A Free Livestream by Monitor
Tuesday, Aug 4, 2020
1:00pm – 2:30pm EST
Racial Equity in Equipment Finance: Black Leaders Speak
As the voice of equipment finance, Monitor will elevate the voices of a population that has too long been underrepresented in the industry in its next Monitor Live+ event, Racial Equity in Equipment Finance: Black Leaders Speak.
In this livestream, Monitor will tackle the lack of Black representation in equipment finance by speaking with African American leaders to not only hear their perspectives but to create a launching pad to generate more opportunities for inclusion, leadership and career advancement for Black members of the industry.
Register now! Can’t make the live event? No need to worry.
We will provide recordings to everyone who registers.
Moderator:
Emani Davis
CREATE(HER), The Omowale Project
Emani Davis recently established The Omowale Project. The project is designed to support organizations to address issues of race equity and diversity while reducing trauma and building resilience. The project includes a focus on the convergence of brain science and healing in developing BIPOC staff to increase workplace satisfaction and build a leadership pipeline.
During her career in the nonprofit sector, both on staff and as an independent consultant in New York and California, Davis focused on program development, recruiting, and building systems to confront bias and promote healing. In her work to serve children, youth and families directly affected by the justice system, Davis has led the implementation of new program initiatives, including violence interruption and street-based gang interventions as well as a pilot initiative providing training and technical assistance to police on strategies to reduce youth arrests and homicides.
Davis has worked with both youth and adults in prisons throughout the U.S. Using the experience of her own father’s 25-year incarceration, her work prepared incarcerated individuals to contribute to their families and communities during and following incarceration. She has been an advocate for the rights of children of incarcerated parents since she was 14 years old. In 2004, she was the first American nominated for the World’s Children’s Prize for the Rights of the Child for her work on behalf of children of prisoners. She has built on this experience to present keynote addresses and facilitated panels and discussions. Davis has written and contributed to books, articles and blogs related to the justice system, crime, race and healing.
Davis has a BA in Sociology with a concentration in African Studies from Manhattanville College, certifications in health education and massage therapy from the National Holistic Institute, and is a certified facilitator of Framework for Breaking Barriers and Framework for Recovery, cognitive restructuring programs.
Featured Guests:
Eric McGriff
SVP and Sr. Divisional Credit Officer, TIAA Bank
As a senior vice president and senior divisional credit officer, Eric McGriff oversees credit and collections for TIAA Bank’s vendor equipment finance business, where he has served in leadership roles since joining the company’s predecessor in 2006.
McGriff has more than three decades of industry experience, including equipment finance, asset-based lending, specialty finance, lender finance, distribution finance and inventory finance. With areas of expertise including credit, portfolio management, collections, asset management, operations, customer service, legal operations and statistical modeling, he provides well-rounded insights to the VEF business.
McGriff holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and behavioral sciences from Drew University, as well as a graduate credit management certification from the New York Institute of Credit. Since 1990, he has served on the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s Credit and Collections Committee for a combined 16 years.
Featured Guests:
Sherry Lowe Johnson
U.S. Director & Senior Counsel, Volvo Financial Services
Sherry Lowe Johnson is an attorney who has practiced law in the area of equipment leasing and finance for more than 20 years. She matriculated at Purdue University and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, starting her professional career in Pittsburgh. Lowe Johnson became known for her litigation skills and, after winning a case that resulted in published case law, the opposing counsel extended her an opportunity to practice law at his firm of more than 100 attorneys. From that point, Lowe Johnson represented financial institutions and equipment leasing companies in complex litigation and bankruptcy.
In 2001, she relocated from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, where she practiced with a boutique law firm and honed her litigation and transactional skills in representing clients on matters involving equipment leasing and finance. She later moved to Chicago, where she practiced with a law firm of more than 500 attorneys, continuing to represent clients on equipment leasing and finance transactions. In 2018, Lowe Johnson joined the legal department of Volvo Financial Services as the U.S. director and senior counsel, providing legal advice on critical issues related to equipment leasing and finance.
Lowe Johnson often has served as a panelist on topics related to the equipment leasing and finance industry. She was a member of the ELFA Legal Committee and served on the ELFA Women’s Council. She continues to serve on several subcommittees of the ELFA Legal Committee. In addition to her practice, she was an adjunct professor at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago and a substitute adjunct professor at the Temple University Fox School of Business MBA program. She also served on a few boards, including the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Lowe Johnson also is a mentor to several law students and new attorneys.
Featured Guests:
Charles Hill Jr
HR Business Partner, DLL
Charles Hill Jr. is currently an HR Business Partner for DLL in Wayne, PA. As an HR Business Partner, he partners with his client groups to ensure the successful implementation and execution of HR initiatives and programs that are in alignment with DLL’s business strategy and company values. In addition to his role as an HR Business Partner, Charles serves as a diversity and inclusion ambassador and a coach. Hill also serves as a member of the ELFA Equality Committee.
Hill started his HR career through an HR development rotational program at Liberty Mutual Insurance in Boston and has gained more than 10 years of experience as an HR professional. Hill enjoys learning and obtained his Bachelor’s in communications from Bryant University, his MBA from St. Joseph’s University and his M.Ed. in counseling psychology from Temple University.
Featured Guests:
Gordon Scott
Business Development Executive, Experian – Automotive Lender Group
Gordon Scott is a 33-year veteran holding both management and leadership roles within the credit, business development, wholesale funding and portfolio quality departments of a number of global equipment finance companies. In his most recent role within the industry, Scott established and led CDK Financing Solutions, a lending captive supporting CDK (formerly ADP Dealer Services), the leading global provider technology solutions to the automotive industry. Scott was very active within the ELFA throughout his career, and previously served on the board of ELFA Foundation. Scott currently works for Experian, providing credit systems consulting and development services to global automotive manufacturers and their lending captives.
Featured Guests:
Thorb Towles
SVP & Director of Equipment Management, BMO Harris Equipment Finance
Thorb Towles has more than 28 years of proven experience within the commercial equipment finance industry, including, but not limited to, holding senior leadership positions involving asset management, residual and collateral evaluation, structuring, documentation, remarketing, repossessions, bankruptcy, loss mitigation, etc. His specialties include negotiation, equipment procurement, portfolio management and court testimony. Towles’ previous employers have been JP Morgan Chase, PNC Equipment Finance, LaSalle Bank, Fifth Third Bank Equipment Finance, BTMU Capital Corporation and others. His current scope of responsibilities include providing support in all capital lending and leasing oriented activities, equipment and industry analyses, residual investments, portfolio management functions, management reporting, and sale of equipment on an in-place or displaced basis.
Sponsorships Available!
Contact Susie Angelucci at 484-459-3016 or email [email protected]