John Bober spent more than a decade developing new lease accounting standards, working with stakeholders across a range of industries to reconcile the objectives of investors, regulators and lessees. His proudest moment came when ELFA honored him with its Distinguished Service Award.

“It is up to us in the industry to drive our own narrative,” Bober says. “If we do not clearly articulate why we exist and the advantages we bring to our customers, no one else will.”

Bober advocates from the “high ground,” building positions on facts, data and decades of research rather than opinion. He traces that philosophy to advice he received early in his career at GE Capital and believes the approach allows the industry to present its views as grounded in evidence rather than individual perspective.