The Certified Lease & Finance Professional (CLFP) Foundation announcef that fourteen individuals from First American Equipment Finance who sat through the 8-hour online CLFP exam have passed:

1. Michael Berkman, CLFP – Assistant Vice President, Media & Entertainment Division
2. Justin Borkowski, CLFP Associate – Education Finance Specialist
3. Tony Culiano, CLFP – Assistant Vice President
4. John DiMino, CLFP – Assistant Vice President, Food & Beverage Division
5. Claire Donohue, CLFP – Assistance Vice President
6. Michael Flanigan, CLFP Associate – Assistant Vice President
7. Jennifer DeLong-Giefer, CLFP – Vice President of Business Development
8. Ryan Gilroy, CLFP Associate – Assistant Vice President, Enterprise Business Division
9. Michael Haines, CLFP – Assistant Vice President
10. Steven Mayne, CLFP Associate – Assistant Vice President, Project Manager
11. Kate Ralston, CLFP – Vice President, Operations
12. Justin Sudore, CLFP – Assistant Vice President
13. Jeremy Wolocki, CLFP Associate – Assistant Vice President
14. Sarah Yarnes, CLFP – Assistant Vice President

On May 24th, 26 individuals sat for the exam after the Academy for Lease & Finance Professionals held in Walnut Creek and co-hosted by Allegiant Partners, Inc. & Bank of the West.  Of those, the following 22 were successful:

1. Jim Alnas-Benson, CLFP – Ivory Consulting, Operations and Technical Support Manager
2. Kip Amstutz, CLFP – 360 Equipment Finance, President
3. Aubri Anderson, CLFP Associate – Allegiant Partners, Inc., Funding Coordinator
4. Phil Davidson, CLFP – Ivory Consulting, Senior Software Engineer
5. Chris Fischer, CLFP – Ivory Consulting, Quality Assurant Analyst
6. Fred Fischer, CLFP – Ivory Consulting, President/CTO
7. Nick Gibbens, CLFP – Bank of the West, Vice President and Business Unit Manager – Equipment Finance Division
8. David Holmgren, CLFP – Ivory Consulting, Director of Quality Assurance
9. Matt Ivory, CLFP – Ivory Consulting, Analyst
10. Martin Klotzman, CLFP – Ivory Consulting, Marketing and Business Operations Manager
11. Jodi MacKinnon, CLFP – First Niagara Leasing, Vice President
12. Nanette Mickelsen, CLFP – Operations Manager – Financial Services
13. Derek Nutley, CLFP – Funding Circle, Head of Equipment Finance Partnerships
14. Drew Olynick, CLFP – Taycor Financial, Vice President
15. Ronald Palmer, CPA, CLFP – First Niagara Leasing, Vice President Operations Manager
16. Derek Perez, CLFP – Bank of the West, Account Manager
17. Michael Price, CPA, CLFP – Tri Counties Bank, Account Executive
18. Deborah Reuben, CLFP – Reuben Creative, President
19. Candace Reinhart, CLFP – First National Capital, Vice President of Operations
20. Scott Smilie, CLFP – Bank of the West, Account Manager
21. Nick Toy, CLFP Associate – Allegiant Partners, Inc., Marketing Associate
22. Jordan Wellman, CLFP Associate – Allegiant Partners, Inc., National Account Manager

Nick Gibbens with Bank of the West stated, “I have admired my fellow lease and finance professionals who have dedicated the time to improve their knowledge and understanding of the equipment finance industry. The recent collaboration with the ELFA brings this credential more visibility and some additional relevance to many of the markets I support at Bank of the West Equipment Finance. I was impressed with the level of detail required to prepare for the test and will use the CLFP Handbook as a handy reference for questions that arise in the future.”

The CLFP designation identifies an individual as a knowledgeable professional to employers, clients, customers, and peers in the equipment finance industry. There are currently 343 active Certified Lease & Finance Professionals and Associates throughout the world. For more information, call Executive Director Reid Raykovich, CLFP at (206) 535-6281 or visit http://www.CLFPfoundation.org.