During the 57th Annual Convention of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), the association announced its new Board of Directors and Officers who will serve during the next 12 months.

Jud Snyder, President of BMO Harris Equipment Finance Company, is the new Chairman of the Board and Martha Ahlers, President of United Leasing & Finance, is now Chairman-Elect. The Chairman-Elect and new Board members were recommended by ELFA’s Nominating Committee and approved by a vote of the general membership.

As the President of BMO Harris Equipment Finance, Snyder is responsible for leading the growth and development of one of the largest equipment finance companies in the industry. This includes strategic and managerial responsibility for sales, operations, underwriting and equipment management capabilities within the Equipment Finance Company. He also serves as BMO’s Senior Executive for Southeast Wisconsin. Snyder joined BMO in 1994. Prior to taking on his current role, he had roles in credit, sales, specialized industries and sales management within both the commercial bank and the equipment finance company.

An active participant in ELFA, Snyder has served on the ELFA Board since 2011. In addition to his current position on the ELFA Board, Snyder serves on ELFA’s Executive, Audit, Nominating and Personnel Committees. He previously served as Board Treasurer (2014-2015), as Board Liaison to the association’s Emerging Talent Advisory Council (2014-2016) and Chair of the Financial Institutions Business Council Steering Committee (2010).

Snyder also has been active with the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation. In 2016 he served as the ELFA Board Liaison to the Foundation. He also has lent his expertise to the State of the Equipment Finance Industry Report, is a regular participant in the Foundation’s Monthly Confidence Index and has supported the Foundation as a donor.

Outside of ELFA, Snyder is a Board Member or Trustee with a number of civic and community organizations, including the Milwaukee Ballet, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, Froedtert Health Systems and Teach for America. He holds a BA in Russian and Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

“We are very fortunate to have someone with Jud Snyder’s industry knowledge, experience and insight as Chairman of the Board of Directors for 2019,” said Ralph Petta, ELFA President and CEO. “Jud’s vision and leadership skills combined with his commitment to our association will be tremendous assets to the ELFA membership and the industry at large in the coming year.”

“We all recognize the critically important work that ELFA does as the voice of our industry, and with that in mind, taking on the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors is truly a tremendous honor,” said Snyder. “Our economy is strong, and that’s in no small part due to the confidence of business owners, large and small, and the investments they are making in their businesses. I know I speak on behalf of all ELFA members when I share the pride we have in doing our part to help them finance their growth plans, and in doing so, continuing to fuel the engine of our economy.”

2019 ELFA Board of Directors
The newly elected members of the ELFA Board of Directors include:

• Conrad Eimers, President, Vision Financial Group, Inc.
• Willis Kleinjan, Founder and CEO, Northland Capital Equipment Finance
• Dan Krajewski, President and CEO, Sertant Capital, LLC
• David Normandin, President & CEO, Wintrust Specialty Finance
• Deb Reuben, President, Reuben Creative, LLC
• Dave Walton, President and CEO, Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation

The following individuals were elected by the membership to serve as ELFA Vice Chairs: Larry Smilie, Managing Director, Banc of America Leasing; Kris Snow, President, Cisco Capital, Cisco Systems Capital Corporation; and Mike DiCecco, President, Huntington Equipment Finance. Robert Boyer, President, BB&T Commercial Equipment Capital Corp., will serve as Treasurer.

Paul Stilp, ELFA’s Chief Financial and Operating Officer, will serve as Secretary and Ralph Petta, ELFA President and CEO, is an Ex-Officio Officer.

Dave Schaefer, CEO, Mintaka Financial, LLC, is Immediate Past Chairman. Other members of the Board are:

• Jennifer Coyle, Division Director, Corporate Asset Finance Resources, Macquarie Corporate and Asset Finance
• James Cress, Vice President and General Manager, Stryker Flex Financial   
• Brett Davis, President, CNH Industrial Capital LLC    
• Dave Fate, President and CEO, Stonebriar Commercial Finance
• Marjorie Krumholz, Partner, Thompson Coburn LLP   
• Matthew LeSage, Chief Commercial Officer, Wells Fargo Equipment Finance   
• Brian Madison, President, Trinity Industries Leasing Co.   
• Robert Neagle, President, Merchant Finance, Ascentium Capital LLC
• Amy Nelson, President, Global Healthcare & Clean Technology, DLL
• Daniel Nelson, President, Tamarack
• Alan Sikora, CEO, First American Equipment Finance, and RBC/City National Company.