The Certified Lease & Finance Professional (CLFP) Foundation celebrated CLFP Day 2025 on Oct. 8, marking 40 years of the CLFP designation and 25 years of the CLFP Foundation. With over 1,700 active CLFPs and associates worldwide, the CLFP Foundation reflected on a year of record accomplishments, including the launch of the Canadian CLFP designation (CCLFP), expansion of the University of North Texas CLFP Student Certificate program and new members.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of the Cindy Spurdle Award of Excellence, which honors a CLFP in Good Standing who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and significant contributions to the industry and Foundation. This year’s award recipient was Lia Wax, CLFP, vice president of operations at Financial Pacific Leasing. This award recognized Wax’s outstanding leadership and service to the CLFP Foundation and the equipment finance industry. Wax has served in nearly every capacity within the CLFP Foundation from board president to instructor, mentor, and remains a constant advocate for continued education and inclusion in the industry.
“Receiving this award is an incredible honor. I’ve been a champion for the CLFP Foundation from the very beginning because I believe so strongly in its mission. To have my contributions acknowledged in this way is truly humbling,” Wax said. “Anytime I get to teach, that’s where I feel most at home. Having the opportunity to teach documentation at my alma mater, the University of North Texas, during the program’s first semester was a full-circle moment I’ll always cherish.”
Wax credits her success and sense of belonging in the industry to the CLFP community: “It was like gaining a second family overnight. There’s an immediate connection and mutual respect among CLFPs. It’s a bond built on shared learning and dedication.”
