STRIPES Leadership Program recognized 16 graduates from its latest cohort during a certification ceremony held, in person, in Philadelphia on Sept. 16. These individuals successfully completed the 10-month program and were celebrated as STRIPES graduates.
The graduates include:
- Vanessa Alday-Garcia, treasury manager, Crossroads Equipment Finance
- William Bagnell, business development officer, LEAF Commercial Capital
- Kristin Boatwright, operations supervisor, Wintrust Commercial Finance
- Ralph Cioffi, director of sales, CT&I, PEAC Solutions
- Susan Debro, vice president of operations, Auxilior Capital Partners
- Peter Ferrara, equipment finance sales professional
- Cody Hastings, project manager II, LEAF Commercial Capital
- Garrett Kautz, SFG relationship sales officer, 1st Source Bank
- Jeff Kim, director of asset management, Dakota Financial
- Jennifer Lujan, sales associate team leader, Eastern Funding
- Ted Osgood, vice president, sales manager, First Citizens Bank
- Derek Porter, country sales manager, DLL
- Lorraine Reynoso, customer care, servicing and insurance delinquency manager, Crossroads Equipment Lease and Finance
- LaDonna Robinson, client services manager, EverBank
- Andrew Smith, vice president of originations, First Citizens Bank
- Emily Walsh, contract management supervisor, PEAC Solutions
During the ceremony, participants reflected on their experiences in the program, sharing key takeaways and the profound impact STRIPES had on their personal and professional growth as leaders. The event included acknowledgments from mentors, managers, stakeholders, STRIPES alumni, and other members of the audience.
René Paradis, president and chief operating officer at Auxilior Capital Partners delivered a keynote address titled “Leading with Heart and Vision: A Journey to Empower, Innovate and Transform,” during which Paradis shared her personal journey into the equipment finance industry and her rise to leadership. She encouraged the cohort of graduates to embrace authentic leadership and emphasized the importance of relationships and building strong connections with others.
“Leadership is not just about you,” Paradis said. “It’s about the people who rely on you, who are inspired by you, and who will follow your lead.”
“The STRIPES team is inspired by our recent graduates and the growth and development they have achieved over the past 10 months,” Lisa Rafter, CEO and founder of STRIPES Leadership Program, said. “Participants were able to experience how breakdowns can lead to breakthroughs, delivered on Capstone Projects, coached and counseled each other, expanded their industry networks and developed themselves as leaders.”
“STRIPES has given me a new perspective and opened up fresh ways of thinking, which has fostered better collaboration and communication among my team, peers and other operations supervisors,” Boatwright said. “As a result, my Capstone Project — a complete system overhaul — has been successfully implemented.”
“The motivation I received from my cohort peers, as well as the Transformational Group Coaching, Master Talks and Workshop leaders, was key to my growth as a leader,” Hastings said. “In our day-to-day work, it’s easy to get caught up and not take the time to think about improving and developing yourself. STRIPES created an accountability that forced me to do it.”
STRIPES Cohort 6 commences, in person, in Philadelphia on Oct. 16, 2024 with its Transformational Leadership Launch. To enroll, or for more information about STRIPES Leadership Program, contact Susan Campbell, susan.campbell@stripesleadership.com, or visit www.stripesleadership.com.
