AP Equipment Financing in January 2022 introduced a CLFP Prep Program to both AP and Tokyo Century USA employees with the purpose to prepare and teach the CLFP exam content to those interested in getting their CLFP designation. AP formed a CLFP Committee consisting of veteran leaders at AP who’ve all passed the CLFP exam. This committee led a six-month course with each department leading their respective workshops to help the students prepare for the exam, basing the workshop content off the CLFP handbook.

CLFP stands for a Certified Lease & Finance Professional, which is a designation specifically for equipment leasing and finance professionals. AP is excited to announce that their Prep Program – a joint class of AP and AP’s parent company, Tokyo Century USA – in tandem with the CLFP Foundation’s ALFP, was able to bring in 10 new CLFPs. With this new class of CLFPs, AP now has 25 employees with CLFP designations representing 25 percent of the company.

“Thanks to our cohorts at AP, TCUSA’s inaugural class graduated five new CLFPs after attending the Prep Program and the ALFP,” said Adam Ramirez, CLFP, EVP Chief Risk Officer of Tokyo Century USA. “TCUSA’s management believes AP and TCUSA benefit tremendously from having employees apply their CLFP knowledge every day. The CLFP provides a common bond for our two companies as we work towards mutual goals. Interested employees looking to grow in their job as well as into other jobs are being encouraged to pursue this path to excellence.”

“AP has always had a great relationship with the CLFP Foundation,” said Nick Fong, CLFP, who attained his designation in 2015 and serves as Head of the CLFP Committee within AP, alongside his role as CMO and CTO of AP. “Many of our executives and managers have attained their CLFP and AP believes that the CLFP designation truly distinguishes the best and brightest within the equipment finance industry. We are extremely proud of what we were able to accomplish in our inaugural prep course and have learned a lot in the process. We look forward to preparing many more future CLFP's with this new program."

AP Equipment Financing has encouraged employees to obtain their CLFP designation since 2008, demonstrating over 14 years of commitment to uphold a higher standard of professionalism in the leasing industry. In addition to offering the CLFP Prep Program, AP also covers 100 percent of the costs of the ALFP prep academy, materials and exam fees for employees interested in obtaining the designation.

AP Equipment Financing was founded in 1998. In 2019, AP Equipment Financing became a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo Century USA.