades, reinforces my dedication to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, and enhances my ability to deliver strategic value to clients and stakeholders.”