The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association announced the results of the association’s September 2012 Business Council Steering Committee elections. The Business Council Steering Committees are the association’s primary constituent bodies and are an integral part of ELFA’s operations, providing critical input on the direction of the association and serving as a bridge between the membership and the Board of Directors and staff. Each committee analyzes the needs of companies in the segment it represents and recommends to the Board of Directors how to meet those needs. The committee members are elected by the Business Council membership for a term of two years on a staggered basis.

The Captive and Vendor Finance Business Council Steering Committee represents financial services organizations that provide sales-assisted financing and vendor and manufacturer support activities, either on a third-party or captive basis. The newly-elected or re-elected committee members for 2013 are:

• William Houston, Canon Financial Services (Committee Chair)
• Jeffrey Berg, Philips Medical Capital
• James Cress, Stryker Finance
• James Elwood, Bank of the West
• Richard Gumbrecht, Everbank Commercial Finance
• Daniel J. Krajewski, Direct Capital
• Gregory Larson, Creekridge Capital
• Thomas Vasilakos, PNC Equipment Finance
• Maryann von Seggern, Cisco Capital

The Financial Institutions Business Council Steering Committee represents bank-related organizations and other financial institutions (commercial banks, investment banks, and multi-line finance companies) involved in single transactions over $5 million. The newly-elected or re-elected committee members for 2013 are:

•  Lori Frasier, Key Equipment Finance (Committee Chair)
• Thomas Cira, Bridge Capital Leasing
• Andre Crompton, Sterling National Bank Equipment Finance Division
• Daniel McKew, Capital One Equipment Leasing & Finance
• Russell Nelson, Farm Credit Leasing Services Corporation
• Kirk Phillips, AIG Commercial Asset Finance
• Alan Sikora, First American Equipment Finance, A City National Bank Company

The Independent Middle Market Business Council Steering Committee represents non-bank-related organizations primarily involved in transactions between $250,000 and $5 million, either individually or through lines. In 2013, David Mirsky of Pacific Rim Capital will serve as Committee Chair. The newly-elected or re-elected committee members for 2013 are:

• Craig Ault, CSI Leasing
• Andrew Bender, Graphic Savings Group
• John Heist, Jr., Summit Funding Group
• Gary LoMonaco, Forsythe/McArthur Associates
• Deborah Monosson, Boston Financial & Equity
• Quinn Scullion, Somerset Capital Group
• Rob Stowers, PHH Arval
• Neil Whitman, NewStar Equipment Finance

The Service Providers Business Council Steering Committee represents companies that providing a variety of services in support of the equipment finance industry, including legal, accounting, software and systems support, and other specialized professional services.  The newly-elected or re-elected committee members for 2013 are:

• Curt Lysne, Portfolio Financial Servicing Company (Committee Chair)
• Brett Boehm, TBF Financial
• Josh Bridge, Capgemini Financial Services USA
• Jeff Dicosola, Great American Insurance
• Rick Henderson, EquipmentEngine Financial Services Company
• Barry Ripes, Paynet

The Small Ticket Business Council Steering Committee represents financial services organizations primarily involved in transactions under $250,000, either individually or through lines. In 2013, David Verkinderen of US Bank Equipment Finance will serve as Committee Chair. The newly-elected or re-elected committee members for 2013 are:

• Kris Darby, Western Equipment Finance
• Jack Haynes, Wells Fargo Financial Leasing
• Terey Jennings, Financial Pacific Leasing
• Marty Klees, GreatAmerica Leasing Corporation
• Carl Zwilling, Summit Funding Group

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. ELFA members are the driving force behind the growth in the commercial equipment finance market and contribute to capital formation in the U.S. and abroad. Its 580 members include independent and captive leasing and finance companies, banks, financial services corporations, broker/packagers and investment banks, as well as manufacturers and service providers.