The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) announced Andy Fishburn has joined the organization as Vice President of Federal Government Relations, effective September 10. Fishburn will direct and operate all aspects of the association’s federal relations strategy and the engagement of members in political programs.

Fishburn has focused on legislative, financial and tax policy matters throughout his distinguished career within the Department of Treasury and the U.S. Congress. He served in legislative affairs positions and as senior advisor to four Secretaries of the Treasury, including as a Deputy Assistant Secretary under Secretaries John Snow and Henry Paulson. During 2010 and 2011, he served on the staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance and worked for Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on tax policies such as bank taxation, tax administration, oversight of the IRS, tax extenders and small business tax issues. Most recently, he was the Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Mint, acting as the Bureau’s lead legislative strategist and congressional liaison. He has a B.S. in environmental studies from the University of Michigan and a Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University.

“We are delighted to welcome Andy to lead ELFA’s federal government relations program,” said ELFA president and CEO William G. Sutton, CAE. “His experience in directing the development of tax and financial services policy and his background in both the legislative and executive branches will be valuable assets as we continue to advance a strong federal government relations agenda in support of the equipment leasing and finance industry.”

“I look forward to working with member companies to raise the voice of the industry in the political process,” said Fishburn. “Association members are clearly the experts in the field, and it will be my responsibility to translate that expertise to elected officials in an efficient and productive manner.”

The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) is the trade association that represents companies in the $628 billion equipment finance sector, which includes financial services companies and manufacturers engaged in financing capital goods.