The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association announced plans for the inaugural ELFA Equity Forum, Nov 6-7 in Washington, D.C., to celebrate and advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the equipment finance industry. Industry professionals representing all DEI categories, as well as allies and those interested in creating inclusivity in their organizations, are encouraged to attend.

“The Equity Forum will be a welcoming and safe space to discuss what we collectively can do to advance equity in our work, our industry and our world,” said Scott Thacker, CPA, CLFP, Founding Chair of the ELFA Equity Committee, which is involved in planning and hosting the Forum. “I’m most looking forward to bringing together people from throughout our industry and witnessing the synergy and plans to increase a focus on DEI that result. We hope you’ll join us on Nov. 6-7!’”

The Equity Forum agenda will tackle a range of DEI topics, all organized around the theme “Be Comfortable. Be Who You Are.” Sessions will be offered in a variety of formats to create a place for meaningful conversation, balancing both learning and dialogue. The goal is to provide a forum to discuss strategies that can influence corporate social responsibility and broaden cross-cultural understanding.

Highlights from the agenda include:

• Keynote: You Don’t Have a Diversity Problem, You Have a Leadership Problem with holistic leadership strategist Ginny Clarke, Former Director of Executive Recruiting at Google
• Ask a Diversity Leader Panel
• Crucial Conversations: Creating a DEI Focus and Launching DEI Initiatives in Your Business
• This is Me: The Transformational Power of Telling Your Own Story
• Roundtable Discussions
• Multiple networking opportunities, including a “Get to Know You” Session, People Power Reception, Dine-Around and Networking Luncheon.

Planning Committee
ELFA recognized the members of the 2022 Equity Committee who are helping to plan the Equity Forum, including:

• Scott Thacker, CPA, CLFP, Chief Executive Officer, Ivory Consulting Corporation (Committee Chair)
• Michael Baez, VP, Professional Services and Customer Strategy, Leasepath
• Deborah Baker, Head of Worldwide Leasing and Financing, HP Inc. (Women’s Council Liaison)
• Bruce Brandon, Executive Vice President, Middle Market Leasing, BankFinancial, NA
• David Cramer, CLFP, IT Systems Administrator Amur Equipment Finance
• Linda D’Amico, Sr Director, Global Lead Cisco Refresh, Cisco Capital Compliance, Cisco Systems Capital Corporation
• Julia Gavrilov, Partner, Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP
• Benjamin Grove, Legislative Director, Thompson Coburn LLP
• Christopher Johnson, SVP & President, Pitney Bowes Global Financial Services
• Martin Klotzman, Senior Manager, Marketing and Product Management, Ivory Consulting Corporation (Emerging Talent Advisory Council Liaison)
• Eric McGriff, SVP - Chief Risk Officer, Wintrust Specialty Finance
• Stuart Papavassiliou, Copywriter, LEAF Commercial Capital Inc.
• Ricardo A. Rios, President & CEO, Commercial Equipment Finance, Inc. (ELFA Board Liaison)
• Sean Scampton, Director of Sales & Marketing, Leasepath
• Delroy Stauffer, CLFP, Senior Manager, Business Development, Odessa
• Motofumi Tohda, Vice President / Information Systems, Tokyo Century (USA) Inc.
• Ernest Tsorvas, Senior Vice President, National Sales Manager, Fifth Third Bank
• Amy Weum, Regional Vice President, Farm Credit Leasing

More Information
The agenda and registration details for the Equity Forum are available at www.elfaonline.org/events/2022/EQ.