The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) has selected Andrew Mesches, a 30-year veteran of the equipment leasing industry, to receive its 2012 Distinguished Service Award. The award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the association and the equipment finance industry. Mesches will be formally recognized during a ceremony at ELFA’s 51st Annual Convention in Desert Springs, Calif., in October.
 
“We are delighted to present this honor to Andy Mesches in appreciation of his outstanding contributions to ELFA and the equipment finance industry,” said ELFA President and CEO William G. Sutton, CAE. “Andy’s dedicated service and leadership over the course of his career have had a positive impact in a number of areas that are integral to our mission, from advocacy to professional development.”

“To be recognized by ELFA in this way is truly an honor and ‘the icing on the cake,’” said Mesches. “My work within the organization spans 20 years and it has been a pleasure the entire time. My involvement has been primarily through the Credit & Collections Committee and this award certainly reflects the efforts of the committee members over the years. There are so many people within the equipment finance industry who give their time and effort to ELFA because we believe the success of the industry is in large part dependent upon the success of its premier trade association. To be singled out like this is something very special to me.”

Mesches has been an active member of ELFA for many years. He has been instrumental in setting the direction for the association’s Credit & Collections Committee, serving as Chairman for three years and as a member of the committee for nearly 20 years. He also has contributed to ELFA’s advocacy efforts. He was selected to serve on the association’s Basel II Advisory Group, helping regulators to recognize unintended problems in regulatory language related to leasing-capital requirements for residuals, which led to a reinterpretation of the language. Over the course of his career, Mesches also has lent his expertise to the association’s business and professional development programs, serving as a speaker at a number of conferences. In 2013, he will be a lead instructor for the ELFA Principles of Leasing and Finance Workshop.

Mesches spent much of his career with Key Equipment Finance, where he served in a variety of capacities, including Executive Vice President for Risk Management and Chief Risk Officer. Before joining KeyCorp in April 1995, Mesches was Senior Vice President and Operations Manager for Banc One Leasing Corporation and also spent over 10 years with US Leasing in various management roles. He is currently a consultant with The Alta Group and also runs his own consulting organization.
 
A native of upstate New York, Mesches received his bachelor’s degree in economics at the State University at Buffalo and did graduate work at the State University at Albany. He served on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce in Superior, Colo., for many years, including three years as President. He also has served on the Dean’s Advisory Committee for the College of Arts and Science at the University at Buffalo as well as on the Advisory Board for the Center for Human Capital within the university’s economics department.